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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="windows-1252"?> |
<ownershipDocument> |
| <schemaVersion> X0306 </schemaVersion> |
| <documentType> 4 </documentType> |
| <periodOfReport> 2020-08-05 </periodOfReport> |
| <notSubjectToSection16> false </notSubjectToSection16> |
| <issuer> |
| | <issuerCik> 0000949870 </issuerCik> |
| | <issuerName> BOSTON BEER CO INC </issuerName> |
| | <issuerTradingSymbol> SAM </issuerTradingSymbol> |
| | </issuer> |
| <reportingOwner> |
| | <reportingOwnerId> |
| | | <rptOwnerCik> 0001550860 </rptOwnerCik> |
| | | <rptOwnerName> Fisher Cynthia A </rptOwnerName> |
| | | </reportingOwnerId> |
| | <reportingOwnerAddress> |
| | | <rptOwnerStreet1> 186 PARK STREET </rptOwnerStreet1> |
| | | <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2> |
| | | <rptOwnerCity> NEWTON </rptOwnerCity> |
| | | <rptOwnerState> MA </rptOwnerState> |
| | | <rptOwnerZipCode> 02458 </rptOwnerZipCode> |
| | | <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription> |
| | | </reportingOwnerAddress> |
| | <reportingOwnerRelationship> |
| | | <isDirector> true </isDirector> |
| | | <isOfficer> false </isOfficer> |
| | | <isTenPercentOwner> false </isTenPercentOwner> |
| | | <isOther> false </isOther> |
| | | <officerTitle></officerTitle> |
| | | <otherText></otherText> |
| | | </reportingOwnerRelationship> |
| | </reportingOwner> |
| <nonDerivativeTable> |
| | <nonDerivativeTransaction> |
| | | <securityTitle> |
| <value> Class A Common </value> |
| </securityTitle> |
| | | <transactionDate> |
| <value> 2020-08-05 </value> |
| </transactionDate> |
| | | <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate> |
| | | <transactionCoding> |
| <transactionFormType> 5 </transactionFormType> |
| <transactionCode> G </transactionCode> |
| <equitySwapInvolved> false </equitySwapInvolved> |
| <footnoteId id="F1"/> |
| </transactionCoding> |
| | | <transactionTimeliness> |
| <value> E </value> |
| </transactionTimeliness> |
| | | <transactionAmounts> |
| <transactionShares> |
| <value> 28620.00 </value> |
| </transactionShares> |
| <transactionPricePerShare> |
| <value> 0.00 </value> |
| </transactionPricePerShare> |
| <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode> |
| <value> A </value> |
| </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode> |
| </transactionAmounts> |
| | | <postTransactionAmounts> |
| <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| <value> 71592.00 </value> |
| </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| </postTransactionAmounts> |
| | | <ownershipNature> |
| <directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <value> I </value> |
| </directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <natureOfOwnership> |
| <value> By Foundation managed by Reporting Person </value> |
| </natureOfOwnership> |
| </ownershipNature> |
| | | </nonDerivativeTransaction> |
| | <nonDerivativeHolding> |
| | | <securityTitle> |
| <value> Class A Common </value> |
| </securityTitle> |
| | | <postTransactionAmounts> |
| <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| <value> 400.00 </value> |
| </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| </postTransactionAmounts> |
| | | <ownershipNature> |
| <directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <value> D </value> |
| </directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| </ownershipNature> |
| | | </nonDerivativeHolding> |
| | <nonDerivativeHolding> |
| | | <securityTitle> |
| <value> Class A Common </value> |
| </securityTitle> |
| | | <postTransactionAmounts> |
| <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| <value> 23487.00 </value> |
| </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| </postTransactionAmounts> |
| | | <ownershipNature> |
| <directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <value> I </value> |
| </directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <natureOfOwnership> |
| <value> By spouse as custodian for children under UGTMA </value> |
| </natureOfOwnership> |
| </ownershipNature> |
| | | </nonDerivativeHolding> |
| | <nonDerivativeHolding> |
| | | <securityTitle> |
| <value> Class A Common </value> |
| </securityTitle> |
| | | <postTransactionAmounts> |
| <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| <value> 3656.00 </value> |
| </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| </postTransactionAmounts> |
| | | <ownershipNature> |
| <directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <value> I </value> |
| </directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <natureOfOwnership> |
| <value> Custodian for children under UGTMA </value> |
| </natureOfOwnership> |
| </ownershipNature> |
| | | </nonDerivativeHolding> |
| | <nonDerivativeHolding> |
| | | <securityTitle> |
| <value> Class A Common </value> |
| </securityTitle> |
| | | <postTransactionAmounts> |
| <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| <value> 2532.00 </value> |
| </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| </postTransactionAmounts> |
| | | <ownershipNature> |
| <directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <value> I </value> |
| </directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <natureOfOwnership> |
| <value> As trustee in trust for children </value> |
| </natureOfOwnership> |
| </ownershipNature> |
| | | </nonDerivativeHolding> |
| | <nonDerivativeHolding> |
| | | <securityTitle> |
| <value> Class A Common </value> |
| </securityTitle> |
| | | <postTransactionAmounts> |
| <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| <value> 44248.00 </value> |
| </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| </postTransactionAmounts> |
| | | <ownershipNature> |
| <directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <value> I </value> |
| </directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <natureOfOwnership> |
| <value> By LLC managed by Reporting Person </value> |
| <footnoteId id="F2"/> |
| </natureOfOwnership> |
| </ownershipNature> |
| | | </nonDerivativeHolding> |
| | <nonDerivativeHolding> |
| | | <securityTitle> |
| <value> Class A Common </value> |
| </securityTitle> |
| | | <postTransactionAmounts> |
| <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| <value> 27437.00 </value> |
| </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| </postTransactionAmounts> |
| | | <ownershipNature> |
| <directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <value> I </value> |
| </directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <natureOfOwnership> |
| <value> By LLC managed by Reporting Person( </value> |
| <footnoteId id="F3"/> |
| </natureOfOwnership> |
| </ownershipNature> |
| | | </nonDerivativeHolding> |
| | </nonDerivativeTable> |
| <derivativeTable></derivativeTable> |
| <footnotes> |
| | <footnote id="F1"> This transaction is a Form 5 transaction being voluntarily reported early. On the Transaction Date, the Reporting Person's spouse gifted 28,620 shares from his direct ownership into a foundation that the Reporting Person's spouse controls. The Reporting Person serves on the Board of Directors of the foundation, but disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares. </footnote> |
| | <footnote id="F2"> The shares are held by an LLC managed by the Reporting Person and owned by Trusts established for the benefit of the Reporting Person's children and the Reporting Person's spouse's children. The Reporting Person is the Trustee or Co-Trustee for each Trust. </footnote> |
| | <footnote id="F3"> The shares are held by West Summit Grand LLC, a limited liability company managed by the Reporting Person. The Reporting Person expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities except to the extent of her pecuniary interest therein. </footnote> |
| | </footnotes> |
| <remarks></remarks> |
| <ownerSignature> |
| | <signatureName> Michael G. Andrews under POA for the benefit of Cynthia A. Fisher </signatureName> |
| | <signatureDate> 2020-08-05 </signatureDate> |
| | </ownerSignature> |
| </ownershipDocument> |