BOSTON BEER CO INC Commitments Disclosure

M. Commitments and Contingencies

Contractual Obligations

The Company’s accounting policy for inventory and non-cancellable purchase commitments is to recognize a loss by establishing a reserve to the extent inventory levels and commitments exceed forecasted needs. The computation of the excess inventory requires management to make certain assumptions regarding future sales growth, product mix, cancellation costs and supply, among others. Actual results may differ materially from management’s estimates. The Company continues to manage inventory levels and purchase commitments in an effort to maximize utilization. However, changes in management’s assumptions regarding future sales growth, product mix, and hops market conditions could result in future material losses.

Currently, the Company has entered into contracts for barley, wheat and malt used in the Company’s products with four major suppliers. The contracts cover the Company’s barley, wheat, and malt requirements for 2026 and extend through crop year 2027. These purchase commitments outstanding at December 27, 2025 totaled $25.2 million.

The Company utilizes several varieties of hops in the production of its products. To ensure adequate supplies of these varieties, the Company enters into advance multi-year purchase commitments based on forecasted future hop requirements, among other factors. These purchase commitments extend through crop year 2029 and specify both the quantities and prices, denominated in U.S. Dollar and Euros, to which the Company is committed. Hops purchase commitments outstanding at December 27, 2025 totaled $9.1 million, based on the exchange rates on that date.

The Company does not use forward currency exchange contracts and intends to purchase future hops using the exchange rate at the time of purchase. These contracts were deemed necessary in order to bring hop inventory levels and purchase commitments into balance with the Company’s current brewing volume and hop usage forecasts. In addition, these contracts enable the Company to secure its position for future supply with hop vendors in the face of some competitive buying activity.

The Company anticipates paying shortfall fees at certain of its third-party production locations in future periods. See Note I for further discussion of the Company's third-party production arrangements and the anticipated shortfall fees. The anticipated shortfall fees are not included in the contractual obligations above.

Litigation

The Company is party to legal proceedings and claims, including class action claims, where significant damages are asserted against it. Given the inherent uncertainty of litigation, it is possible that the Company could incur liabilities as a consequence of these claims, which may or may not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or the results of its operations. The Company accrues loss contingencies if, in the opinion of management and its legal counsel, the risk of loss is probable and able to be estimated. Material pending legal proceedings are discussed below.

Supplier Dispute. On December 31, 2022, Ardagh Metal Packaging USA Corp. (“Ardagh”) filed an action against the Company alleging, among other things, that the Company had failed or would fail to purchase contractual minimum volumes of certain aluminum beverage can containers in 2021 to 2026. The Company filed an Amended Answer, Amended Affirmative Defenses and Amended Counterclaims on March 25, 2024. On November 9, 2023, Ardagh filed a Notice of Plaintiff’s Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings on Count II of the Complaint, to which the Company filed an Opposition on November 22, 2023. On February 26, 2024, the Court granted the Motion. On March 27, 2024, the Company filed a Motion to Clarify and to Reconsider the Court’s decision. Following briefing by the parties, on June 17, 2024, the Court granted the Company's Motion to Reconsider, denied Ardagh's Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings, and vacated its February 26, 2024 Order. The Court set a fact discovery deadline of November 25, 2024. The Court also set an expert discovery deadline of May 30, 2025. Ardagh has filed a Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on certain liability issues. The Company also has filed a Motion for Partial Summary judgment on certain liability and damage issues. The Court has set a trial date to commence on March 23, 2026. The Company denies that it breached the terms of the parties’ contract and intends to defend against the Ardagh claims vigorously. The possible outcome of this litigation could range from zero to the level of Ardagh's initial demand of over/approximately $300 million plus interest if applied.