<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY, INC.'S
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>       1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-27-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             DEC-28-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-27-1997
<CASH>                                               0
<SECURITIES>                                    35,735
<RECEIVABLES>                                   21,366
<ALLOWANCES>                                   (1,952)
<INVENTORY>                                     16,535
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                76,355
<PP&E>                                          37,648
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (9,544)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 107,513
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           37,109
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           204<F1>
<OTHER-SE>                                      70,200
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   107,513
<SALES>                                        159,621
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               140,310
<CGS>                                           68,578
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  129,597
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 540
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 11,124
<INCOME-TAX>                                     4,861
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              6,263
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     6,263
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.31
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.31
<FN>
<F1>THIS NUMBER INCLUDES 16,335,073 SHARES OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK WITH A PAR VALUE
OF $163,000 AND 4,107,355 SHARES OF CLASS B STOCK WITH A PAR VALUE OF $41,000.
</FN>