In this article, we will discuss the 15 Countries That Make The Best Beer In The World. You can skip our industry overview and go directly to the 5 Countries That Make The Best Beer In The World.
Beer has been around for thousands of years and is one of the oldest alcoholic beverages in the world. In the 19th century, beer production became industrialized and was widely available to the masses. Today, beer is the most popular alcoholic beverage, with many different styles and types. IMARC Group reports that the global beer market was worth $660 Billion in 2022. The market is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 1.9% in the next five years, reaching $747.7 Billion by 2028.
The COVID-19 lockdowns had an adverse impact on restaurants and pubs as people observed social distancing. According to the British Beer and Pub Association, throughout the pandemic, people substituted wine and spirits for beer. While in the United States, S&P reports that beer sales at retailers such as supermarkets and convenience stores were unable to offset the decline in sales from the restaurant industry.
Photo by Gio Bartlett on Unsplash
However, when it comes to consumer preference, beer still beats other alcoholic beverages. A 2022 Gallup shows that beer is the most popular alcoholic beverage among Americans, followed by wine and liquor. However, it is worth mentioning that beer leads the category by a thinner margin than it was in the 1990s, when nearly half of the respondents indicated that beer was their preferred alcoholic beverage. The same report also reveals that alcohol consumption was declining in the US. This phenomenon is not limited to the US, but instead, globally, consumers are cutting down on their alcohol consumption.
According to GMI Insights, the worldwide non-alcoholic beer market reached $22 billion in 2022, with the industry forecasted to reach $40 billion by 2032 as more customers opt for healthy drinking options and safer drinking behaviors. Anheuser-Busch InBev and Heineken both debuted non-alcoholic varieties in 2020 and 2019, respectively. Similarly, Keurig Dr. Pepper made a $50 million investment in Athletic Brewing, the leader in the non-alcoholic craft beer category, further testifying to the potential in this segment.
Based on 2022 revenues, Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) and Heineken N.V. (HEIA.AS) were the largest brewers in the world, with sales amounting to approximately $54.33 billion and $26 billion, respectively. Even though the beer market is still controlled by such multinational corporations, local breweries have still managed to hold their ground. In fact, Forbes reports that after a tough 2019 and 2020, in 2021, retail dollar sales of craft beer increased a whopping 21% to $26.8 billion. This is perhaps because craft breweries cater to unique local tastes with rich flavors and a wider variety of flavors. Another explanation could be that consumers believe this beer is more sustainable because it is made using locally-produced ingredients.
Our Methodology
To come up with the 15 countries that make the best beer in the world, we sourced beer export data from the world integrated trade solution’s website. The website details the beer exports of each country in the year 2021. To compile our list, we have ranked the countries in ascending order of their total value of beer exports in 2021. This isn’t a perfect methodology if you are looking to identify expensive niche products that are looking to disrupt the market. However, our assumption is that if a specific type of beer is bought and consumed by the masses, it has to be the best beer in the world at that price point. If you aren’t happy with our assumption, then treat our article as the list of countries that export the most beer in the world.
15 Countries That Make the Best Beer in The World
15. Russian Federation
Total Beer Exports in 2021: $160.85 million
British and German beer has had a considerable impact on contemporary industrial Russian beer. Some of the biggest beer companies in today’s Russian market include Baltika, Volkovskaya brewery, SUN InBev, Moscow Brewing Company, Heineken N.V, etc. The country’s most famous beer brands include Baltika 0, Baltika 6 porter, Volkovskaya IPA, Klinskoye, Mokhnaty shmel, and many more. In 2021, the Russian Federation exported beer worth $160.85 million. The top export destinations of Russian beer in the year include Belarus, Kazakhstan, China, Ukraine, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Mongolia.
14. Poland
Total Beer Exports in 2021: $260.26 million
Polish beer is said to be as old as the country itself, with the practice of beer brewing stretching back to the middle ages. Brewing on an industrial scale in Poland began in the 19th century when they started borrowing equipment and techniques from British breweries of the time. Poland is now among the top beer producers in Europe, with total beer exports of $260.26 million in 2021. Some of the top Polish beer importers include the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Korea, and Hungary. The brands that currently flourish in the Polish beer market include Żubr, Tyskie, Lech, Żywiec, Tatra, Warka, Harnaś, Okocim, etc.
13. China
Total Beer Exports in 2021: $278.97 million
Several artifacts found by archaeologists in various parts of China suggest that beer brewing in China dates back to 7,000 BC. Ancient Chinese beer used honey, grapes, hawthorns, and rice as its ingredients. The ancient beer was called Lao Li and was used as an offering to the dead and the Gods during the Xia dynasty. Today China is the biggest beer-exporting country in Asia, with a beer export value of $278.97 million in 2021. Some of the top Chinese beer exporting destinations are Myanmar, Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and UAE. The most well-known beer brands in China include Beijing Yanjing Brewery Co., Ltd. (000729.SZ), Tsingtao Brewery Company Limited (0168.HK), Laoshan beer, Yinmai beer, and Snow beer.
12. Ireland
Total Beer Exports in 2021: $279.69 million
Irish beer has roots in the Bronze Age as a beverage called beoier, now more commonly referred to as a gruit. Presently, Ireland specializes in two beer types: the Irish red ale and the stout. Ireland has some of the most well-known beer brands, such as Harp Lager, Murphy’s Irish Stout, O’Hara’s Irish Stout, Smithwick’s Irish Red Ale, etc. The country is also home to Guinness, which is one of the most famous beer brands in the world. The country generated $279.69 million in total beer exports in 2021. Some of the top destinations for Irish beer include the United Kingdom, United States, France, Netherlands, Germany, Canada, and the Russian Federation.
11. Italy
Total Beer Exports in 2021: $286.19 million
The history of Italian beer can be traced back to the seventh century BC when it was produced and consumed locally. In 2021, the Italian beer industry generated $286.19 million through beer exports. Some of the biggest Italian beer importers during 2021 include the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Bulgaria, and China. A few of the most famous Italian beer brands include Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Moretti, Angelo Poretti, Menabrea, Castello, and Forst.
10. Denmark
Total Beer Exports in 2021: $301.88 million
Beer has always been an important part of Danish culture. The current Danish beer market is dominated by the pale lager, with over 95% of the total sales. As for companies, Carlsberg A/S (CARL-B.CO) gained a monopoly-like position after acquiring Tuborg Brewery in 1970. In 2021, Denmark exported beer worth $301.88 million, with Germany, Italy, Burkina Faso, Sweden, and Norway being the top export destinations.
9. Spain
Total Beer Exports in 2021: $316.25 million
The Iberian villages were where Spain’s history of beer began. Beer is now an integral part of the Spanish culture, with it being widely served at local restaurants and bars around the country. A few of the most famous Spanish beer brands include Estrella Damm, Ámbar from Zaragoza, Estrella Galicia, and Turia Märzen. The country’s total beer exports amounted to $316.25 million in 2021, with the country’s top export destinations being the United Kingdom, China, France, Portugal, and Equatorial Guinea.
8. Czech Republic
Total Beer Exports in 2021: $347.05 million
The oldest reference to beer in the Czech Republic dates to 993 when Bevnov Monastery began brewing it. Pilsner Urquell Brewery (originally known as Burgher brewery) is one of the oldest and biggest producers and exporters of beer in the Czech Republic. Some famous present-day brands from the Czech Republic comprise Černa Horá Velen, Březnický Ležák, Czechvar Lager, Zichov’ec Coconut Stout, and Kozel Premium Lager. In 2021, the country’s total beer exports amounted to $347.05 million. Germany, Slovak Republic, Russian Federation, Poland, and Sweden were among the leading importers of Czech beer during the year.
7. France
Total Beer Exports in 2021: $402.21 million
Although France is famed for producing some of the world’s greatest wines, the country’s influence on beer is just as significant. At the beginning of the 20th century, there were 2300 breweries in France, but the Second World War destroyed the bulk of them. However, French breweries made a comeback in the later part of the 20th century. With some of the most famous beer brands, such as Kronenbourg 1664, Pelforth, and Desperados, France is now among the top beer producers and exporters in the world, registering $402.21 million in beer exports in 2021. The top export destinations of French beer in the year were Spain, China, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Italy.
6. United Kingdom
Total Beer Exports in 2021: $568.02 million
Britain introduced beer to various parts of the world through its vast trading network in the 17th century. Beer was carried on board ships as a trading commodity and as a drinking water supply. There are several British-inspired beers being produced in various parts of the world. A few of these varieties include Pale Ale, India Pale Ale, Porter, Mild, Imperial Russian Stout, Brown Ale, Bitter, Barley Wine, and Scotch Ale. The United Kingdom generated a total of $568.02 million in beer exports in 2021, with Ireland, the United States, the Netherlands, Canada, and France being the top importers of British beer.
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Disclosure: None. 15 Countries That Make The Best Beer In The World is originally published on Insider Monkey.