Brewbound Best of 2022 Awards

Since its founding in 2010, Fiddlehead has recorded double-digit growth each year across its eight markets, and cracked the Brewers Association’s list of the Top 50 Craft Breweries by volume in 2021, growing production to more than 51,000 barrels. Driving the Shelburne, Vermont-based craft brewery’s growth is flagship Fiddlehead IPA, which accounts for around 88% of the company’s sales, and has catapulted the company into the top 10 craft growth companies in NielsenIQ off-premise tracked channels this year.

Georgetown’s draft-first focus was challenged during the COVID-19 pandemic, as bars and restaurants shuttered. This led to an -8% decline in production in 2020. In a fortuitous move, the Seattle-headquartered craft brewery added a canning line in 2017 that helped support its off-premise shift in 2020. In 2021, Georgetown bounced back in a big way, reaching its highest volume output ever at more than 108,000 barrels. That made Georgetown the 25th largest Brewers Association-defined craft brewery by volume.

Schilling Hard Cider is focused on creating a people-first organization and establishing a strong internal culture. But the Seattle, Washington-headquartered cidery has posted wins in the off-premise channel in recent years. In the hard cider segment, Schilling is the No. 4 brand family and within striking distance of No. 3. The company also ranks No.1 in terms of incremental dollars gained compared to a year ago, according to NielsenIQ data shared by Bump Williams Consulting.

Jennifer Briggs assumed the CEO role from Modern Times founder Jacob McKean, who resigned in May 2021 as the company was embroiled in toxic workplace allegations. Briggs’ tenure wasn’t without its share of difficult decisions, guiding Modern Times through the tumult of financial instability, the closure of five taprooms and an auction process that created more confusion about the San Diego brewery’s ownership quandary. However, Briggs steered Modern Times with sensitivity, honesty and transparency, while maintaining a people-first mindset.

Released in January, Juice Force, a 9.5% ABV hazy imperial IPA, became the No. 1 craft beer launch of all time. By year end, Juice Force rocketed up the sales charts to the edge of being a top 10 craft beer brand in IRI tracked channels. Going into 2023, New Belgium will look to capitalize on that success with another Juice Force brand, believed to be Fruit Force, a 9.5% ABV fruit punch IPA.

In 2022, the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild succeeded in passing legislation to help small brewers sell 4- and 6-packs of beer to-go, as well as adding growler sales privileges for brewers making up to 150,000 barrels annually.