But craft brewers continue to eye the combination of the two largest brewers warily and worry the sale will curb the explosive growth craft beer has enjoyed in recent years.

With more than two craft breweries opening daily, there were a record 4,144 breweries in the U.S. at the end of 2015, compared with just a thousand U.S. breweries two decades ago, according to the Brewers Association, a Colorado-based trade group that represents U.S. small and independent craft brewers. More than 12 percent of beer produced in the U.S. last year was made by craft brewers, up from 5.7 percent market share by volume in 2011.

While the craft beer industry continues to grow its market share, a larger A-B InBev is viewed as a potential threat.

Brewers Association President and CEO Bob Pease, who also testified before the Senate committee last year, has argued that the Justice Department should require A-B InBev to sell or reduce its stake in its distribution network and that regulators should move to preserve competition.

Pease said he believes a larger A-B InBev will have even more influence over the brands distributors carry, making it more difficult for smaller brewers.