10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 26, 2015

OR

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission file number: 1-14092

THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

MASSACHUSETTS	04-3284048
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

One Design Center Place, Suite 850, Boston, Massachusetts

(Address of principal executive offices)

02210

(Zip Code)

(617) 368-5000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of accelerated filer and large accelerated filer in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer  x Accelerated filer  ¨ Non-accelerated filer  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act.)     Yes  ¨    No  x

Number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of October 27, 2015:

Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value	9,549,171
Class B Common Stock, $.01 par value	3,367,355
(Title of each class)	(Number of shares)

THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY, INC.

FORM 10-Q

September 26, 2015

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I.	FINANCIAL INFORMATION		PAGE
	Item 1.	Consolidated Financial Statements		3
		Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014		3
		Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Thirteen and Thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014		4
		Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014		5
		Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements		6-13
	Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		14-18
	Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk		18
	Item 4.	Controls and Procedures		18
PART II.	OTHER INFORMATION
	Item 1.	Legal Proceedings		18
	Item 1A.	Risk Factors		18
	Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds		19
	Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities		19
	Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures		19
	Item 5.	Other Information		19
	Item 6.	Exhibits		19
SIGNATURES				20

EX-31.1 Section 302 CEO Certification

EX-31.2 Section 302 CFO Certification

EX-32.1 Section 906 CEO Certification

EX-32.2 Section 906 CFO Certification

2

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share data)

(unaudited)

	September 26, 2015			December 27, 2014
Assets
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	134,612		$	76,402
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $91 and $144 as of September 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014, respectively		57,121			36,860
Inventories		57,317			51,307
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		14,716			12,887
Income tax receivable		2,168			21,321
Deferred income taxes		6,335			8,685
Total current assets		272,269			207,462
Property, plant and equipment, net		405,415			381,569
Other assets		9,550			12,447
Goodwill		3,683			3,683
Total assets	$	690,917		$	605,161
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	48,518		$	35,576
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		84,274			74,594
Total current liabilities		132,792			110,170
Deferred income taxes		47,355			50,717
Debt and capital lease obligations, less current portion		471			528
Other liabilities		15,499			7,606
Total liabilities		196,117			169,021
Commitments and Contingencies (See Note E)
Stockholders’ Equity:
Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value; 22,700,000 shares authorized; 9,514,599 and 9,452,375 issued and outstanding as of September 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014, respectively		95			95
Class B Common Stock, $.01 par value; 4,200,000 shares authorized; 3,467,355 and 3,617,355 issued and outstanding as of September 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014		35			36
Additional paid-in capital		285,074			224,909
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax		(1,146	)		(1,133	)
Retained earnings		210,742			212,233
Total stockholders’ equity		494,800			436,140
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	690,917		$	605,161

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

3

THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(in thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)

	Thirteen weeks ended						Thirty-nine weeks ended
	September 26, 2015			September 27, 2014			September 26, 2015			September 27, 2014
Revenue	$	312,638		$	288,777		$	794,193		$	733,511
Less excise taxes		19,544			19,043			49,392			48,321
Net revenue		293,094			269,734			744,801			685,190
Cost of goods sold		136,084			126,738			351,950			328,579
Gross profit		157,010			142,996			392,851			356,611
Operating expenses:
Advertising, promotional and selling expenses		78,205			65,024			209,823			192,202
General and administrative expenses		17,707			15,748			52,972			48,300
Impairment of assets		218			1,577			218			1,577
Total operating expenses		96,130			82,349			263,013			242,079
Operating income		60,880			60,647			129,838			114,532
Other income (expense), net:
Interest income (expense), net		—			31			7			23
Other income (expense), net		(527	)		(371	)		(798	)		(307	)
Total other income (expense), net		(527	)		(340	)		(791	)		(284	)
Income before income tax provision		60,353			60,307			129,047			114,248
Provision for income taxes		21,729			22,381			46,748			42,579
Net income	$	38,624		$	37,926		$	82,299		$	71,669
Net income per common share - basic	$	2.93		$	2.91		$	6.20		$	5.50
Net income per common share - diluted	$	2.85		$	2.79		$	6.02		$	5.29
Weighted-average number of common shares - Class A basic		9,655			9,248			9,667			9,148
Weighted-average number of common shares - Class B basic		3,467			3,727			3,539			3,801
Weighted-average number of common shares - diluted		13,507			13,495			13,602			13,472
Net income	$	38,624		$	37,926		$	82,299		$	71,669
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(14	)		—			(13	)		—
Comprehensive income	$	38,610		$	37,926		$	82,286		$	71,669

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

4

THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

	Thirty-nine weeks ended
	September 26, 2015			September 27, 2014
Cash flows provided by operating activities:
Net income	$	82,299		$	71,669
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		31,577			24,990
Impairment of assets		218			1,577
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment		342			91
Bad debt expense		12			160
Stock-based compensation expense		5,218			5,324
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation arrangements		(13,113	)		(9,158	)
Deferred income taxes		(1,012	)		157
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		(20,273	)		(7,830	)
Inventories		(6,010	)		(3,213	)
Prepaid expenses, income tax receivable and other assets		20,662			(4,862	)
Accounts payable		12,167			2,029
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		22,609			21,650
Other liabilities		7,777			(20	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		142,473			102,564
Cash flows used in investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment		(55,606	)		(128,292	)
Cash paid for other intangible assets		(100	)		(100	)
Decrease in restricted cash		57			55
Net cash used in investing activities		(55,649	)		(128,337	)
Cash flows (used in) provided by financing activities:
Repurchase of Class A Common Stock		(83,794	)		—
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		41,000			23,441
Cash paid on note payable		(54	)		(53	)
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation arrangements		13,113			9,158
Net proceeds from sale of investment shares		1,121			881
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities		(28,614	)		33,427
Change in cash and cash equivalents		58,210			7,654
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year		76,402			49,524
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	134,612		$	57,178
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Income taxes paid	$	23,992		$	23,191
Income taxes refunded	$	17,225		$	—
Increase in accounts payable for purchase of property, plant and equipment	$	775		$	3,390

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

5

THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

A. Organization and Basis of Presentation

The Boston Beer Company, Inc. and certain subsidiaries (the “Company”) are engaged in the business of brewing and selling alcohol beverages throughout the United States and in selected international markets, under the trade names, “The Boston Beer Company,” “Twisted Tea Brewing Company,” and “Angry Orchard Cider Company”. The Company’s Samuel Adams^® beers are produced and sold under the trade name “The Boston Beer Company.” A&S Brewing Collaborative LLC, d/b/a Alchemy & Science (“A&S”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, sells beer under various trade names including “The Traveler Beer Company” and “Coney Island Brewing Company”.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated balance sheet as of September 26, 2015, and the consolidated statements of comprehensive income and consolidated statements of cash flows for the interim periods ended September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014 have been prepared by the Company in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required for complete financial statements by generally accepted accounting principles and should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 27, 2014.

In the opinion of the Company’s management, the Company’s unaudited consolidated balance sheet as of September 26, 2015 and the results of its consolidated operations and consolidated cash flows for the interim periods ended September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014, reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal and recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the results of the interim periods presented. The operating results for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full year.

B. Inventories

Inventories consist of raw materials, work in process and finished goods. Raw materials, which principally consist of hops, apple juice, other brewing materials and packaging, are stated at the lower of cost, determined on the first-in, first-out basis, or market. The Company’s goal is to maintain on-hand a supply of at least one year for essential hop varieties, in order to limit the risk of an unexpected reduction in supply. Inventories are generally classified as current assets. The Company classifies hops inventory in excess of two years of forecasted usage in other long term assets. The cost elements of work in process and finished goods inventory consist of raw materials, direct labor and manufacturing overhead. Inventories consist of the following:

	September 26, 2015			December 27, 2014
	(in thousands)
Raw materials	$	41,485		$	39,535
Work in process		9,099			7,391
Finished goods		10,749			10,793
		61,333			57,719
Less portion in other long term assets		(4,016	)		(6,412	)
	$	57,317		$	51,307

6

C. Net Income per Share

The Company calculates net income per share using the two-class method which requires the Company to allocate net income to its Class A Common Shares, Class B Common Shares and unvested share-based payment awards that participate in dividends with common stock, in the calculation of net income per share.

The Class A Common Stock has no voting rights, except (1) as required by law, (2) for the election of Class A Directors, and (3) that the approval of the holders of the Class A Common Stock is required for (a) certain future authorizations or issuances of additional securities which have rights senior to Class A Common Stock, (b) certain alterations of rights or terms of the Class A or Class B Common Stock as set forth in the Articles of Organization of the Company, (c) other amendments of the Articles of Organization of the Company, (d) certain mergers or consolidations with, or acquisitions of, other entities, and (e) sales or dispositions of any significant portion of the Company’s assets.

The Class B Common Stock has full voting rights, including the right to (1) elect a majority of the members of the Company’s Board of Directors and (2) approve all (a) amendments to the Company’s Articles of Organization, (b) mergers or consolidations with, or acquisitions of, other entities, (c) sales or dispositions of any significant portion of the Company’s assets, and (d) equity-based and other executive compensation and other significant corporate matters. The Company’s Class B Common Stock is not listed for trading. Each share of the Class B Common Stock is freely convertible into one share of Class A Common Stock, upon request of any Class B holder, and participates equally in dividends.

The Company’s unvested share-based payment awards include unvested shares (1) issued under the Company’s investment share program which permits employees who have been with the Company for at least one year to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock and to purchase those shares at a discount ranging from 20% to 40% below market value based on years of employment starting after two years of employment, and (2) awarded as restricted stock awards at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors. The investment shares and restricted stock awards generally vest over five years in equal number of shares. The unvested shares participate equally in dividends. See Note I for a discussion of the current year unvested stock awards and issuances.

Included in the computation of net income per diluted common share are dilutive outstanding stock options that are vested or expected to vest. At its discretion, the Board of Directors grants stock options to senior management and certain key employees. The terms of the employee stock options are determined by the Board of Directors at the time of grant. To date, stock options granted to employees vest over various service periods and/or based on the attainment of certain performance criteria and generally expire after ten years. The Company also grants stock options to its non-employee directors upon election or re-election to the Board of Directors. The number of option shares granted to non-employee directors is calculated based on a defined formula and these stock options vest immediately upon grant and expire after ten years.

7

Net Income per Common Share - Basic

The following table sets forth the computation of basic net income per share using the two-class method:

	Thirteen weeks ended				Thitry-nine weeks ended
	September 26, 2015		September 27, 2014		September 26, 2015		September 27, 2014
	(in thousands, except per share data)				(in thousands, except per share data)
Net Income	$	38,624	$	37,926	$	82,299	$	71,669
Allocation of net income for basic:
Class A Common Stock	$	28,286	$	26,878	$	59,963	$	50,348
Class B Common Stock		10,159		10,833		21,951		20,919
Unvested participating shares		179		215		385		402
	$	38,624	$	37,926	$	82,299	$	71,669
Weighted average number of shares for basic:
Class A Common Stock		9,655		9,248		9,667		9,148
Class B Common Stock*		3,467		3,727		3,539		3,801
Unvested participating shares		61		74		62		73
		13,183		13,049		13,268		13,022
Net income per share for basic:
Class A Common Stock	$	2.93	$	2.91	$	6.20	$	5.50
Class B Common Stock	$	2.93	$	2.91	$	6.20	$	5.50

* Change in Class B Common Stock resulted from the conversion of 110,000 share to Class A Common Stock on November 4, 2014 and 150,000 shares to Class A Common Stock on May 6, 2015, with the thirteen and thirty-nine-week number of shares reflecting the weighted average for the periods.

Net Income per Common Share - Diluted

The Company calculates diluted net income per share for common stock using the more dilutive of (1) the treasury stock method, or (2) the two-class method, which assumes the participating securities are not exercised.

8

The following table sets forth the computation of diluted net income per share, assuming the conversion of all Class B Common Stock into Class A Common Stock and using the two-class method for unvested participating shares:

	Thirteen weeks ended September 26, 2015						Thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2014
	Earnings to Common Shareholders		Common Shares		EPS		Earnings to Common Shareholders		Common Shares		EPS
	(in thousands, except per share data)
As reported - basic	$	28,286		9,655	$	2.93	$	26,878		9,248	$	2.91
Add: effect of dilutive potential common shares
Share-based awards		—		385				—		520
Class B Common Stock		10,159		3,467				10,833		3,727
Net effect of unvested participating shares		5		—				7		—
Net income per common share - diluted	$	38,450		13,507	$	2.85	$	37,718		13,495	$	2.79
	Thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2015						Thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2014
	Earnings to Common Shareholders		Common Shares		EPS		Earnings to Common Shareholders		Common Shares		EPS
	(in thousands, except per share data)
As reported - basic	$	59,963		9,667	$	6.20	$	50,348		9,148	$	5.50
Add: effect of dilutive potential common shares
Share-based awards		—		396				—		523
Class B Common Stock		21,951		3,539				20,919		3,801
Net effect of unvested participating shares		11		—				16		—
Net income per common share - diluted	$	81,925		13,602	$	6.02	$	71,283		13,472	$	5.29

During the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2015, weighted-average stock options to purchase approximately 17,000 and 10,000 shares, respectively, of Class A Common Stock were outstanding but not included in computing diluted income per common share because their effects were anti-dilutive. There were no anti-dilutive shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding during the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2014. Additionally, performance-based stock options to purchase 37,000 and 42,000 shares of Class A Common Stock were outstanding as of September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014, respectively, but not included in computing diluted income per common share because the performance criteria of these stock options was not met as of the end of the reporting period.

Of the performance-based stock options to purchase 37,000 shares of Class A Common Stock that were excluded from computing diluted net income per common share as of September 26, 2015, 30,000 shares were granted in 2009 to two key employees. The vesting of these shares requires annual depletions, or sales by distributors to retailers, of certain of the Company’s brands to attain various thresholds during the period from 2014 to 2018. The remaining 7,000 shares were granted in 2015 to executive officers and the vesting of these shares requires annual depletions to attain various thresholds during 2015.

9

D. Comprehensive Income or Loss

Comprehensive income or loss represents net income or loss, plus defined benefit plans liability adjustment, net of tax effect and foreign currency translation adjustment. The defined benefit plans liability and foreign currency translation adjustments for the interim periods ended September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014 were not material.

E. Commitments and Contingencies

Purchase Commitments

The Company had outstanding total non-cancelable purchase commitments of $140.4 million at September 26, 2015. These commitments are made up of hops, barley and wheat totaling $54.8 million, advertising contracts of $30.8 million, equipment and machinery of $29.7 million, apples and other ingredients of $17.7 million, glass bottles of $2.9 million and other commitments of $4.5 million.

The Company has entered into contracts for the supply of a portion of its hops requirements. These purchase contracts extend through crop year 2018 and specify both the quantities and prices, denominated in Euros and U.S. Dollars, to which the Company is committed. Hops purchase commitments outstanding at September 26, 2015 totaled $37.2 million, based on the exchange rates on that date.

Currently, the Company has entered into contracts for barley and wheat with two major suppliers. The contracts include crop years 2014 and 2015 and cover the Company’s barley, wheat, and malt requirements for 2015 and part of 2016. These purchase commitments outstanding at September 26, 2015 totaled $17.6 million.

The Company sources some of its glass bottles needs pursuant to a Glass Bottle Supply Agreement with Anchor Glass Container Corporation (“Anchor”), under which Anchor is the supplier of certain glass bottles for the Company’s Cincinnati Brewery and its Pennsylvania Brewery. This agreement also establishes the terms on which Anchor may supply glass bottles to other breweries where the Company brews its beers. Under the agreement with Anchor, the Company has minimum purchase commitments that are based on Company-provided production estimates which, under normal business conditions, are expected to be fulfilled. Minimum purchase commitments under the agreement, assuming the supplier is unable to replace lost production capacity cancelled by the Company, as of September 26, 2015 totaled $2.9 million. On October 1, 2015 the Company committed to minimum aggregate purchases in 2016 of $21.7 million.

Currently, the Company brews and packages more than 95% of its core brands volume at Company-owned breweries. In the normal course of its business, the Company has historically entered into various production arrangements with other brewing companies. Pursuant to these arrangements, the Company purchases the liquid produced by those brewing companies, including the raw materials that are used in the liquid, at the time such liquid goes into fermentation. The Company is required to repurchase all unused raw materials purchased by the brewing company specifically for the Company’s beers at the brewing company’s cost upon termination of the production arrangement. The Company is also obligated to meet annual volume requirements in conjunction with certain production arrangements. These requirements are not material to the Company’s operations.

Litigation

The Company is not a party to any pending or threatened litigation, the outcome of which would be expected to have a material adverse effect upon its financial condition or the results of its operations. In general, while the Company believes it conducts its business appropriately in accordance with laws, regulations and industry guidelines, claims, whether or not meritorious, could be asserted against the Company that might adversely impact the Company’s results.

10

F. Income Taxes

As of September 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014, the Company had approximately $0.4 million and $0.4 million, respectively, of unrecognized income tax benefits.

The Company’s practice is to classify interest and penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. As of September 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014, the Company had $0.3 million and $0.3 million, respectively, accrued for interest and penalties.

During the first quarter of 2015, the Company received a $17.2 million refund from the Internal Revenue Service of an overpayment of its 2014 estimated tax. The refund resulted from the Tax Increase Prevention Act, H.R. 5771, that was enacted after payment of 2014 corporate estimated tax payments that were due on December 15, 2014. The Tax Increase Prevention Act allows the Company to claim accelerated tax depreciation on qualified property, plant, and equipment additions, and the research & development tax credit on its 2014 federal corporate income tax return.

The Company’s federal and state income tax returns remain subject to examination for three or four years depending on the state’s statute of limitations. The Company is being audited by two states as of September 26, 2015. In addition, the Company is generally obligated to report changes in taxable income arising from federal income tax audits.

G. Debt

Line of Credit

The Company has a credit facility in place that provides for a $150.0 million revolving line of credit which expires on March 31, 2019. As of September 26, 2015, the Company was not in violation of any of its covenants to the lender under the credit facility and there were no borrowings outstanding, so that the line of credit was fully available to the Company for borrowing.

H. Fair Value Measures

The Company defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or be paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Company applies the following fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value into three levels and bases the categorization within the hierarchy upon the lowest level of input that is available and significant to the fair value measurement. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements).

• Level 1 — Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date.

• Level 2 — Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. If the asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, a Level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

• Level 3 — Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date.

All financial assets or liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis (at least annually) have been segregated into the most appropriate level within the fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used to determine the fair value at the measurement date. The assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized in the table below (in thousands):

	As of September 26, 2015
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets:
Cash equivalents	$	126,503	$	—	$	—	$	126,503
	As of December 27, 2014
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets:
Cash equivalents	$	68,846	$	—	$	—	$	68,846

11

The Company’s cash equivalents listed above represent money market funds and are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices. The Company does not adjust the quoted market price for such financial instruments.

Cash, certificates of deposit, receivables and payables are carried at their cost, which approximates fair value, because of their short-term nature. Financial instruments not recorded at fair value in the consolidated financial statements are summarized in the table below (in thousands):

	As of September 26, 2015
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Note payable	$	—	$	458	$	—	$	458
	As of December 27, 2014
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Note payable	$	—	$	513	$	—	$	513

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents held in money market funds. At September 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014, the Company had money market funds with a “Triple A” rated money market fund. The Company considers the “Triple A” rated money market fund to be a large, highly-rated investment-grade institution. As of September 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014, our cash and cash equivalents balance was $134.6 million and $76.4 million, respectively, including money market funds amounting to $126.5 million and $68.8 million, respectively. The money market funds were invested substantially in United States Treasury and government securities.

I. Common Stock and Stock-Based Compensation

Option Activity

Information related to stock options under the Equity Plan and the Non-Employee Director Plan is summarized as follows:

	Shares			Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term in Years		Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands)
Outstanding at December 27, 2014		1,380,444		$	55.37
Granted		24,363			283.22
Forfeited		—
Expired		—
Exercised		(249,436	)		163.02
Outstanding at September 26, 2015		1,155,371		$	63.58		3.65	$	179,584
Exercisable at September 26, 2015		408,752		$	61.26		3.35	$	64,140
Vested and expected to vest at September 26, 2015		1,118,040		$	63.54		3.64	$	173,812

On January 1, 2015, the Company granted options to purchase an aggregate of 18,723 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock to senior management with a weighted average fair value of $130.43 per share.

On May 27, 2015, the Company granted options to purchase an aggregate of 5,640 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock to the Company’s non-employee Directors. These options have a weighted average fair value of $122.25 per share. All of the options vested immediately on the date of the grant.

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On January 1, 2008, the Company granted the Chief Executive Officer a stock option to purchase 753,864 shares of its Class A Common Stock, which vests over a five-year period, commencing on January 1, 2014, at the rate of 20% per year. The exercise price is determined by multiplying $42.00 by the aggregate change in the DJ Wilshire 5000 Index from and after January 1, 2008 through the close of business on the trading date next preceding each date on which the option is exercised. The exercise price will not be less than $37.65 per share and the excess of the fair value of the Company’s Class A Common Stock cannot exceed $70 per share over the exercise price. At September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014, 452,319 shares and 603,092 shares of the stock option remained outstanding, respectively. If the outstanding shares at September 26, 2015 were exercised on that date, the exercise price would have been $147.48 per share. If the outstanding shares at September 27, 2014 were exercised on that date, the exercise price would have been $150.19 per share.

Non-Vested Shares Activity

The following table summarizes vesting activities of shares issued under the investment share program and restricted stock awards:

	Number of Shares			Weighted Average Fair Value
Non-vested at December 27, 2014		73,098		$	115.99
Granted		14,405			195.07
Vested		(25,732	)		79.44
Forfeited		(817	)		121.36
Non-vested at September 26, 2015		60,954		$	150.01

On January 1, 2015, the Company granted 6,092 shares of restricted stock awards to certain senior managers and key employees of which 5,402 shares vest ratably over service periods of five years and 690 shares vest ratably over service periods of three years. On January 1, 2015 employees elected to purchase 8,313 shares under the investment share program. The weighted average fair value of the restricted stock awards and investment shares, which are sold to employees at discount under its investment share program, was $289.54 and $125.84 per share, respectively.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-based compensation expense related to share-based awards recognized in the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2015 was $1.6 million and $5.2 million, respectively, and was calculated based on awards expected to vest. Stock-based compensation expense related to share-based awards recognized in the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2014 was $1.4 million and $5.3 million, respectively, and was calculated based on awards expected to vest.

J. Impairment of Assets

During the third quarter of 2015, the Company incurred impairment charges of $0.2 million related to an intangible asset. During the third quarter of 2014, the Company incurred impairment charges of $1.6 million based upon its analysis of the fair value of machinery that was replaced in early 2015. Management based its valuation on the discounted cash flows of the machinery over its remaining useful life and estimated salvage value.

K. Subsequent Events

On October 15, 2015, the Board of Directors approved an increase of $50.0 million to the previously approved $475.0 million share buyback expenditure limit for a new limit of $525.0 million.

The Company evaluated subsequent events occurring after the balance sheet date, September 26, 2015, and concluded that there were no other events of which management was aware that occurred after the balance sheet date that would require any adjustment to or disclosure in the accompanying consolidated financial statements except for the minimum aggregate glass purchase in 2016 committed to on October 1, 2015 as disclosed in Note E.

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Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following is a discussion of the significant factors affecting the consolidated operating results, financial condition and liquidity and cash flows of The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (the “Company” or “Boston Beer”) for the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended September 26, 2015, as compared to the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended September 27, 2014. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company and Notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2014.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

For purposes of this discussion, Boston Beer’s “core brands” or “core products” include all products sold under the Samuel Adams^®, Twisted Tea^®, Angry Orchard^® and various A&S trade names including Traveler^® and Coney Island^®. “Core products” do not include the products brewed or packaged at the Company’s brewery in Cincinnati, Ohio (the “Cincinnati Brewery”) under a contract arrangement for a third party. Sales of such products are not significant to the Company’s total sales in 2015 or 2014.

Thirteen Weeks Ended September 26, 2015 compared to Thirteen Weeks Ended September 27, 2014

Net revenue. Net revenue increased by $23.4 million, or 8.7 %, to $293.1 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 26, 2015 as compared to $269.7 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2014, due primarily to increased shipments and increased revenue per barrel.

Volume. Total shipment volume increased by 4.4% to 1,284,000 barrels for the thirteen weeks ended September 26, 2015, as compared to 1,229,000 barrels for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2014, due to gains in core products shipment volume. Shipment volume for the core brands increased by 4.4% to 1,279,000 barrels, due primarily to increases in shipments of Coney Island, Traveler and Twisted Tea brand products that were only partially offset by shipment declines in Samuel Adams and Angry Orchard brand products.

Depletions, or sales by distributors to retailers, of the Company’s core products for the thirteen weeks ended September 26, 2015 increased by approximately 6% compared to the comparable thirteen week period in 2014, primarily due to increases in depletions of Coney Island, Twisted Tea, Traveler and Angry Orchard brand products offset by declines in depletions of Samuel Adams brand products. The Company believes distributor inventory at September 26, 2015 was at an appropriate level. Inventory at distributors participating in the Freshest Beer Program at September 26, 2015 decreased slightly in terms of days of inventory on hand when compared to September 27, 2014. The Company has over 70% of its volume on the Freshest Beer Program and it believes participation in the Program could reach 73% of its volume by the end of 2015.

Net Revenue per barrel. The net revenue per barrel for core brands increased by 4.1% to $229.04 per barrel for the thirteen weeks ended September 26, 2015, as compared to $219.99 per barrel for the comparable period in 2014, due primarily to product and package mix and price increases.

Gross profit. Gross profit for core products was $122.81 per barrel for the thirteen weeks ended September 26, 2015, as compared to $116.69 per barrel for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2014. Gross margin for core products was 53.6% for the thirteen weeks ended September 26, 2015, as compared to 53.0% for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2014. The increase in gross profit per barrel of $6.12 is primarily due to an increase in net revenue per barrel, partially offset by an increase in cost of goods sold per barrel.

Cost of goods sold for core brands was $106.22 per barrel for the thirteen weeks ended September 26, 2015, as compared to $103.30 per barrel for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2014. The 2015 increase in cost of goods sold of $2.92 per barrel of core products is primarily due to product and package mix and higher brewery operating costs, partially offset by lower ingredient costs.

The Company includes freight charges related to the movement of finished goods from its manufacturing locations to distributor locations in its advertising, promotional and selling expense line item. As such, the Company’s gross margins may not be comparable to those of other entities that classify costs related to distribution differently.

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Advertising, promotional and selling. Advertising, promotional and selling expenses increased by $13.2 million, or 20.3%, to $78.2 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 26, 2015, as compared to $65.0 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2014. The increase was primarily a result of increased investments in media advertising, increased salary and benefit expenses, increased local marketing and point of sale, and increased freight to distributors due to higher volumes.

Advertising, promotional and selling expenses for core brands were 26.7% of net revenue, or $61.16 per barrel, for the thirteen weeks ended September 26, 2015, as compared to 24.1% of net revenue, or $53.08 per barrel, for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2014. The Company invests in advertising and promotional campaigns that it believes will be effective, but there is no guarantee that such investments will generate sales growth.

The Company conducts certain advertising and promotional activities in its distributors’ markets, and the distributors make contributions to the Company for such efforts. These amounts are included in the Company’s statements of comprehensive income as reductions to advertising, promotional and selling expenses. Historically, contributions from distributors for advertising and promotional activities have amounted to between 2% and 4% of net sales. The Company may adjust its promotional efforts in the distributors’ markets if changes occur in these promotional contribution arrangements, depending on industry and market conditions.

General and administrative. General and administrative expenses increased by $2.0 million, or 12.4%, to $17.7 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 26, 2015, as compared to $15.7 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2014. The increase was primarily due to increases in salary and benefit expenses, facilities and consulting costs.

Impairment of assets. Impairment of assets decreased $1.4 million as compared to the third quarter of 2014, with $0.2 million of asset impairment recognized in 2015 compared to the $1.6 million impairment of Pennsylvania Brewery assets in 2014.

Provision for income taxes. The Company’s effective tax rate for the thirteen weeks ended September 26, 2015 of 36.0% decreased from the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2014 rate of 37.1%, primarily due to the favorable impact of an increased federal tax manufacturing deduction and lower state tax rates.

Thirty-nine Weeks Ended September 26, 2015 compared to Thirty-nine Ended September 27, 2014

Net revenue. Net revenue increased by $59.6 million, or 8.7%, to $744.8 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2015, as compared to $685.2 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2014, due primarily to increased shipments and increased revenue per barrel.

Volume. Total shipment volume increased by 5.7% to 3,297,000 barrels for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2015, as compared to 3,120,000 barrels for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2014, due to gains in core products shipment volume. Shipment volume for the core brands increased by 5.6 % to 3,283,000 barrels, due primarily to increases in shipments of Coney Island, Angry Orchard, Twisted Tea and Traveler brand products that were only partially offset by shipment declines in Samuel Adams brand products.

Depletions, or sales by distributors to retailers, of the Company’s core products for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2015 increased by approximately 6% compared to the comparable thirty-nine week period in 2014, primarily due to increases in depletions of Angry Orchard, Twisted Tea, Coney Island, and Traveler brand products that were only partially offset by declines in depletions of Samuel Adams brand products.

Net Revenue per barrel. The net revenue per barrel for core brands increased by 2.9% to $226.61 per barrel for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2015, as compared to $220.14 per barrel for the comparable period in 2014, due primarily to price increases and product and package mix.

Gross profit. Gross profit for core products was $119.64 per barrel for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2015, as compared to $114.60 per barrel for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2014. Gross margin for core products was 52.8% for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2015, as compared to 52.1% for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2014. The increase in gross profit per barrel of $5.04 is primarily due to an increase in net revenue per barrel, partially offset by an increase in cost of goods sold per barrel.

Cost of goods sold for core brands was $106.97 per barrel for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2015, as compared to $105.54 per barrel for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2014. The 2015 increase in cost of goods sold of $1.43 per barrel of core products is due to product and package mix and higher brewery operating costs, partially offset by lower ingredient costs.

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Advertising, promotional and selling. Advertising, promotional and selling expenses increased $17.6 million, or 9.2%, to $209.8 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2015, as compared to $192.2 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2014. The increase was primarily a result of increased investments in media advertising, increased salary and benefit expenses, increased local marketing and point of sale, and increased freight to distributors due to higher volumes.

Advertising, promotional and selling expenses for core brands were 28.2% of net revenue, or $63.90 per barrel, for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2015, as compared to 28.1% of net revenue, or $61.80 per barrel, for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2014.

General and administrative. General and administrative expenses increased by $4.7 million, or 9.7%, to $53.0 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2015, as compared to $48.3 million for the comparable period in 2014. The increase was primarily due to increases in salary and benefit expenses, facilities and consulting costs.

Provision for income taxes. The Company’s effective tax rate for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2015 of 36.2% decreased from the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2014 rate of 37.3%, primarily due to the favorable impact of increased federal tax manufacturing deductions and lower state tax rates.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Cash increased to $134.6 million as of September 26, 2015 from $76.4 million as of December 27, 2014, reflecting cash provided by operating activities that was partially offset by purchases of property, plant and equipment and cash used in financing activities.

Cash provided by or used in operating activities consists of net income, adjusted for certain non-cash items, such as depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense and related excess tax benefit, other non-cash items included in operating results, and changes in operating assets and liabilities, such as accounts receivable, inventory, accounts payable and accrued expenses.

Cash provided by operating activities for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2015 was $142.5 million and primarily consisted of net income of $82.3 million and a net decrease in operating assets and liabilities of $36.9 million which includes a $17.2 million tax refund in the first quarter of 2015, and non-cash items of $23.2 million. Cash provided by operating activities for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2014 was $102.6 million and primarily consisted of net income of $71.7 million and non-cash items of $23.1 million and a net decrease in operating assets and liabilities of $7.8 million.

The Company used $55.6 million in investing activities during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2015, as compared to $128.3 million during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2014. Investing activities primarily consisted of discretionary equipment purchases to upgrade the Company-owned breweries.

Cash used by financing activities was $28.6 million during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2015, as compared to $33.4 million provided by financing during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2014. The decrease in financing cash flow in 2015 from 2014 is primarily due to an increase in stock repurchases under the Company’s Stock Repurchase Program that were partially offset by an increase in proceeds from stock option exercises.

During the thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2015 and the period from September 27, 2015 through October 27, 2015, the Company repurchased approximately 431,000 shares of its Class A Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $99.2 million. On October 15, 2015, the Board of Directors approved an increase of $50.0 million to the previously approved $475.0 million share buyback expenditure limit, for a new limit of $525.0 million. As of October 27, 2015, the Company had repurchased a cumulative total of approximately 11.4 million shares of its Class A Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $406.6 million and had approximately $118.4 million remaining on the $525.0 million stock repurchase expenditure limit set by the Board of Directors.

The Company expects that its cash balance as of September 26, 2015 of $134.6 million, along with future operating cash flow and the Company’s unused line of credit of $150 million, will be sufficient to fund future cash requirements. The Company’s $150.0 million credit facility has a term not scheduled to expire until March 31, 2019. As of the date of this filing, the Company was not in violation of any of its covenants to the lender under the credit facility and there were no amounts outstanding under the credit facility.

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2015 and 2016 Outlook

Year-to-date depletions through the 42 weeks ended October 17, 2015 are estimated by the Company to be up approximately 6% from the comparable period in 2014.

The Company’s projected 2015 earnings per diluted share are now estimated at $7.00 to $7.40, a decrease in the range from the previously communicated estimate of $7.10 to $7.50. The Company’s actual 2015 earnings per share could vary significantly from the current projection. The Company currently anticipates depletions and shipments growth for the fifty-two week period ending December 26, 2015 of between 3% and 6%, a decrease in the range from the previously communicated estimate of between 6% and 9%. The Company estimates price increases for 2015 of between 1% and 2%, with full-year 2015 gross margins of between 51% and 53%. The Company intends to increase advertising, promotional and selling expenses by between $30 million and $35 million for the full year 2015. These increases exclude increases in freight costs for the shipment of products to the Company’s distributors. The Company estimates increased investments of between $12 million to $15 million for Traveler and other existing brands developed by A&S, which are included in the full-year estimated increases in advertising, promotional and selling expenses. Brand investments in the A&S brands could vary significantly from current estimates. The Company intends to increase its investment in its brands in 2015 commensurate with the opportunities for growth that it sees, but there is no guarantee that such increased investments will result in increased volumes. The Company estimates a full-year 2015 effective tax rate of approximately 37%.

The Company is completing its 2016 planning process and will provide further detailed guidance when the Company presents its full-year 2015 results. The Company is currently using the following preliminary assumptions and targets for 2016, which represents a 53 week fiscal year compared to the 52 week fiscal year in 2015. The Company is forecasting depletion and shipment growth of mid to high single digits. The Company is targeting national price increases between 1% and 2%. Full-year 2016 gross margins are currently expected to be between 52% and 54%. The Company intends to increase advertising, promotional and selling expenses between $15 million and $25 million for the full year 2016, which does not include any increases in freight costs for the shipment of products to its distributors. The Company intends to increase its investment in its brands in 2016 commensurate with the opportunities for growth that it sees, but there is no guarantee that such increased investments will result in increased volumes. The Company estimates a full-year 2016 effective tax rate of approximately 37%.

The Company is continuing to evaluate capital expenditures and to initiate projects to support its business plans. These capital expenditures consist mostly of continued investments in the Company’s breweries in support of currently projected growth. The actual amount spent may be significantly higher, if deemed by management to be appropriate to meet anticipated future growth. Based on current information, the Company has decreased its estimated 2015 capital expenditure range to $60 million to $80 million from the previously communicated estimate of $70 million to $100 million. These estimates include capital expenditures for existing A&S projects of between $3 million and $5 million. The Company estimates full-year 2016 capital spending of between $70 million and $90 million. Based on information currently available, the Company believes that its capacity requirements for 2016 can be covered by its Company-owned breweries and existing contracted capacity at third party brewers.

THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF KNOWN FACTS, COMMITMENTS, EVENTS AND UNCERTAINTIES

Off-balance Sheet Arrangements

At September 26, 2015, the Company did not have off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in 03(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K.

Contractual Obligations

There were no material changes outside of the ordinary course of the Company’s business to contractual obligations during the three month period ended September 26, 2015.

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Critical Accounting Policies

There were no material changes to the Company’s critical accounting policies during the three month period ended September 26, 2015.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in other documents incorporated herein, as well as in oral statements made by the Company, statements that are prefaced with the words “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “continue,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “designed” and similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements regarding events, conditions, and financial trends that may affect the Company’s future plans of operations, business strategy, results of operations and financial position. These statements are based on the Company’s current expectations and estimates as to prospective events and circumstances about which the Company can give no firm assurance. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. Forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a prediction of actual future financial condition or results. These forward-looking statements, like any forward-looking statements, involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated. Such risks and uncertainties include the factors set forth below in addition to the other information set forth in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in the section titled “Other Risks and Uncertainties” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December  27, 2014.

Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Since December 27, 2014, there have been no significant changes in the Company’s exposures to interest rate or foreign currency rate fluctuations. The Company currently does not enter into derivatives or other market risk sensitive instruments for the purpose of hedging or for trading purposes.

Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

As of September 26, 2015, the Company conducted an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, respectively) regarding the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the requisite time periods and that such disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to its management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

There was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended September 26, 2015 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

During the thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2015 there were no material changes to the disclosure made in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 27, 2014.

Item 1A. RISK FACTORS

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, careful consideration should be given to the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 27, 2014, which could materially affect the Company’s business, financial condition or future results. The risks described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K are not the only risks facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to the Company or that it currently deems to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect its business, financial condition and/or operating results.

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Item 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

On July 29, 2015, the Board of Directors approved an increase of $75.0 million to the previously approved $400.0 million share buyback expenditure limit, for a new limit of $475.0 million. On October 15, 2015, the Board of Directors approved an increase of $50.0 million to the previously approved $475.0 million share buyback expenditure limit, for a new limit of $525.0 million. As of October 27, 2015, the Company has repurchased a cumulative total of approximately 11.4 million shares of its Class A Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $406.6 million and had $118.4 million remaining on the $525.0 million share buyback expenditure limit.

During the thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2015, the Company repurchased 363,451 shares of its Class A Common Stock as illustrated in the table below:

Period	Total Number of Shares Purchased		Average Price Paid per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs		Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
December 28, 2014 to January 31, 2015		2,460	$	280.98		2,460	$	41,920,501
February 1, 2015 to February 28, 2015		24		119.14		—		41,920,501
March 1, 2015 to March 28, 2015		32,871		268.15		32,693		33,122,126
March 29, 2015 to May 2, 2015		17,934		267.92		17,879		28,328,911
May 3, 2015 to May 30, 2015		—		—		—		78,328,911
May 31, 2015 to June 27, 2015		34,367		247.26		34,363		69,830,129
June 28, 2015 to August 1, 2015		105,248		224.93		105,134		122,163,970
August 2, 2015 to August 29, 2015		82,285		223.18		82,153		103,816,477
August 30, 2015 to September 26, 2015		88,262		215.19		88,262		83,819,092
Total		363,451	$	230.68		362,944	$	83,819,092

Of the shares that were repurchased during the period, 507 shares represent repurchases of unvested investment shares issued under the Investment Share Program of the Company’s Employee Equity Incentive Plan.

Mr. C. James Koch, the Company’s Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors, converted 100,000 shares of his holdings in Class B Common Stock into 100,000 shares of Class A Common stock on October 26, 2015.

As of October 27, 2015, the Company had 9.5 million shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding and 3.4 million shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding.

Item 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

Not Applicable

Item 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not Applicable

Item 5. OTHER INFORMATION

Not Applicable

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Item 6. EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.	Title
11.1	The information required by Exhibit 11 has been included in Note C of the notes to the consolidated financial statements.
*31.1	Certification of the President and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
*31.2	Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
*32.1	Certification of the President and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
*32.2	Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
*101.INS	XBRL Instance Document
*101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
*101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document
*101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase Document
*101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document
*101.DEF	XBRL Definition Linkbase Document

* Filed with this report

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Form 10-Q to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

	THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY, INC.
	(Registrant)
Date: October 29, 2015	/s/ Martin F. Roper
	Martin F. Roper
	President and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer)
Date: October 29, 2015	/s/ William F. Urich
	William F. Urich
	Chief Financial Officer (principal accounting and financial officer)

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EX-31.1

Exhibit 31.1

I, Martin F. Roper, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of The Boston Beer Company, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: October 29, 2015

/s/ Martin F. Roper

Martin F. Roper

President and Chief Executive Officer

[Principal Executive Officer]

EX-31.2

Exhibit 31.2

I, William F. Urich, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of The Boston Beer Company, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: October 29, 2015

/s/ William F. Urich

William F. Urich

Chief Financial Officer

[Principal Financial Officer]

EX-32.1

Exhibit 32.1

The Boston Beer Company, Inc.

Certification Pursuant To

18 U.S.C. Section 1350,

As Adopted Pursuant To

Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 26, 2015 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Report”), I, Martin F. Roper, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code, that this Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that the information contained in this Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: October 29, 2015

/s/ Martin F. Roper

Martin F. Roper

President and Chief Executive Officer

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to The Boston Beer Company, Inc. and will be retained by The Boston Beer Company, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

EX-32.2

Exhibit 32.2

The Boston Beer Company, Inc.

Certification Pursuant To

18 U.S.C. Section 1350,

As Adopted Pursuant To

Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 26, 2015 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Report”), I, William F. Urich, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code, that this Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that the information contained in this Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: October 29, 2015

/s/ William F. Urich

William F. Urich

Chief Financial Officer

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to The Boston Beer Company, Inc. and will be retained by The Boston Beer Company, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

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Computation of Diluted Net Income Per Share (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 26, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 26, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014
Earnings Per Share, Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
As reported - basic	$ 38,624	$ 37,926	$ 82,299	$ 71,669
Net income per common share - diluted	13,507	13,495	13,602	13,472
As reported - basic	$ 2.93	$ 2.91	$ 6.20	$ 5.50
Net income per common share - diluted	$ 2.85	$ 2.79	$ 6.02	$ 5.29
Common Class A
Earnings Per Share, Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
As reported - basic	$ 28,286	$ 26,878	$ 59,963	$ 50,348
Class B Common Stock	10,159	10,833	21,951	20,919
Net effect of unvested participating shares	5	7	11	16
Net income per common share - diluted	$ 38,450	$ 37,718	$ 81,925	$ 71,283
As reported - basic	9,655	9,248	9,667	9,148
Add: effect of dilutive potential common share-based awards	385	520	396	523
Class B Common Stock	3,467	3,727	3,539	3,801
Net income per common share - diluted	13,507	13,495	13,602	13,472
As reported - basic	$ 2.93	$ 2.91	$ 6.20	$ 5.50
Net income per common share - diluted	$ 2.85	$ 2.79	$ 6.02	$ 5.29

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Comprehensive Income or Loss

9 Months Ended

Sep. 26, 2015

Comprehensive Income or Loss

D. Comprehensive Income or Loss

Comprehensive income or loss represents net income or loss, plus defined benefit plans liability adjustment, net of tax effect and foreign currency translation adjustment. The defined benefit plans liability and foreign currency translation adjustments for the interim periods ended September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014 were not material.

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Fair Value Measurement of Assets and Liabilities on Recurring Basis (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 26, 2015	Dec. 27, 2014
Assets:
Cash equivalents	$ 126,503	$ 68,846
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1
Assets:
Cash equivalents	$ 126,503	$ 68,846

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Debt - Additional Information (Detail) - Revolving Credit Facility $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 26, 2015 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit, current borrowing capacity	$ 150.0
Line of credit, expiration date	Mar. 31, 2019

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Financial Instruments Not Recorded at Fair Value (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 26, 2015	Dec. 27, 2014
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Note payable	$ 458	$ 513
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Note payable	$ 458	$ 513

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Fair Value Measures - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 26, 2015	Dec. 27, 2014	Sep. 27, 2014	Dec. 28, 2013
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents balance	$ 134,612	$ 76,402	$ 57,178	$ 49,524
Money market fund	$ 126,500	$ 68,800

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Net Income per Share

9 Months Ended

Sep. 26, 2015

Net Income per Share

C. Net Income per Share

The Company calculates net income per share using the two-class method which requires the Company to allocate net income to its Class A Common Shares, Class B Common Shares and unvested share-based payment awards that participate in dividends with common stock, in the calculation of net income per share.

The Class A Common Stock has no voting rights, except (1) as required by law, (2) for the election of Class A Directors, and (3) that the approval of the holders of the Class A Common Stock is required for (a) certain future authorizations or issuances of additional securities which have rights senior to Class A Common Stock, (b) certain alterations of rights or terms of the Class A or Class B Common Stock as set forth in the Articles of Organization of the Company, (c) other amendments of the Articles of Organization of the Company, (d) certain mergers or consolidations with, or acquisitions of, other entities, and (e) sales or dispositions of any significant portion of the Company’s assets.

The Class B Common Stock has full voting rights, including the right to (1) elect a majority of the members of the Company’s Board of Directors and (2) approve all (a) amendments to the Company’s Articles of Organization, (b) mergers or consolidations with, or acquisitions of, other entities, (c) sales or dispositions of any significant portion of the Company’s assets, and (d) equity-based and other executive compensation and other significant corporate matters. The Company’s Class B Common Stock is not listed for trading. Each share of the Class B Common Stock is freely convertible into one share of Class A Common Stock, upon request of any Class B holder, and participates equally in dividends.

The Company’s unvested share-based payment awards include unvested shares (1) issued under the Company’s investment share program which permits employees who have been with the Company for at least one year to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock and to purchase those shares at a discount ranging from 20% to 40% below market value based on years of employment starting after two years of employment, and (2) awarded as restricted stock awards at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors. The investment shares and restricted stock awards generally vest over five years in equal number of shares. The unvested shares participate equally in dividends. See Note I for a discussion of the current year unvested stock awards and issuances.

Included in the computation of net income per diluted common share are dilutive outstanding stock options that are vested or expected to vest. At its discretion, the Board of Directors grants stock options to senior management and certain key employees. The terms of the employee stock options are determined by the Board of Directors at the time of grant. To date, stock options granted to employees vest over various service periods and/or based on the attainment of certain performance criteria and generally expire after ten years. The Company also grants stock options to its non-employee directors upon election or re-election to the Board of Directors. The number of option shares granted to non-employee directors is calculated based on a defined formula and these stock options vest immediately upon grant and expire after ten years.

Net Income per Common Share - Basic

The following table sets forth the computation of basic net income per share using the two-class method:

	Thirteen weeks ended				Thitry-nine weeks ended
	September 26, 2015		September 27, 2014		September 26, 2015		September 27, 2014
	(in thousands, except per share data)				(in thousands, except per share data)
Net Income	$	38,624	$	37,926	$	82,299	$	71,669
Allocation of net income for basic:
Class A Common Stock	$	28,286	$	26,878	$	59,963	$	50,348
Class B Common Stock		10,159		10,833		21,951		20,919
Unvested participating shares		179		215		385		402
	$	38,624	$	37,926	$	82,299	$	71,669
Weighted average number of shares for basic:
Class A Common Stock		9,655		9,248		9,667		9,148
Class B Common Stock*		3,467		3,727		3,539		3,801
Unvested participating shares		61		74		62		73
		13,183		13,049		13,268		13,022
Net income per share for basic:
Class A Common Stock	$	2.93	$	2.91	$	6.20	$	5.50
Class B Common Stock	$	2.93	$	2.91	$	6.20	$	5.50

* Change in Class B Common Stock resulted from the conversion of 110,000 share to Class A Common Stock on November 4, 2014 and 150,000 shares to Class A Common Stock on May 6, 2015, with the thirteen and thirty-nine-week number of shares reflecting the weighted average for the periods.

Net Income per Common Share - Diluted

The Company calculates diluted net income per share for common stock using the more dilutive of (1) the treasury stock method, or (2) the two-class method, which assumes the participating securities are not exercised.

The following table sets forth the computation of diluted net income per share, assuming the conversion of all Class B Common Stock into Class A Common Stock and using the two-class method for unvested participating shares:

	Thirteen weeks ended September 26, 2015						Thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2014
	Earnings to Common Shareholders		Common Shares		EPS		Earnings to Common Shareholders		Common Shares		EPS
	(in thousands, except per share data)
As reported - basic	$	28,286		9,655	$	2.93	$	26,878		9,248	$	2.91
Add: effect of dilutive potential common shares
Share-based awards		—		385				—		520
Class B Common Stock		10,159		3,467				10,833		3,727
Net effect of unvested participating shares		5		—				7		—
Net income per common share - diluted	$	38,450		13,507	$	2.85	$	37,718		13,495	$	2.79
	Thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2015						Thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2014
	Earnings to Common Shareholders		Common Shares		EPS		Earnings to Common Shareholders		Common Shares		EPS
	(in thousands, except per share data)
As reported - basic	$	59,963		9,667	$	6.20	$	50,348		9,148	$	5.50
Add: effect of dilutive potential common shares
Share-based awards		—		396				—		523
Class B Common Stock		21,951		3,539				20,919		3,801
Net effect of unvested participating shares		11		—				16		—
Net income per common share - diluted	$	81,925		13,602	$	6.02	$	71,283		13,472	$	5.29

During the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2015, weighted-average stock options to purchase approximately 17,000 and 10,000 shares, respectively, of Class A Common Stock were outstanding but not included in computing diluted income per common share because their effects were anti-dilutive. There were no anti-dilutive shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding during the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2014. Additionally, performance-based stock options to purchase 37,000 and 42,000 shares of Class A Common Stock were outstanding as of September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014, respectively, but not included in computing diluted income per common share because the performance criteria of these stock options was not met as of the end of the reporting period.

Of the performance-based stock options to purchase 37,000 shares of Class A Common Stock that were excluded from computing diluted net income per common share as of September 26, 2015, 30,000 shares were granted in 2009 to two key employees. The vesting of these shares requires annual depletions, or sales by distributors to retailers, of certain of the Company’s brands to attain various thresholds during the period from 2014 to 2018. The remaining 7,000 shares were granted in 2015 to executive officers and the vesting of these shares requires annual depletions to attain various thresholds during 2015.

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Summary of Stock Options under Equity Plan and Non-Employee Director Plan (Detail) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 26, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares shares
Shares
Outstanding at beginning of period | shares	1,380,444
Granted | shares	24,363
Forfeited | shares	0
Expired | shares	0
Exercised | shares	(249,436)
Outstanding at end of period | shares	1,155,371
Exercisable at end of period | shares	408,752
Vested and expected to vest at end of period | shares	1,118,040
Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at beginning of period	$ 55.37
Granted	283.22
Forfeited	0
Expired	0
Exercised	163.02
Outstanding at end of period	63.58
Exercisable at end of period	61.26
Vested and expected to vest at end of period	$ 63.54
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term
Outstanding at end of period	3 years 7 months 24 days
Exercisable at end of period	3 years 4 months 6 days
Vested and expected to vest at end of period	3 years 7 months 21 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at end of period | $	$ 179,584
Exercisable at end of period | $	64,140
Vested and expected to vest at end of period | $	$ 173,812

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Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 26, 2015	Dec. 27, 2014
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 134,612	$ 76,402
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $91 and $144 as of September 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014, respectively	57,121	36,860
Inventories	57,317	51,307
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	14,716	12,887
Income tax receivable	2,168	21,321
Deferred income taxes	6,335	8,685
Total current assets	272,269	207,462
Property, plant and equipment, net	405,415	381,569
Other assets	9,550	12,447
Goodwill	3,683	3,683
Total assets	690,917	605,161
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	48,518	35,576
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	84,274	74,594
Total current liabilities	132,792	110,170
Deferred income taxes	47,355	50,717
Debt and capital lease obligations, less current portion	471	528
Other liabilities	15,499	7,606
Total liabilities	$ 196,117	$ 169,021
Commitments and Contingencies (See Note E)
Stockholders' Equity:
Additional paid-in capital	$ 285,074	$ 224,909
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(1,146)	(1,133)
Retained earnings	210,742	212,233
Total stockholders' equity	494,800	436,140
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	690,917	605,161
Common Class A
Stockholders' Equity:
Common Stock	95	95
Common Class B
Stockholders' Equity:
Common Stock	$ 35	$ 36

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Organization and Basis of Presentation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 26, 2015

Organization and Basis of Presentation

A. Organization and Basis of Presentation

The Boston Beer Company, Inc. and certain subsidiaries (the “Company”) are engaged in the business of brewing and selling alcohol beverages throughout the United States and in selected international markets, under the trade names, “The Boston Beer Company,” “Twisted Tea Brewing Company,” and “Angry Orchard Cider Company”. The Company’s Samuel Adams^® beers are produced and sold under the trade name “The Boston Beer Company.” A&S Brewing Collaborative LLC, d/b/a Alchemy & Science (“A&S”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, sells beer under various trade names including “The Traveler Beer Company” and “Coney Island Brewing Company”.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated balance sheet as of September 26, 2015, and the consolidated statements of comprehensive income and consolidated statements of cash flows for the interim periods ended September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014 have been prepared by the Company in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required for complete financial statements by generally accepted accounting principles and should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 27, 2014.

In the opinion of the Company’s management, the Company’s unaudited consolidated balance sheet as of September 26, 2015 and the results of its consolidated operations and consolidated cash flows for the interim periods ended September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014, reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal and recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the results of the interim periods presented. The operating results for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full year.

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Impairment Assets - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 26, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 26, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014
Impairment Of Long Lived Assets [Line Items]
Impairment assets	$ 218	$ 1,577	$ 218	$ 1,577

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Net Income per Share - Additional Information (Detail)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 26, 2015 shares	Sep. 27, 2014 shares	Sep. 26, 2015 shares	Sep. 27, 2014 shares	Dec. 26, 2009 Employee shares
Investment Share Program
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items]
Requirement tenure of employee for investment share program, purchase shares at discount			2 years
Vesting period			5 years
Minimum | Investment Share Program
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items]
Requirement tenure of employee for investment share program			1 year
Discount from current market value			20.00%
Maximum | Investment Share Program
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items]
Discount from current market value			40.00%
Common Class A
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	17,000	0	10,000	0
Common Class A | Performance-Based Options
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items]
Common Stock that were excluded from computing diluted net income per common share			37,000	42,000
Options granted in period			7,000
Common Class A | Key Employee | Performance-Based Options
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items]
Options granted in period					30,000
Number of employees | Employee					2

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Subsequent Events - Additional Information (Detail) - Subsequent Event	Oct. 15, 2015 USD ($)
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Increase of expenditure limit for the Company's Stock Repurchase Program	$ 50,000,000
Before Increase
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Stock Repurchase Program limit	475,000,000
After Increase
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Stock Repurchase Program limit	$ 525,000,000

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Computation of Earnings Per Share, Basic (Parenthetical) (Detail) - shares	May. 06, 2015	Nov. 04, 2014
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Conversion of Class B Common Stock into Class A Common Stock	150,000	110,000

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Inventories

9 Months Ended

Sep. 26, 2015

Inventories

B. Inventories

Inventories consist of raw materials, work in process and finished goods. Raw materials, which principally consist of hops, apple juice, other brewing materials and packaging, are stated at the lower of cost, determined on the first-in, first-out basis, or market. The Company’s goal is to maintain on-hand a supply of at least one year for essential hop varieties, in order to limit the risk of an unexpected reduction in supply. Inventories are generally classified as current assets. The Company classifies hops inventory in excess of two years of forecasted usage in other long term assets. The cost elements of work in process and finished goods inventory consist of raw materials, direct labor and manufacturing overhead. Inventories consist of the following:

	September 26, 2015			December 27, 2014
	(in thousands)
Raw materials	$	41,485		$	39,535
Work in process		9,099			7,391
Finished goods		10,749			10,793
		61,333			57,719
Less portion in other long term assets		(4,016	)		(6,412	)
	$	57,317		$	51,307

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Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 26, 2015	Dec. 27, 2014
Allowance for doubtful accounts on accounts receivable	$ 91	$ 144
Common Class A
Common Stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common Stock, shares authorized	22,700,000	22,700,000
Common Stock, shares issued	9,514,599	9,452,375
Common Stock, shares outstanding	9,514,599	9,452,375
Common Class B
Common Stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common Stock, shares authorized	4,200,000	4,200,000
Common Stock, shares issued	3,467,355	3,617,355
Common Stock, shares outstanding	3,467,355	3,617,355

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Inventories (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 26, 2015

Components of Inventories

Inventories consist of the following:

	September 26, 2015			December 27, 2014
	(in thousands)
Raw materials	$	41,485		$	39,535
Work in process		9,099			7,391
Finished goods		10,749			10,793
		61,333			57,719
Less portion in other long term assets		(4,016	)		(6,412	)
	$	57,317		$	51,307

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Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 26, 2015	Oct. 27, 2015
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 26, 2015
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Trading Symbol	SAM
Entity Registrant Name	BOSTON BEER CO INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000949870
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-26
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Common Class A
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		9,549,171
Common Class B
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		3,367,355

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Net Income per Share (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 26, 2015

Computation of Earnings Per Share, Basic

The following table sets forth the computation of basic net income per share using the two-class method:

	Thirteen weeks ended				Thitry-nine weeks ended
	September 26, 2015		September 27, 2014		September 26, 2015		September 27, 2014
	(in thousands, except per share data)				(in thousands, except per share data)
Net Income	$	38,624	$	37,926	$	82,299	$	71,669
Allocation of net income for basic:
Class A Common Stock	$	28,286	$	26,878	$	59,963	$	50,348
Class B Common Stock		10,159		10,833		21,951		20,919
Unvested participating shares		179		215		385		402
	$	38,624	$	37,926	$	82,299	$	71,669
Weighted average number of shares for basic:
Class A Common Stock		9,655		9,248		9,667		9,148
Class B Common Stock*		3,467		3,727		3,539		3,801
Unvested participating shares		61		74		62		73
		13,183		13,049		13,268		13,022
Net income per share for basic:
Class A Common Stock	$	2.93	$	2.91	$	6.20	$	5.50
Class B Common Stock	$	2.93	$	2.91	$	6.20	$	5.50

* Change in Class B Common Stock resulted from the conversion of 110,000 share to Class A Common Stock on November 4, 2014 and 150,000 shares to Class A Common Stock on May 6, 2015, with the thirteen and thirty-nine-week number of shares reflecting the weighted average for the periods.

Computation of Earnings Per Share, Diluted

The following table sets forth the computation of diluted net income per share, assuming the conversion of all Class B Common Stock into Class A Common Stock and using the two-class method for unvested participating shares:

	Thirteen weeks ended September 26, 2015						Thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2014
	Earnings to Common Shareholders		Common Shares		EPS		Earnings to Common Shareholders		Common Shares		EPS
	(in thousands, except per share data)
As reported - basic	$	28,286		9,655	$	2.93	$	26,878		9,248	$	2.91
Add: effect of dilutive potential common shares
Share-based awards		—		385				—		520
Class B Common Stock		10,159		3,467				10,833		3,727
Net effect of unvested participating shares		5		—				7		—
Net income per common share - diluted	$	38,450		13,507	$	2.85	$	37,718		13,495	$	2.79
	Thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2015						Thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2014
	Earnings to Common Shareholders		Common Shares		EPS		Earnings to Common Shareholders		Common Shares		EPS
	(in thousands, except per share data)
As reported - basic	$	59,963		9,667	$	6.20	$	50,348		9,148	$	5.50
Add: effect of dilutive potential common shares
Share-based awards		—		396				—		523
Class B Common Stock		21,951		3,539				20,919		3,801
Net effect of unvested participating shares		11		—				16		—
Net income per common share - diluted	$	81,925		13,602	$	6.02	$	71,283		13,472	$	5.29

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Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 26, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 26, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014
Revenue		$ 312,638	$ 288,777	$ 794,193	$ 733,511
Less excise taxes		19,544	19,043	49,392	48,321
Net revenue		293,094	269,734	744,801	685,190
Cost of goods sold		136,084	126,738	351,950	328,579
Gross profit		157,010	142,996	392,851	356,611
Operating expenses:
Advertising, promotional and selling expenses		78,205	65,024	209,823	192,202
General and administrative expenses		17,707	15,748	52,972	48,300
Impairment of assets		218	1,577	218	1,577
Total operating expenses		96,130	82,349	263,013	242,079
Operating income		60,880	60,647	129,838	114,532
Other income (expense), net:
Interest income (expense), net		0	31	7	23
Other income (expense), net		(527)	(371)	(798)	(307)
Total other income (expense), net		(527)	(340)	(791)	(284)
Income before income tax provision		60,353	60,307	129,047	114,248
Provision for income taxes		21,729	22,381	46,748	42,579
Net income		$ 38,624	$ 37,926	$ 82,299	$ 71,669
Net income per common share - basic		$ 2.93	$ 2.91	$ 6.20	$ 5.50
Net income per common share - diluted		$ 2.85	$ 2.79	$ 6.02	$ 5.29
Weighted-average number of common shares - diluted		13,507	13,495	13,602	13,472
Net Income		$ 38,624	$ 37,926	$ 82,299	$ 71,669
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(14)	0	(13)	0
Comprehensive income		$ 38,610	$ 37,926	$ 82,286	$ 71,669
Common Class A
Other income (expense), net:
Net income per common share - basic		$ 2.93	$ 2.91	$ 6.20	$ 5.50
Net income per common share - diluted		$ 2.85	$ 2.79	$ 6.02	$ 5.29
Weighted-average number of common shares - basic		9,655	9,248	9,667	9,148
Weighted-average number of common shares - diluted		13,507	13,495	13,602	13,472
Common Class B
Other income (expense), net:
Net income per common share - basic		$ 2.93	$ 2.91	$ 6.20	$ 5.50
Weighted-average number of common shares - basic	[1]	3,467	3,727	3,539	3,801

[1] Change in Class B Common Stock resulted from the conversion of 110,000 share to Class A Common Stock on November 4, 2014 and 150,000 shares to Class A Common Stock on May 6, 2015, with the thirteen and thirty-nine-week number of shares reflecting the weighted average for the periods.

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Debt

9 Months Ended

Sep. 26, 2015

Debt

G. Debt

Line of Credit

The Company has a credit facility in place that provides for a $150.0 million revolving line of credit which expires on March 31, 2019. As of September 26, 2015, the Company was not in violation of any of its covenants to the lender under the credit facility and there were no borrowings outstanding, so that the line of credit was fully available to the Company for borrowing.

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Income Taxes

9 Months Ended

Sep. 26, 2015

Income Taxes

F. Income Taxes

As of September 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014, the Company had approximately $0.4 million and $0.4 million, respectively, of unrecognized income tax benefits.

The Company’s practice is to classify interest and penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. As of September 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014, the Company had $0.3 million and $0.3 million, respectively, accrued for interest and penalties.

During the first quarter of 2015, the Company received a $17.2 million refund from the Internal Revenue Service of an overpayment of its 2014 estimated tax. The refund resulted from the Tax Increase Prevention Act, H.R. 5771, that was enacted after payment of 2014 corporate estimated tax payments that were due on December 15, 2014. The Tax Increase Prevention Act allows the Company to claim accelerated tax depreciation on qualified property, plant, and equipment additions, and the research & development tax credit on its 2014 federal corporate income tax return.

The Company’s federal and state income tax returns remain subject to examination for three or four years depending on the state’s statute of limitations. The Company is being audited by two states as of September 26, 2015. In addition, the Company is generally obligated to report changes in taxable income arising from federal income tax audits.

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Computation of Earnings Per Share, Basic (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 26, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 26, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Net Income		$ 38,624	$ 37,926	$ 82,299	$ 71,669
Allocation of net income for basic:
Allocation of net income for basic common stock		38,624	37,926	82,299	71,669
Allocation of net income for basic unvested participating shares		$ 179	$ 215	$ 385	$ 402
Weighted average number of shares for basic:
Weighted average number of shares for basic unvested participating shares		61	74	62	73
Shares used in net income per common share - basic		13,183	13,049	13,268	13,022
Net income per share for basic:
Net Income Per Common Stock		$ 2.93	$ 2.91	$ 6.20	$ 5.50
Common Class A
Allocation of net income for basic:
Allocation of net income for basic common stock		$ 28,286	$ 26,878	$ 59,963	$ 50,348
Weighted average number of shares for basic:
Weighted average number of shares for basic common stock		9,655	9,248	9,667	9,148
Net income per share for basic:
Net Income Per Common Stock		$ 2.93	$ 2.91	$ 6.20	$ 5.50
Common Class B
Allocation of net income for basic:
Allocation of net income for basic common stock		$ 10,159	$ 10,833	$ 21,951	$ 20,919
Weighted average number of shares for basic:
Weighted average number of shares for basic common stock	[1]	3,467	3,727	3,539	3,801
Net income per share for basic:
Net Income Per Common Stock		$ 2.93	$ 2.91	$ 6.20	$ 5.50

[1] Change in Class B Common Stock resulted from the conversion of 110,000 share to Class A Common Stock on November 4, 2014 and 150,000 shares to Class A Common Stock on May 6, 2015, with the thirteen and thirty-nine-week number of shares reflecting the weighted average for the periods.

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Fair Value Measures (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 26, 2015

Fair Value Measurement of Assets and Liabilities on Recurring Basis

The assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized in the table below (in thousands):

	As of September 26, 2015
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets:
Cash equivalents	$	126,503	$	—	$	—	$	126,503
	As of December 27, 2014
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets:
Cash equivalents	$	68,846	$	—	$	—	$	68,846

Financial Instruments Not Recorded at Fair Value

Financial instruments not recorded at fair value in the consolidated financial statements are summarized in the table below (in thousands):

	As of September 26, 2015
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Note payable	$	—	$	458	$	—	$	458
	As of December 27, 2014
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Note payable	$	—	$	513	$	—	$	513

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Impairment of Assets

9 Months Ended

Sep. 26, 2015

Impairment of Assets

J. Impairment of Assets

During the third quarter of 2015, the Company incurred impairment charges of $0.2 million related to an intangible asset. During the third quarter of 2014, the Company incurred impairment charges of $1.6 million based upon its analysis of the fair value of machinery that was replaced in early 2015. Management based its valuation on the discounted cash flows of the machinery over its remaining useful life and estimated salvage value.

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Fair Value Measures

9 Months Ended

Sep. 26, 2015

Fair Value Measures

H. Fair Value Measures

The Company defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or be paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Company applies the following fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value into three levels and bases the categorization within the hierarchy upon the lowest level of input that is available and significant to the fair value measurement. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements).

• Level 1 — Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date.

• Level 2 — Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. If the asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, a Level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

• Level 3 — Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date.

All financial assets or liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis (at least annually) have been segregated into the most appropriate level within the fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used to determine the fair value at the measurement date. The assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized in the table below (in thousands):

	As of September 26, 2015
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets:
Cash equivalents	$	126,503	$	—	$	—	$	126,503
	As of December 27, 2014
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets:
Cash equivalents	$	68,846	$	—	$	—	$	68,846

The Company’s cash equivalents listed above represent money market funds and are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices. The Company does not adjust the quoted market price for such financial instruments.

Cash, certificates of deposit, receivables and payables are carried at their cost, which approximates fair value, because of their short-term nature. Financial instruments not recorded at fair value in the consolidated financial statements are summarized in the table below (in thousands):

	As of September 26, 2015
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Note payable	$	—	$	458	$	—	$	458
	As of December 27, 2014
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Note payable	$	—	$	513	$	—	$	513

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents held in money market funds. At September 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014, the Company had money market funds with a “Triple A” rated money market fund. The Company considers the “Triple A” rated money market fund to be a large, highly-rated investment-grade institution. As of September 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014, our cash and cash equivalents balance was $134.6 million and $76.4 million, respectively, including money market funds amounting to $126.5 million and $68.8 million, respectively. The money market funds were invested substantially in United States Treasury and government securities.

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Common Stock and Stock-Based Compensation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 26, 2015

Common Stock and Stock-Based Compensation

I. Common Stock and Stock-Based Compensation

Option Activity

Information related to stock options under the Equity Plan and the Non-Employee Director Plan is summarized as follows:

	Shares			Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term in Years		Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands)
Outstanding at December 27, 2014		1,380,444		$	55.37
Granted		24,363			283.22
Forfeited		—
Expired		—
Exercised		(249,436	)		163.02
Outstanding at September 26, 2015		1,155,371		$	63.58		3.65	$	179,584
Exercisable at September 26, 2015		408,752		$	61.26		3.35	$	64,140
Vested and expected to vest at September 26, 2015		1,118,040		$	63.54		3.64	$	173,812

On January 1, 2015, the Company granted options to purchase an aggregate of 18,723 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock to senior management with a weighted average fair value of $130.43 per share.

On May 27, 2015, the Company granted options to purchase an aggregate of 5,640 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock to the Company’s non-employee Directors. These options have a weighted average fair value of $122.25 per share. All of the options vested immediately on the date of the grant.

On January 1, 2008, the Company granted the Chief Executive Officer a stock option to purchase 753,864 shares of its Class A Common Stock, which vests over a five-year period, commencing on January 1, 2014, at the rate of 20% per year. The exercise price is determined by multiplying $42.00 by the aggregate change in the DJ Wilshire 5000 Index from and after January 1, 2008 through the close of business on the trading date next preceding each date on which the option is exercised. The exercise price will not be less than $37.65 per share and the excess of the fair value of the Company’s Class A Common Stock cannot exceed $70 per share over the exercise price. At September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014, 452,319 shares and 603,092 shares of the stock option remained outstanding, respectively. If the outstanding shares at September 26, 2015 were exercised on that date, the exercise price would have been $147.48 per share. If the outstanding shares at September 27, 2014 were exercised on that date, the exercise price would have been $150.19 per share.

Non-Vested Shares Activity

The following table summarizes vesting activities of shares issued under the investment share program and restricted stock awards:

	Number of Shares			Weighted Average Fair Value
Non-vested at December 27, 2014		73,098		$	115.99
Granted		14,405			195.07
Vested		(25,732	)		79.44
Forfeited		(817	)		121.36
Non-vested at September 26, 2015		60,954		$	150.01

On January 1, 2015, the Company granted 6,092 shares of restricted stock awards to certain senior managers and key employees of which 5,402 shares vest ratably over service periods of five years and 690 shares vest ratably over service periods of three years. On January 1, 2015 employees elected to purchase 8,313 shares under the investment share program. The weighted average fair value of the restricted stock awards and investment shares, which are sold to employees at discount under its investment share program, was $289.54 and $125.84 per share, respectively.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-based compensation expense related to share-based awards recognized in the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2015 was $1.6 million and $5.2 million, respectively, and was calculated based on awards expected to vest. Stock-based compensation expense related to share-based awards recognized in the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2014 was $1.4 million and $5.3 million, respectively, and was calculated based on awards expected to vest.

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Subsequent Events

9 Months Ended

Sep. 26, 2015

Subsequent Events

K. Subsequent Events

On October 15, 2015, the Board of Directors approved an increase of $50.0 million to the previously approved $475.0 million share buyback expenditure limit for a new limit of $525.0 million.

The Company evaluated subsequent events occurring after the balance sheet date, September 26, 2015, and concluded that there were no other events of which management was aware that occurred after the balance sheet date that would require any adjustment to or disclosure in the accompanying consolidated financial statements except for the minimum aggregate glass purchase in 2016 committed to on October 1, 2015 as disclosed in Note E.

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Summary of Vesting Activities for Investment Share Program and Restricted Stock Awards (Detail)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 26, 2015 $ / shares shares
Number of shares
Non-vested at beginning of period | shares	73,098
Granted | shares	14,405
Vested | shares	(25,732)
Forfeited | shares	(817)
Non-vested at end of period | shares	60,954
Weighted Average Fair Value
Non-vested at beginning of period	$ 115.99
Granted	195.07
Vested	79.44
Forfeited	121.36
Non-vested at end of period	$ 150.01

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Components of Inventories (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 26, 2015	Dec. 27, 2014
Inventory [Line Items]
Raw materials	$ 41,485	$ 39,535
Work in process	9,099	7,391
Finished goods	10,749	10,793
Inventory, Gross	61,333	57,719
Less portion in other long term assets	(4,016)	(6,412)
Inventories	57,317	51,307
Inventory, Gross	$ 61,333	$ 57,719

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Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 26, 2015 USD ($) Vendor	Oct. 01, 2015 USD ($)
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Purchase commitments	$ 140.4
Minimum
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Company's current brewing and packaging percentage	95.00%
Equipment and machinery
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Purchase commitments	$ 29.7
Barley and Wheat
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Purchase commitments	$ 17.6
Number of suppliers | Vendor	2
Hops, Barley and Wheat
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Purchase commitments	$ 54.8
Apples and other ingredients
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Purchase commitments	17.7
Glass Bottles
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Purchase commitments	2.9
Glass Bottles | Subsequent Event
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Purchase commitments		$ 21.7
Advertising Contracts
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Purchase commitments	30.8
Other Commitments
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Purchase commitments	4.5
Hops
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Purchase commitments	$ 37.2

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Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 26, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014
Cash flows provided by operating activities:
Net Income	$ 82,299	$ 71,669
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	31,577	24,990
Impairment of assets	218	1,577
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment	342	91
Bad debt expense	12	160
Stock-based compensation expense	5,218	5,324
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation arrangements	(13,113)	(9,158)
Deferred income taxes	(1,012)	157
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(20,273)	(7,830)
Inventories	(6,010)	(3,213)
Prepaid expenses, income tax receivable and other assets	20,662	(4,862)
Accounts payable	12,167	2,029
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	22,609	21,650
Other liabilities	7,777	(20)
Net cash provided by operating activities	142,473	102,564
Cash flows used in investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(55,606)	(128,292)
Cash paid for other intangible assets	(100)	(100)
Decrease in restricted cash	57	55
Net cash used in investing activities	(55,649)	(128,337)
Cash flows (used in) provided by financing activities:
Repurchase of Class A Common Stock	(83,794)	0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	41,000	23,441
Cash paid on note payable	(54)	(53)
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation arrangements	13,113	9,158
Net proceeds from sale of investment shares	1,121	881
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(28,614)	33,427
Change in cash and cash equivalents	58,210	7,654
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	76,402	49,524
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	134,612	57,178
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Income taxes paid	23,992	23,191
Income taxes refunded	17,225	0
Increase in accounts payable for purchase of property, plant and equipment	$ 775	$ 3,390

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Commitments and Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 26, 2015

Commitments and Contingencies

E. Commitments and Contingencies

Purchase Commitments

The Company had outstanding total non-cancelable purchase commitments of $140.4 million at September 26, 2015. These commitments are made up of hops, barley and wheat totaling $54.8 million, advertising contracts of $30.8 million, equipment and machinery of $29.7 million, apples and other ingredients of $17.7 million, glass bottles of $2.9 million and other commitments of $4.5 million.

The Company has entered into contracts for the supply of a portion of its hops requirements. These purchase contracts extend through crop year 2018 and specify both the quantities and prices, denominated in Euros and U.S. Dollars, to which the Company is committed. Hops purchase commitments outstanding at September 26, 2015 totaled $37.2 million, based on the exchange rates on that date.

Currently, the Company has entered into contracts for barley and wheat with two major suppliers. The contracts include crop years 2014 and 2015 and cover the Company’s barley, wheat, and malt requirements for 2015 and part of 2016. These purchase commitments outstanding at September 26, 2015 totaled $17.6 million.

The Company sources some of its glass bottles needs pursuant to a Glass Bottle Supply Agreement with Anchor Glass Container Corporation (“Anchor”), under which Anchor is the supplier of certain glass bottles for the Company’s Cincinnati Brewery and its Pennsylvania Brewery. This agreement also establishes the terms on which Anchor may supply glass bottles to other breweries where the Company brews its beers. Under the agreement with Anchor, the Company has minimum purchase commitments that are based on Company-provided production estimates which, under normal business conditions, are expected to be fulfilled. Minimum purchase commitments under the agreement, assuming the supplier is unable to replace lost production capacity cancelled by the Company, as of September 26, 2015 totaled $2.9 million. On October 1, 2015 the Company committed to minimum aggregate purchases in 2016 of $21.7 million.

Currently, the Company brews and packages more than 95% of its core brands volume at Company-owned breweries. In the normal course of its business, the Company has historically entered into various production arrangements with other brewing companies. Pursuant to these arrangements, the Company purchases the liquid produced by those brewing companies, including the raw materials that are used in the liquid, at the time such liquid goes into fermentation. The Company is required to repurchase all unused raw materials purchased by the brewing company specifically for the Company’s beers at the brewing company’s cost upon termination of the production arrangement. The Company is also obligated to meet annual volume requirements in conjunction with certain production arrangements. These requirements are not material to the Company’s operations.

Litigation

The Company is not a party to any pending or threatened litigation, the outcome of which would be expected to have a material adverse effect upon its financial condition or the results of its operations. In general, while the Company believes it conducts its business appropriately in accordance with laws, regulations and industry guidelines, claims, whether or not meritorious, could be asserted against the Company that might adversely impact the Company’s results.

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Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Mar. 28, 2015	Sep. 26, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014	Dec. 27, 2014
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Unrecognized tax benefits		$ 400		$ 400
Accrued interest and penalties		300		$ 300
Income tax refund resulted from the Tax Increase Prevention Act, H.R. 5771	$ 17,200	$ 17,225	$ 0
State and Local Jurisdiction
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax return examination		The Company's federal and state income tax returns remain subject to examination for three or four years depending on the state's statute of limitations.
State and Local Jurisdiction | Minimum
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax return examination period		3 years
State and Local Jurisdiction | Maximum
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax return examination period		4 years

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Common Stock and Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 26, 2015

Summary of Stock Options under Equity Plan and Non-Employee Director Plan

Information related to stock options under the Equity Plan and the Non-Employee Director Plan is summarized as follows:

	Shares			Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term in Years		Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands)
Outstanding at December 27, 2014		1,380,444		$	55.37
Granted		24,363			283.22
Forfeited		—
Expired		—
Exercised		(249,436	)		163.02
Outstanding at September 26, 2015		1,155,371		$	63.58		3.65	$	179,584
Exercisable at September 26, 2015		408,752		$	61.26		3.35	$	64,140
Vested and expected to vest at September 26, 2015		1,118,040		$	63.54		3.64	$	173,812

Summary of Vesting Activities of Shares Issued Under Investment Share Program and Restricted Stock Awards

The following table summarizes vesting activities of shares issued under the investment share program and restricted stock awards:

	Number of Shares			Weighted Average Fair Value
Non-vested at December 27, 2014		73,098		$	115.99
Granted		14,405			195.07
Vested		(25,732	)		79.44
Forfeited		(817	)		121.36
Non-vested at September 26, 2015		60,954		$	150.01