12 Best Selling Beer in Europe

The 12 Best Selling Beer in Europe offer an impeccable amalgamation of refined taste, flavor, and aroma, allowing for imbibers to experience a perfect time with family and friends. Europeans love beer, and different cities have their own unique beer and diverse attractions like beer gardens, Oktoberfest etc., to offer to beer drinkers.

According to Research & Markets, the Europe beer market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.2% during 2016-2022. Changing consumer preferences and improving lifestyles have led to the growth of premium beer products. That doesn’t mean there are fewer options available for the price conscious. Krakow, the ancient Polish city, serves beer at less than £1 a pint. Consumers prefer different types of beer, ranging from colored ales, lagers, and white varieties, depending upon price, taste and social status. The European brewers are also making huge investments to satisfy consumers’ changing tastes and preferences.

Beer not only defines Europe’s social and cultural landscape, but the brewing sector also contributes significantly to the EU economy and is also a major exporter. The European Union is the second-largest beer producer in the world, after China, with more than 6,500 active breweries. The European beer industry generates about 2.3 million jobs throughout the entire value chain. The 12 best selling beer in Europe thus spells out the European success story and contributions made towards the different facets of the economy.

The traditional European beer market is transforming into a modern and emerging upstart brewery culture. Beer is the third-most widely drunk beverage after water and tea, and given changing consumer habits, a wide variety of beer is being produced in European countries. As a result, there has been an increase in the number of microbreweries in Europe serving a wide range of beers compared to conventional methods. Copenhagen has had the largest number of microbreweries per capita for over a decade, and the number of craft breweries has grown by over 80% during the past five years. Craft beer is gaining popularity in Germany and other countries in Europe as well. It is preferred mostly by younger people, who want to taste native flavors and are ready to experiment. Germany, the UK, Belgium, France, Russia, Spain, and Italy are among the major countries in terms of beer consumption.

Heineken N.V., Anheuser-Busch InBev. SA N.V. (NYSE:BUD), Tsingtao Brewery Co. Ltd., Carlsberg Group, Diageo Plc. (NYSE:DEO), Molson Coors Brewing Company (NYSE:TAP), Boston Beer Company Inc. (NYSE:SAM), Beijing Yanjing Brewery Co., Ltd, and United Breweries Group are the leading beer companies in Europe. The industry is witnessing rapid consolidation in order to stay relevant. Some of the bigger mergers include Asahi Group Holdings Ltd.’s acquisition of SABMiller’s Central and Eastern European business in March 2017 and Anheuser-Busch InBev’s merger with SABMiller in 2016 – the largest in the industry.

Our list of the 12 best selling beer in Europe has been prepared based on the common choices between three websites – Eurocamp, Euroventure, and Tastingtable.com. Next, we have ranked the beers based on their company’s revenue over the most recent 12-month period available for each. Check out the list starting on the next page.

12. Stiegl

Stiegl is up first on our list of the 12 best selling beer in Europe, being one of the oldest and largest breweries in Austria. The company uses locally-sourced ingredients to manufacture Stiegl beers, which are available in classic, craft, vintage, and special edition variants. The beer is well-balanced between robust and bitter-sweet tastes and culminates in a harmonious flavor. Stiegl beers are known for their quality and refined taste rendered from Stiegl’s slow-brewing technique.

11. Mahou

Mahou beers were first produced in 1890 and are currently brewed by Grupo Mahou-San Miguel, which is a leading Spanish brewing company. Mahou is a yellow/golden-colored lager with a distinct faint malt aroma and intense bold flavor. The Mahou selection of beers includes Mahou, Mahou Clasica, and Mahou Laiker Sin.

10. Efes Pilsener

Efes Pilsener is brewed by Anadolu Efes Brewery, one of the largest brewers in Europe. The beverage has a German-style lager appearance, being clear and golden in color with a crisp taste. It is the most popular beer in Turkey with an ABV of 5%.

9. Mythos

Carlsberg Revenue – $9.3 billion 

Mythos is another Carlsberg best-selling brand in Europe. It began production at Mythos Brewery in Greece two decades ago. Made with specially selected varieties of barley and hops, this Greek lager has rich foam, a bright blonde color, and a refreshing taste.

8. Kronenbourg 1664

Carlsberg Revenue – $9.3 billion 

Kronenbourg is the oldest-selling French beer, belonging to the premium beer category. It is the fifth-oldest beer brand in the world with a history dating back three centuries. Strisselspalt, the best of hops, imparts a low bitterness and golden color to the beverage.

7. Carlsberg

Carlsberg Revenue – $9.3 billion 

Founded in 1847, Carlsberg has a rich cultural heritage that has helped it become a best-selling beer brand globally. The Carlsberg group has a strong presence in the European markets. While Carlsberg is the core brand, Tuborg, Somersby cider, Kronenbourg, and Baltika are some of its other popular brands. Carlsberg has a golden color and comes with a faint smell of hops and malt.

6. Carling

Molson Coors Brewing Company (NYSE:TAP) Revenue – $11 billion

Carling by Molson Coors Brewing Company (NYSE:TAP) ranks sixth on our list of the 12 best selling beer in Europe, with a perfect blend of sweetness and bitterness giving it a refreshing taste. The company has a history dating back to 1774, giving it a rich brewing heritage and a continued passion to craft the perfect beer.

5. Guinness

Diageo Plc (NYSE:DEO) Revenue – $15.25 billion

Guinness is a strong, dark beer brewed with roasted malt/barley, having a distinctive burnt flavor. It is produced by Diageo Plc (NYSE:DEO), a leading global beverage company with a brand portfolio of spirits and beer. The company has an operational history of almost 260 years and a worldwide presence.

4. Pilsner Urquell

Asahi Group Holdings Revenue – $15.71 billion 

Pilsner Urquell is a golden lager, brewed in Pilsen since 1842 by Asahi Group Holdings’ Pilsner Urquell Brewery. It has a distinctive earthy fresh bread aroma and caramel flavor with a spicy bitterness, leaving you with a balanced aftertaste and craving for more. Special malted barley and Saaz semi-red hops are used to brew this best-selling beer in Europe.

3. Peroni

Asahi Group Holdings Revenue – $15.71 billion 

Asahi Group Holdings’ Peroni is a premium Italian beer made with the finest ingredients, including the proprietary Nostrano maize. The beverage is known for its crisp and refreshing taste, with a delicate balance of bitterness and a spicy aroma.

2. Heineken

Heineken Revenue – $23 billion

Heineken is the largest brewer in Europe and rapidly expanding in key markets thanks to its premium portfolio. Starting with a single brewery in Amsterdam 150 years ago, the company has come a long way since, becoming the most popular international brewer. Heineken beer is brewed using three natural ingredients – water, malted barley, and hops, combined with yeast. Wheat and rice are other ingredients that are also used in a few other brands to improve the taste, quality, and consistency of those beverages.

1. Stella Artois

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA N.V. (NYSE:BUD) Revenue – $45.56 billion

Ranking first on our list of the 12 best selling beer in Europe is Stella Artois, one of the leading brands of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA N.V. (NYSE:BUD), the world’s largest brewer. Stella Artois, the distinct pale golden-colored beverage, is the number one Belgian beer, brewed using the finest natural ingredients. It is available in 95 counties and is popular for its pleasantly bitter hoppiness and crisp finish.

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