<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<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
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-30-2000
<PERIOD-START> DEC-26-1999
<PERIOD-END> SEP-23-2000
<CASH> 9,675
<SECURITIES> 36,011
<RECEIVABLES> 14,562
<ALLOWANCES> (705)
<INVENTORY> 18,823
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 82,955
<PP&E> 49,899
<DEPRECIATION> (23,614)
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 113,087
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 25,238
<BONDS> 0
0
0
<COMMON> 206<F1>
<OTHER-SE> 83,753
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 113,087
<SALES> 157,744
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 141,688
<CGS> 61,662
<TOTAL-COSTS> 127,471
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 1,907
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<INCOME-PRETAX> 16,124
<INCOME-TAX> 6,772
<INCOME-CONTINUING> 9,352
<DISCONTINUED> 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0
<CHANGES> 0
<NET-INCOME> 9,352
<EPS-BASIC> 0.51
<EPS-DILUTED> 0.51
<FN>
<F1>THIS NUMBER INCLUDES 16,459,793 SHARES OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK WITH A PAR
VALUE OF $165,000 AND 4,107,355 SHARES OF CLASS B STOCK WITH PAR VALUE OF
$41,000.
</FN>
</TABLE>