SweetWater of Atlanta is 27th-largest craft brewer in U.S.

SweetWater Brewing Co. keeps climbing up the ranking of America's biggest craft beer companies. The Atlanta-based brewer, which recently discussed plans to expand its production capacity, moved up one slot to No. 27 in the Brewers Association's list of the 50 largest independent U.S. brewers. Last year, the company was the 28th-largest craft brewery in the U.S.

SweetWater was one of the few Southern beer companies on the list, which also featured Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurants of Chattanooga at No. 47.

At more than 1,700, the number of breweries in the U.S. is higher than any time since the late 1800s, said Paul Gatza, director of the Colorado-based Brewers Association. "Beer lovers' appreciation for American craft brewers and their craft beers continue to grow," he said.