It looks like Yuengling can soon add a new “America’s number one” to their tag line. America’s oldest craft brewery (despite what you read online) appears to be gaining market share against America’s number one selling beer; Bud Light.
In a recent report from Newsweek, Bud Light had slipped from the number one most popular beer in bars and restaurants to four, while the Pottsville brewery gained market share. Allowing the Pennsylvania brewery to inch that much closer to the number one spot in America. According to data from Bump Williams Consulting Bud Light’s market share has grown 8.1% while Yuengling saw a surge of 25% market share increase in the same timeframe. Moving Yuengling that much closer up the list of top producing breweries.
All of this would appear to stem from backlash Bud Light has been receiving begining in early 2023. The news has been filled with coverage of Bud Light slowly losing market share as a result of backlash from the brand partnering with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney back in March of this year. A story that needs no rehashing here as countless media outlets have covered the topic.
Yuengling is no stranger to a relationship with Bud Light as of late. Not long after Bud Light found themselves in controversy Yuengling took an apparent shot at them on twitter. As a part of the backlash many online noted how Bud Light is made by Anheuser-Busch, an orginization that is owned by an overseas parent company. With many looking to turn to an American made beer, Yuengling has become the beer of choice. The brewery even took to twitter with the subtle jab as a reminder of their American made heritage…
Yuengling, The Oldest Brewery In America. Independently Owned and Family Operated since 1829 because we make good beer. pic.twitter.com/5TdmGiUc5R
— Yuengling Brewery (@yuenglingbeer) April 14, 2023
In addition to the tweet above, as we wrote a few years back, America’s oldest brewery accused Bud Light of using the trademark it has for Yuengling Flight. You can read more about that incident below.
There is no telling how this will impact Pennsylvania’s overall beer production for the year. A large portion of Yuengling beer is still made at their Pottsville plant but, as we have reported in the past, America’s Oldest Brewery has been expanding well beyond the Keystone State. In addition to their brewery in Florida they recently opened a massive 42,000 square foot facility in the Sunshine State. The brewery also announced a partnership with Molson Coors in 2020 to produce beer outside of their East Coast footprint. So how this increase in sales effects Pennsylvania beer output has yet to be seen.
