Misc
Mapped: Beer Consumption in the U.S.
Mapped: Beer Consumption in the U.S.
Beer consumption spans almost the entire world, and is a staple in much of the United States.
When stacked up next to other alcoholic beverages, beer is America’s preferred drink of choice, closely followed by wine and spirits. In fact, it is the fifth most-consumed drink overall in the country, behind coffee, water, soft drinks and tea.
At the end of 2021, beer in the U.S. was a $94.1 billion industry. Alongside massive multinational conglomerations, it is also driven by over 9,000 breweries of different types.
This visualization, created by Victor Dépré of Hypntic Data, maps the consumption of beer by gallons per capita across the U.S. using data from Top Agency and The Beer Institute.
What is Beer?
Beer is produced from the fermentation of combined water, malt, and yeast. It was first produced 12,000 years ago with the emergence of grain agriculture.
Today, beer is made from several different malted grains: wheat, corn, rice, oats, and most commonly, barley. Hops, a type of flower, are added for flavor, balancing out the malt’s sweetness with a bitter taste while also preserving the beer’s freshness and giving a good amount of foam.
American Beer Consumption By State
So which states drank the most beer, and what was their preferred brand?
The annual consumption stats come from the Beer Institute’s Brewer’s Almanac report, while the preferred beer of choice was compiled by Data Agency’s 2021 Beer Rankings report, which is based on a combination of surveys combined with Google search analysis from all over the country.
Beer Consumption By State (2020) | Annual Gallons Per Capita | Preferred Beer |
---|---|---|
Alabama | 29.1 | Budweiser |
Alaska | 26.1 | |
Arizona | 27.0 | Dos Equis |
Arkansas | 23.9 | Budweiser |
California | 24.5 | Budweiser |
Colorado | 28.1 | Denver Beer Co |
Connecticut | 19.8 | Bud Light |
Delaware | 27.9 | Dogfish Head |
District of Columbia | 18.2 | |
Florida | 25.4 | Stella |
Georgia | 23.0 | Terrapin |
Hawaii | 26.7 | |
Idaho | 25.0 | Budweiser |
Illinois | 25.9 | Goose Island |
Indiana | 23.6 | Miller Light |
Iowa | 31.0 | Budweiser |
Kansas | 27.8 | Coors Light |
Kentucky | 23.1 | Budweiser |
Louisiana | 28.4 | Abita |
Maine | 32.5 | Budweiser |
Maryland | 19.7 | Budweiser |
Massachusetts | 21.1 | Budweiser |
Michigan | 23.6 | Budweiser |
Minnesota | 27.1 | Budweiser |
Mississippi | 31.6 | Lazy Magnolia |
Missouri | 26.9 | Budweiser |
Montana | 41.1 | Budweiser |
Nebraska | 31.6 | Nebraska Black Betty |
Nevada | 29.0 | Coors Light |
New Hampshire | 41.5 | Budweiser |
New Jersey | 20.0 | Miller Light |
New Mexico | 27.7 | La Cumbre |
New York | 20.2 | Budweiser |
North Carolina | 25.8 | Bud Light |
North Dakota | 37.5 | Fargo |
Ohio | 25.5 | Heineken |
Oklahoma | 26.8 | Budweiser |
Oregon | 27.7 | Budweiser |
Pennsylvania | 24.9 | Bud Light |
Rhode Island | 20.1 | Narragansett |
South Carolina | 32.5 | Budweiser |
South Dakota | 37.3 | Budweiser |
Tennessee | 24.2 | Budweiser |
Texas | 31.9 | Lone Star |
Utah | 20.0 | Budweiser |
Vermont | 34.0 | Bud Light |
Virginia | 24.2 | Budweiser |
Washington | 23.7 | Bud Light |
West Virginia | 27.8 | Budweiser |
Wisconsin | 33.7 | Spotted Cow |
Wyoming | 29.8 | Snake River |
New Hampshire took the top spot in 2020, outdrinking other states with 41.5 gallons of beer consumed annually per capita. In contrast, the lowest consuming state was Maryland which only consumed 19.7 gallons per capita, about half as much.
The most popular beer?
Despite the growing trend of craft breweries in some states, the most popular beer across the country was Budweiser of Anheuser-Busch, which took the top spot in 23 states.
Which State Has The Most Breweries?
Each state also has varying numbers of breweries operating within, and there are many different types.
Larger breweries, including those run by some of the world’s largest companies, are also called macrobreweries. They are usually defined as having an annual production greater than 6 million barrels of beer, compared to craft breweries and other types of microbreweries which have a lower annual production.
Craft breweries are also usually independently owned, and through both positioning and general perception, have come to be associated with specialties and originality, adding unique and interesting ingredients to traditional brews.
Breweries By State (2020) | # of Breweries |
---|---|
Alabama | 70 |
Alaska | 68 |
Arizona | 170 |
Arkansas | 73 |
California | 1,466 |
Colorado | 565 |
Connecticut | 163 |
Delaware | 49 |
District of Columbia | 17 |
Florida | 505 |
Georgia | 191 |
Hawaii | 46 |
Idaho | 116 |
Illinois | 406 |
Indiana | 283 |
Iowa | 151 |
Kansas | 83 |
Kentucky | 119 |
Louisiana | 67 |
Maine | 201 |
Maryland | 177 |
Massachusetts | 304 |
Michigan | 611 |
Minnesota | 291 |
Mississippi | 26 |
Missouri | 215 |
Montana | 130 |
Nebraska | 74 |
Nevada | 73 |
New Hampshire | 133 |
New Jersey | 188 |
New Mexico | 154 |
New York | 680 |
North Carolina | 514 |
North Dakota | 31 |
Ohio | 497 |
Oklahoma | 91 |
Oregon | 431 |
Pennsylvania | 642 |
Rhode Island | 50 |
South Carolina | 135 |
South Dakota | 59 |
Tennessee | 196 |
Texas | 532 |
Utah | 54 |
Vermont | 106 |
Virginia | 425 |
Washington | 633 |
West Virginia | 37 |
Wisconsin | 364 |
Wyoming | 52 |
California has the highest number of breweries in the country, more than double any other state, at 1,466.
On the flip side, Mississippi has the fewest breweries, with the most recent Beer Institute’s 2021 almanac only listing 26 in the entire state.
Beer Sales During the Pandemic
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, commonplace items saw massive spikes in sales across the world.
As lockdowns were implemented and people were forced to stay at home, household items like toilet paper, soap, and pastas began to disappear from store shelves at alarmingly fast rates. Beer was no exception, and sales have continued to increase, going up by 8.9% in the U.S. since 2020.
This is a worrisome fact to many researchers, as it could be a strong indicator that alcohol was used as a coping mechanism against anxiety and isolation felt during the pandemic. This rise could be a result of increased consumption, but may also indicate increased stockpiling.
Regardless of why beer sales increased, it will be interesting to see which way the trend swings with the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions and the attempted return to normalcy in the months to come.

This article was published as a part of Visual Capitalist's Creator Program, which features data-driven visuals from some of our favorite Creators around the world.
Science
Visualizing the Relationship Between Cancer and Lifespan
New research links mutation rates and lifespan. We visualize the data supporting this new framework for understanding cancer.

A Newfound Link Between Cancer and Aging?
A new study in 2022 reveals a thought-provoking relationship between how long animals live and how quickly their genetic codes mutate.
Cancer is a product of time and mutations, and so researchers investigated its onset and impact within 16 unique mammals. A new perspective on DNA mutation broadens our understanding of aging and cancer development—and how we might be able to control it.
Mutations, Aging, and Cancer: A Primer
Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells. It is not a pathogen that infects the body, but a normal body process gone wrong.
Cells divide and multiply in our bodies all the time. Sometimes, during DNA replication, tiny mistakes (called mutations) appear randomly within the genetic code. Our bodies have mechanisms to correct these errors, and for much of our youth we remain strong and healthy as a result of these corrective measures.
However, these protections weaken as we age. Developing cancer becomes more likely as mutations slip past our defenses and continue to multiply. The longer we live, the more mutations we carry, and the likelihood of them manifesting into cancer increases.
A Biological Conundrum
Since mutations can occur randomly, biologists expect larger lifeforms (those with more cells) to have greater chances of developing cancer than smaller lifeforms.
Strangely, no association exists.
It is one of biology’s biggest mysteries as to why massive creatures like whales or elephants rarely seem to experience cancer. This is called Peto’s Paradox. Even stranger: some smaller creatures, like the naked mole rat, are completely resistant to cancer.
This phenomenon motivates researchers to look into the genetics of naked mole rats and whales. And while we’ve discovered that special genetic bonuses (like extra tumor-suppressing genes) benefit these creatures, a pattern for cancer rates across all other species is still poorly understood.
Cancer May Be Closely Associated with Lifespan
Researchers at the Wellcome Sanger Institute report the first study to look at how mutation rates compare with animal lifespans.
Mutation rates are simply the speed at which species beget mutations. Mammals with shorter lifespans have average mutation rates that are very fast. A mouse undergoes nearly 800 mutations in each of its four short years on Earth. Mammals with longer lifespans have average mutation rates that are much slower. In humans (average lifespan of roughly 84 years), it comes to fewer than 50 mutations per year.
The study also compares the number of mutations at time of death with other traits, like body mass and lifespan. For example, a giraffe has roughly 40,000 times more cells than a mouse. Or a human lives 90 times longer than a mouse. What surprised researchers was that the number of mutations at time of death differed only by a factor of three.
Such small differentiation suggests there may be a total number of mutations a species can collect before it dies. Since the mammals reached this number at different speeds, finding ways to control the rate of mutations may help stall cancer development, set back aging, and prolong life.
The Future of Cancer Research
The findings in this study ignite new questions for understanding cancer.
Confirming that mutation rate and lifespan are strongly correlated needs comparison to lifeforms beyond mammals, like fishes, birds, and even plants.
It will also be necessary to understand what factors control mutation rates. The answer to this likely lies within the complexities of DNA. Geneticists and oncologists are continuing to investigate genetic curiosities like tumor-suppressing genes and how they might impact mutation rates.
Aging is likely to be a confluence of many issues, like epigenetic changes or telomere shortening, but if mutations are involved then there may be hopes of slowing genetic damage—or even reversing it.
While just a first step, linking mutation rates to lifespan is a reframing of our understanding of cancer development, and it may open doors to new strategies and therapies for treating cancer or taming the number of health-related concerns that come with aging.
Misc
Visualizing Which Countries Drink the Most Beer
Which countries drink the most beer? China ranks number one due to its sheer size, and the Czech Republic comes out on top, per capita.

Visualizing Which Countries Drink the Most Beer
Humans have been drinking beer for thousands of years—and since it’s still one of the most popular beverages worldwide, it seems we haven’t gotten sick of it yet. The latest available data shows that beer consumption exceeded 177 million kiloliters around the world in 2020.
Beer consumption occurs all over the world, but the amount varies greatly depending on the location. So, which countries drink the most beer?
This graphic uses data from Kirin Holdings to compare global beer consumption by country. Kirin is a Japanese company that has been tracking beer consumption around the world since 1975.
Which Countries Drink the Most Beer?
When it comes to total beer consumption, China ranks number one.
In 2020, the country’s consumption reached 36 million kiloliters—that’s enough beer to fill more than 14,000 Olympic-sized pools. The country accounts for a whopping one-fifth of total beer consumption worldwide. Archaeological evidence also suggests that China has a beer producing history that goes back thousands of years.
Here’s a look at the top 25 countries for beer consumption, and their global market share:
Ranking 2020 | Country | Total Consumption (thousand kl) | Global Market Share |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 🇨🇳 China | 36,088 | 20.30% |
2 | 🇺🇸 United States of America | 24,105 | 13.60% |
3 | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 13,847 | 7.80% |
4 | 🇷🇺 Russia | 8,646 | 4.90% |
5 | 🇲🇽 Mexico | 8,287 | 4.70% |
6 | 🇩🇪 Germany | 7,746 | 4.40% |
7 | 🇯🇵 Japan | 4,416 | 2.50% |
8 | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 4,088 | 2.30% |
9 | 🇻🇳 Vietnam | 3,845 | 2.20% |
10 | 🇪🇸 Spain | 3,815 | 2.10% |
11 | 🇵🇱 Poland | 3,633 | 2.00% |
12 | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 3,284 | 1.90% |
13 | 🇨🇴 Colombia | 2,246 | 1.30% |
14 | 🇫🇷 France | 1,984 | 1.10% |
15 | 🇨🇦 Canada | 1,979 | 1.10% |
16 | 🇨🇿 Czech Republic | 1,946 | 1.10% |
17 | 🇰🇷 South Korea | 1,936 | 1.10% |
18 | 🇮🇹 Italy | 1,886 | 1.10% |
19 | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | 1,881 | 1.10% |
20 | 🇷🇴 Romania | 1,828 | 1.00% |
21 | 🇦🇺 Australia | 1,825 | 1.00% |
22 | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 1,797 | 1.00% |
23 | 🇮🇳 India | 1,686 | 0.90% |
24 | 🇹🇭 Thailand | 1,680 | 0.90% |
25 | 🇵🇭 Philippines | 1,462 | 0.80% |
Rest of the World | 31,563 | 17.78% |
China is the most populous country in the world, accounting for about 18% of the global population. Of course, a large population doesn’t necessarily translate to high beer consumption at the individual level. For instance, India, which has the second highest population in the world, ranks 23rd on the list for beer consumption, and only accounts for 1% of what foamy liquid gets guzzled down each year.
The U.S. comes second on the list, with more than 24 million kiloliters of beer consumed throughout the country in 2020. Americans don’t just drink a lot of beer—they brew a lot of beer, too. The U.S. is the second-largest beer producer worldwide (after China).
Beer Consumption Per Capita
Things look a bit different when you look at beer consumption per capita, rather than total beer consumption. The Czech Republic comes in first when it comes to beer consumption per capita.
In 2020, the average Czech drank more than 181 liters of beer.
The Czech Republic is well-known for inexpensive beer. Some travel sites even claim that, in certain parts of the country, beer can be cheaper than bottled water.
International Beer Day
While consumption levels vary across the world, beer is an integral part of many countries’ cultures. In fact, the beverage is so popular, that it’s been given its own day. International Beer Day is celebrated on the first Friday of every August in over 200 cities across the globe.
Cheers, and happy sipping!
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