Think college students are the heaviest drinkers? Think again. Studies have shown that baby boomers — those now aged between 57 and 75 — not only drink more alcohol than the silent generation before them, but also more than millennials and Generation Z. So what are these boomers drinking?
Consulting a ranking of beer brands by the international research and analytics firm YouGov, 24/7 Tempo has compiled a list of the 75 most popular beers among baby boomers. Popularity is determined by the percentage of adults in the pertinent age category who have a positive opinion of the beer brand. We also included from YouGov the percentage who have heard of the beer brand.
The beer boomers like the most might surprise you. It’s not Budweiser, Miller, or Coors. In fact, it’s not even an American beer. According to a survey of tens of millions of Americans, the baby boom generation prefers the Dutch brew Heineken above all others. (Here, though, are some “imported” beers that are actually brewed in the U.S.)
It might also come as a surprise to learn that, while classic commercial brands like Corona, Michelob Ultra, and Bud Light dominate the top 20, craft breweries are mostly relegated to the bottom of the list. (Craft brews, on the other hand, dominate our ranking of America’s 40 most delicious beers.)
Click here to see the 75 most popular beers among baby boomers
While boomers may be the heaviest drinking generation, they tend to be pickier than millennials. Of the 75 beers in the ranking (actually, 73 beers plus two hard seltzers — Bon & Viv and the ubiquitous White Claw, heady competitors to beer these days), only eight scored 40% or higher in popularity with boomers, while millennials gave scores of 40 and above to 20.
75. Saint Archer Gold
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Saint Archer Gold: 4.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Saint Archer Gold: 14.0% — #69 highest out of 75 beer brands
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74. Tripel Karmeliet
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Tripel Karmeliet: 4.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Tripel Karmeliet: 13.0% — #73 highest out of 75 beer brands
73. Yanjing
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Yanjing: 4.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Yanjing: 14.0% — #69 highest out of 75 beer brands
72. Radeberger
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Radeberger: 5.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Radeberger: 12.0% — #74 highest out of 75 beer brands
71. Foam Brewers
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Foam Brewers: 5.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Foam Brewers: 14.0% — #69 highest out of 75 beer brands
70. Marz Community
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Marz Community: 5.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Marz Community: 12.0% — #74 highest out of 75 beer brands
69. Hitachino
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Hitachino: 5.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Hitachino: 15.0% — #66 highest out of 75 beer brands
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68. Clausthaler
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Clausthaler: 6.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Clausthaler: 14.0% — #69 highest out of 75 beer brands
67. Harbin
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Harbin: 6.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Harbin: 18.0% — #65 highest out of 75 beer brands
66. O’Hara’s
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of O’Hara’s: 7.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of O’Hara’s: 24.0% — #61 highest out of 75 beer brands
65. Bon & Viv
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Bon & Viv: 7.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Bon & Viv: 15.0% — #66 highest out of 75 beer brands
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64. Peroni Nastro Azzurro
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Peroni Nastro Azzurro: 8.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Peroni Nastro Azzurro: 20.0% — #64 highest out of 75 beer brands
63. Bells
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Bells: 9.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Bells: 15.0% — #66 highest out of 75 beer brands
62. Vermont Brewery
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Vermont Brewery: 9.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Vermont Brewery: 22.0% — #63 highest out of 75 beer brands
61. Bellerose
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Bellerose: 9.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Bellerose: 30.0% — #57 highest out of 75 beer brands
60. Lagunitas
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Lagunitas: 10.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Lagunitas: 23.0% — #62 highest out of 75 beer brands
59. Steel Reserve
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Steel Reserve: 10.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Steel Reserve: 33.0% — #55 highest out of 75 beer brands
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58. Pure Brewery
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Pure Brewery: 10.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Pure Brewery: 26.0% — #60 highest out of 75 beer brands
57. Shock Top
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Shock Top: 11.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Shock Top: 36.0% — #54 highest out of 75 beer brands
56. TsingTao
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of TsingTao: 13.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of TsingTao: 31.0% — #56 highest out of 75 beer brands
55. Dogfish Head
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Dogfish Head: 13.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Dogfish Head: 27.0% — #59 highest out of 75 beer brands
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54. Founders
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Founders: 13.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Founders: 28.0% — #58 highest out of 75 beer brands
53. Milwaukee Best Ice
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Milwaukee Best Ice: 13.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Milwaukee Best Ice: 66.0% — #39 highest out of 75 beer brands
52. Keystone Light
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Keystone Light: 14.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Keystone Light: 74.0% — #33 highest out of 75 beer brands
51. Bud Light Platinum
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Bud Light Platinum: 16.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Bud Light Platinum: 80.0% — #27 highest out of 75 beer brands
50. Natural Ice
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Natural Ice: 19.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Natural Ice: 75.0% — #31 highest out of 75 beer brands
49. Redd’s Apple Ale
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Redd’s Apple Ale: 19.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Redd’s Apple Ale: 58.0% — #45 highest out of 75 beer brands
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48. White Claw
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of White Claw: 19.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of White Claw: 52.0% — #50 highest out of 75 beer brands
47. Tecate
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Tecate: 20.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Tecate: 55.0% — #46 highest out of 75 beer brands
46. Bud Light Lime
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Bud Light Lime: 20.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Bud Light Lime: 84.0% — #23 highest out of 75 beer brands
45. Modelo Especial
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Modelo Especial: 21.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Modelo Especial: 54.0% — #48 highest out of 75 beer brands
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44. Icehouse
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Icehouse: 21.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Icehouse: 63.0% — #41 highest out of 75 beer brands
43. Fat Tire
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Fat Tire: 21.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Fat Tire: 46.0% — #52 highest out of 75 beer brands
42. Bud Light Platinum
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Bud Light Platinum: 21.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Bud Light Platinum: 85.0% — #22 highest out of 75 beer brands
41. Milwaukee’s Best
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Milwaukee’s Best: 21.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Milwaukee’s Best: 79.0% — #28 highest out of 75 beer brands
40. Natural Light
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Natural Light: 22.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Natural Light: 81.0% — #26 highest out of 75 beer brands
39. Red Stripe
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Red Stripe: 23.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Red Stripe: 49.0% — #51 highest out of 75 beer brands
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38. Great Lakes
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Great Lakes: 23.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Great Lakes: 43.0% — #53 highest out of 75 beer brands
37. Yuengling Lager
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Yuengling Lager: 24.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Yuengling Lager: 60.0% — #43 highest out of 75 beer brands
36. Negra Modelo
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Negra Modelo: 24.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Negra Modelo: 53.0% — #49 highest out of 75 beer brands
35. Keystone
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Keystone: 25.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Keystone: 72.0% — #34 highest out of 75 beer brands
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34. Coors Banquet
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Coors Banquet: 26.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Coors Banquet: 70.0% — #35 highest out of 75 beer brands
33. Yuengling
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Yuengling: 26.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Yuengling: 55.0% — #46 highest out of 75 beer brands
32. Amstel
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Amstel: 27.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Amstel: 68.0% — #38 highest out of 75 beer brands
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31. St. Pauli Girl
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of St. Pauli Girl: 27.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of St. Pauli Girl: 64.0% — #40 highest out of 75 beer brands
30. Molson
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Molson: 27.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Molson: 62.0% — #42 highest out of 75 beer brands
29. Foster’s
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Foster’s: 28.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Foster’s: 59.0% — #44 highest out of 75 beer brands
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28. Beck’s
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Beck’s: 28.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Beck’s: 70.0% — #35 highest out of 75 beer brands
27. Busch Light
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Busch Light: 28.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Busch Light: 96.0% — #14 highest out of 75 beer brands
26. Molson Canadian
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Molson Canadian: 28.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Molson Canadian: 70.0% — #35 highest out of 75 beer brands
25. Modelo
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Modelo: 29.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Modelo: 77.0% — #29 highest out of 75 beer brands
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24. Heineken Light
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Heineken Light: 31.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Heineken Light: 94.0% — #17 highest out of 75 beer brands
23. Miller Genuine Draft
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Miller Genuine Draft: 31.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Miller Genuine Draft: 93.0% — #19 highest out of 75 beer brands
22. Pabst Blue Ribbon
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Pabst Blue Ribbon: 32.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Pabst Blue Ribbon: 98.0% — #8 highest out of 75 beer brands
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21. Rolling Rock
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Rolling Rock: 33.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Rolling Rock: 77.0% — #29 highest out of 75 beer brands
20. Michelob Light
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Michelob Light: 33.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Michelob Light: 98.0% — #8 highest out of 75 beer brands
19. Miller High Life
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Miller High Life: 34.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Miller High Life: 99.0% — #2 highest out of 75 beer brands
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18. Miller Lite
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Miller Lite: 34.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Miller Lite: 99.0% — #2 highest out of 75 beer brands
17. Coors Light
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Coors Light: 34.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Coors Light: 99.0% — #2 highest out of 75 beer brands
16. Corona Light
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Corona Light: 35.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Corona Light: 99.0% — #2 highest out of 75 beer brands
15. Bud Light
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Bud Light: 35.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Bud Light: 98.0% — #8 highest out of 75 beer brands
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14. Dos Equis
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Dos Equis: 35.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Dos Equis: 75.0% — #31 highest out of 75 beer brands
13. Miller Genuine Draft
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Miller Genuine Draft: 36.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Miller Genuine Draft: 96.0% — #14 highest out of 75 beer brands
12. Busch
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Busch: 36.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Busch: 98.0% — #8 highest out of 75 beer brands
11. Corona Extra
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Corona Extra: 37.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Corona Extra: 93.0% — #19 highest out of 75 beer brands
10. Michelob Ultra
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Michelob Ultra: 38.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Michelob Ultra: 94.0% — #17 highest out of 75 beer brands
9. Blue Moon
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Blue Moon: 39.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Blue Moon: 82.0% — #25 highest out of 75 beer brands
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8. Stella Artois
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Stella Artois: 40.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Stella Artois: 84.0% — #23 highest out of 75 beer brands
7. Coors
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Coors: 43.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Coors: 98.0% — #8 highest out of 75 beer brands
6. Corona
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Corona: 43.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Corona: 99.0% — #2 highest out of 75 beer brands
5. Budweiser
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Budweiser: 44.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Budweiser: 100.0% — #1 highest out of 75 beer brands
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4. Miller
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Miller: 46.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Miller: 99.0% — #2 highest out of 75 beer brands
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3. Samuel Adams
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Samuel Adams: 47.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Samuel Adams: 95.0% — #16 highest out of 75 beer brands
2. Guinness
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Guinness: 47.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Guinness: 93.0% — #19 highest out of 75 beer brands
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1. Heineken
> % of boomers who have a positive opinion of Heineken: 49.0%
> % of boomers who have heard of Heineken: 98.0% — #8 highest out of 75 beer brands
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