This is a very heated debate in which every country will claim to be the winner. There are several ways to look at it. Here's how we analyzed the question and the conclusion we came to.
You can see which country has the largest market share, and thus sells the most beer. Another way to look at the question is which country has the most breweries. You could consider which country is the most innovative – making the biggest impact.
Which country makes the best beer?
If you consider which beer sells the most beer worldwide, the answer is painfully easy. Anheuser-Busch sells the most beer in the world, and Budweiser is the best selling beer. If you use beer sales as an indicator, for this category the United States wins hands down.
Germany has the most breweries of any country in the world. According to the Brewers of Europe, Germany has 1,279 as of 2004. The United States only has 376 breweries according to the 2002 census. These stats come from different years, but it is unlikely that the numbers have changed significantly by 2007.
The big question mark is do you consider micro breweries in the equation. According to BeerTown.org, there are 1,377 microbreweries in the United States as of 2006. The Brewers of Europe data notes when microbreweries are included. We are assuming that the German numbers include microbreweries. This means that the United States has more microbreweries than Germany has breweries. From this count, the United States wins again. Microbreweries are making the best new beers in the world.
A final consideration is which country is creating the most innovative beers. The European Beer Star awards are among the most coveted worldwide awards for the best and innovative beers. This competition hosted 575 beers from 58 countries. American breweries took home 22 medals, including 9 gold medal awards out of 40 categories. Germans took home 61 medals, almost all in German beer categories. Americans took home three medals in German beer categories. While the Germans took far more awards, their awards did not stray far from the homeland.
Most of the new and exciting beers are coming from America. Any way you look at the statistics, the argument can be made that the United States is making the best beer in the world.
Hmmm...
In my opinion and experience, Czechs are the best.
From a beer you can find at pretty much any corner pub to a speciality that you can only find at the most remote brewpub. There is no beating the Czechs.
Pivni Filosof
http://pivni-filosof.blogspot.com/
your variables are wrong. usa win in sales, but that's just far away from making it's beer good. come on, do you really think budweiser tastes better than a corona? that's like saying paris hilton is hotter than scarlett johansson just because it had more hits in google.
I'd put Corona and Bud on the same level (low). For Mexican beers, I prefer Dos Equis.
I agree sales isn't the best parameter, it's just one. I wouldn't argue that Budweiser is the best tasting beer out there, but I also cannot argue that is isn't the best selling beer in the world. So more people like it than not.
The sales really were only one point in a case for the USA. The USA sells the most beer, they have the most micro/craft breweries of any country, and they are making some of the best beers even when judged in other countries outside the USA.
I think the craft breweries really make the USA stand out. Right now, at this point in time, the best beer is coming from the USA.
I think Germany makes great beer, my favorite is Märzen. I think though that you are getting a wider variety of specialty beers, more innovation with older styles, and the best beers available in the USA. I think that these newer beers are just starting to reach other parts of the world.
Should include more countries, if I'm not mistaken it was the Belgians who've take quite a few awards home in the past and to be honest they best beer I've ever tasted has come from there.
This article is a little biased. Was expecting a bit more from it.
I don't think its possible to even come close to determine the best country for beer. Since there are so many different kinds, Great Britain has been making certain kinds of ales for a long time, and are the best at it, Germany & Czech have been making a type of lager for a long time and are the best at it, same goes for Belgium beers, especially Lambic's.
Should maybe also look at amount of beer sold, and breweries per population, USA has over 300 million people so of course more beer will be sold, and more breweries to make it.
To say USA wins hands down, especially with big thanks to a mediocre beer like Budweiser in rubbish.
