After a brewing battle, Coors Light is celebrating as they’ve passed up Budweiser in 2011 for the No. 2 selling beer in the country. Bud is the only full-calorie beer in the top five, so to lose ground to a lighter offering is kind of a big deal.
The Chicago Tribune cites data from market research firm Symphony IRI, adding that Budweiser has been on the decline for years. It had been sitting as second-best to Bud Light, which is the country’s top-selling beer.
Miller Lite and Natural Light are fourth and fifth, respectively, as of October 21, 2011. Coors Light’s parent company, MillerCoors, has been creeping up on Budweiser steadily, showing 18.3 million barrels in sales, and they’re already crowing about their victory.
“Dethroning the King is a great accomplishment so early in the history of MillerCoors,” a MillerCoors spokesman wrote in an email. “We will be appropriately celebrating this achievement with our employees and distributors who have worked so hard to deliver an impressive 7 consecutive years of growth on Coors Light and then getting back to work to deliver an 8th consecutive year of growth.”
Anheuser-Busch is staying mum for the moment on its 4.6 percent slide in sales to 17.7 million barrels. This also marks the first time since 1993 that the company hasn’t held the top two spots. Extra burn!
Coors Light surpasses Budweiser as No. 2 U.S. beer [Chicago Tribune]
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And mass market beers are, year-after-year, losing market share to the craft breweries. Like so many other Americans, I choose quality over price.
Viva la local flavor!
Local my ass. The terminology has become so diluted it’s meaningless. Know your brewers people! Don’t think because they are local, they are local flavor. Two of my local “microbrews” get their “distinct local flavor” from flavoring packets.
A lot of that lost market share is to brewers trading on the local/micro-brew name. Take Sam Adams, which would love for you believe they are some salt of the earth beer, made by regular guys who just love brewing. Sure, he brewed his first batch in his kitchen, but he already has his Harvard MBA, as did his major financier and business associate, and a major brand consulting firm working with them. That’s about as salt of the earth as Goldman Sachs.
I’d have to look everything up, but I think a few years back, there was a major hops shortage. Sam Adams opened up their supply to small/micro brewers and sold to them at cost.
He may not be “salt of the earth”, but he supports small brewers, which is a win in my book.
That all may be true, but at least Sam Adams and most of their seasonal and other varieties are good.
Can’t say the same about BudMilCoors
While I’d agree with you for the most part, beer like Miller Lite has its place. I’ll get something tasty to drink at home, but if I’m bringing beer to a party I’ll pick up something cheap and unlikely to offend anybody’s palate.
I live in St. Louis. Bud and Bud ARE local flavor.
Local, yes. Flavor? Eh…. =)
Well in Bud’s defense this is due in part to severe weather and climate change which has resulted in people stocking up on Coor’s Light to use in place of tap water during a weather emergency or other disaster.
Unfortunately, that would apply to four of the top five – so not the case here. The fall of Budweiser to Coors Light is more likely attributed to people preferring water over sewer-water.
Yay to craft brews and homebrewing…I make my own beer at home!
Actually I stopped purchasing Budweiser when they were sold off to Belgian InBev.
they’re just not the same company since they got sold to the Belgians…the American owned A-B had a good reputation as an employer, the Belgian A-B doesn’t have as great a reputation
I like Bud beers because they keep a fair number of people in my area employed due to a factory being located in my town…and when the bar has deals on Bud products (dollar drafts, etc) my brain goes into I can drink 4 buds or one Long Trail mode….
*slow clap*
Well, 1 through 5 are out. I’m no beer snob, but I don’t like any of those beers.
The king of horse piss is dead! Long live the king of horse piss!
I don’t understand the big appeal of light beers if you’re not dieting.
They are session beers, you can drink them all day long without getting too lit up or full. For me, they are what I drink if I have a long day of beer ahead of me.
Oh… and they are cheap. Dirt cheap.
I agree. Try drinking 12 craft beers when you are at the beach all day. Not too appetizing.
And any number of this coloured, slightly off-tasting water is somehow better?
I’d rather just have one decent beer to last the entire day than >0 of this swill.
They’re good beach, picnic, golf/sports, tailgating beers.
I tend to buy the ones with a bit more flavor (Amstel light, Sam Adams light) or the mexican beers (tecate, modelo, etc.)
Hmmmmm…. I came into this thread to say something, but I can’t remember now. Carry on.
I would just like to congratulate my father, who made all of this possible (by drinking every single can of Coors Light).
5 Beers that are craptastic.
If you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll stop at Dogfish Head for some food and some 60 minute IPA
You take that back! I will not have you impugn the good name of Natty Light, one of the finest beers in all the land!
They both still suck.
Best selling does not equal best.
Man, now I want a glass of Magic Hat #9.
New Galarus anything FTW. Also Bell’s puts out a pretty solid selection.
Goose Island and Brooklyn brewery are OK, but are trending towards the more big brewery side of things.
I do like me some Brooklyn Brown Ale.
Coors Light Dethrones Budweiser In Water Sales Battle For No. 2 Spot
There, I fixed it.
The wife says coors is great for washing your hair
Why do the top 5 beers remind me so much of politicians in Washington DC…I think the comments above pretty much explain it.
I’m more of a hard cider person myself.
Anyone else like Strongbow or Woodchuck??
I love Strongbow!
I have never tried Woodchuck, but strongbow is delicious. I also love ciders.
I love Ace and Two Rivers and lately just found Crispin and really like how smooth it is, but those all may be west coast ciders.
I don’t drink beer, I do love hard cider.
Original Sin.
But I usually make my own cider at home. No! SRSLY!
If you can find it, try Bullmer’s. It’s not as tart as Strongbow, but more flavorful.
Coors Light is like sex in a canoe.
Wet?
Fucking Close to Water
FTW!
No real man drinks diet beer.
It is funny, because that is pretty much how they sell light beer. The ads will tell you what a panzy any guy drinking light beer is… that is, any light beer other than the light beer they are trying to sell you.
Apparently the marketing strategy of saying nothing about your beer other then that it’s cold works…who would have guessed..
Awwww, isn’t that cute? That baby wants his water.
So,does this give Coors Light a spot in Bud Bowl this year?
This is because the Buffalo Wild Wings waitress gave me Coors Light when I asked for Corona Light, isn’t it?
I prefer coors light to any of the other beers on the list. I only buy it when in group drinking with my friends at a bar or something. But if I’m buying my own, I’ll buy something with flavor.
Also if I was to make my own beer and used coors or something instead of water, would it add just a little more beer flavor to the beer?
Since I’m not a beer snob, I’ll stick with Bud Light.
If nothing else, a can of it gives me an extra chuckle when I think about their ads including Mr. Male Fur Coat Wearer and Mr. Edible Underwear Maker.
Generic beer snob comment.
I also don’t buy Pepsi, Coke or RC, I only buy cola made from the blood of Nile River-dwelling baby zebra mussels. They only sell it at one gas station in BFE.
1. Weasel piss
2. Weasel piss
3. Weasel piss
4. Weasel piss
5. Weasel piss
If you like a lighter session beer and want something with some actual flavor and quality, go with a nice kolsch.
Best. Headline. Ever. They BOTH taste like #2.
I miss Stroh’s Beer. I know it’s out there but not around me.
ALso Genesee Cream ALe….ummmmm………….
I have exquisite taste.
Gotta love that picture… Get em started early.
I like Coors Light. I love, love, LOVE good beer, but for everyday stuff, Coors Light is pretty good. As far as that goes, I actually really like Miller High Life as well. I can drink Bud, but VERY much prefer not to.
I’m as much a beer snob as the next guy, but come on, lighten up. Ha, see what I did there?
While I’ll admit that Bud Light is good for tailgating/beach/all-day drinking, If I have the choice it’s always a good craft brew or homebrew for me.
Personal favorites right now are pretty much anything from Flying Dog or Heavy Seas.