Real Ale Named in Top 50 Craft Breweries in the U.S.

Real Ale is one of two Texas breweries listed and also one of three with single-state distribution.

“In a release from the Brewer’s Association on March 15, 2017, Real Ale Brewing Co. of Blanco, Texas was named #49 on the list of the Top 50 Craft Breweries in the U.S. by sales volume. Real Ale is one of two craft breweries from Texas on the list with Gambrinus (owner of Spoetzl Brewing in Shiner, Texas) at #5.

This is Real Ale’s third time to be named to the Top 50 list. Their first time was in 2010, again at #49. That year they were joined by Saint Arnold Brewing Company of Houston, at #48, and Gambrinus/Spoetzl at #4. They made the list the next year (2011) as well, moving up to #45 (with Saint Arnold at #43 and Gambrinus at #4), which was the last time they were listed before 2016.

Real Ale’s beer is only sold in Texas, which makes it one of only three breweries on the top 50 list to distribute in a single state. Their decision to sell only in Texas is a purposeful one, as their website emphasizes: “We’re Texans. We care about Texans. So, we want to make sure the people we care about have the highest quality beer possible.” New Glarus Brewing of New Glarus, Wisconsin (#16), and Karl Strauss Brewing Co. of San Diego (#41), California are the other single state craft breweries on the list.

The brewery is celebrating its 21st anniversary in 2017 with the launch of Real Spirits Distilling on April 8th and a kegger party on April 22nd. Real Spirits whiskey and gin are distilled from Real Ale beers, grain-to-glass, and barrel-aged on-site. The 750ml bottles will only be available to purchase at the brewery, and specialty cocktails will be available over the bar for patrons visiting the Tap Room. The annual Real Ale anniversary party will be on April 22nd at the brewery. To celebrate its 21st birthday, they’re throwing a “kegger” party and releasing pre-prohibition lager style beer known as “21”. Tickets are on sale now and include 4 beers, a raffle ticket for a custom Real Ale kegerator, and access to a day of live music and food at the brewery.”

*Corrected March 21, 2017 to include Karl Strauss Brewing Co. as the third single-state brewery on the list.