Who owns what

Leuven, Belgium (operational hub: New York City)

The largest brewer on Earth — roughly 25% of the global beer market and 630+ brands. Built through the most aggressive merger streak in corporate history: Interbrew + AmBev (2004), the $52B Anheuser-Busch takeover (2008), and the $100B+ SABMiller acquisition (2016).

Tokyo, Japan

Japanese beverage giant that acquired Pilsner Urquell (via SABMiller's Central European assets) in 2017.

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Publicly traded maker of Samuel Adams, Truly, and Twisted Tea; merged with Dogfish Head in 2019.

Copenhagen, Denmark

The #4 brewer globally (~100M hL/year). In 1883 the Carlsberg Laboratory isolated the first pure brewing-yeast cell — Saccharomyces carlsbergensis — and shared it freely; nearly every modern lager descends from it.

Bogotá, Colombia

Colombian brewing venture (Postobón and partners) challenging AB InBev's Bavaria monopoly; owns 3 Cordilleras.

London, UK

The Coca-Cola bottler (formerly Coca-Cola Amatil) that acquired Australian IPA pioneer Feral Brewing in 2017.

Dublin, Ireland

Irish drinks group (Bulmers/Magners) that owns Tennent's and Innis & Gunn.

Santiago, Chile

Chile's largest brewer, jointly controlled by Quiñenco and Heineken. Owns craft names like Kunstmann and macro brands Austral, Salta, and Santa Fe.

Hong Kong

Li Ka-shing's Hong Kong property-and-infrastructure conglomerate that controversially bought Greene King — once the UK's largest independent brewer — in 2019, and with it Belhaven.

Santiago, Chile

One of the world's largest wine producers; took a majority stake in Chilean craft brewer Kross in 2011.

Hong Kong / mainland China

The #3 brewer on Earth (110M+ hL/year). Its flagship, Snow Beer, is the best-selling single beer brand in the world by volume — yet almost never exported. Freed from Western control in 2016 when SABMiller sold its 49% stake back for $1.6B to clear the AB InBev merger.

Barcelona, Spain

Spanish brewing giant (Estrella Damm) that acquired the Old Speckled Hen brand from Greene King in 2026.

London, United Kingdom

Global drinks conglomerate (Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, Guinness). Parent of St. James's Gate.

Puurs-Sint-Amands, Belgium

Family-owned Belgian brewer that operates as a craft conglomerate — owner of Firestone Walker, Boulevard, Ommegang, Achouffe, Liefmans, and more.

Perth, Australia

ASX-listed Australian beverage group that owns Gage Roads and Matso's.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

The #2 brewer globally — ~€28.8B net revenue across 190+ countries, still under 50%+ voting control of the founding Heineken family via L'Arche Green N.V. Owns 300+ brands and the runaway NA leader, Heineken 0.0.

Tokyo, Japan

Japanese giant whose global craft arm, Lion, swept up New Belgium, Bell's (US), and Stone & Wood/Little Creatures (Australia). Also holds stakes in Brooklyn Brewery.

Madrid, Spain

Spain's largest brewer, still family-controlled. Bought a 30% stake in Founders Brewing in 2014 and a controlling ~90% by 2019 — so the Michigan 'craft' icon is now majority Spanish-owned.

Chicago, USA / Montreal, Canada

The #5 brewer globally, born from the 2005 merger of Canada's Molson (1786) and America's Coors (1873). Owns Coors, Miller, Blue Moon, Hop Valley and more.

California, USA

The energy-drink giant that bought the CANarchy craft collective in 2022 — pulling Oskar Blues, Cigar City, and others under its umbrella.

Tokyo, Japan

Japanese brewing giant that owns much of Canada's 'craft' heritage: it acquired Sleeman Breweries in 2006, and through it controls Unibroue, Upper Canada, Wild Rose and more.

Osaka, Japan

One of Japan's 'Big Four' brewers (The Premium Malt's) and a global whisky and spirits giant.

Lieshout, Netherlands

Dutch family group (formerly Bavaria) that swallowed craft names De Molen, Uiltje, Rodenbach, and partners with La Trappe.

New York, USA

Canadian cannabis-and-beverage company that became a craft-beer roll-up, buying SweetWater, Breckenridge, Blue Point, Terrapin, Hop Valley, Montauk, and more from divesting macros.

Qingdao, Shandong, China

China's second-largest and most-exported brewer, founded by German settlers in 1903; part state-owned.