The beer industry is massive, generating billions of dollars annually and positively impacting our global GDP (Gross Domestic Product).
You may be a restaurant owner or even a bar owner.
Either way, patrons often order beer along with their food, and it is imperative to know the major beer companies in the market.
Stick around, as this article will show you the top beer brands and their recent performance from available data.
Top 3 Selling Beer Formats
Before discussing the most popular beers, we should discuss how they are bought.
Three ways to get beer are in a can, a bottle, or a tap.
The most popular way to sell beer in a restaurant is in bottles.
Beer bottles made up 31.7% of all alcohol sales in the restaurant after that comes beer in cans (12.9%) and then draft.
However, the order is slightly different for off-premise consumption: 10.8% of all alcohol sales are beer cans, bottles, and draft kegs.
Related Reading: Domestic Vs. Imported Beer. – More About Them Here.
Bud Light
In 2020, the natural light flavor of Anheuser-Busch InBev’s Bud Light will make it the best-selling beer brand in the United States.
Bud Light made up 17.8% of the total units sold but only 9.4% of the total volume sold.
Bud Light comes in cans, bottles, and even draft kegs, which makes it easy for restaurants to keep it on hand.
The top three best-selling beer brands in 2020 were all light beers licensed and sold by ABinBev, the parent company.
Though still top in 2021, only the top two best-selling beers are now sold by Anheuser-Busch InBev.
This is because Coors Light and Millers Lite were able to take the third and fourth spots, but we’ll get there in a bit.
- Parent company: Anheuser-Busch InBev
- Barrels shipped in 2021: 301,517,932
- Change from 2020: -9.5%
- 2021 Dollar Sales: $6,767,318,855
Michelob Ultra
Michelob Ultra was made for people who wanted to drink a healthier beer.
Customers say that Michelob Ultra tastes excellent and has fewer calories and carbs than most other beers on the market.
It’s great for people who are trying to eat fewer carbs
In 2020, 8.6% of bottle sales were of this beer in bars and restaurants.
Michelob Ultra was responsible for 5.5% of the total sales.
- Parent company: Anheuser-Busch InBev
- Barrels shipped in 2021: 119,220,402
- Change from 2020: +2.8%
- 2021 Dollar Sales: $3,315,267,875
Coors Light
Coors Light is an American classic that has been around for a long time.
They crafted it to have a clean, refreshing taste.
It accounted for 7.3% of all sales in 2020 in restaurants.
It was also responsible for the same amount of unit sales!
People all over the country drink that much Coors Light made by the Molson Coors Beverage Company.
- Parent company: MillerCoors
- Barrels shipped in 2021: 119,713,057
- Change from 2020: -5.2%
- 2021 Dollar Sales: $2,649,921,450
Related Reading: Canadian Beer Brands. – Learn About Them Here.
Miller Lite
Miller Lite is an excellent alternative to Coors Light and Michelob Ultra.
They created this because more and more people were buying imports.
These were usually more expensive but still had a natural light taste.
It was the first light beer ever sold.
Our internal data shows that Miller Lite only made up 7.1% of all alcohol unit sales in restaurants in 2020 and 3.7% of the total market volume.
Miller Lite is another brand made by the Molson Coors Brewing Company.
- Parent company: MillerCoors
- Barrels shipped in 2021: 98,238,585
- Change from 2020: -8%
- 2021 Dollar Sales: $2,131,763,261
Busch
This was the first beer that Anheuser-Busch made after Prohibition. It used to be called Busch Bavarian Beer.
This was long after Prohibition – 1955, when the government repealed the anti-alcohol legislation in 1933.
The snowy mountains on the can reflect the brand’s claim to be “as crisp and cold as a mountain stream.”
- Parent company: Anheuser-Busch InBev
- Barrels shipped in 2021: 101,238,718
- Change from 2020: -3.6%
- 2021 Dollar Sales: $1,729,027,077
Natural
“Natty” calls itself “the official beer of keeping it real and letting things just happen.”
It is a light pilsner with fewer calories.
It has the same calories and carbs as Busch Light, another light beer from Anheuser-Busch: 95 and 3.2, respectively.
- Parent company: Anheuser-Busch InBev
- Barrels shipped in 2021: 81,313,091
- Change from 2020: -11%
- 2021 Dollar Sales: $1,343,380,705
Related Reading: Organic Beer Brands. – Read About Them Here.
Bud Specialty
This famous Canadian light lager has been around for a long time. First crafted in 1876, its well-known slogan is “King of Beers.”
It is also the PWHPA’s official beer. Here is something fascinating about Budweiser, it’s their most expensive beer to produce and generates the least amount of money.
Our internal data shows that in 2020, this light beer only made up 6.5% of all alcohol unit sales in restaurants.
It also made up 3.2% of all sales of ml! Budweiser’s off-premise sales were worth about $717.8 million.
- Parent company: Anheuser-Busch InBev
- Barrels shipped in 2021: 20,826,405
- Change from 2020: -14.4%
- 2021 Dollar Sales: $680,062,808
Keystone Light
Keystone Light is a Coors light lager that has only 101 calories per 12 ounces and has been filtered thrice.
- Parent company: MillerCoors
- Barrels shipped in 2021: 27,360,250
- Change from 2020: -15.5%
- 2021 Dollar Sales: $428,454,828
Related Reading: German Beer Vs. American Beer. – Read About Them Here.
Miller Lite
Miller High Life was made in 1903, and Miller Brewing Company is the company that makes it.
It’s a light-lager beer made in the American style. It has 4.6% alcohol.
Miller High Life is an excellent example of what a lager should be.
It has just the right amount of flavor and refreshment for beer lovers who don’t want anything too fancy or expensive.
It’s a great choice if you’re looking for a typical American beer because it’s simple, pure, and honest.
- Parent company: MillerCoors
- Barrels shipped in 2021: 22,664,901
- Change from 2020: -13.7%
- 2021 Dollar Sales: $400,650,244
Yuengling
Yuengling is a well-known American beer company.
Their products are well-known throughout the United States, making a great craft beer perfect for hot summer days.
They opened in 1829 and have been successful due to their low prices and good food taste.
- Parent company: D.G. Yuengling & Son
- Barrels shipped in 2021: 15,663,238
- Change from 2020: -4.6%
- 2021 Dollar Sales: $376,532,938
Related Reading: 5 Big Beer Brewing Companies in the U.S. – Read About Them Here.
Final Thoughts
More brands didn’t make it to this list, but these were the top beer brands that performed in 2021.
Data is still not publicly available for 2022, as it is usually finalized every December.
Now that you have this information, good luck managing your establishment, and always stay safe!
