The Top 10 Beer Producing Countries In The World

It's hard to beat the variety in beer. Have a cool and refreshing beer on a warm summer day, a creamy stout on a cold winter night, or a hearty brown or red beer for lunch. It's not hard to see why beer has been one of the most popular beverages in the world for centuries. If you've ever wondered about beer production by country, the following list highlights the top 10 beer producing countries in the world.

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10. Spain

Spain produced more than 3 million kiloliters of beer in 2013, and the popularity of craft beer has grown, and as a result, the popularity of beer in general has risen rapidly. Despite being at the bottom of this list, Spain was actually the first European country to produce beer. Since it was very difficult to import barley and hops at the time, it didn't catch on at all.

9. Poland

Like many European countries, Poland began producing beer in the Middle Ages. However, it didn't catch on until the 1800s. Currently, Poland is the fifth largest consumer of beer in the world, and in 2013 it produced nearly 4 million kiloliters to meet the needs of these beer drinkers. Polish beer lovers prefer lager, bock and Baltic porter styles.

8. UK

The UK is known for inventing some of the most popular styles of beer around the world, including Stout, IPA, Porter and Brown Ale. However, British beer drinkers prefer pilsners, a style invented in the Czech Republic and popularized mainly by the US before craft beer took over. In 2013, domestic and international beer consumption in the UK exceeded 4 million kilolitres. Despite the reputation of pub culture, the truth is that the UK exports a lot of beer. It is the fifth largest exporter of beer in the world.

7. Japan

Japan is a big beer-producing country, producing more than 5 million kiloliters in 2013. However, these figures include some beer-like beverages such as Happo-shu and new types of non-ale. Compared to Europe, Japan was much later in the beer segment. It didn't start producing beer until the arrival of Dutch traders in the 1600s. Its first brewery, Kirin Beer, opened in 1869, shortly after the Sapporo Brewery. Today, the top four breweries in Japan are Kirin, Sapporo, Asahi and Suntory, but there are also more than 200 microbreweries across the country. For all the beers they produce, Japan ranks pretty low on the consumption list, at 43rd.

6. Mexico

Mexico acquired modern beer technology from German immigrants in the 1800s. Production in the country is fairly stable, with more than 8 million kiloliters produced in both 2013 and 2012. Mexico actually produces 16.5% of the world's beer, more than any other country. The two main beer companies are FEMSA and Grupo Modelo.

5. Russia

It wasn't until 2013 that beer was actually classified as alcohol in Russia, mostly consumed as a soft drink. Despite the new restrictions, Russia still produced nearly 9 million liters of beer that year. In Russia, beer is the most popular beverage after vodka, with an estimated 74 liters consumed per Russian citizen per year. The country is home to more than 100 breweries and a thriving microbrewery, some 250 of which are spread across the country. Russia's largest brewer is actually a Danish company called Carlsberg. Russia classifies beer by color, but the most popular is the Baltic style.

4. Germany

Germany is the fourth largest beer producer in the world and has many popular brands. They produced nearly 9.5 million kiloliters in 2013. Germany is also the fourth largest exporter of beer, accounting for about 10% of world beer production. Like other European countries, Germany began producing beer in the Middle Ages. It is usually made by the monks of the monastery, the first being considered a Benedictine monastery. More than 1,300 breweries are now based in Germany.

3. Brazil

Brazil might be a surprise on this list considering its rank on the list, but Brazil has a lot of beer. Nearly 13.5 million kiloliters were produced in 2013. Like Mexico, Brazil learned beer brewing from German immigrants in the 1800s. Not surprisingly, Brazilian beer drinkers love pilsners as their top style.

2. United States

The first two entries on this list far outnumber the competition. The United States produced nearly 22.5 kilograms of beer in 2013, making it the world's sixth-largest beer exporter. With more than 3,000 breweries across the country, major brands such as Coors Lights and Budweiser are world-renowned. Since the mid-2000s, a craft beer revolution has taken hold and has grown even more in the following years. Pale ale was the most popular style in earlier years, but now IPA — a craft beer favorite — is just as popular. In the United States, about 85% of alcohol is beer.

1. China

While beer has such a huge market share in the U.S., China has more than a billion consumers to satisfy, and it produces twice as much. In 2013, they produced 46.5 million kiloliters. Not only that, Chinese beer brands occupy the first, second and sixth place in the global beer consumption. Mirage is the most popular style in China. Although Budweiser is often called the king of beers, that title actually belongs to China's Snow Beer, the most popular beer in the world. Another little-known fact is that China has been the world's largest beer market since 2002, taking the title from the US.