<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-26-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             DEC-28-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-26-1998
<CASH>                                           8,650
<SECURITIES>                                    45,256
<RECEIVABLES>                                   13,371
<ALLOWANCES>                                   (1,309)
<INVENTORY>                                     15,835
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                89,476
<PP&E>                                          43,625
<DEPRECIATION>                                (15,460)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 122,689
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           37,427
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           205<F1>
<OTHER-SE>                                      81,823
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   122,689
<SALES>                                        205,020
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               183,453
<CGS>                                           89,393
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  168,849
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                   238
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   246
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 633
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 14,366
<INCOME-TAX>                                     6,442
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              7,924
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     7,924
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.39
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.39
<FN>
<F1>THIS NUMBER INCLUDES 16,394,245 SHARES OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK WITH A PAR VALUE
OF $164,000 AND 4,107,355 SHARES OF CLASS B STOCK WITH A PAR VALUE OF $41,000.
</FN>