New data shows Bud Light is no longer at the top of American taprooms, at least when it comes to the most popular draft beers served in bars across the country.
draft line technologyMichelob Ultra, a company that provides software for beverage distributors, is part of Anheuser-Busch InBev like Bud Light. A recent report revealed that it has recently overtaken Bud Light. A venue with a beer system.
Jennifer Hauck, founder of Draftline Technologies, said Michelob Ultra is poised to reach the top spot for years to come.
“Michelob Ultra's rise to the top in draft tap handles reflects changing consumer preferences,” Hauck said in an emailed statement to Nexstar. “For years, Michelob Ultra has been on a path to surpassing Bud Light to become the No. 1 brand in drafts (total taps). The news is that Michelob Ultra has done it – we are proud to announce the new It won the number one spot.”
The news that Michelob Ultra has overtaken Bud Light (in terms of beer taps) comes about a year and a half after Bud Light lost the title of overall beer to Modelo Especial. Ta. In July 2024, Michelob also overtook Bud Light to become the second best-selling beer. In third place.
At least some of this decline is believed to be due to backlash over Bud Light's 2023 collaboration with transgender activist and influencer Dylan Mulvaney. The collaboration prompted calls for a boycott from critics of the brand's partnership with Mulvaney. But some of Mulvaney's fans and members of the LGBTQ+ community also began criticizing Anheuser-Busch for its handling of the backlash.
Mulvaney said in June 2023, “I think it's worse for a company to hire a transgender person and not publicly support them than not to hire a transgender person at all, because it's as transphobic as the customer wants it to be.” “It gives people permission to harbor hatred.”TikTok videos. “And the hate doesn’t stop with me.”
Meanwhile, Draftline Technologies added that Michelob Ultra's emergence as the best-selling draft beer is due to customer preferences reflecting “broad alignment with health-conscious premium beer trends.”
“It's important to note that the rise of Michelob Ultra has been years in the making,” Hauke said.
Anheuser-Busch InBev did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the DraftLine Technologies findings. However, the representative said CNN The company said it is “proud” that two of its beers are the No. 1 and No. 2 most popular drafts.
An Anheuser-Busch InBev spokesperson added, “Bud Light is more than 30% larger than the next closest draft competitor.”
Draftline Technologies based its findings on data collected from “more than 1 million lines” at beer venues in 40 states. Hauck told Nexstar that the company tracks “between half and two-thirds” of all beer systems in the United States, according to its own estimates.
