Beer Nation: The Most Loved Brews Across American States

It’s no secret that Americans love their beer — there’s even a holiday dedicated to it. National Beer Day happens every year on April 7th. This date signifies when the Cullen-Harrison Act went into effect in 1933 after being signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt earlier that year, effectively paving the way to the end of prohibition. The country’s love for beer is also evident in sales numbers, with an astounding $117 billion spent on brews in 2023 alone.1

But what is each state’s favorite beer? Bud Light and Corona may be two of the most recognized beer brands in the U.S., but are they the most popular?2 To answer these questions, we analyzed the data to find out what beers are the most loved across the country.

• Wisconsinites love beer the most, especially favoring Miller products.
• Folks on the West Coast prefer Mexican beers.
• The Midwest loves beer more than any other region.
• Corona is the most popular beer in the U.S.
• Bud Light is still America’s favorite light beer.

We used Google Trends to compile beer search data for the top 24 beers. With this data, we were able to identify each state’s top beer, find out which state searched for beer the most (crowning them the most beer-loving state), and determine which beers are the most popular in the U.S.

Alcohol laws and taxes vary greatly across the United States, making it hard to keep up with what is legal and what alcohol you can purchase where (and on what day of the week).3 4 There are some truly wild rules to follow when it comes to drinking alcohol in America. For example, if you want a beer in Oklahoma with an alcohol content greater than 4%, don’t expect to find it cold and ready to drink; these beers can be sold only at room temperature.5

But despite differing state laws, beer preferences definitely seem to be ruled by region. We found that Southern states predominantly favor Corona over other popular beer brands; this includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.

Our friends on the West Coast seem to be all about Mexican beers, too, with Modelo and Corona being top picks in the majority of states in that region. Undoubtedly, the proximity to Mexico and its strong cultural influence on the West Coast impact alcohol preferences there.

Moving across the nation to the New England area of the U.S., Samuel Adams is a prominent favorite among residents. This inclination could be due in part to a loyalty to East Coast breweries. In contrast, the Midwest appears to prefer Belgian-style beers, such as Blue Moon, which was favored by states like Minnesota and Nebraska in our data.

Notably, Wisconsin has nothing but love for Miller products. This state ranked highest in Google searches for three Miller beers: Miller Genuine Draft, Miller High Life, and Miller Lite.

Milwaukee has been ranked the second-best beer city in the U.S., so it makes sense that Wisconsin takes the crown as the most beer-loving state in our data.6 Add in the fact that some may say nothing pairs better with beer than cheese, and beer-drinking Wisconsin residents are in good shape living in the Dairyland of the U.S.

In addition to Wisconsin, fellow Midwestern states Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio made the top 10 list of the most beer-loving states in the country. Considering this, we give the Midwest top honors as the most brew-loving region in the U.S.

Along with Milwaukee, other cities that have garnered notice for their beer scenes are located throughout the top 10 beer-loving states. For example, Fort Collins, CO, has been ranked the fourth-best beer city, and Colorado, fittingly, sits at number four in our state rankings.6 Other top beer cities, like Philadelphia, PA, Indianapolis, IN, and Columbus, OH, are also at least partially responsible for boosting the love of brews in their states.

In contrast, Alaskans search for beer-related content less than any other state in the country. There may be a good reason for this, though — Alaskans pay an average of $31.21 for a 24-pack of beer, almost double the amount that folks pay in most other states.7 So, while Alaska residents may love beer, buying it there is just not as affordable.

It may surprise you that America’s favorite beer is, in fact, imported. Corona has taken over top-billing from Bud Light in popularity. Especially in the summer months, a Corona with lime is considered a refreshing drink for most beer drinkers in the U.S. We found that 20% of the beers in our top 10 list were Mexican-style beers, and another 20% were Belgian-style. As for the rest, American beers — as expected — round out the remaining 60%; this includes Bud Light, Budweiser, Miller Lite, and Coors Light.

But, while Mexican-style beers have long been enjoyed in the U.S., the controversy surrounding Bud Light in recent years may be responsible for Corona’s final push to the top. Bud Light’s 2023 collaboration with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney culminated in a conservative boycott, resulting in sustained lower sales, especially in Republican-leaning counties across the nation.8 Only time will tell if Bud Light bounces back completely.

Even still, when considering “light” beers only, Bud Light, Miller Lite, and Coors Light still reign supreme in the U.S. All three of these favorite brews boast a 4.2% ABV (alcohol by volume) and are in the range of 96-110 calories per can.9 These can appeal to those looking to partake freely without worrying about too many calories. For comparison, a regular Budweiser contains 145 calories per serving.

But what about other lower-calorie options? Unfortunately for Heineken, the brand’s light beer does not seem to garner the same attention or popularity as other light beers on the market. However, Heineken’s 0.0 beer has been a leader in the non-alcoholic beer scene. With a true zero alcohol content (unlike most other brands, which still have trace amounts), Heineken 0.0 is comparable to the real thing without the same effects. As more and more folks become “sober curious” or consider stretching their sobriety beyond Dry January, zero-alcohol beer options are becoming more readily available, too.10

We conducted a Google Trends data analysis using its geographic search tool to uncover beer consumption trends in the USA and compile our findings into an informative study.

Innerbody Research is committed to providing objective research to help our readers make more informed decisions and better understand their world, whether it be within our customary subject areas of health and wellness or a tangential exploration of consumer behavior such as this. We created this report to highlight the regional variations in beer consumption and preferences. Since our intent is to make information widely available, please feel free to share our content for educational, editorial, or discussion purposes. We only ask that you link back to this page and credit the author as Innerbody.com.