Big Island-based Kona Brewing Co. has become the 14th biggest craft beer producer in the nation based on sales last year, up from 24th the prior year, according to the Brewers Association, a trade group for small and independent U.S. brewers.

Kona Brewing said a 51 percent increase in the volume of beer sold last year ranked it the fastest-growing company among the 50 largest craft brewers.
The Boulder, Colo.-based Brewers Association said the volume of beer sold for the U.S. craft brewing industry overall rose 6 percent.
Much of Kona Brewing’s growth was due to the expanding Mainland distribution, particularly on the East Coast where the company late last year began having the Redhook Ale Brewery in Portsmouth, N.H., brew its beer for regional distribution.
Kona Brewery said it expects the Portsmouth brewery will brew 20,000 barrels of its beer by the end of this year, helping grow sales by a projected 30 percent.
Last year, Kona Brewery reported selling 94,558 barrels of beer, which translates to 189,116 kegs or 2.9 million gallons.