• March 15, 2012

Samuel Adams is currently the best-perceived beer among U.S. adults (21+) on a nationwide basis, and within the three major markets of New York City, Boston and Chicago, according to YouGov’s BrandIndex.

Major brands were recently measured using BrandIndex's Buzz Score, which asks respondents if they have heard anything about the brand in the last two weeks, and if so, whether it was positive or negtative. The scores range from 100 to -100, with a zero score indicating equal positive and negative feedback.

Nationwide, Samuel Adams pulled a Buzz score of 18.5. The next-highest-scoring brand was Budweiser (14.2), followed by Bud Light (12.8), Heineken (12.4), Corona (9.5), Guinness (9.3), Dos Equis (7.8), Miller Lite (7.5), Coors Light (6.7) and Miller (6.7).

Not suprisingly, Samuel Adams scored highest of all in its home market, Boston: 32.1. Guinness was a distant runner-up (16.8), followed by Corona (15). The other top 10 brands' scores ranged from 3.9 to 10.7. 

In New York, Samuel Adams's 19.6 score was followed by Guinness (18.5) and Heineken (15.9). The other top 10 brands' scores ranged from 6.1 to 9.8.

In Chicago, Samuel Adams pulled a 17, followed by Guinness (14.7) and Heineken (12.8). The other top 10 brands' scores ranged from 4.5 to 9.2.

The full results can be viewed on the BrandIndex site.