Who Is the Number 1 Beer in America? The Truth Behind Sales, Ratings, and Trends

There is no single "best" beer in America. If you ask a data analyst, a bartender, or a craft beer obsessive, you will get three completely different answers. That is because "number one" depends entirely on how you measure success.

In the United States, the title of top-ranked beer shifts based on whether you are looking at dollar sales, physical volume sold, consumer sentiment, or enthusiast ratings. As of mid-2026, the landscape has changed dramatically from just a few years ago. The old guard has been dethroned, new leaders have emerged, and the definition of "favorite" is more nuanced than ever.

The Dollar King: Why Money Talks

If you define "number one" by total revenue generated, the answer is clear-cut. Modelo Especial is a Mexican lager imported by Constellation Brands that has dominated US dollar sales since mid-2023.

Modelo Especial overtook Bud Light in May 2023 and has held the crown ever since. According to market research from Bump Williams Consulting and reports from USA Today, Modelo grew its sales by approximately 12% in 2024 compared to the previous year. By July 2024, it held a 9.7% share of the US beer market by dollar value, leaving competitors like Michelob Ultra (7.3%) and Bud Light (6.5%) in its wake.

This dominance isn't just about hype; it's about pricing power and brand loyalty. In 2024 alone, Modelo Especial generated over $4.1 billion in sales, with some estimates reaching as high as $5.18 billion in the following reporting period. While legacy domestic brands struggled with marketing missteps and shifting consumer tastes, Modelo capitalized on a growing preference for imported lagers that offer a slightly richer flavor profile than standard light beers.

• Top Brand by Revenue: Modelo Especial
• Market Share (Dollar Sales): ~9.7%
• Key Driver: Strong brand positioning and consistent quality perception

The Volume Leader: Quantity Over Quality?

Revenue tells one story, but physical volume tells another. For decades, Bud Light was the undisputed king of volume, accounting for nearly one in every five beers sold nationwide as recently as 2014. However, recent data shows a seismic shift.

As of September 2025, Michelob Ultra is a low-carbohydrate light lager launched by Anheuser-Busch that became the top-selling beer by volume in the US. According to Circana and Nielsen retail data, Michelob Ultra surpassed Bud Light to claim an 8.5% share of total beer volume, narrowly edging out Bud Light’s 8.46%.

Anheuser-Busch officially announced this milestone in late September 2025, citing two decades of targeted marketing toward health-conscious and active-lifestyle consumers. This transition highlights a critical trend: Americans are drinking lighter, lower-calorie options in greater quantities, even if those bottles cost less individually than premium imports like Modelo.

The People’s Choice: What Consumers Actually Like

Sales figures don't always reflect affection. A beer can be the best-seller because it is cheap and available everywhere, not because people genuinely love it. To find the true "favorite," we look to national opinion polling.

According to YouGov studies conducted in 2024 and 2025, Guinness is an Irish stout produced by Diageo that holds the highest positive opinion rating among American drinkers. Guinness scored a 56% popularity rating, meaning more than half of the Americans surveyed viewed the brand positively. It beat out major contenders like Modelo (51%), Corona (50%), and Heineken (49%).

This is particularly interesting when broken down by demographics. Among millennials, Guinness also leads with a 51% popularity score, despite having lower overall fame compared to ubiquitous brands like Corona (98% fame) or Bud Light (95% fame). This suggests that while everyone knows Corona, they actually prefer Guinness when asked what their favorite brew is.

The Enthusiast’s Pick: Craft Beer Royalty

If you walk into a taproom in Iowa or California and ask the staff who makes the number one beer in America, they won’t mention Modelo or Michelob. They will talk about rarity, complexity, and barrel aging.

In the world of enthusiast platforms like Untappd, the rankings are dominated by imperial stouts and double IPAs. For 2024, the highest-rated beer in the United States was Kentucky Brunch Brand Stout (2024) from Toppling Goliath Brewing Co., which achieved an average score of 4.86 out of 5 based on hundreds of user ratings.

These beers are not mass-market products. They are limited releases that sell out in minutes. Other heavy hitters in this category include Double Barrel Coconut Killa AF from Boiler Brewing Co. and Pliny the Elder from Russian River Brewing Company, which leads in the sheer volume of five-star check-ins. These rankings matter less to the average consumer buying a six-pack at Walmart, but they define prestige within the craft community.

Why There Is No Single Winner

The fragmentation of the US beer market means that "number one" is a moving target. Here is why the lines are blurred:

1. Data Discrepancies: Different firms use different methodologies. Some track only retail sales, others include on-premise (bar/restaurant) sales. This can cause slight variations in reported market shares.
2. Regional Preferences: A YouGov map analysis showed that Samuel Adams dominates in New England, while Bud Light or Corona might lead in other regions. National averages hide local realities.
3. Category Definitions: Does "beer" include hard seltzers? Does it include flavored malt beverages? Most traditional rankings exclude these, but they are part of the broader alcoholic beverage conversation.

Furthermore, professional brewing competitions like the World Beer Cup and the Great American Beer Festival do not name a single overall winner. Instead, they award medals across hundreds of styles. A gold medalist in the "Leichtbier" category is not necessarily better than a gold medalist in the "Imperial Stout" category; they are just the best in their specific niche.

What This Means for Your Next Purchase

So, which beer should you choose? It depends on your goal.

If you want the statistically most popular choice that balances taste and price, Modelo Especial is the safe bet. It is widely available, consistently rated well, and currently the financial leader. If you are watching your calorie intake but still want a mainstream option, Michelob Ultra is the volume leader for a reason-it hits the sweet spot for active lifestyles.

If you are hosting a party and want to impress guests with a brand they genuinely admire, reach for Guinness. Its high positive opinion score suggests it carries a certain cachet that lighter lagers lack. And if you are a serious drinker looking for a special occasion treat, hunt down a bottle of Kentucky Brunch Brand Stout or similar highly-rated craft offerings.

The era of one brand ruling them all is over. The US beer market is now a multi-polar system where different brands win on different metrics. Understanding these distinctions helps you navigate the shelves with confidence, knowing exactly what "number one" means in any given context.