Top Beer Companies in the World

The global beer market size reached US$ 673.9 Billion in 2023. Beer is an alcoholic beverage manufactured using water, hops, and cereal grains, such as barley, corn, wheat, rye, and rice. It is manufactured in macro, micro-and craft breweries and stored and packaged in metal cans and glass bottles. It also consists of fruits and herbs to enhance the flavor and fragrance of the drink. It is a rich source of riboflavin, potassium, magnesium, folate, niacin, and pyridoxine that can reduce stress, strengthen muscles, and improve cognitive functioning. Owing to these properties, beer is widely consumed by the adult population across the globe.

As per the analysis by IMARC Group, the top beer companies are introducing craft beers produced using premium-quality hand-selected ingredients. They are also launching beer in various flavors, such as blueberry, chocolate, strawberry, and peach, to expand their consumer base. In addition, product manufacturers are developing gluten-free beer to meet the requirements of health-conscious consumers. They are also incorporating kegerators to increase the shelf life and retain the flavor, aroma, color, and texture of the stored beer. Furthermore, various key players are adopting innovative and environment-friendly packaging to strengthen their market foothold. For instance, Carlsberg launched new beer bottles in February 2021 to reduce the carbon impact of their glass bottles by 90 percent. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market value to reach US$ 797.6 Billion by 2032, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 1.8% during 2024-2032.

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World's Largest Beer Companies List

Asahi Group Holdings Ltd.

Establishment: 1889
Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Website: https://www.asahigroup-holdings.com/

Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd. manufactures soft drinks and food products in Japan and internationally. The company offers alcoholic beverages, including non-alcohol beer taste beverages, ready-to-drink beverages, imported beers, wines, shochu and whiskey and happoshu products, and spirits. It also provides soft drinks, such as ciders, carbonated soda water beverages, coffee, tea, lactic acid drinks, food products, sports drinks, comprising confectioneries, supplements, fruits juice, yeast extracts, baby foods, and freeze-dried foods pasta, miso, soups, pasta,  and curries.

Anheuser-Busch InBev NV/SA (AB InBev)

Establishment: 2008
Headquarters: Leuven, Belgium
Website: https://www.ab-inbev.com/

Anheuser-Busch InBev NV/SA (AB InBev) is primarily involved in producing, distributing, and selling alcoholic beverages such as beer, rum, malt beverages, and soft drinks worldwide. It operates under various international and local brands, such as:

• Aguila 
• Stella Artois 
• Budweiser 
• Leffe 
• Hoegaarden
• Beck’s 
• Skol 
• Bud Light 
• Victoria 
• Corona
• Brahma
• Antarctica
• Quilmes 

The company also holds exclusive rights to sell and distribute certain PepsiCo brands in Brazil, including Pepsi-Cola, Gatorade, and Lipton Ice Tea. At present, AB InBev conducts business operations in Latin America, Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia-Pacific.

Beijing Yanjing Brewery Company Limited

Establishment: 1980
Headquarters: Beijing, China
Website: http://www.yanjingbeer.ca/

Formerly known as Shunyi County Brewery, Beijing Yanjing Brewery Co., Ltd. changed its name in March 1984. It primarily engages in producing and selling the refreshing, fresh, draft, and white beers, wine or liqueur, mineral water, raw materials of beer, feedstuff, yeast powder, and plastic boxes. At present, the company distributes its products under the brands Yanjing, Liquan, Huiquan, and Xuelu mainly in the domestic market, with North China and South China as its main markets.

Carlsberg Group

Establishment: 1847
Headquarters: Copenhagen, Denmark
Website: https://www.carlsberggroup.com/

Carlsberg A/S provides craft and specialty, non-alcoholic beers and soft drinks primarily under Baltika, Tuborg, Birell, Ringnes, Carlsberg, and other local brand names. Apart from its flagship product, Carlsberg beer, the company also markets several other beer brands, including:

• Tuborg 
• Kronenbourg 
• Somersby cider 
• Neptun 
• Russia’s best-selling beer
• Baltika 
• Belgian Grimbergen 
• Fix 

It's more than 500 local beers that are being sold in over 150 countries around the world. At present, Carlsberg produces and sells beer and other beverage products in Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and Asia.

Diageo plc

Establishment: 1886
Headquarter: London, the United Kingdom
Website: https://www.diageo.com/

Diageo plc and its subsidiaries produce, market, and sell alcoholic beverages and non-alcoholic products worldwide. The company offers a collection of spirits, beer, cider, and wine under various brands, including:

• Crown Royal 
• J&B 
• Cîroc 
• Buchanan’s and Windsor whiskeys
• Johnnie Walker 
• Smirnoff 
• Ketel One vodkas 
• Captain Morgan 
• Baileys 
• McDowell’s No. 1 
• Black & White 
• Grand Old Parr 
• Others 

At present, Diageo employs around 27,000 people operating in 180 countries across the globe. Moreover, it produces beer from 138 manufacturing sites located in different regions.

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Inc.

Establishment: 1995
Headquarters: Milton, Delaware
Website: https://www.dogfish.com/

Dogfish Head Brewery is a brewing company that produces around 262,000 barrels of beer annually. The company started by selling beer in the state of Delaware and became one of the most profitable microbreweries in the United States. Over the years, the company has launched innovative product variants to strengthen its market foothold. For instance, Dogfish Head released the country’s first Imperial 90 Minute IPA, which was named the best IPA in America by Esquire Magazine. However, the company was acquired by Boston Beer Company on May 9, 2019, in a deal worth US$ 300 Million.

Heineken N.V.

Establishment: 1864
Headquarters: Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Website: https://www.theheinekencompany.com/

Heineken N.V. is a subsidiary of Heineken Holding N.V., which mainly produces beer and cider. It offers beer, cider, soft drinks, and other beverages across Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, and other European countries. Presently, Heineken owns over 165 breweries in more than 70 countries and produces 348 international, regional, local, and specialty beers and ciders. Moreover, it offers its products to retailers, bars, and restaurants through distributors.

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co

Establishment: 1979
Headquarters: California, United States
Website: https://sierranevada.com/

The Sierra Nevada is a brewery that produces and markets ales and lagers. They currently offer more than 25 varieties, including pale ale, flavored, seasonal, high altitude, and specialty beers. Founded by homebrewer Ken Grossman and built with recycled dairy equipment, the company has grown to become the third-largest craft brewery in the nation and the seventh biggest overall. In recent years, Sierra has set the standard for craft brewers worldwide with innovations in the brewhouse and advances in sustainability.

Groupo Modelo

Establishment: 1922
Headquarter: Mexican City, Mexico
Website: https://www.gmodelo.mx/es

Grupo Modelo is a large brewery in Mexico that exports beer to many countries. Its domestic breweries produce and distribute 13 brands, including:

• Corona Extra 
• The best-selling Mexican beer in the world
• Pacifico 
• Modelo Especial 
• Victoria 

It also imports Anheuser-Busch InBev's (AB InBev) suds in Mexico, and China's Tsingtao and Denmark's Carlsberg. In addition, Modelo operates a chain of around 960 convenience stores under the Extra and Modeloramas banners. In 2012, Grupo Model was acquired by AB InBev in a deal worth US$ 20 Billion.

United Breweries Holdings Limited or UB Group

Establishment: 1915
Headquarters: Bengaluru, India
Website: http://unitedbreweries.com/

United Breweries Limited manufactures and sells beer in India and internationally. It offers beer: 

• Kingfisher Strong 
• Kingfisher Premium 
• Kingfisher Ultra 
• Kingfisher Ultra Max
• Kingfisher Storm 
• Kingfisher Buzz and Bullet 
• Cannon 10000
• Kalyani Black Label 
• UB Export 
• Zingaro
• London Pilsner brand names 

The company’s flagship brand, ‘Kingfisher,’ has achieved international recognition consistently and has recently won many awards at international beer festivals. Moreover, United Breweries’ most popular beer, Kingfisher Premium Lager beer, is currently available in 69 countries. Apart from this, the company also licenses its brands; and provides contract manufacturing services.

Oettinger Brauerei Gmbh

Establishment: 1956
Headquarters: Bayern, Germany
Website: https://www.oettinger-bier.de/

Oettinger Brauerei is a brewery group in Gotha, Mönchengladbach and Braunschweig. It was Germany’s best-selling beer brand between 2004 and 2013, with an annual output of 6.21 Million hectolitres (5,290,000 US bbl) in 2011. The company employs around 1,000 employees working at their four brewing sites in Gotha, Oettingen, Mönchengladbach, and Braunschweig and at a distribution center in Walldorf. Moreover, since 1980, Oettinger has won more than 250 national and international awards for its consistently high-quality service and product quality.

Kirin Holdings Co. Ltd.

Establishment: 1885
Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Website: https://www.kirinholdings.co.jp/

Kirin Holdings Company, Limited sells and manufactures alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, pharmaceuticals, and bio-chemicals across Japan and other countries. The company’s diverse product portfolio includes beer, wine, whiskey, happo-shu, spirits, soft drinks, dairy products, fruit juices, and other products. Moreover, it produces and sells amino acids and nucleic acids for pharmaceutical products, biochemical products, and other products. It is also involved in the sales and manufacturing of Coca-Cola products, soft drinks, sake, and the manufacture and supply of Four Roses bourbon. Currently, Kirin Holdings markets its products under Kirin Tanrei Green Label, Kirin Hyoketsu, Kirin Nama-cha, Kirin Gogo-no-Kocha, Kirin Mets COLA, Kirin Fire, Kirin Ichiban, Berri, Baden, Kirin Sekai-no-Kitchen-Kara, San Miguel Pale Pilsen, Kirin Nodogoshi Nama, Kirin FREE, and Chateau Mercian brand name.

Molson Coors Brewing Company

Establishment: 1786
Headquarters: Denver, Colorado
Website: https://www.molsoncoors.com/en

Molson Coors Brewing Company was formed with the merger of Coors Brewing Company of Colorado and the Canadian brewing giant Molson. It manufactures, markets, and sells beer and other malt beverage products in Canada, Europe, the United States, and internationally. Currently, the company operates in Canada through Molson Coors Canada, in the U.S. through MillerCoors, across Europe through Molson Coors Europe; and outside these core markets through Molson Coors International.

About IMARC Group: IMARC Group is a leading market research and consulting company that offers management strategy and market research worldwide. The company has successfully done multiple projects in the beer industry and regional North America, GCC, Japan, United States, and Europe, which has enabled clients to set up and expand their businesses. Some of the company’s offerings include:

• Market Research
• Plant setup
• Plant Expansion
• Marketing and sales
• Procurement and Distribution
• Innovation and Product Development