Industry · Form 5500 business code 312120
Breweries: retirement plans
Plans whose sponsor entered this principal business activity code on Form 5500.
Form 5500 information is as filed by the plan administrator with the Department of Labor and may be amended. Figures reflect the plan year shown, not current balances. The business code is chosen by the filer from the list in the Form 5500 instructions.
For plan year 2024, 66 retirement plans in breweries with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500: 60 defined contribution and 6 defined benefit. They reported 82,140 participant records and $10.7B in net assets, counting every plan on the form.
The median defined contribution plan held $39,673 per participant, well below the national median of $53,031, and its employer put in $1,858 per active participant (national: $2,174). Among plans reporting Schedule C compensation the median was $96.57 per participant against $123 nationally.
Employers contributed $326M and participants $269M during the year, and the plans paid out $1.28B in benefits.
In 2009 the same group numbered 57 plans with $8.34B; by 2024 it was 66 plans (up 16%) and $10.7B (up 28%). From plan year 2023 the 100-participant line counts participants with account balances, which moved many plans to the short form.
Medians compared with all US plans
| Median plan, plan year 2024 | Industry: DC | US: DC | Industry: DB | US: DB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets per participant | $39,673 | $53,031 | $127,684 | $86,234 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $1,858 | $2,174 | $69,157 | $10,244 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $96.57 | $123 | $389 | $344 |
| Schedule C compensation, share of net assets | 0.35% | 0.26% | 0.35% | 0.42% |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $100 | $116 | $494 | $527 |
Medians across plans with 100 or more participants (56 DC and 6 DB plans with a Schedule H here). Fee medians cover plans reporting an amount. DC: defined contribution, such as 401(k) and 403(b). DB: defined benefit pension.
Distribution of DC plans
| Measure | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets per participant | $14,959 | $39,673 | $81,687 | 56 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $737 | $1,858 | $2,962 | 51 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $42.77 | $96.57 | $166 | 52 |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $45.45 | $100 | $158 | 55 |
Trend by plan year
| Plan year | Plans 100+ | Participants | Net assets | Employer contributions | Participant contributions | Median DC assets / participant | Median DC Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 66 | 82,140 | $10.7B | $326M | $269M | $39,673 | $96.57 |
| 2023 | 76 | 103,560 | $10.5B | $253M | $273M | $30,209 | $70.23 |
| 2022 | 88 | 100,300 | $9.13B | $214M | $267M | $17,608 | $84.34 |
| 2021 | 89 | 103,112 | $12.6B | $234M | $265M | $25,234 | $84.73 |
| 2020 | 87 | 98,849 | $12.2B | $274M | $252M | $29,560 | $88.33 |
| 2019 | 81 | 102,581 | $11.4B | $303M | $234M | $23,756 | $59.38 |
| 2018 | 74 | 102,654 | $9.58B | $248M | $237M | $20,721 | $47.16 |
| 2017 | 71 | 104,781 | $10.8B | $283M | $229M | $22,735 | $46.47 |
| 2016 | 67 | 108,789 | $10.8B | $588M | $213M | $17,972 | $29.70 |
| 2015 | 59 | 108,847 | $10.4B | $428M | $198M | $21,134 | $8.26 |
| 2014 | 56 | 108,817 | $10.8B | $415M | $184M | $31,404 | $17.58 |
| 2013 | 55 | 118,916 | $11.4B | $421M | $177M | $33,702 | $10.64 |
| 2012 | 57 | 127,809 | $10.6B | $546M | $165M | $27,229 | $8.71 |
| 2011 | 56 | 124,252 | $9.47B | $469M | $142M | $28,136 | $18.84 |
| 2010 | 48 | 92,335 | $7.96B | $346M | $158M | $29,711 | $18.38 |
| 2009 | 57 | 104,278 | $8.34B | $275M | $159M | $29,800 | $25.89 |
Plan year is the year in which the plan year began. The drop in large plans from 2023 follows a rule change: the 100-participant line now counts participants with account balances, so many plans moved to the short form.
Provider share
Service provider organisations named most often on the Schedule C of the 66 plans on this page's list, by number of plans. A plan usually names several providers.
Largest plans
The 40 largest by participants of 66 plans with a page on this site.
| Plan | Sponsor | State | Type | Participants | Net assets | Per participant | Employer / active | Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anheuser-Busch 401(k) Savings and Retirement Plan | Anheuser-Busch Companies, LLC | MO | DC | 21,016 | $3.62B | $172,215 | $4,903 | $68.59 |
| Molson Coors Employees' Retirement and Savings Plan | Molson Coors Beverage Company USA LLC | WI | DC | 9,895 | $2.14B | $215,845 | $10,402 | $31.65 |
| Molson Coors Pension Plan | Molson Coors Beverage Company USA LLC | WI | DB | 6,627 | $1.09B | $164,431 | — | $359 |
| Anheuser-Busch Defined Benefit Plan | Anheuser-Busch Companies, LLC | MO | DB | 5,582 | $508M | $90,936 | $69,157 | $421 |
| Boston Beer Company 401(k) Plan | Boston Beer Corporation | MA | DC | 3,170 | $353M | $111,481 | $3,456 | $105 |
| Brewery Conference/anheuser-Busch Defined Contribution Plan | Anheuser-Busch, LLC and the Int'l Brotherhood of Teamsters | MO | DC | 2,820 | $505M | $179,072 | $9,702 | $101 |
| Molson Coors Consolidated Retirement and Thrift Savings Plan | Molson Coors Beverage Company USA LLC | WI | DC | 2,757 | $452M | $163,933 | $5,787 | $8.81 |
| Brewery Conference/anheuser-Busch Defined Benefit Pension Plan | Bot of Brewery Conference/anheuser Busch Defined Benefit Pension Plan | MO | DB | 2,715 | $521M | $191,869 | $23,569 | $276 |
| Sierra Nevada Brewing 401(k) Plan | Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. | CA | DC | 1,695 | $226M | $133,389 | $5,563 | $46.30 |
| New Belgium Brewing Company, Inc. 401(k) Plan | New Belgium Brewing Company, Inc. | CO | DC | 1,612 | $197M | $122,251 | $4,024 | $112 |
| The Consolidated Retirement Plan | Pabst Brewing Company | TX | DB | 1,564 | $51.7M | $33,060 | $179,000 | $428 |
| St. Louis Teamster Brewery Workers Pension Plan | Joint Bot of the St. Louis Teamster Brewery Workers Pension Plan | MO | DB | 1,526 | $276M | $180,834 | $72,327 | $418 |
| Tilray Brands USA Retirement Plan | American Beverage Crafts, LLC | NY | DC | 1,481 | $33.1M | $22,358 | $1,193 | $45.39 |
| Iron Hill Brewery Retirement Savings Plan | Iron Hill Brewery | PA | DC | 1,230 | $6.3M | $5,145 | $82 | $70.24 |
| Artisanal Brewing Ventures 401(k) Plan | Craft Revolution, LLC DBA Artisanal Brewing Ventures | NC | DC | 964 | $21.2M | $22,023 | $1,124 | $83.89 |
| North American Breweries, Inc. Employees' Savings and Investment Plan | North American Breweries, Inc. | NY | DC | 859 | $81.6M | $94,963 | $2,754 | $143 |
| CBC U 401(k) Plan | CBC Latrobe Acquisition, LLC | WI | DC | 797 | $19.1M | $23,932 | $1,858 | $2.38 |
| Tree House Brewing Company, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust | Tree House Brewing Company, Inc. | MA | DC | 774 | $9.6M | $12,436 | $923 | $83.06 |
| Founders Brewing Company 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Canal Street Brewing Co. LLC DBA Founders Brewing Company | MI | DC | 702 | $38.1M | $54,343 | $2,822 | $278 |
| Fresh Ale Pubs 401(k) Plan | Fresh Ale Pubs, LLC DBA Moose's Tooth Pub and Pizzeria | AK | DC | 693 | $7.6M | $10,983 | $395 | $1.08 |
| Deschutes Brewery, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Deschutes Brewery, Inc. | OR | DC | 689 | $31.5M | $45,750 | $1,682 | $0.11 |
| City Brewing Company Salaried 401(k) Plan | CBC Acquisition, LLC DBA City Brewing Co., LLC | WI | DC | 665 | $33.2M | $49,891 | $2,858 | $1.13 |
| Lagunitas Brewing Co. 401(k) & Profit Sharing Plan | The Lagunitas Brewing Company | CA | DC | 638 | $28.2M | $44,223 | $2,248 | $166 |
| Firestone Walker, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Firestone Walker, Inc. DBA Firestone Walker Brewing Co. | CA | DC | 585 | $25.7M | $43,851 | $3,172 | $241 |
| City Brewing Company Hourly 401(k) Plan | CBC Acquisition, LLC DBA City Brewing Co., LLC | WI | DC | 541 | $43.2M | $79,874 | $4,405 | $1.02 |
| Kings & Convicts 401 (K) Plan | Kings & Convicts BP LLC | CA | DC | 532 | $8.4M | $15,778 | $334 | $25.49 |
| Brewdog Brewing Company LLC 401(k) Plan | Brewdog Brewing Company LLC | OH | DC | 469 | $1.7M | $3,702 | $490 | $77.71 |
| Pabst Brewing Company 401(k) Plan | Pabst Brewing Company | TX | DC | 448 | $30.7M | $68,542 | $5,681 | $135 |
| D.G. Yuengling & Son, Inc. 401(k) Savings and Profit-Sharing Plan | D.G. Yuengling & Son, Inc. | PA | DC | 396 | $63.4M | $159,982 | $6,330 | $204 |
| New Holland Brewing 401(k) Plan | New Holland Brewing Company, LLC | MI | DC | 371 | $5.8M | $15,522 | — | $4.45 |
| High Falls Operating Co. LLC Hourly Employees 401(k) Plan | High Falls Operating Company, LLC | NY | DC | 366 | $16.1M | $44,124 | $366 | $243 |
| Duvel Moortgat USA 401(k) Plan | Duvel Moortgat USA, Ltd. | MO | DC | 363 | $24.3M | $67,039 | $1,931 | $179 |
| Surly Brewing Co. 401(k) Plan | Surly Brewing Co. | MN | DC | 357 | $5.9M | $16,660 | $737 | $68.06 |
| Trillium Brewing Company 401(k) Plan | Trillium Brewing Company | MA | DC | 351 | $3.7M | $10,658 | $473 | $34.89 |
| Deschutes Brewery, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan | Deschutes Brewery, Inc. ESOP | OR | DC | 327 | $5.4M | $16,549 | $2,022 | — |
| Other Half Brewing Company 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Other Half Brewing Company | NY | DC | 289 | $5.1M | $17,704 | $1,933 | $76.05 |
| Southern Beverage Company, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Southern Beverage Company, Inc. | MS | DC | 269 | $9.9M | $36,853 | $225 | $142 |
| Octopi Brewing 401(k) Plan | Octopi Brewing LLC | WI | DC | 266 | $3.1M | $11,745 | $2,244 | $5.81 |
| The Great Lakes Brewing Co. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | The Great Lakes Brewing Co. | OH | DC | 252 | $19.5M | $77,437 | $541 | $507 |
| Oregon Brewing Co. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Oregon Brewing Company | OR | DC | 251 | $5.8M | $22,998 | $557 | $92.16 |
By plan size
By state
Questions and answers
How many retirement plans are there in breweries?
66 plans with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024, out of 174 pension plans on the full form. Smaller plans file Form 5500-SF and are counted separately where shown.
What is the typical 401(k) balance in breweries?
The median defined contribution plan reported $39,673 in net assets per participant (middle half of plans: $14,959 to $81,687); nationally it was $53,031. This is a plan-level average that includes former employees, not a typical person's balance.
What do employers contribute in breweries?
The median defined contribution plan received $1,858 in employer contributions per active participant, against $2,174 nationally. Plans with no employer contribution are included at zero.
What are average 401(k) fees in breweries?
Among defined contribution plans that report any Schedule C compensation, the median was $96.57 per participant and 0.35% of net assets (nationally $123 and 0.26%). Schedule C leaves out fund expense ratios and fees the employer pays, so it understates total cost.
Where does this come from?
Form 5500 annual reports in the EBSA research files, with filings received through 24 Aug 2026. Medians are computed by this site across plans with 100 or more participants.
Provenance
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Form 5500 research files, public domain, with filings received through 24 Aug 2026. Totals count every pension plan on the full form; medians and the plan list cover plans with 100 or more participants. See the methodology.