SYRACUSE, NY (March 18, 2026) — BeerBoard, the leader in technology and automated intelligence for the on-premise hospitality industry, today released its 2026 St. Patrick’s Parade Weekend & Day Report, a review of insights and performance data for on-premise alcohol performance on the weekend & that one special day of the year that everyone in America is at least a little bit Irish.
All comparisons are same locations for 2026 and 2025. Because St Patrick’s Day was on a Tuesday, we decided it would be a more pot-of-gold to pot-of-gold comparison to look at both the parade weekend (3/15/25-3/16/25 to 3/14/26-3/15/26) and St. Patrick’s Day separately. Thus, we are comparing like periods of time.
BeerBoard’s robust client list features local bars and restaurants, high-profile regional groups and major chain operators across North America including Buffalo Wild Wings, Twin Peaks, Winking Lizard, Walk-Ons, Mellow Mushroom, and many more.
For alcohol suppliers wanting to know more about your brands / custom regions / assortment performances reach out directly to John Boyle at boyle@beerboard.com to setup a call and platform/ reporting demo. For on-premise retailers looking to know how your assortment and overall bar performance compares to other retailers and industry standards connect with Tom Young at tom@beerboard.com where he can discuss the above the store platform actionable insights and benefits to your entire organization.
And without further ado, let’s see how the luck of the Irish translated into on-premise alcohol performance:
Draft Beer:
With St. Patrick’s Day being on a Tuesday this year, I guess that was just what was needed to clear the cobwebs because that extra day of rest sure made a difference in both volume and revenue.
| Parade Weekend | St. Patrick’s Day | Total | |
| Total Volume | -5.1% | +35.5% | +4.0% |
| Total Revenue | -9.0% | +15.5% | -3.9% |
| Style | Parade Weekend
Volume Share/Growth |
St. Patrick’s Day
Volume Share/Growth |
| Light Lager | 45.6% (+1.2%) | 42.5% (-1.6%) |
| Lagers | 20.3% (+0.40%) | 23.1% (+3.6%) |
| Stouts/Porters | 2.9% (+0.2%) | 6.3% (+0.2%) |
| IPA | 7.2% (-0.16%) | 5.8% (-1.0%) |
| Belgian Wit/White Ale | 4.6% (+1.3%) | 4.7% (-1.0%) |
Stouts/Porters which were the #9 most popular style prior to parade weekend jumped to #7 led by Guinness which jumped from #13 to #9. And on St. Patrick’s Day, Stouts/Porters podiumed to the #3 style, right where it belongs.
| Products | Parade Weekend
Volume Share/Growth |
St. Patrick’s Day
Volume Share/Growth |
| Michelob Ultra | 15.9% (+0.9%) | 15.0% (+1.4%) |
| Coors Light | 9.8% (+0.1%) | 9.8% (-1.1%) |
| Miller Lite | 9.4% (+0.1%) | 8.4% (-1.7%) |
| Modelo Especial | 7.7% (+0.1%) | 6.8% (+0.4%) |
| Guinness Draught | 2.7% (+0.2%) | 6.2% (+0.4%) |
There’s something really special about a perfectly poured pint of Guiness, especially if your bartender is gifted enough to draw a shamrock on the head.
Package Beer:
| Parade Weekend | St. Patrick’s Day | Total | |
| Total Volume | -16.0% | +39.2% | -8.2% |
| Total Revenue | -8.1% | +41.5% | -0.6% |
| Style | Parade Weekend
Volume Share/Growth |
St. Patrick’s Day
Volume Share/Growth |
| Lagers | 39.8% (-0.6%) | 44.7% (+6.1%) |
| Light Lager | 36.7% (-0.9%) | 32.7% (-6.7%) |
| RTD Cocktails | 7.2% (+2.3%) | 5.3% (+1.6%) |
| Hard Seltzers | 5.3% (-0.2%) | 4.9% (+0.6%) |
| Products | Parade Weekend
Volume Share/Growth |
St. Patrick’s Day
Volume Share/Growth |
| Corona Extra | 15.0% (+0.8%) | 17.5% (+5.0%) |
| Michelob Ultra | 14.4% (+0.1%) | 14.2% (-0.9%) |
| Modelo Especial | 8.5% (+0.1%) | 10.3% (+3.3%) |
| Miller Lite | 7.4% (-0.1%) | 5.9% (-1.9%) |
| Coors Light | 6.1% ( -0.7%) | 5.4% (-1.2%) |
While everyone is a little Irish on St. Patrick’s day, some locations enjoyed themselves more than others. Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago and Phoenix all increased in volume compared to 2025. With the exception of Chicago, all are in nice warm climates.
Speaking of not warm climates, Syracuse, the hometown of BeerBoard saw a slight increase in volume but not to the average of the industry. I guess someone had to be dedicated to pull you these numbers vs. visiting our favorite Irish Pub.
Spirits & Wine:
Spirits
| Parade Weekend | St. Patrick’s Day | Total | |
| Total Volume | -5.1% | +35.4% | +5.5% |
| Total Revenue | -10.4% | +31.7% | +0.6% |
| Style | Parade Weekend
Volume Share/Growth |
St. Patrick’s Day
Volume Share/Growth |
| Agave | 34.5% (+1.0%) | 23.8% (-2.7%) |
| Cordials & Liqueurs | 22.5% (+1.8%) | 18.2% (-1.6%) |
| Whisky | 20.3% (+0.5%) | 30.3% (+6.2%) |
| Vodka | 13.7% (-2.8%) | 16.2% (-0.1%) |
| Products | Parade Weekend
Volume Share/Growth |
St. Patrick’s Day
Volume Share/Growth |
| Lunazul Blanco Tequila | 11.5% (+1.8%) | 1.3% (-0.3%) |
| Titos Vodka | 7.2% (-0.6%) | 6.2% (1.9%) |
| Jameson Irish Whiskey | 7.1% (+0.2%) | 12.5% (-1.5%) |
| Patron Silver | 4.6% (+0.2%) | 1.7% (-0.3%) |
It warms my heart to see Jameson Irish Whiskey jump so high on this list. It kind of makes me want to pour a glass and rewatch (for the millionth time) “A Quiet Man”.
Wine
| Parade Weekend | St. Patrick’s Day | Total | |
| Total Volume | +8.6% | +22.8% | +12.3% |
| Total Revenue | +8.0% | +32.0% | +14.6% |
| Style | Parade Weekend
Volume Share/Growth |
St. Patrick’s Day
Volume Share/Growth |
| White | 66.2% (+2.4%) | 53.8% (+1.3%) |
| Red | 25.6% (-1.8%) | 33.2% (-2.6%) |
| Sparkling | 6.4% (+1.5%) | 10.6% (+2.4%) |
| Varietals | Parade Weekend
Volume Share/Growth |
St. Patrick’s Day
Volume Share/Growth |
| Chardonnay | 30.0% (+4.2%) | 18.8% (-3.1%) |
| Pinot Grigio | 25.1% (-3.8%) | 16.1% (-3.4%) |
| Cabernet Sauvignon | 21.1% (+0.5%) | 23.2% (+1.9%) |
| Sauvignon Blanc | 8.7% (+0.6%) | 10.3% (-0.8%) |
Conclusion:
Draft saw increases in volume with a slight decrease in revenue suggesting that consumers were out for enjoyment with friends and family vs. value, discarding personal preferences for the convenience of what was on tap. Packaged products decreased in both volume and revenue as people enjoyed the tradition of draft vs. bottles/cans. Both spirits and especially wine also increased their shares of consumption.
We did see additional bright spots with increases in Irish product volumes. As we continue to dig out of the cold weather, we will be keeping our eyes on the taps and coolers to see if March exits like a Lion or Lamb based on the NCAA tournament starting this week.
Stay frosty my friends.
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About BeerBoard
BeerBoard is the leading technology solutions provider for the hospitality industry, enabling retailers, distributors and suppliers to make fact-based decisions about their complete alcohol management. The company manages more than $1 billion in alcohol sales and 100,000 products through its industry-leading solutions. Its patented digital platform captures, analyzes, and reports real-time data related to alcohol ordering, inventory and payments. Versatile and easily operated from a single dashboard, it has streamlined operations, efficiency and improved revenue across the United States. Find out more about how BeerBoard is changing the alcohol industry at beerboard.com.