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2011 Imports and Large Breweries
Large brewers and imported beer companies declined approximately 4 million barrels in sales in 2011, as beer drinkers continued their shift toward craft brewed beer, wine, and spirits.
Statistic
U.S. beer industry leader Anheuser-Busch had shipments of more than 98 million barrels in 2011, compared to 102 million in 2010.
Definition
Contract Brewing Company: A business that hires another brewery to produce its beer. It can also be a brewery that hires another brewery to produce additional beer. The contract brewing company handles marketing, sales, and distribution of its beer, while generally leaving the brewing and packaging to its producer-brewery (which, confusingly, is also sometimes referred to as a contract brewery).
