<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>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-27-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             DEC-28-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-28-1997
<CASH>                                               0
<SECURITIES>                                    36,322
<RECEIVABLES>                                   23,554
<ALLOWANCES>                                   (1,992)
<INVENTORY>                                     16,192
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                79,665
<PP&E>                                          32,618
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (8,399)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 108,065
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           39,978
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           204<F1>
<OTHER-SE>                                      67,883
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   108,065
<SALES>                                        103,957
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                91,693
<CGS>                                           46,578
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   86,992
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 357
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  5,355
<INCOME-TAX>                                     2,340
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              3,015
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     3,015
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.15
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.15
<FN>
<F1>THIS NUMBER INCLUDES 16,301,848 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>