After finding itself in the headlines for less than flattering reasons throughout the last couple of years, new data has found that Bud Light is no longer the top beer offered at bars across the US.
According to a new report from Draftline Technologies, a company that provides software for beverage distributors, Michelob Ultra has recently taken over in terms of the “number of tap handles” operating at US venues with beer systems.
Michelob Ultra and Bud Light are both owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev, so the company overall isn’t losing the spot, just one of its more prominent brands.
While Bud Light has faced boycotts and controversy over its marketing choices, Jennifer Hauke, the founder of Draftline Technologies, says that Michelob Ultra has been ready to reach the top spot for some time.
“The rise of Michelob Ultra as the leader by number of tap handles on draft reflects shifting consumer preference,” Hauke said in an emailed statement to Nexstar. “Michelob Ultra has been on a path to surpass Bud Light as the #1 brand on draft (by total taps) for a number of years. The news is Michelob Ultra did it — we have a new #1.”
The news also comes about a year and a half after Bud Light lost its title of best-selling overall bear to Modelo Especial. It lost its second-best-selling beer spot to Michelob in July 2024, bumping Bud Light to third.
Bud Light received backlash in 2023 over its collaboration with Dylan Mulvaney, a transgender activist and influencer. The brand then received backlash from the LGBTQ community over its handling of the controversy.
“For a company to hire a trans person and then not publicly stand by them is worse, in my opinion, than not hiring a trans person at all because it gives customers permission to be as transphobic and hateful as they want,” Mulvaney said in June 2023 TikTok video. “And the hate doesn’t end with me.”
Still, Hauke said that Michelob has a “broader alignment with health-conscious, premium beer trends.”
“It’s important to note that Michelob Ultra’s rise has been years in the making,” Hauke said.
A spokesperson for Anheuser-Busch InBev told CNN it is “proud” to have two of its beers as the top two most popular drafts.
“Bud Light is more than 30% bigger than the next closest draft competitor,” the Anheuser-Busch InBev spokesperson added.
The study used data collected from “over 1 million lines” at beer venues in 40 states.