Boston Beer Company - 10-Q quarterly report FY2011 Q2

 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

One Design Center Place, Suite 850, Boston, Massachusetts
(Address of principal executive offices)
02210
(Zip Code)

(617) 368-5000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes þ No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes þ No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “small reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act.)

Yes o No þ

Number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of July 29, 2011:

(in thousands, except share data)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

(in thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

The Boston Beer Company, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) are engaged in the business of selling alcohol beverages throughout the United States and in selected international markets, under the trade names, “The Boston Beer Company,” “Twisted Tea Brewing Company” and “HardCore Cider Company.” The Company’s Samuel Adams^® beer and Sam Adams Light^® are produced and sold under the trade name, “The Boston Beer Company.” The accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of June 25, 2011 and the consolidated statements of operations and consolidated statements of cash flows for the interim periods ended June 25, 2011 and June 26, 2010 have been prepared by the Company, without audit, in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required for complete financial statements by generally accepted accounting principles and should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 25, 2010.

In the opinion of the Company’s management, the Company’s unaudited consolidated balance sheet as of June 25, 2011 and the results of its consolidated operations and consolidated cash flows for the interim periods ended June 25, 2011 and June 26, 2010, reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal and recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the results of the interim periods presented. The operating results for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full year.

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, determined on the 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. Inventories consist of the following:

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income per share:

Basic net income per common share for each share of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock is $2.12 and $1.18 for the three months ended June 25, 2011 and June 26, 2010, respectively, and $2.41 and $1.62 for the six months ended June 25, 2011 and June 26, 2010, respectively, as each share of Class A and Class B participates equally in earnings. Shares of Class B are convertible at any time into shares of Class A on a one-for-one basis at the option of the stockholder.

During the three and six-months ended June 25, 2011, weighted-average options to purchase approximately 243,600 and 210,200 shares, respectively, of Class A Common Stock were outstanding but not included in computing diluted income per share because their effects were anti-dilutive. During the three and six-months ended June 26, 2010, weighted-average options to purchase approximately 65,700 and 60,300 shares, respectively, of Class A Common Stock were outstanding but not included in computing diluted income per share because their effects were anti-dilutive. Additionally, performance-based stock options to purchase 67,850 and 115,000 shares of Class A Common Stock were outstanding as of June 25, 2011 and June 26, 2010, respectively, but not included in computing diluted income per share because the performance criteria of these stock options were not expected to be met as of the respective dates. Furthermore, performance-based stock options to purchase 229,700 shares of Class A Common Stock were not included in computing diluted income per share because the performance criteria of these stock options were not met and the options were cancelled during the six months ended June 26, 2010.

Comprehensive income or loss represents net income or loss, plus defined benefit plans liability adjustment, net of tax effect. The defined benefit plans liability adjustments for the interim periods ended June 25, 2011 and June 26, 2010 were not material.

The Company had outstanding non-cancelable purchase commitments related to advertising contracts of approximately $6.5 million at June 25, 2011.

The Company has entered into contracts for the supply of a portion of its hops requirements. These purchase contracts extend through crop year 2015 and specify both the quantities and prices, mostly denominated in Euros, to which the Company is committed. Hops purchase commitments outstanding at June 25, 2011 totaled $38.6 million, based on the exchange rates on that date.

Currently, the Company has entered into contracts for barley with one major supplier. The contracts include crop years 2010 and 2011 and cover the Company’s barley requirements for 2011 and a portion of 2012. Barley purchase commitments outstanding at June 25, 2011 totaled $14.2 million.

The Company sources glass bottles pursuant to a Glass Bottle Supply Agreement with Anchor Glass Container Corporation (“Anchor”) under which Anchor is the exclusive supplier of certain glass bottles for the Company’s breweries in Cincinnati, Ohio (the “Cincinnati Brewery”) and Breinigsville, Pennsylvania (the “Pennsylvania Brewery”). This agreement also establishes the terms on which Anchor may supply glass bottles to other breweries where the Company brews its beers. Under the agreement with Anchor, the Company has minimum and maximum purchase commitments that are based on Company-provided production estimates, which, under normal business conditions, are expected to be fulfilled.

Currently, the Company brews more than 95% of its volume at Company owned breweries. In the normal course of its business, the Company has historically entered into various production arrangements with other brewing companies. Pursuant to these arrangements, the Company purchases the liquid produced by those brewing companies, including the raw materials that are used in the liquid, at the time such liquid goes into fermentation. The Company is required to repurchase all unused raw materials purchased by the brewing company specifically for the Company’s beers at the brewing company’s cost upon termination of the production arrangement. The Company is also obligated to meet annual volume requirements in conjunction with certain production arrangements, which are not material to the Company’s operations.

The Company had various other non-cancelable purchase commitments at June 25, 2011, which amounted to $3.6 million.

In May 2011, the Company and its former glass bottle supplier entered into an agreement to settle all claims regarding the recall implemented by the Company in 2008. Pursuant to the settlement agreement, the Company received a cash payment of $20.5 million and all parties released each other of any claims as they relate to this matter. The Company recorded the settlement as an offset to operating expenses.

In 2009, the Company was informed that ownership of the High Falls brewery located in Rochester, New York (the “Rochester Brewery”) changed and that the new owners would not assume the Company’s existing contract for brewing services at the Rochester Brewery. Brewing of the Company’s products at the Rochester Brewery subsequently ceased in April 2009. In February 2010, the Company filed a Demand for Arbitration with the American Arbitration Association (the “arbitration”) which, as amended, asserted a breach of contract claim against the previous owner of the Rochester Brewery. In March 2010, the new and previous owners of the Rochester Brewery filed a complaint in federal court seeking a declaratory judgment and injunction to require certain of the Company’s claims to proceed in court, rather than in the arbitration. In April 2010, the Company filed an answer to that complaint and asserted certain counterclaims, including a claim against the new owners of the Rochester Brewery for interference with contract. The court denied the new and previous owners’ motion for a preliminary injunction in June 2010. A hearing in the arbitration was held in October 2010. In January 2011, the arbitrator issued an award of approximately $1.3 million in damages and expenses to be paid by High Falls Brewery Company, LLC to the Company, although the likelihood of collection of such award is in doubt. A hearing was held on a pre-trial motion in the federal court action in April 2011, but no ruling has yet been received. The Company does not believe that its inability to avail itself of production capacity at the Rochester Brewery will, in the near future, have a material impact on its ability to meet demand for its products.

In February 2011, the Company filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission (ITC) against a brewery and a glass manufacturer/importer asserting that the glass design used by the brewery to promote its products infringed on the Company’s patented glass design. The matter was resolved by settlement agreement in May 2011 under which the brewery and glass manufacturer/importer agreed to discontinue all sale, use and promotion of the glass. A consent order has been issued by the ITC prohibiting them from engaging in any importation, distribution, or sale of their glass design or any glass having a design substantially similar to the Company’s patented glass design.

The Company is not a party to any pending or threatened litigation, the outcome of which would be expected to have a material adverse effect upon its financial condition or the results of its operations. In general, while the Company believes it conducts its business appropriately in accordance with laws, regulations and industry guidelines, claims, whether or not meritorious, could be asserted against the Company that might adversely impact the Company’s results.

As of June 25, 2011 and December 25, 2010, the Company had approximately $7.2 million and $7.1 million, respectively, of unrecognized income tax benefits. An increase of $97,000 in unrecognized tax benefits was recorded for the six months ended June 25, 2011.

The Company’s practice is to classify interest and penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. As of June 25, 2011 and December 25, 2010, the Company had $4.0 million and $3.7 million, respectively, accrued for interest and penalties.

The Company’s state income tax returns remain subject to examination for three or four years depending on the state’s statute of limitations. In addition, the Company is generally obligated to report changes in taxable income arising from federal income tax audits.

In August 2008, the Massachusetts Department of Revenue (“MA DOR”) commenced an examination of the Company’s 2004, 2005 and 2006 corporate income tax returns. In addition, in October 2009, the MA DOR expanded the original examination to include the 2007 and 2008 corporate income tax returns. At June 25, 2011, the examination was completed and the Company is in the process of appealing the results of the audit. The Company continues to believe that the reserves related to this audit were adequate as of June 25, 2011. The Company is also being audited by two other states as of June 25, 2011.

It is reasonably possible that the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits may increase or decrease in 2011 if there is a commencement or completion of federal income tax audits or certain state income tax audits; however, the Company cannot estimate the range of such possible changes. The Company does not expect that any potential changes would have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

In April 2008, the Company announced a voluntary product recall of certain glass bottles of its Samuel Adams^® products. The recall was a precautionary step and resulted from routine quality control inspections at the Cincinnati Brewery, which detected glass inclusions in certain bottles of beer. The recall process was substantially completed during the fourth quarter of 2008.

The following table summarizes the Company’s reserves and reserve activities for the product recall for the six months ended June 25, 2011 (in thousands):

During the second quarter of 2011, the Company and its former glass bottle supplier entered into an agreement to settle all claims regarding the recall. The Company received a cash payment of $20.5 million, which was recorded as an offset to operating expenses, and all parties have released each other on any claims as they relate to this matter. In addition, the Company reversed approximately $0.6 million in reserves against invoices due to the supplier, which was recorded as an offset to cost of goods sold.

Although the Company is not aware of any additional quality or safety issues that are likely to result in material recalls or withdrawals, there can be no assurance that additional issues will not be identified in the future.

The Company has a credit facility in place that provides for a $50.0 million revolving line of credit which expires on March 31, 2013. As of June 25, 2011, there were no borrowings outstanding and the line of credit was fully available to the Company for borrowing. The Company was not in violation of any of its covenants to the lender under the credit facility.

The Company determines the fair value of its financial assets and liabilities in accordance with ASC Topic 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.

On January 1, 2011, the Company granted options to purchase an aggregate of 188,200 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock with a weighted average fair value of $44.80 per share, of which 175,000 shares were special long-term retention stock options to certain members of management. All of the special long-term retention stock options are service-based options with 75% of the shares vesting on January 1, 2016 and the remaining shares vesting annually in equal tranches over the following four years.

On March 11, 2011, the Company granted an additional option to purchase 40,000 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock with a weighted average fair value of $40.39 per share. The option is a service-based stock option and vests annually at approximately 33% per year starting on the third anniversary of the grant date.

On May 25, 2011, the Company granted options to purchase an aggregate of 30,000 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock to the Company’s non-employee Directors. These options have a weighted average fair value of $35.81 per share. All of the options vested immediately on the date of grant.

On July 26, 2011, the Board of Directors approved an increase of $25.0 million to the previously approved $225.0 million share buyback expenditure limit, for a new limit of $250.0 million.

The Company evaluated subsequent events occurring after the balance sheet date, June 25, 2011, and concluded that there were no other events of which management was aware that occurred after the balance sheet date that would require any adjustment to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

The following is a discussion of the significant factors affecting the consolidated operating results, financial condition and liquidity and cash flows of The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (the “Company” or “Boston Beer”) for the three and six-month periods ended June 25, 2011, as compared to the three and six-month periods ended June 26, 2010. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company and Notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 25, 2010.

Boston Beer’s flagship product is Samuel Adams Boston Lager^®. For purposes of this discussion, Boston Beer’s “core brands” or “core products” include all products sold under the Samuel Adams^®, Sam Adams^®, Twisted Tea^® and HardCore^® trademarks. “Core products” do not include the products brewed or packaged at the Company’s breweries in Cincinnati, Ohio (the “Cincinnati Brewery”) and Breinigsville, Pennsylvania (the “Pennsylvania Brewery”) under contract arrangements for third parties that are not significant to the Company’s total sales in 2011 and 2010.

Net revenue. Net revenue increased by $4.4 million, or 3.4%, to $134.0 million for the three months ended June 25, 2011, as compared to $129.6 million for the three months ended June 26, 2010, due primarily to increased shipments and pricing improvements.

Volume. Total shipment volume increased by 3.0% to 651,000 barrels for the three months ended June 25, 2011, as compared to 632,000 barrels for the three months ended June 26, 2010, due to core shipments volume gains. Shipment volume for the core brands increased by 3.0% to 646,000 barrels, due primarily to increases in shipments of Twisted Tea^®, Samuel Adams^®Seasonals and the Samuel Adams^® Brewmasters Collection, partially offset by decreases in shipments of Samuel Adams Boston Lager^® and Sam Adams Light^®.

Depletions, or sales by wholesalers to retailers, of the Company’s core products for the second quarter of 2011 increased by approximately 6.8% versus the same period in 2010, primarily due to increases in Twisted Tea^®, Samuel Adams Boston Lager^®, the Samuel Adams^®Brewmaster’s Collection and Samuel Adams^®Seasonals, partially offset by declines in Sam Adams Light^®.

Year-to-date depletions through July 2011 are estimated by the Company to be up approximately 6% from the same period in 2010. Year-to-date shipments through July 2011 are up approximately 6% compared to the same period in 2010. The Company no longer provides information on orders in-hand due to changes to the ordering process for Freshest Beer Program wholesalers. The Company believes that inventory levels at wholesalers at the end of the second quarter are similar to the levels in previous years, except for those wholesalers participating in the Freshest Beer Program whose inventories were approximately 190,000 cases lower than would otherwise be anticipated.

Net Selling Price. The net selling price per core product barrel increased by 0.5% to $206.90 per barrel for the three months ended June 25, 2011, as compared to $205.97 per barrel for the same period last year, due primarily to price increases, partially offset by product mix changes.

Gross profit. Gross profit for core products was $117.66 per barrel for the three months ended June 25, 2011, as compared to $114.96 per barrel for the three months ended June 26, 2010. Gross margin for core products was 56.9% for the three months ended June 25, 2011, as compared to 55.8% for the three months ended June 26, 2010. The increase in gross profit per barrel of $2.70 and gross margin of 1.1 percentage points is primarily due to the increase in net selling price per barrel and a decrease in cost of goods sold per barrel.

Cost of goods sold for core brands was $89.23 per barrel for the three months ended June 25, 2011, as compared to $91.01 per barrel for the three months ended June 26, 2010. The 2011 decrease in cost of goods sold of $1.78 per core product barrel is due to decreased ingredient costs partially offset by an unfavorable package mix and increased brewery processing costs.

The Company includes freight charges related to the movement of finished goods from its manufacturing locations to wholesaler locations in its advertising, promotional and selling expense line item. As such, the Company’s gross margins may not be comparable to other entities that classify costs related to distribution differently.

Advertising, promotional and selling. Advertising, promotional and selling expenses increased by $5.4 million, or 15.4%, to $40.5 million for the three months ended June 25, 2011, as compared to $35.1 million for the three months ended June 26, 2010. The increase is primarily a result of planned increased investments in local marketing and advertising activities, higher costs for additional sales personnel and increased costs of freight to wholesalers.

Such expenses for core brands were 30.3% of net revenue, or $62.72 per barrel, for the three months ended June 25, 2011, as compared to 27.2% of net revenue, or $55.97 per barrel, for the three months ended June 26, 2010. The increases in advertising, promotional and selling expenses per barrel and as a percentage of net revenue reflect the fact that advertising, promotional and selling expenses are increasing at a higher rate than core shipment volume. The Company will invest in advertising and promotional campaigns that it believes are effective, but there is no guarantee that such investment will generate sales growth.

The Company conducts certain advertising and promotional activities in its wholesalers’ markets, and the wholesalers make contributions to the Company for such efforts. These amounts are included in the Company’s statement of operations as reductions to advertising, promotional and selling expenses. Historically, contributions from wholesalers for advertising and promotional activities have amounted to between 2% and 4% of net sales. The Company may adjust its promotional efforts in the wholesalers’ markets if changes occur in these promotional contribution arrangements, depending on industry and market conditions.

General and administrative. General and administrative expenses increased by $0.6 million, or 5.7%, to $11.1 million for the three months ended June 25, 2011, as compared to $10.5 million for the same period last year. The increase primarily resulted from increases in stock compensation expense and salary and benefit costs.

Settlement proceeds. As noted in Footnote G — Product Recall, the Company received proceeds of $20.5 million during the second quarter of 2011, pursuant to an agreement to settle all claims regarding the 2008 product recall.

Provision for income taxes. The Company recorded an income tax provision of $16.9 million for the three months ended June 25, 2011, compared to $10.4 million for the three months ended June 26, 2010. The Company’s effective tax rate for the second quarter of 2011 decreased to 38% from the second quarter 2010 rate of 39%, as a result of higher pretax income but with no corresponding increase in nondeductible expenses.

Net revenue. Net revenue increased by $12.5 million, or 5.6%, to $236.1 million for the six months ended June 25, 2011, from $223.6 million for the six months ended June 26, 2010, primarily due to an increase in core brand shipment volume and minor pricing gains, partially offset by an increased allowance for stale beer returns.

Volume. Total shipment volume increased by 5.9% to 1,153,000 barrels for the six months ended June 25, 2011, as compared to 1,089,000 barrels for the six months ended June 26, 2010, due to core shipment volume gains. Shipment volume for the core brands increased by 5.8%, or 63,000 barrels, due to increases in shipments of Twisted Tea^®, Samuel Adams^® Seasonals, the Samuel Adams^® Brewmasters Collection and Samuel Adams Boston Lager^®, partially offset by decreases in shipments of Sam Adams Light^®.

Net Selling Price. The net selling price per barrel for core brands decreased by approximately 0.1% to $205.90 per barrel for the six months ended June 25, 2011 as compared to the prior year. This decrease in net selling price per barrel is primarily due to increased stale beer returns and product mix changes, partially offset by price increases.

Gross profit. Gross profit for core brands was $112.18 per barrel for the six months ended June 25, 2011, as compared to $110.86 for the six months ended June 26, 2010. Gross margin for core products was 54.5% for the first six months of 2011, as compared to 53.8% for the same period in 2010. These increases are primarily due to a decrease in cost of goods sold per core barrel, partially offset by a decrease in the net selling price per core barrel.

Cost of goods sold for core products decreased to $93.72 per barrel for the six months ended June 25, 2011, as compared to $95.33 per barrel for the same period last year. The decrease in cost of goods sold of $1.61 per barrel resulted primarily from decreased ingredient costs partially offset by an unfavorable package mix and increased brewery processing costs.

Advertising, promotional and selling. Advertising, promotional and selling expenses increased by $11.8 million, or 18.4%, to $76.0 million for the six months ended June 25, 2011, as compared to $64.2 million for the six months ended June 26, 2010. The increase is primarily a result of planned increased investments in point of sale materials, local marketing and advertising activities, higher costs for additional sales personnel and increased costs of freight to wholesalers. Advertising, promotional and selling expenses for core brands were 32.3% of net revenue, or $66.46 per barrel, for the six months ended June 25, 2011, as compared to 28.8% of net revenue, or $59.42 per barrel, for the same period last year.

General and administrative. General and administrative expenses increased by 12.6%, or $2.4 million, to $21.4 million for the six months ended June 25, 2011 as compared to the same period last year. The increase is largely driven by increases in stock compensation expense, salary and benefit costs and consulting fees.

Settlement proceeds. As noted in Footnote G — Product Recall, the Company received proceeds of $20.5 million during the second quarter of 2011, pursuant to an agreement to settle all claims regarding the 2008 product recall.

Provision for income taxes. The Company’s effective tax rate for the first half of 2011 decreased to 38% from the first half 2010 rate of 39%, as a result of higher pretax income but with no corresponding increase in nondeductible expenses. The Company expects its full year tax rate to be approximately 39%.

Cash increased to $66.3 million as of June 25, 2011 from $49.0 million as of December 25, 2010, primarily due to cash provided by operating activities, partially offset by cash used in financing activities and cash used in investing activities.

Cash provided by operating activities consist of net income, adjusted for certain non-cash items, such as depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense and related excess tax benefit, and other non-cash items included in operating results. Also affecting cash provided by operating activities are changes in operating assets and liabilities, such as accounts receivable, inventory, accounts payable and accrued expenses.

Cash provided by operating activities for the six months ended June 25, 2011 was $42.4 million and primarily consisted of net income of $32.0 million, which includes the $20.5 million cash payment noted in Footnote G — Product Recall, and non-cash items of $10.7 million, partially offset by a net increase in operating assets and liabilities of $0.3 million. Cash provided by operating activities for the six months ended June 26, 2010 was $27.2 million and primarily consisted of net income of $22.5 million and non-cash items of $8.0 million, partially offset by a net increase in operating assets and liabilities of $3.4 million.

The Company used $6.0 million in investing activities during the six months ended June 25, 2011, as compared to $4.2 million during the six months ended June 26, 2010. Investing activities primarily consisted of equipment purchases to upgrade the Company-owned breweries.

Cash used in financing activities was $19.1 million during the six months ended June 25, 2011, as compared to $24.8 million during the six months ended June 26, 2010. The $5.7 million change in financing cash flow is primarily due to a decrease in stock repurchases under the Company’s Stock Repurchase Program.

During the six months ended June 25, 2011, the Company repurchased approximately 266,400 shares of its Class A Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $22.6 million. On July 26, 2011, the Board of Directors approved an increase of $25.0 million to the previously approved $225.0 million share buyback expenditure limit, for a new limit of $250.0 million. From June 26, 2011 through July 29, 2011, the Company repurchased an additional 91,800 shares of its Class A Common Stock for a total cost of $8.2 million. Through July 29, 2011, the Company has repurchased a cumulative total of approximately 10.1 million shares of its Class A Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $219.9 million, and had approximately $30.1 million remaining on the $250.0 million share buyback expenditure limit set by the Board of Directors.

The Company expects that its cash balance as of June 25, 2011 of $66.3 million, along with future operating cash flow and the Company’s unused line of credit of $50.0 million, will be sufficient to fund future cash requirements. The Company’s $50.0 million credit facility has a term not scheduled to expire until March 31, 2013. The Company was not in violation of any of its covenants to the lender under the credit facility and there were no amounts outstanding under the credit facility as of the date of this filing.

Excluding the impact of the recall settlement of $0.92 per diluted share, and as a result of the reduction in expectations for full year depletions and increased energy costs, the Company is reducing its full year 2011 earnings per diluted share projection to between $3.20 and $3.60 from the previous range of $3.45 and $3.95. This projection includes the estimated negative earnings per share impact of between $0.10 and $0.20 due to reduced shipments related to the implementation of the Freshest Beer Program. The Company’s actual 2011 earnings per diluted share could vary significantly from the current projection.

The competitive pricing environment continues to be challenging. The Company is exploring opportunities for price increases in the second half of 2011 or early 2012 as it expects significant barley cost pressures from the 2011 crop. Revenue per barrel for the full year is currently expected to increase approximately 1% excluding any benefit of further 2011 price movements. If the Company successfully executes the Freshest Beer Program for 50% of its volume in 2011, the Company would expect shipment growth of between 6% and 7%. The Company will continue to focus on efficiencies at its breweries and is not currently anticipating any significant increases in the costs of packaging and ingredients for 2011 beyond the anticipated increases in energy and freight costs. Further increases in energy costs will have a material impact on 2011 costs. Full-year 2011 gross margins are currently expected to be between 54% and 56%, after taking into consideration the current known impact of implementing the Freshest Beer Program. The Company intends to increase brand support investments by between $12.0 million and $18.0 million for the full year 2011, which amount does not include any increases in freight costs for the shipment of beer products to wholesalers. Approximately $10.0 million of this increase has been incurred in the six months ending June 25, 2011. The Company will increase its investments in brand support commensurate with the opportunities for growth that it sees, but there is no guarantee such increased investments will result in increased volumes.

Based on information currently available, the Company estimates full year capital expenditures of between $15.0 million and $25.0 million, most of which relate to continued investments in the Company-owned breweries and additional keg purchases. The actual amounts spent may nonetheless differ significantly from these estimates. The Company believes that its capacity requirements for 2011 can be met by the Company-owned breweries and existing contracted capacity at third party brewers.

At June 25, 2011, the Company did not have off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in 03(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K.

There were no material changes outside of the ordinary course of the Company’s business to contractual obligations during the six month period ended June 25, 2011.

There were no material changes to the Company’s critical accounting policies during the six month period ended June 25, 2011.

None.

In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in other documents incorporated herein, as well as in oral statements made by the Company, statements that are prefaced with the words “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “continue,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “designed” and similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements regarding events, conditions, and financial trends that may affect the Company’s future plans of operations, business strategy, results of operations and financial position. These statements are based on the Company’s current expectations and estimates as to prospective events and circumstances about which the Company can give no firm assurance. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. Forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a prediction of actual future financial condition or results. These forward-looking statements, like any forward-looking statements, involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated. Such risks and uncertainties include the factors set forth below in addition to the other information set forth in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in the section titled “Other Risks and Uncertainties” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 25, 2010.

Since December 25, 2010, there have been no significant changes in the Company’s exposures to interest rate or foreign currency rate fluctuations. The Company currently does not enter into derivatives or other market risk sensitive instruments for the purpose of hedging or for trading purposes.

As of June 25, 2011, the Company conducted an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, respectively) regarding the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the requisite time periods and that such disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to its management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

There was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended June 25, 2011 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

In May 2011, the Company and its former glass bottle supplier entered into an agreement to settle all claims regarding the recall implemented by the Company in 2008. Under the agreement the Company received payment of $20.5 million and all parties released each other of any claims as they relate to this matter. The Company recorded the settlement as an offset to operating expenses.

In 2009, the Company was informed that ownership of the High Falls brewery located in Rochester, New York (the “Rochester Brewery”) changed and that the new owners would not assume the Company’s existing contract for brewing services at the Rochester Brewery. Brewing of the Company’s products at the Rochester Brewery subsequently ceased in April 2009. In February 2010, the Company filed a Demand for Arbitration with the American Arbitration Association (the “arbitration”) which, as amended, asserted a breach of contract claim against the previous owner of the Rochester Brewery. In March 2010, the new and previous owners of the Rochester Brewery filed a complaint in federal court seeking a declaratory judgment and injunction to require certain of the Company’s claims to proceed in court, rather than in the arbitration. In April 2010, the Company filed an answer to that complaint and asserted certain counterclaims, including a claim against the new owners of the Rochester Brewery for interference with contract. The court denied the new and previous owners’ motion for a preliminary injunction in June 2010. A hearing in the arbitration was held in October 2010. In January 2011, the arbitrator issued an award of approximately $1.3 million in damages and expenses to be paid by High Falls Brewery Company, LLC to the Company, although the likelihood of collection of such award is in doubt. A hearing was held on a pre-trial motion in the federal court action in April 2011, but no ruling has yet been received. The Company does not believe that its inability to avail itself of production capacity at the Rochester Brewery will, in the near future, have a material impact on its ability to meet demand for its products.

In February 2011, the Company filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission (ITC) against a brewery and a glass manufacturer/importer asserting that the glass design used by the brewery to promote its products infringed on the Company’s patented glass design. The matter was resolved by settlement agreement in May 2011 under which the brewery and glass manufacturer/importer agreed to discontinue all sale, use and promotion of the glass. A consent order has been issued by the ITC prohibiting them from engaging in any importation, distribution, or sale of their glass design or any glass having a design substantially similar to the Company’s patented glass design.

The Company is currently not a party to any pending or threatened litigation, the outcome of which would be expected to have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or the results of its operations.

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, careful consideration should be given to the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 25, 2010, which could materially affect the Company’s business, financial condition or future results. The risks described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K are not the only risks facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to the Company or that it currently deems to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect its business, financial condition and/or operating results.

As of July 29, 2011, the Company has repurchased a cumulative total of approximately 10.1 million shares of its Class A Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $219.9 million and had $30.1 million remaining on the $250.0 million share buyback expenditure limit.

During the six months ended June 25, 2011, the Company repurchased 267,761 shares of its Class A Common Stock as illustrated in the table below:

During the six months ended June 25, 2011, the Company repurchased 1,349 shares of unvested investment shares issued under the Investment Share Program of the Company’s Employee Equity Incentive Plan.

As of July 29, 2011, the Company had 9.0 million shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding and 4.1 million shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Form 10-Q to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.