<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2022-03-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>false</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000949870</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BOSTON BEER CO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SAM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001805290</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>O'Boyle Carolyn L.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE DESIGN CENTER PLACE, SUITE 850</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>C/O THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02210</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>false</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>true</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>false</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>false</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief People Officer</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2022-03-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>57.00</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>306.77</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2828.00</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The shares were purchased pursuant to the Issuer's Employee Equity Incentive Plan on March 16, 2022, with an effective grant date of March 1, 2022. Under this plan, tenured employees may purchase restricted shares at a discounted price. These restricted shares vest in five equal installments over a five year period, provided that the Reporting Person remains employed by the Issuer as of the applicable vesting date. The first installment vests one year from the grant date and the final installment vests five years from the grant date. These shares have no expiration date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The shares reported include 2,124 shares of restricted stock subject to vesting conditions.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Michael G. Andrews under POA for the benefit of Carolyn L. O'Boyle</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2022-03-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
