This is a guest article by freelance writer Steven Elias from Dallas/Fort Worth.

Can or bottle, tap or keg, everyone has a favorite beer brand, and customers are very loyal to their favorites. Choosing the best beer is a matter of personal taste; and depends on the look, brand and the actual taste of the beer. In many cases, the taste of the beer is not as important as the brand image, country of origin and marketing.

Worldwide availability makes a difference in a beer’s popularity as well; not all brands are available in all areas, so regional beers can suffer from low worldwide sales figures. Different age, geographic and demographic groups prefer different brands of beer; here are a few of the best brews:

Bud Light: Love it or hate it, this middle-of–the-road brew has been America’s favorite domestic beer since 2001. Bud Light has enjoyed a full decade of dominance as a best seller, thanks to aggressive marketing campaigns and a constant presence in the bars and stores of America. Visit a football game, tailgate party or home barbeque and you’ll likely spot a lot of Bud Light. Before you decide it’s a U.S. phenomenon, note that Bud Light is also a best seller in many other countries as well; it is the one of the best-selling labels worldwide.

Corona Extra: By sales figures, Corona Extra is the fourth most popular beer in the world. This popular brew from Mexico can be found in pubs, bars and package stores around the world. Corona is most often served in the bottle, accompanied by a lime wedge. There are actually not that many beer brands that are available throughout the world; Corona’s presence in countries across the globe helps this amber brew climb into the top 5.

Snow: Unless you live in or visit China, you may be unfamiliar with the world’s best-selling beer brand. While Snow beer may not be available around the world, China’s huge population count helps give this potable the highest sales figures in the market. There are several different varieties of Snow beer, and they combine to claim the number one spot for worldwide beer sales.

Heineken: If you want to know about beer, ask men. In a recent survey by the site AskMen.com, the Netherland’s number one beer, Heineken, was named the number one beer by readers. The site claims a readership of 15 million, and these guys must know their beer. Heineken’s distinctive taste and crisp, smooth finish combine to make it a best seller and a big fan favorite. As of 2010, Heineken was America’s seventh best selling beer.

Samuel Adams: A finely crafted American classic, Samuel Adams is the name that comes up most often when beer is ranked by taste. With 20 different formulas, ranging from the classic brew to the new Oktoberfest blend, Samuel Adams is the self-proclaimed Beer Lover’s Choice. Offering brewery tours and a glimpse into the brewing process and favored ingredients, the Samuel Adams brand has positioned itself as an historic patriotic, American beer, despite it’s relatively short 20 year history.

About The Author: Steven Elias is a freelance writer from Dallas/Fort Worth. He currently runs a website on wedding photographers in Dallas and Dallas wedding venues. Visit him at www.thedallasweddingphotographers.net.