How Craft Brewers Battle Big Beer

With a 15% year-over-year increase in sales, the craft beer industry is experiencing heady growth these days. Meanwhile, the big boys, led by Anheuser-Busch InBev , SABMiller, and Molson Coors , are losing market share.

Keeping things in perspective, however, the largest craft brewer is Samuel Adams maker Boston Beer , which has only a 1% market share. On top of that, the small brewers are at a huge disadvantage when it comes to distribution and economies of scale.

So how do they battle against the Big Buds of the world? Our Rex Moore asked that question at the recent 2013 Craft Brewers Conference in Washington, D.C. In the first of this series, Andy and Alicia Barr, co-founders of FiftyFifty Brewing in Truckee, Calif., explain their strategy.

Boston Beer's Samuel Adams brand helped to redefine beer and kick off the craft beer revolution in the United States. Success breeds competition, though, and while just a few years ago Boston Beer had claim over most of the craft beer shelf, today the field is crowded. Can Boston Beer rise above the rest, or will it be squeezed between small local breweries on one side and global beer giants on the other? To help you decide, we've compiled a premium research report filled with everything you need to know about Boston Beer's risks and opportunities. Just click here now to find out whether Boston Beer is a buy today.

The article How Craft Brewers Battle Big Beer originally appeared on Fool.com.

Rex Moore has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Boston Beer and Molson Coors Brewing Company. The Motley Fool owns shares of Boston Beer. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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