You see beer commercials all over the place. You probably even have your favorite, especially if you're a chest pounding, sports watching brute of a he-man. The only thing you really care about is getting your hands on a nice cold brew. But did you ever sit down and wonder who the top beer manufacturers actually are? Of course not. That's why you're reading what's about to follow as we reveal the top beer manufacturers in the world today.
The top five beer manufacturers have quite a few surprises, especially for those of you who are glued to your TV and see nothing but ads for Bud, Bud Light, Miller Light, Molson, Schlitz and the whole cast of characters that follow one bad B-Movie after another.
Well, would it surprise you to know that the fifth largest beer manufacturer in the world is Inbev? Who? You heard right. This worldwide company comes in at number five. They own a ton of premium brands like Beck's. Ah, yes, now you know who they are. They also manufacture a few specialty brands like Belle-Vue. Okay, so maybe you're not so familiar with that one. This company sells most of their beer in America, Europe and Asia.
Coming in at number 4 on the hit parade of brews is Scottish & Newcastle. In case you're not familiar with them, they actually make a lot of other drinks besides beer, including water, cider and even soft drinks. Talk about diversifying. Their main markets are in the United Kingdom and Europe. They export their beer to over 60 countries. Their main base of operations is in Edinburgh.
The third largest beer manufacturer in the world is one you have probably heard of. The company is Heineken. This company is literally all over the place, operating in over 170 countries in Africa, Europe, North and South America, the Middle East and even Asia. What most people don't know is that Heineken also manufactures many soft drinks and other non alcoholic beverages. The company operates out of Amsterdam and employs more than 60,000 people.
Just missing the top spot is a company by the name of Asahi. Asahi is all over the world, literally. There is hardly a county in which they don't operate. Their main beer is Asahi Super Dry. You may not have heard of it but it's the number two seller behind the company we're about to reveal. This company also makes soft drinks and nutritional supplements. And if you think beer and Japan don't go together, then you better think again because that's just where the headquarters of this giant resides.
And finally, we get to the number 1 beer manufacturer in the world and this should come as no surprise to anyone who's ever walked into a bar or just watch a little TV. The Anheuser-Busch brewery is the number 1 beer making company, not only in the United States, but all over the world. It's Budweiser brands are known by all. Even though they operate mostly in the United States, they own 50% of Mexico's leading brewer and 27% of the top brewer in China. Yes, Anheuser-Busch, or Budweiser, really IS the king of beers.
Just like it says on the commercial.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Beer
