Online alcohol orders are on the rise—and the glass is looking decidedly half-full for local beer retailers and breweries. Not just a pandemic trend, today consumers are continuing to enjoy the convenience of purchasing beer online and getting it delivered same-day.
In fact, reports have shown an 8% annualized market growth in online beer, wine, and liquor sales in the U.S. from 2017-2022, adding up to a market value of $1.4 billion this year. Those numbers are only expected to grow. And today, over a quarter of alcohol-only beverage retailers earn at least 20% of their total sales from e-commerce, showing huge potential for retailers to tap into this thirsty online market.
Changes in local alcohol delivery laws
One lever that’s contributed to this sustained growth in online alcohol sales is the changes in local laws and regulations, making it easier than ever for businesses to sell and deliver alcohol to local customers. The International Wine and Spirits Record reports that many states have temporarily relaxed laws governing alcohol delivery following the COVID-19 pandemic, and many are looking to make these changes permanent after seeing positive stimulation in their local economies.
Local beer ordering trends
DoorDash is helping to power this local revolution by making it easy for independent beer retailers and breweries to offer on-demand alcohol delivery. In 2021, DoorDash processed more than 5.2 million alcohol orders, helping local businesses reach more customers and grow their sales. With an average delivery time under 35 minutes, the DoorDash platform helps ensure alcohol deliveries arrive at their destination nearly as cold as they left—keeping customers happy, too.
As a platform facilitating alcohol delivery in multiple states and three countries around the world, DoorDash has been able to collect key data about what consumers are ordering for delivery—and how those trends might differ from on-premise sales. Keep reading to explore DoorDash’s exclusive beer ordering trends data and learn what—and when—customers are ordering today.
Best times for online beer sales
Unsurprisingly, the top days and times for online beer orders coincides with when most customers are looking to sit back, relax, and enjoy a cold beer from home: the weekend. Even if your store is closed, having the staff on hand to offer delivery during these times is a great way to meet customers where they’re at—and grow your sales in the process.
Here are the best times for online beer sales:
- The most popular day for beer orders is Friday
- The second most popular day for beer orders is Saturday
- The highest number of beer orders are placed at 6 p.m. (across all time zones)
Top beer types by order volume
What are customers thirsty for when they’re ordering online? It turns out they’re eager to try a whole range of different types of brews, from easy-drinking lagers to craft cult favorites.
Across every region in the United States and Canada where alcohol ordering is permitted, lagers were the most popular option on DoorDash. Pale lagers are popular for being easy to drink, with a light hoppy taste. Lagers such as Budweiser, Heineken, Coors, and Corona are among the most popular beers in America, according to The Drinks Business. In Vinepair’s ranking of the 25 most popular beers in America, pale lagers occupied many spots among the top 10, with Heineken ranking second.
While lagers occupied the top spot, IPAs (India Pale Ales) came in as the second most popular beer ordered on DoorDash in 2021. Once considered a minor player in the craft beer movement, IPAs have become more widely available with many variations. According to The Brewers Association, IPAs are the top-selling craft beer style in supermarkets and liquor stores across the U.S. Hazy IPAs, (which are less bitter and are characterized by their fruitness) are the most popular type of IPAs sold among craft beer drinkers.
Rounding out the top three are ales. Ales, such as Sierra Nevada, have a light hoppy flavor and often pair well with foods such as burgers and pizza, making them a popular choice.
In 2021, the top ten beer types sold on DoorDash in the U.S. and Canada were:
1. Lagers
2. IPAs
3. Ales
4. Craft Beers
5. Specialty Beers
6. Porters & Stouts
7. Pilsners
8. Wheat Beers
9. Imported Beers
10. Malts
Driving beer sales with DoorDash
As an independent beer retailer or brewery, offering alcohol delivery is easier than it sounds—a partner like DoorDash makes the process simple, helping you increase sales without a major change in operations. With DoorDash’s alcohol delivery service, you’ll save on staffing as there’s no need to hire or train delivery drivers. All you need to do is train your staff to pack up orders (which they likely already know how to do), and how to accept orders through DoorDash’s online platform. Here’s how to get started with an alcohol delivery partner in just three steps.
First, sign up for DoorDash. A team of specialists will reach out to verify your retail alcohol permit, confirm that DoorDash offers alcohol delivery in your area, and get you set up on DoorDash. As a DoorDash partner, you’ll get your own page on the DoorDash app, where customers can discover and browse your offerings. If you keep a lot of SKUs in stock, only highlight your best-selling options on DoorDash, making it easy for customers to find what they want—and easier for your business to manage inventory tracking.
Next, receive and fulfill orders. Confirm orders through the Business Manager app, then package orders for same-day delivery or pickup. With the Business Manager app and the Merchant Portal, businesses can track live orders, manage inventory, and track sales and insights over time. You can also tap into Marketing Promotions to encourage sales with targeted discounts.
Finally, ensure compliance with your orders. Customers agree to validate their age when purchasing alcohol, and Dashers verify customer IDs through the DoorDash app when delivering—helping stay in line with local laws and regulations. To learn more about how selling alcohol works on DoorDash, download the 2022 Product Guide for Alcohol Retailers.
Ready to increase your local beer delivery orders? Sign up for beer delivery with DoorDash today.