Follow the new leader

Craft beer has a new king, according to the Brewers Association.

The trade group today released its list of the nation’s 50 top-selling craft breweries for 2014, and Pennsylvania-based Yuengling is No. 1, unseating perennial leader Boston Beer Co. (brewers of Sam Adams).

Yuengling, the nation’s oldest operating brewery (since 1829), just came under the “craft brewery” definition last year. The association decided to allow smaller, independent breweries that use adjunct grains such as rice and corn (like the macrobrewers do) in addition to barley.

Rounding out the top 10 are Sierra Nevada, New Belgium, Gambrinus, Lagunitas, Bell’s, Deschutes, Stone (all in last year’s top 10) and Wisconsin’s Minhas (another beneficiary of the new definition).

Along with Deschutes, other Northwest breweries on the list include Oregon’s Rogue (32), Full Sail (33) and Ninkasi (36). No Washington breweries made the cut; Redhook is not considered a craft brewery by the association because it’s part of the Craft Brew Alliance, which is partially owned by Anheuser-Busch.