Research firm: Imports, craft beers swing heavy in top-brands ranking

The 30 fastest growing beer brands in the U.S. last year included notables such as Bud Light, Miller Lite and Coors Light, but the coveted No. 1 brand is a super premium beer, Blue Moon Belgian White Ale, from Molson Coors Brewing.

That’s according to the the Top 30 Beer Brand Performers ranking from Information Resources Inc. of Chicago. IRI analyzed volume growth, share of segment trends, everyday base pricing, and incremental sales growth in 2007 versus 2006 to determine the brands with the strongest supermarket performance in the beer industry.

“The historic trend of consumers trading up and paying a premium price for their favorite brands continued in 2007,” said Bump Williams, general manager of IRI’s Beer, Wine and Spirits Practice. He noted that 20 of the top 30 beer performers were high-end brands, including 13 imports and seven craft brands.

Brewers, distributors and retailers “are doing a phenomenal job of meeting the ever-changing tastes of consumer demands with their new product innovations,” Williams said in a statement. ”The key now is getting the proper amount of shelf space and distribution in the right stores across multiple trade channels to support these power brands.”

Import beer brands cranked out a strong showing in the ranking, with brands including  Heineken Premium Light Lager, Stella Artois Lager, Newcastle Brown Ale and Guinness Draught. (Analysts have pointed out that import sales are slowing down this year, but the IRI results only cover 2007).

Craft beers including Samuel Adams Boston Lager, New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and Shiner Bock also made the list. Domestic brands made a showing on the list, including Busch Light, Keystone Light, Yuengling Traditional Lager and Steel Reserve High Gravity Lager.

IRI also found that St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch Cos. claimed three of the top four new beer brands, measured by supermarket sales. (The brands were Bacardi Silver Mojito, Landshark Lager and Bud Light Chelada). Miller Brewing Co. of Milwaukee claimed the top spot on the new-products list with its summertime hit, Miller Chill.