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The longtime popularity of big-name brews like Bud Light means that their decline can mean millions of dollars in lost sales for parent companies like Anheuser-Busch InBev and Molson Coors. The most popular beers in the US make up a massive amount of what Americans drink.
Here are the biggest beers in the US by volume as of mid-2017, according to GlobalData Consumer data collected by the Bank of America and Merril Lynch:
Dutch brewer Heineken's namesake beer is slotted into the last place on the top 10 biggest beers in the US. However, the beer giant is also dabbling in some unexpected brews.
In August, Lagunitas, Heineken's California beer label, debuted a nonalcoholic beverage made with THC, called Hi-Fi Hops. The $8 drink is available in a handful of marijuana dispensaries in California, where the drug is legal.
9. Michelob
Percentage of country volume: 3%
Michelob has been on a roll recently, with Michelob Ultra gaining more market share than any other AB InBev beer for the last 13 quarters.
According to executives, Michelob Ultra has managed to tap into Americans' taste for more premium beers — one of the fastest categories in the industry. Super-premium beer has grown at a compound annual growth rate of 8.4% over the last five years, while mainstream beer has dropped by 0.6% in the same period.
8. Modelo
Percentage of country volume: 4%
Modelo is one of several Mexican beers that have been thriving in recent years as iconic American brands have struggled. According to Bank of America and Merril Lynch, Mexican beers accounted for 64% of beer imports in 2017, up from 46% in 2007.
7. Natural
Percentage of country volume: 4%
Natural, best known for its college favorite "Natty Light," is the No. 7 beer in the US despite some rough reviews. RateBeer.com has actually dubbed the drink the worst beer in the world based on drinkers' reviews.
6. Corona
Percentage of country volume: 5%
Corona is another Mexican beer that is having a big impact on the US beer market. Constellation Brands, which imports, markets, and distributes Corona in the US, reported that beer sales grew 10% in 2017, driven in part by Americans' growing desire for Mexican beer.
5. Busch
Percentage of country volume: 6%
Busch has been affected by millennials' move away from beer, with Busch shipments falling by an estimated 2.1% in 2017, according to Beer Marketer's Insights. The brand has been trying to turn around business with some social-media stunts, including mocking Elon Musk and rebranding Busch Light as Busch Latte in time for Pumpkin Spice Latte season.
4. Miller Light
Percentage of country volume: 7%
Miller Lite hasn't been hit as hard as Bud Light or Coors Light in the ongoing shift away from mainstream light beers. The brew has been growing its share of the premium-light-beer business for the last 15 quarters, parent company Molson Coors reported in August.
"If you look at Coors Light and Miller Lite in the U.S., our spend is relatively similar, pretty much identical," CEO Mark R. Hunter said on a call with investors. "Miller Lite is performing better."
3. Budweiser
Percentage of country volume: 8%
Budweiser has struggled to grow sales in the US in recent years. Anheuser-Busch InBev sales dropped by 3.1% in the second quarter, as both Bud Light and Budweiser failed to grow market share.
Problems with Budweiser has AB InBev turning to nonalcoholic beverages. Currently, alcohol-free drinks make up roughly 10% of the company's volumes, with plans to grow that figure to 20% by 2025.
"We are moving quickly and decisively to get our business back on track," MillerCoors CEO Gavin Hattersley said in an email to distributors, according to a news report on the company's website.
1. Bud Light
Percentage of country volume: 18%
Bud Light is by far the biggest beer in the US. However, the bigger the brand, the farther it has to fall.
AB InBev managed to build buzz around the brand with the viral "Dilly Dilly" campaign. However, the fact remains that Bud Light has been losing market share for years. It may still be on top, but if the trend continues, it can't stay there forever. As millennials ditch the brew for wine or nonalcoholic drinks, problems may arise for the $155 billion AB InBev.
