5. Guinness Stout
> Dollar sales: $93,183,030
> Change in dollar sales from a year ago: +16.46%
> Case sales: 2,617,600
> Avg. price per case: $35.60
Guinness, which started in 1759 in Dublin, is the oldest brewer on this list. Yet it is still gaining popularity in the U.S. Over the past year, the beer’s maker, Diageo (NYSE: DEO), sold 2.6 million cases of Guinness Stout in the country, an increase of more than 16% from the year prior. The beer is also the most expensive among popular brands, costing an average $35.60 per case.
Also Read: American Companies With the Most Customers
4. Newcastle Brown Ale
> Dollar sales: $84,891,020
> Change in dollar sales from a year ago: +6.48%
> Case sales: 2,673,008
> Avg. price per case: $31.76
Newcastle Brown Ale, which is brewed by Heineken, has rather low sales in the U.S. compared to other popular brands. Yet, it is experiencing significant growth. Newcastle sold 2.67 million cases in the U.S. in the 52 weeks ended April 15, an increase of approximately 7% from the year before. Newcastle is also one of the most expensive popular beer brands, costing an average of $31.76 per case.
3. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
> Dollar sales: $146,656,300
> Change in dollar sales from a year ago: +15.71%
> Case sales: 4,513,378
> Avg. price per case: $32.36
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., based in California, has only been around since 1979. The company’s most popular beer — Sierra Nevada Pale Ale — already has among the strongest brands in the U.S. Dollar sales for the beer increased nearly 16% in the 52 weeks ended April 15, compared to the year before. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is also the second-most expensive brew among popular brands, costing $32.36 per case.
Also Read: The Eight Beers Americans No Longer Drink
2. Blue Moon
> Dollar sales: $225,747,800
> Change in dollar sales from a year ago: +26.46%
> Case sales: 7,370,705
> Avg. price per case: $30.63
Launched in 1995, Blue Moon is the youngest brand on this list. Dollar sales of the beer, which is produced by MillerCoors, had the second-largest increase in the 52 weeks ended April 15, compared to the prior year, increasing by approximately 26.5%. Blue Moon is also one of the more expensive popular beers, with each case costing an average of $30.63.
1. Yuengling Traditional Lager
> Dollar sales: $206,266,200
> Change in dollar sales from a year ago: +36.55%
> Case sales: 9,465,673
> Avg. price per case: $21.79
Yuengling is America’s oldest brewing company in the U.S., having been founded in 1829. It also has the strongest brand. This brand’s strength appears to be helping sales immensely. Yuengling is tied with the Boston Beer Company for being the largest American-owned brewer by measure of barrels shipped in 2011. On top of this, the company is becoming even more popular still. For the 52 weeks that ended April 15, 2012, Yuengling had the largest increase in dollar sales in the U.S. from the year before, growing by more than 36%. Yuengling, however, is significantly less expensive than the other brands on this list.
Charles B. Stockdale
