In this article, we are going to discuss the 20 best imported beers in USA in 2023. You can skip our detailed analysis of the size of the U.S. import beer industry, the rise of Mexican beer brands and their dominance in the U.S. beer market and a comparison of sales volume data of some industry giants and go directly to 5 Best Imported Beers in USA in 2023.
The United States of America is the largest importer of beer in the world. According to the Beer Institute, imported beers comprise nearly 18% of the overall beer market in the country. You can check out more on that in 22 Cheap Imported Beer Brands Targeting Budweiser's Market. In 2021, the U.S. imported around $6.21 billion worth of beer, accounting for 2 out of every 5 cross-border beer dollars. Canada, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, were all big sources of these imports but the lion’s share of the overall U.S. beer imports came from one country, Mexico.
After the Great Recession, the Dutch had solid control on the global beer market, led by the industry giant, Heineken. But within a decade, the Netherlands, along with other European brewing powerhouses, were overtaken by Mexico. According to the Geneva-based statistics provider Trade Data Monitor, today, Mexico ships out more beer than any other country, accounting for around 30% of the global beer exports.
Some of the best and most popular imported beers in America come from Mexico and the country accounts for nearly 80% of the overall U.S. beer imports, up from a mere 17% in the 1990’s. In the recent months, nearly 97% of the total Mexican beer exports flowed to its northern next-door neighbor. According to data from the Beer Institute, the U.S. imported around 98.7 million gallons of beer from Mexico in just March 2023, a 12% increase from March 2022. The Netherlands was next on the list, with around 8.19 million gallons, a decrease of 19.7% from the same period the previous year.
This is also reflected in the overall sales volume data of the beer industry giants in the U.S. According to a report by the Brewers Association, Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD), a juggernaut in the global beer industry and the owner of many popular beer domestic brands, including Budweiser, Busch, Michelob Ultra and even import beers, such as the Belgian Stella Artois, witnessed a steep decline in its sales volume in the U.S. The company reported an overall dip of 4.5% in its total shipments to wholesalers in 2022, compared to 2021.
Similarly, the Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP), which owns brands such as Carling, Miller Lite, Blue Moon etc, witnessed an even steeper decline of 5.1% in its shipments to U.S. wholesalers, including an unprecedented 11% drop in Q4, 2022.
On the other hand, the total sales volume of Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ), which owns some of the best selling imported beers in America, including Mexican beer brands like Modello, Corona and Pacifico etc., grew 9%, from 25.85 million barrels in 2021 to 28.2 million barrels in 2022. To put that into perspective, the next-largest volume gain from any beer supplier was 120,000 barrels, from Kirin-Lion (New Belgium and Bell’s). Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) is single-handedly fueling the growth in the import beer industry in the U.S., through its highly sought-after Mexican brews.
The operating income of Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ), up 6% to $2.86 billion in its fiscal year, has been second behind only Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) for several years now. Although a recent change in the company’s ownership structure sparked plenty of debate about its potential sale, Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) keeps turning up with the best results in beer all the same, coming off the company’s 13th consecutive year of beer volume growth.
With that said, here are the Best Imported Beers in America in 2023:
20 Best Imported Beers in USA in 2023
Pixabay/Public Domain
Methodology
America’s imported beer category is as vast in brands as it is in geographic origins. To collect data for this article, we have searched through a multitude of sources such as BeerAdvocate, RateBeer, Drizly, and Zippia, among others, looking for indexes of the best and most popular imported beers available to Americans in 2023.
For our list, we have only selected beers that appeared at least twice in the above-mentioned indexes. We then gave them scores based on the number of times that they appeared in these lists and ranked them accordingly. The respective scores have been granted from a total score of 6.
Although the American import beer market is dominated by Mexican brands, we have tried to include the best beers from different corners of the world, to keep our list diversified.
Another thing that must be kept in mind is that imported beers don’t always require consumers to splurge huge amounts of cash. Sometimes, these foreign brands can be quite economical and even compete with domestic beers, such as Budweiser.
20. Carlsberg
Insider Monkey Score: 2
Carlsberg is a trend-setting Danish beer that has been enjoyed for decades in bars, homes and restaurants around the world. The 5% ABV pale lager is made with a proprietary hop blend, known as Carlsberg Aroma Hope Extract, which grants the beer its hoppy and bready flavor. First brewed in Copenhagen in 1847, the iconic Danish lager is now available in over 140 countries worldwide. Carlsberg A/S had an annual revenue of $9.95 billion in 2022, a 6.15% decline from 2021.
19. Sapporo Premium
Insider Monkey Score: 2
First introduced in the U.S. in 1964, this iconic Japanese beer has grown to become the #1 top-selling Asian beer brand in America. The 4.9% ABV lager has a crisp and perfectly blended taste, with a refreshing flavor and clean finish. Sapporo also plans on starting production in the U.S. in the fall of this year. Sapporo Holdings Ltd. announced a revenue of $3.44 billion in 2022, up 9.4% from the previous year.
18. Hoegaarden
Insider Monkey Score: 2
This 4.9% ABV Belgian beer dates back to the 15th century, when a group of monks decided to experiment with their brewing process by adding a dash of botanicals. The result was the Hoegaarden White Beer that we know today. Hoegaarden is owned by the industry giant Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD). The reported revenue of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) for 2022 was $57.8 billion.
17. Tecate
Insider Monkey Score: 2
Brewed in the town of Tecate in Baja California, this 4.5% ABV Mexican golden beer has been using the same recipe since 1944. It is a full-bodied lager with a malt and crisp flavor. Although the beer is brewed in Mexico, it is owned by Heineken N.V. Tecate is one of the top imported beers in the U.S. with total dollar sales of $125.3 million in 2022, according to IRI.
16. Skol
Insider Monkey Score: 2
This 5% ABV lager is brewed according to the lager bottom fermenting tradition, using the finest natural ingredients to produce the optimum lager with a light and crisp taste. The beer is recognized as a Brazilian brand, but it was, in fact, first produced in Scotland. Skol is owned by the Carlsberg group and is currently the 5th top-selling beer brand in the world. The brand value of Skol grew to approximately $3.83 billion in 2022.
15. Red Stripe
Insider Monkey Score: 2
Brewed in Jamaica, Red Stripe has a tagline of ‘Jamaican Pride in a Bottle’. The 4.7% ABV amber lager is made with pilsen malt, cassava starch and hops. Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) acquired Red Stripe in 1993 and then in 2015, Heineken N.V. bought the brand from Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO), reportedly for $421 million, and is now also brewing the iconic Jamaican beer in the Netherlands. Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) owns a multitude of alcohol brands around the world and has a current market cap of $93.9 billion.
14. Unibroue La Fin Du Monde
Insider Monkey Score: 2
Serving as the brewery’s flagship beer since 1994, this Belgian tripel from Quebec is a 9% ABV heavy-hitter that is particularly popular among craft beer lovers. Its alcohol content may sound high, but it’s well-hidden because of its fusion of coriander and banana flavors with warm spice and a hint of yeast. Unibroue is also owned by Sapporo Holdings.
13. Dieu du Ciel! Péché Mortel
Insider Monkey Score: 2
French for ‘mortal sin’, this imperial coffee stout from a microbrewery in Quebec has a high ABV of 9.5%. It is an intensely black and dense beer with pronounced roasted flavors. Fair trade coffee is infused during the brewing process, intensifying the bitterness of the beer and giving it a powerful coffee taste.
12. Tsingtao
Insider Monkey Score: 2
Produced in Qingdao, Tsingtao can trace its origins back to the brief German occupation of the northern Chinese city. This 4% ABV beer has a high-malty and well–hopped character. Tsingtao is produced with spring water for Laoshan and the domestically grown hops are so good that they are even exported to European breweries. In 2022, the beer sales of Tsingtao Brewery amounted to around 8.07 million kilolitres, with a revenue of around $4.52 billion.
11. Pilsner Urquell
Insider Monkey Score: 3
First brewed in 1842, this Czech beer is generally considered to be the main reason why most of the world’s best-selling beers are pilsner-style lagers to this day. This 4.4% beer, with its clean, refreshing and crisp taste, has been brewed with the same recipe since it was first produced. In 2016, Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) agreed to sell Pilsner Urquell and four other Eastern European brands to Asahi for €7.3 billion, to help get clearance from competition regulators for its $100 billion takeover of SABMiller.
10. Dos Equis XX
Insider Monkey Score: 3
Popular for its commercials featuring ‘The Most Interesting Man in the World’, Dos Equis is a 4.2% ABV, crisp, refreshing and light bodied amber lager, made from pure spring water. Dos Equis XX had total dollar sales of $430.68 million in the U.S. multi-outlets in 2022. This Mexican brand is also owned by Heineken N.V.
9. Leffe Blonde
Insider Monkey Score: 3
Also owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD), this 6.6% ABV Belgian blonde is no longer brewed in Abbaye Notre-Dame de Leffe, but at the Stella Artois brewery, and the abbey earns royalties from its sales. However, it’s still crafted with an authentic Abbey ale recipe, serving up a flavor that blends sweetness with spice, plus a marked yeastiness.
8. Franziskaner Premium Weissbier
Insider Monkey Score: 3
Brewed following the tradition of the German purity law of 1516, this 5% ABV wheat beer dates back to the oldest privately-owned brewery in Munich in 1363. The Spaten-Löwenbräu-Gruppe, which owns the brand, was sold to Interbrew in 2003 for €530 million. Interbrew is a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD), based in the Netherlands. The beer with its natural cloudiness and its spicy and fruity flavor is among the best imported wheat beers in the U.S. in 2023.
7. Pacifico Clara
Insider Monkey Score: 3
Brewed in the Pacific ocean port city of Mazatlán, this 4.5% ABV pilsner-style beer is hearty and crisp, with a touch of grass-citrus and ocean mist flavor. The Pacifico brand family is owned by Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) and had total dollar sales of $271.48 million in U.S. multi-outlets in 2022.
6. Modelo Especial
Insider Monkey Score: 4
This 4.4% ABV light pilsner is the secondmost popular import beer in America, right after Corona Extra. However, the Modelo brand family had the highest dollar sales among imported beers in U.S. multi-outlets in 2022, with $3.97 billion. Modelo is owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) everywhere, except in the U.S., where it is owned by Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ).
