Aside from water, coffee, and tea, beer is the most popular beverage in the world. It’s a go-to drink for many people during parties, sporting events, and holidays. Every year, Americans consume more than 2 billion liters of beer. From pilsners and lagers to stouts, beer is a big part of celebrations in the U.S. But do you know which beer is the most popular around the country?
The Grillio team looked at Google Trends data to determine the most popular beer type and beer brand in every U.S. state Take a look and see what your state’s top beer is!
The Most Popular Beer Types in America
Historically, the top beer style in the United States has been lager. Lagers are beers that have been brewed at a low temperature. They can be dark, amber, or pale in color. The word “lager” is based on the German world for “storage,” as it was typically fermented in cool caves in the past. Lager pairs well with chicken, seafood, light pastas, and spicy foods.
Another popular type of beer in America is ale. Ale is brewed using a warm fermentation method and typically includes a bitter ingredient like herbs and spices. Ale has been around since medieval Europe and was one of the main sources of grains in people’s diets in England in the 14th century. Beer during this time was considered highly nutritious and contained just enough alcohol to preserve it without intoxicating the drinkers. Modern ales have a higher alcohol content and come in many different varieties.
One of the most popular modern varieties of ale is India pale ale, also known as IPA. It became very popular in England in the early 1800s and was commonly exported to India. It differs from traditional ales because it contains more hops, which gives IPAs their bitter flavor. They typically also have a higher alcohol by volume (ABV). There are, however, beverages called session IPAs that have a lower ABV and are meant for people who want to consume multiple IPAs at once without feeling the strong effects of the beer.
How Much Are the Biggest Beer Manufacturers Worth?
Anheuser-Busch InBev (also known as AB InBev) is generally known as the biggest beer brand in the United States. According to Forbes, the company has more than $219 billion in assets with revenue of $54.3 billion. They own popular beer brands like Budweiser, Bud Light, Stella Artois, Michelob Ultra, Busch, Busch Light, Natural Light, Landshark, and Shock Top. In addition, the company has a variety of craft brewing partners, including Blue Point Brewing Company in Patchogue, NY; Elysian Brewing Company in Seattle, WA; Goose Island Beer Co. in Chicago, IL; and Widmer Brothers Brewing in Portland, OR. They also own several brands of hard seltzers, canned cocktails, and other beverages.
Molson Coors Brewing Company is also a big player in the alcoholic beverage market. In 2021, the company had $27.3 billion in assets and earned $9.7 billion in revenue. This massive company owns iconic brands like Coors, Coors Light, Blue Moon, Foster’s, Keystone Light, Killian’s Irish Red, Miller Light, Molson Canadian, Peroni, and Olde English. The Coors Company (founded in 1873) and Molson Inc. (founded in 1786) merged in 2005. Their main headquarters is in Chicago, IL.
The oldest brewery in the United States is D.G. Yuengling & Son, which operates in Pottsville, PA. The brewery started as Eagle Brewery in 1829 and has been operating there since. The company’s name is an anglicized version of the German owner’s surname — David Gottlieb Jüngling. Its traditional lager is its most popular product, particularly in its home state of Pennsylvania. Even though it is a well-known brewery in many parts of the country, because it ships fewer than 6 million barrels per year, it is still considered a craft brewery by the Brewers Association. In 2020, Yuengling made a partnership with Molson Coors to expand Yuengling into new areas by brewing at Molson Coors facilities under the Yeungling brewers’ supervision.
Whether you buy your beer by the bottle or invest in a kegerator for your favorite style, try your state’s most popular beer!
The Most Popular Beer Style in Every State
| State | Top Beer Style |
| Alabama | Ale |
| Alaska | Ale |
| Arizona | Ale |
| Arkansas | Ale |
| California | India Pale Ale |
| Colorado | Pilsner |
| Connecticut | Pilsner |
| Delaware | Ale |
| District of Columbia | Ale |
| Florida | Ale |
| Georgia | Ale |
| Hawaii | India Pale Ale |
| Idaho | Pilsner |
| Illinois | Ale |
| Indiana | Stout |
| Iowa | Stout |
| Kansas | Ale |
| Kentucky | Ale |
| Louisiana | Ale |
| Maine | Ale |
| Maryland | Ale |
| Massachusetts | Ale |
| Michigan | Stout |
| Minnesota | Stout |
| Mississippi | Ale |
| Missouri | Stout |
| Montana | Pale Ale |
| Nebraska | Ale |
| Nevada | Ale |
| New Hampshire | Ale |
| New Jersey | Ale |
| New Mexico | Ale |
| New York | Ale, Pilsner |
| North Carolina | Ale |
| North Dakota | Lager, Pilsner |
| Ohio | Ale |
| Oklahoma | Ale |
| Oregon | Pilsner |
| Pennsylvania | Ale |
| Rhode Island | Ale |
| South Carolina | Ale |
| South Dakota | Lager |
| Tennessee | Ale |
| Texas | Ale |
| Utah | Pale Ale |
| Virginia | Lager, Ale |
| Vermont | Lager, Ale, Stout, Pale Ale |
| Washington | Pilsner |
| West Virginia | Ale |
| Wisconsin | Stout |
| Wyoming | Pale Ale |
The Most Popular Beer Brand in Every State
| State | Top Beer |
| Alabama | Coors |
| Alaska | Coors Light |
| Arizona | Corona |
| Arkansas | Corona, Keystone |
| California | Modelo Especial |
| Colorado | Corona |
| Connecticut | Corona |
| Delaware | Corona |
| District of Columbia | Corona |
| Florida | Corona |
| Georgia | Corona |
| Hawaii | Corona |
| Idaho | Keystone Light |
| Illinois | Corona |
| Indiana | Corona |
| Iowa | Keystone Light |
| Kansas | Keystone Light |
| Kentucky | Corona |
| Louisiana | Natural Light |
| Maine | Bud Light |
| Maryland | Corona |
| Massachusetts | Corona |
| Michigan | Corona, Bud Light |
| Minnesota | Coors Light |
| Mississippi | Corona |
| Missouri | Natural Light, Busch |
| Montana | Coors Light |
| Nebraska | Bud Light |
| Nevada | Modelo Especial |
| New Hampshire | Bud Light |
| New Jersey | Corona |
| New Mexico | Modelo Especial |
| New York | Corona |
| North Carolina | Corona |
| North Dakota | Bud Light |
| Ohio | Bud Light |
| Oklahoma | Modelo Especial |
| Oregon | Modelo Especial |
| Pennsylvania | Corona |
| Rhode Island | Corona |
| South Carolina | Corona |
| South Dakota | Bud Light, Coors Light |
| Tennessee | Michelob Ultra |
| Texas | Modelo Especial |
| Utah | Keystone Light |
| Vermont | Corona |
| Virginia | Corona |
| Washington | Modelo Especial |
| West Virginia | Bud Light |
| Wisconsin | Miller Light |
| Wyoming | Budweiser, Miller Light |