What is the most popular beer style in the world?

Lager is the most popular beer style in the world. Pale lager, in particular, dominates global beer production and consumption, although lager also includes darker and stronger varieties such as Dunkel, Bock, Märzen, and Schwarzbier.

Lagers are brewed with cool fermentation and cold conditioning, traditionally using bottom-fermenting yeast. The word comes from the German lagern, meaning “to store,” referring to the practice of maturing beer in cool cellars. Cooler fermentation generally produces a clean, crisp flavor profile.

Many people use “lager” to mean only a light-colored commercial beer, but the category is much broader. Pilsner is one important lager style, first developed in Plzeň in 1842, while Helles, Vienna lager, Oktoberfestbier, and dark lagers are also part of the family. Ales remain hugely important, but lagers are the global leaders by volume.