The answer depends on how you measure it. By volume, Michelob Ultra overtook Bud Light in 2025 to become America’s best-selling beer, a genuinely historic shift after more than two decades of Bud Light dominance. By dollar sales, Modelo Especial actually leads. Here is how the numbers actually break down.
At a Glance
| Best-selling by volume (2025-26) | Michelob Ultra |
| Best-selling by dollar sales | Modelo Especial |
| Former long-time volume leader | Bud Light, dethroned in September 2025 |
| Top 3 by most measures | Michelob Ultra, Modelo Especial, Bud Light |
Why Michelob Ultra is now on top
Michelob Ultra’s rise reflects a broader shift in American drinking habits toward lower-calorie, “healthier” options, it markets itself explicitly around fitness and active lifestyles, at 95 calories and 2.6 grams of carbs per 12 ounces. That positioning has resonated with health-conscious drinkers in a way traditional light lagers have struggled to match, and its growth has been steady for years even as overall US beer volume has declined.
Why Bud Light fell from the top spot
Bud Light held the best-selling beer title in America for more than two decades before Michelob Ultra passed it. The decline followed a highly publicized 2023 marketing controversy that triggered a boycott among some of its traditional customer base, and the brand has not fully recovered the volume it lost, even as Anheuser-Busch has worked to rebuild the brand’s image.
Why Modelo Especial leads in dollar sales
Modelo Especial actually overtook Bud Light in dollar sales back in 2023, and it has held that lead since, even though Michelob Ultra now moves more total volume. That split happens because Modelo commands a premium price point compared to mainstream domestic lagers, so fewer cases sold can still add up to more total revenue. Modelo’s growth has been driven heavily by the growing Hispanic population in the US and its crossover popularity with younger drinkers generally. See our best lager beers guide for how it stacks up against other imports.
This isn’t just industry chatter, Anheuser-Busch confirmed the shift itself, announcing in its newsroom that Michelob Ultra took the #1 spot in retail volume for the 52 weeks ending September 14, 2025, citing Circana data. CNBC and the BBC both confirmed the numbers independently, and NielsenIQ data separately showed Michelob Ultra also leading in bars and restaurants for the 52 weeks ending July 12, 2025.
The bigger picture: US beer volume is shrinking
All of this reshuffling is happening against a backdrop of declining overall beer consumption in the US, as more drinkers shift toward wine, spirits, ready-to-drink cocktails, and non-alcoholic options. That makes market share swings among the top few brands more dramatic than they might otherwise be, since the total pool of beer sales those brands are competing over keeps shrinking. For how the US market fits into worldwide beer consumption trends, see our global beer statistics roundup.
“Michelob Ultra officially overtook Bud Light as the best selling beer in America by volume in September 2025, marking a generational change in what Americans reach for at the store.”, US beer industry sales data, 2025-26
FAQs
What is the number one selling beer in America?
By sales volume, Michelob Ultra is currently America’s best-selling beer, having overtaken Bud Light in September 2025. By dollar sales, Modelo Especial holds the top spot.
Why did Bud Light lose its top spot?
A 2023 marketing controversy triggered a boycott among part of Bud Light’s traditional customer base, and the brand has not fully recovered the sales volume it lost since.
Is Modelo the best-selling beer in America?
Modelo Especial leads in dollar sales, but Michelob Ultra currently sells more total volume, making the answer depend on which metric you’re using.
