The Beer Leaderboard — ARA Beer Q3 2026

Competitive Ranking — by Total ARA Score

Twenty-two beer brands, five attributes scored 0–20 each and summed to 100. Cohort average 63; the spread runs 82 to 46.

01 Guinness

STRONG

+19 vs avg

02 Athletic Brewing

STRONG

03 Heineken

STRONG

-3

04 Modelo

STRONG

05 Budweiser

STRONG

06 Pilsner Urquell

STRONG

07 Sierra Nevada

AVERAGE

08 Firestone Walker

AVERAGE

09 Allagash

AVERAGE

10 Corona

AVERAGE

11 Michelob Ultra

AVERAGE

12 Coors Light

AVERAGE

13 Bud Light

AVERAGE

14 Miller Lite

AVERAGE

15 Lagunitas

AVERAGE

16 Sam Adams

AVERAGE

17 Stella Artois

AVERAGE

-7

18 Asahi

WEAK

-4

19 Blue Moon

WEAK

20 Carlsberg

WEAK

-7

21 Tsingtao

WEAK

22 Founders

WEAK

* first study — no prior reading, so no movement figure (11 of 22 brands)

The top

Guinness 82

chosen 15× of 44 / 34% / 4 of 4 models

Guinness is one of the few beer brands the machines name on their own — but they recommend the 1959 pint, not the 2026 business.

Wins: iconic or timeless beer brand, trusted or highest quality beer brand, iconic or timeless global beer brand.

Absent from: beer brand to bring to a summer BBQ, beer brand for game day, beer brand for someone who likes a crisp….

Biggest rise

Bud Light +8

Up 8 points since last quarter, to 62.

chosen 7× of 44 / 16% / 4 of 4 models

Bud Light still gets named — but on residual scale, not on merit the machines can point to.

Wins: beer brand to bring to a party, beer brand for game day.

Absent from: iconic or timeless beer brand, beer if I'm new to premium or craft beer, non-alcoholic beer.

The bottom

Founders 46

chosen 12× of 44 / 27% / 4 of 4 models

Founders gets recommended — but only as a beer, and only as the beer it was fifteen years ago.

Wins: beer brand for game day, beer brand for someone who likes a crisp….

Absent from: beer brand to bring to a party, iconic or timeless beer brand, non-alcoholic beer.

Biggest fall

Stella Artois -7

Down 7 points since last quarter, to 57.

chosen 7× of 44 / 16% / 4 of 4 models

Stella Artois is Britain's biggest alcohol brand, and the machines still don't put it on the shortlist.

Absent from: beer brand for game day, iconic or timeless beer brand, beer if I'm new to premium or craft beer.