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Yuengling Is Now the Largest Craft Brewer in America, Because the People Who Rank Such Things Lowered Their Standards

By Kyle Scott

Published: Apr 1st, 2015 · 9:55 AM EDT

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I’m sure there are a whole slew of beer geeks more knowledgable than me who would love to weigh in here (perhaps Joe Sixpack on the next Bar Talk podcast?), but here’s the news: Yuengling is now America’s largest craft brewer based on beer sales volume. It’s kind of a technically, however. From CNBC:

Yuengling with its more than 2.7 million barrels was previously not considered “craft” by the Brewers Association because of its use of adjuncts like corn and rice in the brewing process.

In early 2014, the Brewers Association said it would change its definition and remove that restriction, paving the way for brewers like Yuengling, August Schell Brewing, Minhas Craft Brewery and others to now fall under the craft banner.

That sound you hear is beer people grumbling, probably.

I don’t think of Yuengling as a craft beer, and I’m guessing most of you don’t either, but I do think it gets a bad rap around here. It’s an easy go-to, and if you’re lucky enough to catch a fresh batch on tap at a game or elsewhere, you’ll find a tasty lager with a high ceiling. Their light beer, to me, is the most drinkable, palatable light beer out there.