The United States may not be among the leading beer-consuming countries — that’s a list occupied almost entirely by Europe — but Americans do drink a staggering amount of brew:
The average American adult consumes about 28 gallons of beer annually — about a six-pack a week — according to Beer Institute, a national trade organization representing the brewing industry. (Some parts of the country drink more than others, of course. These are the states drinking the most beer.)
To determine what we drink the most of — which brews are America’s best-sellers — 24/7 Tempo reviewed data from Beer Marketer’s Insights, an industry tracker and publishing company, ranking sales by barrels shipped in 2020. (Quantities are rounded off to one decimal place.)
Despite the rise of the microbrewing industry, at least three-quarters of the beer consumed in the U.S. is still produced by giants like Belgium-based Anheuser-Busch InBev (the world’s largest beer company) and Molson Coors Beverage Company, headquartered in Golden, Colorado and Montreal. Between them, in fact, they represent more than two-thirds of the beers on this list.
The discerning German or British pub-crawler might cringe at the thought of quaffing a Bud Light or a Michelob Ultra, but these and similar brands are what we like to drink the most in this country. (Beer connoisseurs would be more likely to enjoy America’s 40 most delicious beers.)
In recent years, malt beverages that aren’t actually beer — like hard seltzers and hard iced tea — have emerged as alternatives to traditional beers, and they, too, are among the most popular choices for drinkers.
Click here to see the top-selling beer brands in America
Source: Drew Angerer / Getty Images
1. Bud Light
> Barrels shipped, 2020: 26.5 million
> Change from 2019: -6.50% — 14th largest decline
> Parent company: Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV
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Source: nparker13 / Flickr
2. Coors Light
> Barrels shipped, 2020: 13.9 million
> Change from 2019: -5.00% — 16th largest decline
> Parent company: Molson Coors Beverage Company
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Source: Millerlite.com
3. Miller Lite
> Barrels shipped, 2020: 12 million
> Change from 2019: -3.60% — 18th largest decline
> Parent company: Molson Coors Beverage Company
Source: michelobultra.com
4. Michelob Ultra
> Barrels shipped, 2020: 11.6 million
> Change from 2019: 13.70% — 5th highest growth
> Parent company: Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV
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Source: urbanbuzz / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
5. Budweiser
> Barrels shipped, 2020: 10.7 million
> Change from 2019: -6.60% — 12th largest decline
> Parent company: Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV
Source: NoDerog / Getty Images
6. Modelo Especial
> Barrels shipped, 2020: 10.4 million
> Change from 2019: 11.50% — 6th highest growth
> Parent company: Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV
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Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images
7.Corona Extra
> Barrels shipped, 2020: 8. million
> Change from 2019: -1.20% — 20th largest decline
> Parent company: Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV
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Source: Busch Light Fans / Twitter
8. Busch Light
> Barrels shipped, 2020: 7.3 million
> Change from 2019: 15.10% — 4th highest growth
> Parent company: Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV
Source: Courtesy of White Claw
9. White Claw (all)
> Barrels shipped, 2020: 7.1 million
> Change from 2019: 119.80% — 2nd highest growth
> Parent company: Mark Anthony Group/Mark Anthony Brewing
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Source: naturallight.com
10. Natural Light
> Barrels shipped, 2020: 6.5 million
> Change from 2019: -2.30% — 19th largest decline
> Parent company: Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV
Source: Rob Kim / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
11. Truly (all)
> Barrels shipped, 2020: 3.9 million
> Change from 2019: 131.90% — the highest growth
> Parent company: The Boston Beer Company, Inc.
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Source: benoitb / Getty Images
12. Heineken
> Barrels shipped, 2020: 3.7 million
> Change from 2019: 0.70% — 7th highest growth
> Parent company: Heineken N.V.
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Source: buschbucks.com
13. Busch
> Barrels shipped, 2020: 3.5 million
> Change from 2019: -9.10% — 6th largest decline
> Parent company: Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV
Source: keystonelight.com
14. Keystone Light
> Barrels shipped, 2020: 3.1 million
> Change from 2019: -5.60% — 15th largest decline
> Parent company: Molson Coors Beverage Company
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Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images
15. Miller High Life
> Barrels shipped, 2020: 2.8 million
> Change from 2019: -7.90% — 9th largest decline
> Parent company: Molson Coors Beverage Company
Source: lleerogers / Getty Images
16. Stella Artois
> Barrels shipped, 2020: 2.4 million
> Change from 2019: -10.00% — 4th largest decline
> Parent company: Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV
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Source: Courtesy of Anheuser-Busch
17. Bud Ice
> Barrels shipped, 2020: 2.1 million
> Change from 2019: -14.40% — the largest decline
> Parent company: Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV
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Source: Drew Angerer / Getty Images
18. Pabst Blue Ribbon
> Barrels shipped, 2020: 2 million
> Change from 2019: -7.10% — 11th largest decline
> Parent company: Blue Ribbon Intermediate Holdings LLC
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/doobybrain/
19. Blue Moon (all)
> Barrels shipped, 2020: 2 million
> Change from 2019: -3.80% — 17th largest decline
> Parent company: Molson Coors Beverage Company
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Source: courtesy of walmart.com
20. Natural Ice
> Barrels shipped, 2020: 2 million
> Change from 2019: -13.60% — 2nd largest decline
> Parent company: Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mrseb/
21. Yuengling Lager
> Barrels shipped, 2020: 1.9 million
> Change from 2019: -9.80% — 5th largest decline
> Parent company: D. G. Yuengling & Son
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Source: dosequis.com
22. Dos Equis
> Barrels shipped, 2020: 1.7 million
> Change from 2019: -8.10% — 8th largest decline
> Parent company: Heineken N.V.
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Source: Ted Thompson / Flickr
23. Steel Reserve
> Barrels shipped, 2020: 1.5 million
> Change from 2019: -6.50% — 14th largest decline
> Parent company: Molson Coors Beverage Company
Source: walmart.com
24. Coors Banquet
> Barrels shipped, 2020: 1.4 million
> Change from 2019: -9.00% — 7th largest decline
> Parent company: Molson Coors Beverage Company
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Source: Courtesy of Twisted Tea
25. Twisted Tea (hard iced tea)
> Barrels shipped, 2020: 1.2 million
> Change from 2019: 23.60% — 3rd highest growth
> Parent company: The Boston Beer Company, Inc.
Source: Courtesy of Icehouse
26. Icehouse
> Barrels shipped, 2020: 1.2 million
> Change from 2019: -7.30% — 10th largest decline
> Parent company: Molson Coors Beverage Company
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Source: kulicki / Getty Images
27. Guinness (all)
> Barrels shipped, 2020: 1.1 million
> Change from 2019: -12.50% — 3rd largest decline
> Parent company: Diageo plc
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