There were 5 craft brands among list of top-20 growth brands (by $$) in total beer biz scans, looking at Nielsen xAOC + Conv + Military + Liquor Plus data YTD thru April 21. Elysian Space Dust IPA (+96.5%), Sam Adams Seasonal (43%), and Founders All Day IPA (+50%) ranked as 11th, 12th and 14th biggest $$ growth brands in all of beer. Collectively these 3 brands gained nearly 0.2 share of total beer $$ to just under 0.5 share YTD; up 1.45 share of craft $$ to 4.15. Yet Sam Seasonal is rapidly slowing, declining in latest periods, after getting big boost from easy Q1 comp on spring seasonal. It was as high as #5 best growth brand (by $$) before falling back to #12 thru April 21, and appears to be falling further down the list as the year goes on.
Then too, two new craft brands were among top-20 growth brands in all of beer: Sam 76 Lager and Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing IPA. Sam 76 ($4.6 mil) and Sierra Hazy Little Thing ($3.5 mil) snagged nearly 0.8 share of craft $$ collectively. Only one other new brand made the top-20 growth brands list: Boston Beer’s Angry Orchard Rosé outsold ’em all, adding $7.1 mil in sales thru April 21. That made it 8th biggest growth brand overall, adding more incremental $$ than the likes of Corona Extra and Twisted Tea Original among others.