March 27, 2002


The Boston Beer Company, Inc.
75 Arlington Street
Boston, MA 02116

Ladies and Gentlemen:

       We are counsel to The Boston Beer Company, Inc., a Massachusetts
Corporation (the "Company"), and as such counsel we are familiar with the
corporate proceedings taken in connection with the adoption of the Company's
1996 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the "Plan"). We are also
familiar with the Registration Statement on Form S-8 to which a copy of this
opinion will be attached as an Exhibit.

       As such counsel, we have examined the corporate records of the Company,
including its Articles of Organization, By-laws, Minutes of Meetings of its
Board of Directors and Stockholders and such other documents as we have deemed
necessary as a basis for the opinions herein expressed.

       Based upon the foregoing, and having regard for such legal considerations
as we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that:

       1.       The Company is a corporation duly organized and validly existing
                under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

       2.       The Company has duly reserved 3,687,500 shares of its
                Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, for issuance
                under the Plan.

       3.       The shares of Class A Common Stock issuable pursuant to
                the Plan have been duly authorized and, when issued in
                accordance with the terms of the Plan, such shares will be
                validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of capital
                stock of the Company to which no personal liability will attach.

       We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an Exhibit to the
Registration Statement on Form S-8 and to the reference to us under the caption
"Interests of Named Experts and Counsel" in the Registration Statement.

                                         Very truly yours,

                                         /s/Hutchins, Wheeler & Dittmar
                                         HUTCHINS, WHEELER & DITTMAR
                                         A Professional Corporation