America’s Beloved Brew: The Most Popular Type Of Beer

For aficionados of the frothy and flavorful, beer isn't just a beverage. It's a journey into a world of diverse flavors and styles. From the hoppy bitterness of IPAs to the smooth richness of stouts, beer lovers have cultivated their palates to appreciate the nuanced differences that various brands and styles offer. So, what's the top-choice beer among Americans? Well, a recent poll set out to uncover just that.

In the Global Consumer Survey by Statista, they chatted with 854 beer enthusiasts in the United States, aged 21 to 64, to uncover the beer people prefer the most. According to the study's findings, lagers emerged as the top choice for the majority of participants. In fact, 43% of the people surveyed enjoy lagers. Coming in second were pale ales, while pilsners secured the third spot. Following closely were wheat beers, brown ales, and stouts. Interestingly, IPAs claimed the seventh spot, surpassing only porters in terms of popularity among the participants.

Additionally, the study highlights that American beer drinkers cherish diversity in styles and flavors. Despite the popularity of straightforward lagers, other beer types have also garnered significant attention. Notably, in the past year, at least one of every five beer enthusiasts reported consuming pale ale, pilsner, wheat beer, brown ale, or stout.

The Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) outlines style guidelines for nearly a hundred varieties of beer, mead, and cider. These guidelines are widely adopted by both professional brewers and homebrewers as they formulate their recipes.

Adding to this, the Brewers Association (BA) also offers its set of guidelines, which have some nuances compared to those of the BJCP. These definitions come into play during events like the annual Great American Beer Festival and the bi-annual World Beer Cup, serving as the basis for judgment by the panel of experts.