Craft brewing giant a bit flat?

After a rough 2015 and further weakness so far this year, Boston Beer’s (NYSE: SAM) shares have fallen far from their alltime highs of January 2015. Slowing sales of the company’s core Sam Adams-brand beer and multiple analyst downgrades have skunked the stock, presenting an attractive buying opportunity for longterm investors interested in a high-quality business trading at a bargain price.

The popularity of its Sam Adams line of beers has allowed Boston Beer to build a powerful distribution system, with shelf and tap space for its newest products. That’s helped its Angry Orchard become the top-selling brand in the fast-growing hard cider category and should also help spur adoption of its new hard soda drinks and nitro beers.

But competition has been intensifying within the craft brew arena, with industry behemoths snapping up promising craft brewers and new brewers continuing to spring up. (More than 4,000 now operate in the U.S., according to the Brewers Association.)

This competition has taken a toll on Boston Beer’s results in recent months, with core shipment volume falling 6 percent year over year to 830,000 barrels in the first quarter. Its Alchemy and Science craft beer incuba- tor has been driving new growth, though, with further growth expected. With its popular brands, strong distribution system and innovative culture, Boston Beer is worth considering for your portfolio. (The Motley Fool owns shares of and has recommended Boston Beer.)