Five San Diego breweries make list of top craft brewing companies

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- Some breweries in San Diego County have made it on a list ranking America's largest craft brewers in 2023, despite what economists said has been a challenging year for the craft beer industry.

The list was created by the Brewers Association, which represents small and independent craft brewers across the U.S. It said the overall beer market's growth shrank over five percent last year from the year before, and the number of brewery openings also dropped for a second consecutive year.

There was some positive news for San Diego craft brewers, though. Five local companies made it on the association's list of the top 50 producing craft breweries in the country, based on beer sales volume.

The five companies in San Diego County are listed below with their ranking, according to the Brewers Association:

-- #6 Tilray Beer Brands: It owns Green Flash Brewing and Alpine Beer Company.

-- #26 Craft 'Ohana: The company fused two breweries, Maui Brewing Co. and Modern Times, in 2022.

-- #30 Kings & Convicts Brewing Co.: This brewery originated in Illinois and is now located in Miramar.

-- #47 Pizza Port: Pizza Port offered its first craft beers in 1992 and now has seven brewpub locations in Carlsbad, Imperial Beach, Ocean Beach, Solana beach and San Clemente.

-- #48 Coronado Brewing Co.: This beach town brewpub opened in 1996.

Tilray Beer Brands, Craft 'Ohana and Kings & Convicts Brewing also made the list of top 50 overall brewing companies in 2023. The volume by craft brewers was defined by the total taxable production last year. Brewers represented in the list were those who held a brewer's notice issued by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau for all or part of 2023.