The IRI Beer, Wine and Spirits Practice announced results from its annual analysis of beer sales, pinpointing the Top 30 beer brands and the Top 15 new beer brands in 2007.

“The historic trend of consumers trading up and paying a premium price for their favorite brands continued in 2007,” said Bump Williams, general manager at IRI Beer, Wine and Spirits Practice. “In fact, 20 of the top 30 beer performers are high-end brands that include 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. 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.”

IRI analyzed volume growth, share of segment trends, everyday base pricing and incremental sales growth in 2007 versus 2006 to determine which brands performed best.

The obvious leaders are on the list, Bud Light, Miller Lite and Coors Light, but the No. 1 brand is a super premium beer, Blue Moon Belgian White Ale, brewed by Molson Coors Brewing, IRI said.

Imported beers have a very showing this year, IRI said, including brands such as Heineken Premium Light Lager, Stella Artois Lager, Newcastle Brown Ale and Guinness Draught. Craft beers also remain popular, including Samuel Adams Boston Lager, New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and Shiner Bock.

Domestic brands that have remained a crowd favorite are Busch Light, Keystone Light, Yuengling Traditional Lager and Steel Reserve High Gravity Lager.

IRI Top 30 New Beer Brands in 2007
1. Blue Moon Belgian White Ale
2. Samuel Adams Seasonal
3. Heineken Premium Light Lager
4. Stella Artois Lager
5. Newcastle Brown Ale
6. Coors Light
7. Bud Light
8. Yuengling Traditional Lager
9. Miller Lite
10. Samuel Adams Boston Lager
11. Keystone Light
12. Corona Light
13. Tecate
14. Guinness Draught
15. Samuel Adams Variety Pack
16. Model Especial
17. Michelob Ultra Light
18. Dos Equis XX Especial Lager
19. Samuel Adams Light
20. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
21. Michelob Golden Draft Light
22. Heineken
23. New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale
24. Grolsch Lager
25. Dos Equis XX Amber Lager
26. Steel Reserve High Gravity Lager
27. Red Stripe
28. Busch Light
29. Shiner Bock
30. Guinness Extra Stout

IRI Top 15 New Beer Brands in 2007
1. Miller Chill
2. Bacardi Silver Mojito
3. Landshark Lager
4. Bud Light Chelada
5. Smirnoff Ice Pomegranate Fusion
6. Mike’s Hard Light Cranberry Lemonade
7. Michelob Ultra Lime Cactus
8. CM Parrot Bay Pineapple Colada
9. Budweiser Chelada
10. Michelob Ultra Tuscan Orange Grapefruit
11. Mike’s Cocktail Crantini
12. Alaskan IPA
13. Mike’s Cocktail Lemon Drop
14. Zima Pineapple Citrus
15. Kokanee Gold