Two Wisconsin breweries are among the top 50 brewing companies in the United States, according to a ranking released Monday by the Colorado-based Brewers Association.
The ranking, which was based on sales by volume in 2008, places Minhas Craft Brewery in Monroe, Wis., at 14th place.
New Glarus Brewing Company in New Glarus, Wis., which brews the Spotted Cow brand, sits at 32nd among the top overall brewing companies. Both companies improved in rank since 2007.
The St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch earned first place, and the recently consolidated MillerCoors Brewing Company, based in Chicago, was ranked as the nation's number-two brewery.
According to a statement from the Brewers Association, the number of small, independent craft brewers on the list of top brewing companies increased from 35 in 2007 to 37 in 2008, despite such brewers facing the difficulties of access to markets and price increases for raw materials.
