BeerBoard’s new Q3 2025 On-Premise Insights Report offers a detailed look at how beer is performing in U.S. bars and restaurants. The results reveal a familiar story: big brands still rule the tap. Yet the data also highlights where independent breweries can grow, especially as draft beer regains strength across the on-premise channel.
From July through September 2025, BeerBoard tracked a -1.8% year-over-year decline in draft beer volume and a sharper -5.1% drop in packaged units. That suggests bars and restaurants are leaning more on draft, even as overall beer sales soften. Lager and light lager remain the kings of both categories, while IPAs still rank as the No. 3 draft style poured. Beyond Beer products — ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails and hard seltzers — grew 23% in packaged volume share and now represent more than 10% of all packaged alcohol sold on-premise.
Macro brands still top every leaderboard
BeerBoard’s top-performing draft brands read like a domestic reunion: Michelob Ultra, Miller Lite, Coors Light, Modelo Especial, and Bud Light. Pacifico led all gainers, up 18%, followed by Coors Light and Blue Moon. Packaged results showed a similar hierarchy. Corona Extra, Michelob Ultra, and Miller Lite took the top three spots. Modelo Especial and Coors Light rounded out the top five. The message is clear — mainstream lager brands continue to dominate both draft and packaged beer sales nationwide.
Draft gaining ground over packaged, says CGA by NIQ
CGA by NIQ’s On Premise Draft Opportunity report reinforces the trend: draft is taking share from packaged beer inside bars and restaurants. Draft accounted for 52.3% of total on-premise beer by volume in early 2025, up nearly one percentage point from the previous year. That shift comes even as overall beer consumption stays flat or declines. When venues stock both formats, draft often delivers stronger dollar velocity per outlet — meaning better sales performance per line.
The takeaway for independent breweries
Even with soft overall demand, the bar remains where beer loyalty is built. The combination of BeerBoard’s sales data and CGA’s market insights points to one actionable truth: draft is the place to compete. Streamline your lineup, price fairly, keep your lines pristine, and deliver the freshest pint in town. The big brands might own the volume charts, but independent breweries can still own the experience that keeps guests coming back.
