CINCINNATI – A Queen City brewery ranked as one of the most successful craft beer companies in the United States for 2017.
Rhinegeist Brewery, located at 1910 Elm St. in Over-the-Rhine, ranked No. 33 out of 50 craft breweries in an annual report by the national Brewers Association that ranks breweries by sales volume.
This is the first time Rhinegeist has appeared in the report published by the not-for-profit trade group, which represents small and independent craft brewers.
“In an increasingly competitive and mature marketplace, these brewing companies continue to lead and pave the path for small and independent craft brewers,” said Bart Watson, chief economist for the Brewers Association, in a press release.
Cleveland-based Great Lakes Brewing Co. moved from No. 21 on 2016's list to No. 20 in 2017. Munster, Indiana's Three Floyds Brewing Co. came in at No. 45. No craft breweries in Kentucky made the list.
The Brewers Association bases its rankings on the yearly reported sales volumes from the more than 6,000 craft breweries currently operating in the United States, according to Rick Armon, a reporter who follows the craft beer industry for the Akron Beacon Journal.
Rhinegeist currently distributes beer throughout Ohio, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pittsburgh and Indiana. Co-founders Bob Bonder and Bryant Goulding opened Rhinegeist inside the former Christian Moerlein Over-the-Rhine bottling facility in July 2013.
