Guinness Is Not the Most Popular Beer on St. Patrick's Day

According to results on YouGov BrandIndex, a company that tracks public perception of brands, the title of "best perceived" beer on St. Patrick's Day in the U.S. goes to Samuel Adams. Guinness, meanwhile, ranked sixth nationally — that's right, sixth. Trailing behind brands like — and try not to spit out your beer from shock here — Budweiser, Heineken, and Corona.

Somewhat reassuring is the fact that Guinness came in as the second most "preferred" St. Patrick's Day beer choice in New York City, Boston, and Chicago markets.

The brands were ranked based on their "buzz score," determined by asking participants (all 21-plus): "If you've heard anything about the brand in the last two weeks, through advertising, news, or word of mouth, was it positive or negative?"

So perhaps that clears things up — this is test to determine a beer company's marketing prowess, not necessarily to indicate people's preference or measure consumption. (Although Guinness did come out with a very funny, clever St. Patrick's Day commercial this year.)

Here's the real, important question: What will you be drinking this St. Patrick's Day? Beer, or maybe some Irish whiskey?

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