U.S. dollar sales of the leading flavored malt beverage brands 2024

Twisted was the leading flavored malt beverage brand in the United States in 2024. The brand generated over 1.2 billion dollars in sales, beating out competitors Smirnoff and Mike's Harder which had sales of 537 million dollars and 455 million dollars respectively. 

What makes a beverage an FMB?

Flavored malt beverages are alcoholic beverages which by regulation must be made of 25 percent malt and 7.5 pounds of hops per 100 finished product barrels. Through processing, as much malt, flavor and color as possible is removed (characteristics which are typical of beer) before different flavorings and colorings are added. Flavored malt beverages were born in the 1990’s in an attempt to exploit the tax loophole that taxed malt-based beverages like beer at a lower rate than spirits-based beverages.

C-store sales

Flavored malt beverages are a popular alcoholic drink at convenience stores. After regular beer sales, FMBs were the next best-selling beer-based beverage, ahead of craft beers, cider, and non-alcoholic beer. FMB sales also resulted in the largest gross profit margin among beer sales in convenience stores. Gross profit margin is the percent of revenues that remain after deducting the cost of selling goods.