Anheuser-Busch’s Craft Beer Portfolio is Off to Its Best Start Yet in 2026

In 2025, Anheuser-Busch’s craft beer portfolio drove profitability and market share growth for the larger company and had its best year of performance in nearly a decade. As reported by industry analysts at Bump Williams Consulting, three of the top five fastest-growing craft breweries of the year were from A-B: Goose Island Beer Co., Wicked Weed Brewing and Elysian Brewing.¹ 


A-B has continued its growth into 2026 leading with its craft scale brands – Goose Island Beer Hug IPA, Goose Island IPA, Elysian Space Dust IPA, Golden Road Mango Cart and Wicked Weed Pernicious IPA — which are already up +11.9% so far this year² collectively. 


Three national brand families in top styles are fueling this momentum: 
Goose Island Beer Hug IPA grew over 34% in 2025³ and is already up 24.9% in the last four weeks.⁴ 
Elysian Space Dust IPA is the #4 IPA in the country⁵, growing over 10% over the last year⁶ and is starting 2026 strong, up 13.9% so far this year.⁷ 
Golden Road Mango Cart, the #1 flavored wheat beer⁸, is outpacing the industry at +1.4% growth so far this year.⁹


Beyond the craft segment, Goose Island Beer Co. and Elysian Brewing’s brand portfolios are among the top 20 fastest-growing in the entire U.S. beer industry¹⁰. Additionally, Wicked Weed Pernicious IPA is already up 21.6% so far this year¹¹ despite its distribution focused regionally in the Southeast U.S.


Andy Thomas, President, The High End at Anheuser-Busch, said: “Beyond this strong momentum, the most exciting part about today’s news is that our craft business is complementary and additive to our shared business. I’m extremely proud of our achievements in 2025 and believe we have the right portfolio and right strategy to continue that growth trajectory this year.”  


A-B’s craft beer strategy is grounded in two consistent pillars: leading in key styles and winning in each brewery’s home market. The portfolio includes high-quality, award-winning beers such as: Karbach Lager from Karbach Brewing Co in Texas, Vienna Lager from Devils Backbone Brewing Co in Virginia, Kilt Lifter Amber Ale from Four Peaks Brewing Co in Arizona, and Cisco IPA from Cisco Brewers in Massachusetts.  
 
 Sources:
Bump Williams Consulting: NIQ TUS Off-Premise Outlets, CY 2025, Week Ending 12/27/2025 
Circana TUS MULC+ YTD, Week Ending 2/15/26 
Circana TUS MULC+ FY 2025 
Circana TUS MULC+ L4W, Week Ending 2/15/26 
NIQ TUS On-Premise Dollar Share, FY 2025 
Circana TUS MULC+ L52W thru 2/15/26 
Circana TUS MULC+ YTD, Week Ending 2/15/26 
Circana TUS MULC+ FY 2025 
Circana TUS MULC+ YTD, Week Ending 2/15/26 
Circana TUS MULC+ YTD, Week Ending 2/15/26 
Circana TUS MULC+ YTD, Week Ending 2/15/26 

About Anheuser-Busch  

At Anheuser-Busch, our purpose is to create a future with more cheers. For more than 165 years as a leading American manufacturer, we have delivered a legacy of brewing great-tasting, high-quality beers that have satisfied beer drinkers for generations. As the nation’s top brewer, one of the fastest growing spirits companies, and an insurgent force in energy drinks, we drive economic prosperity nationwide through investments in our people, facilities, and communities. We are the only alcohol company that invests in the U.S. at this scale.  

We are home to the nation’s most iconic beers, ready-to-drink spirits and beyond beer brands, including Michelob ULTRA – America’s #1 top-selling and fastest-growing beer – Busch Light, Budweiser, Bud Light, Stella Artois, Cutwater Spirits, NÜTRL Vodka Seltzer, industry-leading craft beers and non-alcohol beers like Michelob ULTRA Zero. We are guided by our commitment to the communities we call home and to the 65,000 hardworking Americans who bring our products to life. That’s who we are. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com or follow Anheuser-Busch on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and Instagram. 

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