Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
Lance Thomas W
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
BOSTON BEER CO INC [SAM]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
VP Operations
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
C/O THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY, INC., ONE DESIGN CENTER PLACE, SUITE 850
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
01/01/2011
(Street)

BOSTON, MA 02210
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Class A Common 01/01/2011   M   93 A $ 37.28 6,093 D  

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 95.09 01/01/2011   A   5,000     (1) 12/31/2020 Class A Common 5,000 $ 95.09 0 D  
Restricted Stock Purchase $ 37.28 01/01/2011   M     93   (2)   (2) Class A Common 469 $ 37.28 376 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
Lance Thomas W
C/O THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY, INC.
ONE DESIGN CENTER PLACE, SUITE 850
BOSTON, MA 02210
      VP Operations  

Signatures

 Thomas W. Lance   01/04/2011
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Reporting Person's right to exercise this option is contingent upon the Company's 2011 performance against two benchmarks, which performance will be determined by the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors on or before March 1, 2012. The number of shares as to which the option may become exercisable in any year is as follows: (a) 2,500 shares will be eligible to vest if the benchmark for wholesaler participation in the Company's "Freshest Beer Program" is met, (b) 1,250 shares will be eligible to vest if the benchmark for depletions is met or exceeded by at least at least 4% and (c) an additional 1,250 shares will be eligible to vest if the benchmark for depletions is equal to or exceeds 8.8%. Unvested shall lapse. Option shall become exercisable as to a maximum of 1,000 shares on 3/1/2012 and 1,000 shares on each of 1/1/2013, 1/1/2014, 1/1/2015 and 1/1/2016, so long as the Reporting Person continues to be employed by the Company on the applicable vesting date
(2) Restricted Stock Purchase pursuant to the Investment Share Program under the issuer's Employee Equity Incentive Plan shares vest at the rate of 20% each year over 5 years from the date of purchase.

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