<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>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-27-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             DEC-28-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-27-1997
<CASH>                                              13
<SECURITIES>                                    35,787
<RECEIVABLES>                                   17,636
<ALLOWANCES>                                   (1,153)
<INVENTORY>                                     13,675
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                73,876
<PP&E>                                          39,652
<DEPRECIATION>                                (10,871)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 105,399
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           23,326
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           204<F1>
<OTHER-SE>                                      71,080
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   105,399
<SALES>                                        209,490
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               183,787
<CGS>                                           89,998
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  171,201
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 759
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 13,281
<INCOME-TAX>                                     5,723
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              7,558
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     7,558
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.37
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.37
<FN>
<F1>THIS NUMBER INCLUDES 16,337,744 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>