Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Fiscal Year

Fiscal Year

The Company’s fiscal year is a fifty-two or fifty-three week period ending on the last Saturday in December. The fiscal period of 2011 consists of fifty-three weeks and the fiscal periods 2010 and 2009 consist of fifty-two weeks.

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Segment Reporting

Segment Reporting

The Company consists of a single operating segment that produces and sells alcohol beverages. The Company’s brands, which include Samuel Adams^®, Sam Adams Light^®, Twisted Tea^®, Angry Orchard, and HardCore^®, are predominantly malt beverages, which are sold to the same types of customers in similar size quantities, at similar price points and through substantially the same channels of distribution. The Company’s products are manufactured using similar production processes and have comparable alcohol content and constitute a single group of similar products.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2011 and December 25, 2010 included cash on-hand and money market instruments that are highly liquid investments.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company’s accounts receivable primarily consist of trade receivables. The Company records an allowance for doubtful accounts that is based on historical trends, customer knowledge, any known disputes, and the aging of the accounts receivable balances combined with management’s estimate of future potential recoverability. Receivables are written off against the allowance after all attempts to collect a receivable have failed. The Company believes its allowance for doubtful accounts as of December 31, 2011 and December 25, 2010 are adequate, but actual write-offs could exceed the recorded allowance.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash equivalents and trade receivables. The Company places its cash equivalents with high credit quality financial institutions. As of December 31, 2011, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents were invested in investment-grade, highly-liquid U.S. government agency corporate money market accounts.

The Company sells primarily to independent beer distributors across the United States and Canada. Sales to non-Canadian foreign customers are insignificant. Receivables arising from these sales are not collateralized; however, credit risk is minimized as a result of the large and diverse nature of the Company’s customer base. The Company establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon factors surrounding the credit risk of specific customers, historical trends and other information. There were no individual customer accounts receivable balances outstanding at December 31, 2011 and December 25, 2010 that were in excess of 10% of the gross accounts receivable balance on those dates. No individual customers represented more than 10% of the Company’s revenues during fiscal years 2011, 2010 and 2009.

Financial Instruments and Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Financial Instruments and Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company’s primary financial instruments consisted of cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses at December 31, 2011 and December 25, 2010. The Company determines the fair value of its financial assets and liabilities in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”). The Company believes that the carrying amount of its cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these assets and liabilities. The Company is not exposed to significant interest, currency or credit risks arising from these financial assets and liabilities.

Inventories and Provision for Excess or Expired Inventory

Inventories and Provision for Excess or Expired Inventory

Inventories consist of raw materials, work in process and finished goods. Raw materials, which principally consist of hops, other brewing materials and packaging, are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out basis) or market. The cost elements of work in process and finished goods inventory consist of raw materials, direct labor and manufacturing overhead. Packaging design costs are expensed as incurred.

The provisions for excess or expired inventory are based on management’s estimates of forecasted usage of inventories. A significant change in the timing or level of demand for certain products as compared to forecasted amounts may result in recording additional provisions for excess or expired inventory in the future. Provisions for excess inventory are included in cost of goods sold.

The computation of the excess hops inventory requires management to make certain assumptions regarding future sales growth, product mix, cancellation costs, and supply, among others. The Company manages inventory levels and purchase commitments in an effort to maximize utilization of hops on hand and hops under commitment. The Company’s accounting policy for hops inventory and purchase commitments is to recognize a loss by establishing a reserve to the extent inventory levels and commitments exceed forecasted needs as determined by the Company’s brewmasters. The Company has not recorded any loss on purchase commitments in the fiscal years 2011, 2010 and 2009.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant, and equipment are stated at cost. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. Major renewals and betterments that extend the life of the property are capitalized. Some of the Company’s equipment is used by other brewing companies to produce the Company’s products under brewing service arrangements (Note I). Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method based upon the estimated useful lives of the underlying assets as follows:

Kegs	5 years
Office equipment and furniture	3 to 5 years
Machinery and plant equipment	3 to 20 years, or the term of the production agreement, whichever is shorter
Leasehold improvements	Lesser of the remaining term of the lease or estimated useful life of the asset
Building and building improvements	15 to 20 years, or the remaining useful life of the building, whichever is shorter

Refundable Deposits on Kegs and Pallets

Refundable Deposits on Kegs and Pallets

The Company distributes its draft beer in kegs and packaged beer primarily in glass bottles and such kegs and bottles are shipped on pallets to wholesalers. All kegs and pallets are owned by the Company. Kegs are reflected in the Company’s balance sheets at cost and are depreciated over the estimated useful life of the keg, while pallets are expensed upon purchase. Upon shipment of beer to wholesalers, the Company collects a refundable deposit on the kegs and pallets, which is included in current liabilities in the Company’s balance sheets. Upon return of the kegs and pallets to the Company, the deposit is refunded to the wholesaler.

The Company has experienced some loss of kegs and pallets and anticipates that some loss will occur in future periods due to the significant volume of kegs and pallets handled by each wholesaler and retailer, the homogeneous nature of kegs and pallets owned by most brewers and the relatively small deposit collected for each keg when compared with its market value. The Company believes that this is an industry-wide issue and that the Company’s loss experience is not atypical. The Company believes that the loss of kegs and pallets, after considering the forfeiture of related deposits, has not been material to the financial statements. In 2010, the Company began estimating the physical count of kegs and pallets held by certain of its larger wholesalers and the forfeited deposits attributable to lost kegs and pallets. The Company uses internal records, records maintained by wholesalers, records maintained by other third party vendors and historical information to estimate the physical count of kegs and pallets held by wholesalers. These estimates affect the amount recorded as property, plant and equipment and current liabilities as of the date of the financial statements. The actual liability for refundable deposits could differ from these estimates. For the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company decreased its liability for refundable deposits, gross property, plant and equipment and related accumulated depreciation by $1.9 million, $4.6 million and $4.6 million, respectively. For the year ended December 25, 2010, the Company decreased its liability for refundable deposits, gross property, plant and equipment and related accumulated depreciation by $2.1 million, $6.7 million and $6.7 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2011 and December 25, 2010, the Company’s balance sheet includes $12.6 million and $13.2 million, respectively, in refundable deposits on kegs and pallets and $10.8 million and $11.4 million, respectively, in keg equipment, net of accumulated depreciation.

Goodwill

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of the Company-owned brewery in Cincinnati, Ohio (the “Cincinnati Brewery”) over the fair value of the net assets acquired upon the completion of the acquisition in November 2000 and relates to the Company’s single operating unit. The Company does not amortize goodwill, but performs an annual impairment analysis of goodwill by comparing the carrying value and the fair value of its single reporting unit at the end of the third quarter of every fiscal year. The Company has concluded that its goodwill was not impaired as of December 31, 2011 and December 25, 2010.

Long-lived Assets

Long-lived Assets

Long-lived assets are recorded at cost and depreciated over their estimated useful lives. For purposes of determining whether there are any impairment losses, as further discussed below, management has historically examined the carrying value of the Company’s identifiable long-lived assets, including their useful lives, when indicators of impairment are present. For all long-lived assets, if an impairment loss is identified based on the fair value of the asset, as compared to the carrying value of the asset, such a loss would be charged to expense in the period the impairment is identified. Furthermore, if the review of the carrying values of the long-lived assets indicates impairment of such assets, the Company may determine that shorter estimated useful lives are more appropriate. In that event, the Company will be required to record additional depreciation in future periods, which will reduce earnings.

Factors generally considered important which could trigger an impairment review on the carrying value of long-lived assets include the following: (1) significant underperformance relative to historical or projected future operating results; (2) significant changes in the manner of use of acquired assets or the strategy for the Company’s overall business; (3) underutilization of assets; and (4) discontinuance of products by the Company or its customers. The Company believes that the carrying value of its long-lived assets was realizable as of December 31, 2011.

Promotional Activities Accrual

Promotional Activities Accrual

Throughout the year, the Company’s sales force engages in numerous promotional activities. In connection with its preparation of financial statements and other financial reporting, management is required to make certain estimates and assumptions regarding the amount and timing of expenditures resulting from these activities. Actual expenditures incurred could differ from management’s estimates and assumptions.

Distributor Promotional Discount Allowance

Distributor Promotional Discount Allowance

The Company enters into promotional discount programs with its various distributors for certain periods of time. The agreed-upon discount rates are applied to certain distributors' sales to retailers, based on volume metrics, in order to determine the total discounted amount. The computation of the discount allowance requires that management make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of related assets at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue during the reporting period. Actual promotional discounts owed and paid could differ from the estimated allowance.

Stale Beer Accrual

Stale Beer Accrual

In certain circumstances and with the Company’s approval, the Company accepts and destroys stale beer that is returned by distributors. The Company credits approximately fifty percent of the distributor’s cost of the beer that has passed its expiration date for freshness when it is returned to the Company or destroyed. The Company establishes an accrual based upon both historical returns activities, which is applied to an estimated lag time for receipt of product, and the Company’s knowledge of specific return transactions. Stale beer expense is reflected in the accompanying financial statements as a reduction of revenue; however, the actual stale beer expense incurred by the Company could differ from the estimated accrual.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

The Company provides for deferred taxes using an asset and liability approach that requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Company’s consolidated financial statements or tax returns. This results in differences between the book and tax bases of the Company’s assets and liabilities and carryforwards, such as tax credits. In estimating future tax consequences, all expected future events, other than enactment of changes in the tax laws or rates, are generally considered. Valuation allowances are provided to the extent deemed necessary when realization of deferred tax assets appears unlikely.

The calculation of the Company’s tax liabilities involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax regulations in several different state tax jurisdictions. The Company is periodically reviewed by tax authorities regarding the amount of taxes due. These reviews include inquiries regarding the timing and amount of deductions and the allocation of income among various tax jurisdictions. In accordance with ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, the Company records estimated reserves for exposures associated with positions that it takes on its income tax returns in accordance with that standard.

Excise Taxes

Excise Taxes

The Company is responsible for compliance with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau of the U.S. Treasury Department (the “TTB”) regulations which includes making timely and accurate excise tax payments. The Company is subject to periodic compliance audits by the TTB. Individual states also impose excise taxes on alcoholic beverages in varying amounts. The Company calculates its excise tax expense based upon units produced and on its understanding of the applicable excise tax laws.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

Net revenue includes product sales, less the distributor promotional discount allowance, the stale beer accrual and excise taxes. The Company recognizes revenue on product sales at the time when the product is shipped and the following conditions exist: persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, title has passed to the customer according to the shipping terms, the price is fixed and determinable, and collection of the sales proceeds is reasonably assured. If the conditions for revenue recognition are not met, the Company defers the revenue until all conditions are met. As of December 31, 2011, the Company has deferred $1.7 million in revenue related to product shipped prior to December 31, 2011. This amount is included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. As December 25, 2010, no revenue deferral was necessary for shipments prior to that date as all conditions for revenue recognition were met.

Packaging Services Agreement

Packaging Services Agreement

In connection with the Company’s acquisition of the Pennsylvania Brewery, Diageo North America, Inc. (“Diageo”) and the Company entered into a Packaging Services Agreement (the “Packaging Services Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to blend and package the Diageo products that were being produced at the Pennsylvania Brewery by Diageo. The Packaging Services Agreement commenced on June 2, 2008, the date on which the Company purchased the Pennsylvania Brewery, and called for a term of approximately two years, subject to certain early termination rights. In November 2008, Diageo notified the Company of its intention to terminate the Packaging Services Agreement at the conclusion of the second phase and on May 2, 2009, the Packaging Services Agreement terminated. No early termination penalties were applicable.

The Company recorded $5.1 million in revenue under the Packaging Services Agreement during fiscal 2009.

Cost of Goods Sold

Cost of Goods Sold

The following expenses are included in cost of goods sold: raw material costs, packaging costs, costs and income related to deposit activity, purchasing and receiving costs, manufacturing labor and overhead, brewing and processing costs, inspection costs relating to quality control, inbound freight charges, depreciation expense related to manufacturing equipment and warehousing costs, which include rent, labor and overhead costs.

Shipping Costs

Shipping Costs

Costs incurred for the shipping of products to customers are included in advertising, promotional and selling expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. The Company incurred shipping costs of $31.1 million, $24.1 million and $22.8 million in fiscal years 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Advertising and Sales Promotions

Advertising and Sales Promotions

The following expenses are included in advertising, promotional and selling expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income: media advertising costs, sales and marketing expenses, salary and benefit expenses and meals, travel and entertainment expenses for the sales and sales support workforce, promotional activity expenses, freight charges related to shipments of finished goods from manufacturing locations to distributor locations and point-of-sale items.

The Company reimburses its wholesalers and retailers for promotional discounts, samples and certain advertising and marketing activities used in the promotion of the Company's products. The reimbursements for discounts to wholesalers are recorded as reductions to net revenue. The Company has sales incentive arrangements with its wholesalers based upon performance of certain marketing and advertising activities by the wholesalers. Depending on applicable state laws and regulations, these activities promoting the Company's products may include, but are not limited to, the following: point-of-sale merchandise placement, product displays and promotional programs at retail locations. The costs incurred for these sales incentive arrangements and advertising and promotional programs are included in advertising, promotional and selling expenses during the period in which they are incurred. Total advertising and sales promotional expenditures of $73.4 million, $66.1 million and $59.1 million were included in advertising, promotional and selling expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income for fiscal years 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Of these amounts, $9.9 million, $9.0 million and $7.1 million related to sales incentives, samples and other promotional discounts and $31.9 million, $30.5 million and $29.5 million related to advertising costs for fiscal years 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

The Company conducts certain advertising and promotional activities in its wholesalers’ markets and the wholesalers make contributions to the Company for such efforts. Reimbursements from wholesalers for advertising and promotional activities are recorded as reductions to advertising, promotional and selling expenses.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and Administrative Expenses

The following expenses are included in general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income: general and administrative salary and benefit expenses, insurance costs, professional service fees, rent and utility expenses, meals, travel and entertainment expenses for general and administrative employees, and other general and administrative overhead costs.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for share-based awards in accordance with ASC Topic 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”), which generally requires recognition of share-based compensation costs in financial statements based on fair value. Compensation cost is recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide services in exchange for the award (the requisite service period). The amount of compensation cost recognized in the consolidated statements of income is based on the awards ultimately expected to vest, and therefore, reduced for estimated forfeitures.

For stock options granted prior to the adoption of ASC 718 on January 1, 2006, fair values were estimated on the date of grants using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model. As permitted by ASC 718, the Company elected to use a lattice model, such as the binomial option-pricing model, to estimate the fair values of stock options granted on or after January 1, 2006, with the exception of the 2008 stock option grant to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, which is considered to be a market-based award and was valued utilizing the Monte Carlo Simulation pricing model, which calculates multiple potential outcomes for an award and establishes fair value based on the most likely outcome. See Note L for further discussion of the application of the option-pricing models.

Net Income Per Share

Net Income Per Share

Basic net income per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted-average common shares outstanding. Diluted net income per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted-average common shares and potentially dilutive securities outstanding during the period using the treasury stock method.

Reclassifications

Reclassifications

Certain amounts in prior periods have been reclassified in order to conform to current presentation.

Environmental Matters

Environmental Matters

In accordance with ASC Topic 410, Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations, the Company accrues for environmental remediation-related activities for which commitments or cleanup plans have been developed and for which costs can be reasonably estimated. All accrued amounts are generally determined on an undiscounted basis.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-05 (“ASU No. 2011-05”), Comprehensive Income (Topic 220). ASU No. 2011-05 gives entities two options to present other comprehensive income. A statement of other comprehensive income can be included with the net income statement, which together will make a statement of total comprehensive income. Alternatively, entities can have a statement of other comprehensive income separate from a net income statement, but the two statements will have to appear consecutively within a financial report. Under previous guidance, the statement of other comprehensive income was typically disclosed near the statement of stockholders’ equity. For public entities, the amendments are effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2011 and are applied retrospectively. The Company does not expect the adoption of this statement to have a material impact on its financial statements.

In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-08, Intangibles — Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) — Testing Goodwill for Impairment. Previous guidance under ASC Topic 350, Intangibles — Goodwill and Other, required an entity to test goodwill for impairment by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount (step one). If the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then the second step of the test must be performed to measure the amount of the impairment loss, if any. ASU No. 2011-08 does not require an entity to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit, step one of the impairment test, unless the entity determines that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount. The amendments are effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011 with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of this statement to have a material impact on its financial statements.

In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-09, Compensation-Retirement Benefits-Multiemployer Plans (Subtopic 715-80) — Disclosures about an Employer’s Participation in a Multiemployer Plan. ASU No. 2011-09 requires that employers provide additional quantitative and qualitative disclosures for multiemployer pension plans and multiemployer other postretirement benefit plans. For public entities, the new

disclosures are effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this statement did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-11, Balance Sheet (Topic 210) — Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities, which requires an entity to disclose certain information about offsetting and related arrangements to enable users of its financial statements to understand the effect of those arrangements on its financial position. An entity is required to apply the amendments in this Update for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. An entity should provide the disclosures required by those amendments retrospectively for all comparative periods presented. The Company does not expect the adoption of this statement to have a material impact on its financial statements.