Introduction to the Most Popular Beers in America
Over the past few years, beer sales have seen slight declines. Whether it’s for health and wellness or changing tastes, Americans are drinking less of their favorite beverage. Even craft beer’s meteoric rise has tapered off as this market matures.
That’s not to say consumers have completely fallen out of love with beer. Many brands have enjoyed strong growth or remained steady, even through the COVID years. But which brands are still selling big or even growing?
Here are the top five best-selling beers in America in 2025:
1. Modelo Especial
This wildly popular Mexican lager, known for its crisp and well-balanced flavor, has quickly become the go-to beverage. Modelo is by far the best-selling imported beer in the United States, eclipsing Heineken and overtaking fellow cerveza Corona. The recipe dates back to the 1920s when it was first brewed in Mexico City, and it’s absolutely ideal for drinking on the patio or washing down spicy Mexican cuisine.
A few factors contributed to Modelo’s growth, including demographic changes and the adoption by the wider non-Mexican drinking market. In many ways, Modelo Especial gets the job done with its light golden color, a slightly sweet aroma, 4.4% ABV, and a smooth finish.
2. Bud Light
Bud Light has been the best-selling American beer for a long time, and it was only supplanted by Modelo back in 2023. Introduced to sporty drinkers by Anheuser-Busch in 1982, Bud Light was developed as a lighter version of Budweiser (or “Bud Heavy”) to offer a cleaner and crisper taste along with fewer calories. The lower alcohol content of 4.2% ABV makes it “crushable.”
The marketing behind this light beer juggernaut gives Bud Light a leg up when consumers are looking for a beer at sporting events and barbecues, and it’s fair to say more than a few of these have been put back at frat parties around the country.
3. Michelob Ultra
Another offering from Anheuser-Busch, Michelob Ultra might belong to the “ultra-light beer” category. Ultra’s low-calorie and low-carb profile contains just 95 calories and 2.6 grams of carbs per 12-ounce serving, making it a favorite for health-conscious drinkers aiming for a light buzz after a round of golf. This is by far the best entry on this list, having been introduced back in 2002. In the past decade, Michelob Ultra has steadily gained an audience, becoming one of America’s most popular beers, with an average growth of 16% annually. That is staggering for a beer that’s only now seen a heavy marketing push.
As far as flavor goes, there are plenty of beers (on this list) that will give you more of a hop burn or malt sweetness. But Michelob Ultra is about serving a purpose and getting the job done rather than beguiling beer nerds!
4. Coors Light
No light beer has enjoyed a better brand identity than this ripper from Golden, Colorado. Marketed ingeniously as “The World’s Most Refreshing Beer,” Coors Light is as drinkable as they come. Coors Light is (literally) brewed with Rocky Mountain water and boasts an alcohol content of 4.2% ABV, so perhaps the tagline is true. There are stats like a 12-oz serving’s 102 calories and 5 grams of carbs that really back up these assertions, even if there are other (more) popular beers that match these.
The beer has always evoked sporty and rugged imagery stemming from the Coors Brewery’s location in Colorado, and they’ve leaned into it with marketing gimmicks like the cold-activated blue mountains on the can that indicate when Coors Light achieves peak drinkability.
5. Corona Extra
The American beer market’s OG cerveza, Corona Extra, has been synonymous with beaches and taquerias for decades. The iconic branding and superb advertising have positioned Corona exceptionally well, even with a dodgy flavor profile that is masked by the customary addition of a lime wedge.
It’s actually another offering from Mexico City’s Grupo Modelo, even if the Modelo and Corona brands compete head-on for shelf space. This pale lager is easy to drink, with a 4.5% ABV that won’t fill you up while you’re basking in the sun. It’s brewed with malted barley, corn, and very light hops that won’t get in the way of tasting foods.
A Few Trends to Keep an Eye On…
- Demand slowed: Consumers have been drinking less beer every year since about 2022, which can only be partly explained by the COVID-19 pandemic. Volume is down, but sales are up due to price increases and craft beer’s higher price points. Hard seltzers and canned cocktails have eaten up a considerable chunk of the volume, which is why larger companies were so quick to develop their own brands. Health and economic concerns are other factors.
- But more breweries opened: While the craft beer market’s volume has plateaued or even shrank, the number of specialty producers has seen positive growth. According to the Brewers Association, there are almost 10,000 regional craft breweries, microbreweries, taprooms, and brewpubs. Some closures are happening as the category’s explosion has shifted to a market correction, but the fact that new breweries continue to open is encouraging.
- Non-alcoholic options are more popular than ever: If beer sales are down, it’s absolutely not because of non-alcoholic options. Sales are up about 33% for booze-less beer, especially at retailers like grocery and big box stores. Most brands are getting in on the action, with Corona, Blue Moon, Heineken, Guinness, and even craft brewers now putting their weight behind marketing non-alcoholic products.
