UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report December 24, 1996 THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY, INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Massachusetts 01-14092 04-3284048 (State or other (Commission File (I.R.S. Employer Jurisdiction of Number) Identification Number) 75 Arlington Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02116 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code (617) 368-5000 Item 8. Change in Fiscal Year On December 20, 1996, the Registrant's Board of Directors formally approved a change in Registrant's fiscal year, commencing with fiscal year 1996, such that Registrant's fiscal year shall henceforth end on the Saturday of the last full calendar week in December in each year, rather than on December 31, and shall consist of 52 weeks, except that in every fifth year the fiscal year shall consist of 53 weeks. No transition period will result from the change. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY, INC. (Registrant) Date: December 24, 1996 ALFRED W. ROSSOW, JR. Alfred W. Rossow, Jr., Chief Operating Officer, Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer (principal financial and accounting officer) and Director