Who Makes Corona Beer? The Complete Ownership and Brewing Story

SK
1 day ago
5 min read

Corona is made by Grupo Modelo, a Mexican brewery founded in 1925 in Mexico City. Globally, Grupo Modelo is owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev). In the United States, however, Constellation Brands holds exclusive rights to produce and distribute Corona — a split that traces back to a 2013 antitrust ruling.

The Short Answer — Who Makes Corona Beer?

Corona is brewed by Grupo Modelo, headquartered in Mexico City. AB InBev, the world's largest beer conglomerate, owns Grupo Modelo and controls Corona in every market outside the United States.

In the U.S., the situation is different. Constellation Brands holds exclusive production, marketing, and distribution rights for Corona. This dual-ownership structure exists because of a 2013 decision by the U.S. Department of Justice.

According to publicly available DOJ antitrust filings, the split was mandated to prevent one company from dominating too large a share of the American beer market.

Corona Beer Ownership Structure at a Glance

Entity	Role	Region	Key Detail
Grupo Modelo	Original Brewer	Mexico / Global	Founded 1925 in Mexico City
AB InBev	Global Parent Owner	Worldwide (except U.S.)	Acquired Grupo Modelo in 2013 for ~$20.1B
Constellation Brands	U.S. Rights Holder	United States only	Purchased U.S. Corona rights for $4.75B in 2013

Is Corona Owned by Anheuser-Busch?

This is one of the most common points of confusion. AB InBev — the parent company of Anheuser-Busch — does own Grupo Modelo, which brews Corona. So technically, yes, Corona's parent company is the same entity behind Budweiser.

But that ownership only applies outside the United States. Within the U.S., AB InBev has no control over Corona whatsoever. Constellation Brands operates independently for all Corona-related business in the American market.

The reason people get confused is straightforward. AB InBev is the biggest beer company in the world and owns hundreds of brands. Most people assume that means they control Corona everywhere. Based on the terms of the 2013 acquisition, that is simply not the case in the U.S.

The History Behind Corona Beer

Cervecería Modelo and the Birth of Corona (1925)

Grupo Modelo was founded in Mexico City in 1925 as Cervecería Modelo. Corona Extra launched as its flagship pilsner-style lager and quickly became one of Mexico's most popular beers.

By the mid-20th century, Corona had established itself as Mexico's best-selling beer brand — a position it held for decades before expanding internationally.

How Corona Became a Global Brand

Corona entered the U.S. market in the 1980s through import partnerships. Within a few years, it became the top-selling imported beer in the United States. The clear bottle and the ritual of adding a lime wedge became iconic.

Industry observers often cite Corona's beach lifestyle marketing as a turning point for how imported beers were positioned in the American market. It wasn't sold as exotic or premium — it was sold as relaxed and approachable.

The AB InBev Acquisition of Grupo Modelo (2013)

In 2013, AB InBev acquired Grupo Modelo for approximately $20.1 billion. The deal would have given AB InBev control of Corona in every market, including the U.S.

The U.S. Department of Justice intervened. As reported by Bloomberg, the DOJ required AB InBev to divest its U.S. Corona operations to avoid creating a monopoly in the domestic beer market. Constellation Brands stepped in and purchased the U.S. rights, including a major brewery in Nava, Mexico, for $4.75 billion.

Why Constellation Brands Owns Corona in the U.S.

The core issue was competition. AB InBev already owned Budweiser, Bud Light, Stella Artois, and dozens of other brands. Adding Corona and Modelo to that portfolio in the U.S. would have given one company an outsized share of American beer sales.

The DOJ blocked it. Constellation Brands acquired the Nava brewery in Coahuila, Mexico, and took full control of U.S. production and distribution.

That single deal transformed Constellation from a mid-size wine and spirits company into one of the largest beer businesses in the country.

In practice, most industry analysts view this as one of the most consequential beer deals of the past two decades.

Where Is Corona Beer Actually Brewed?

Brewery	Location	Serves Market
Grupo Modelo Brewery	Mexico City, Mexico	Global markets (outside U.S.)
Nava Brewery	Coahuila, Mexico	United States (primary)
Obregón Brewery	Sonora, Mexico	United States (expanded capacity)

One important detail: Corona sold in the U.S. is still brewed in Mexico. It is not manufactured on American soil. Constellation operates the Mexican facilities that supply the entire U.S. market.

Corona Product Variants — Are They All Made by the Same Company?

Corona Extra, Corona Light, Corona Premier, and Corona Hard Seltzer all follow the same ownership structure. In the U.S., every Corona-branded product is produced and distributed by Constellation Brands. Outside the U.S., they fall under AB InBev through Grupo Modelo.

There is no difference in who controls the brand based on the product variant. The ownership split is purely geographic.

Corona vs Modelo vs Budweiser — Who Owns What?

Brand	Parent Company	U.S. Distributor	Origin
Corona	AB InBev (global) / Constellation (U.S.)	Constellation Brands	Mexico
Modelo Especial	AB InBev (global) / Constellation (U.S.)	Constellation Brands	Mexico
Budweiser	AB InBev	AB InBev (Anheuser-Busch)	United States
Stella Artois	AB InBev	AB InBev	Belgium

This table highlights the unusual position Corona and Modelo occupy. They are the only major AB InBev brands globally that are not controlled by AB InBev in the U.S.

Corona's Place in the Global Beer Market

Corona Extra is sold in over 180 countries and ranks among the top five best-selling beer brands worldwide. In the U.S., it competes directly with Modelo Especial — which, somewhat unusually, is also distributed by Constellation Brands within American borders.

Constellation has reported consistent Corona sales growth through the mid-2020s, and its beer division (driven by Corona and Modelo) generates the majority of the company's overall revenue.

Who Profits from Corona Beer Sales?

The money flows differently depending on geography. Outside the U.S., AB InBev profits from Corona through its Grupo Modelo operations. Inside the U.S., Constellation Brands keeps all revenue from Corona sales.

AB InBev has no financial stake in U.S. Corona sales. The two companies operate completely independently in the American market. Constellation's beer segment, anchored by Corona and Modelo, has become the company's primary revenue driver, according to The Washington Post, which detailed how the DOJ's intervention reshaped the U.S. beer market.

Conclusion

Corona is made by Grupo Modelo, owned globally by AB InBev. In the U.S., Constellation Brands holds exclusive production and distribution rights following a 2013 antitrust ruling. Regardless of market, Corona is always brewed in Mexico.

Frequently Asked Questions About Corona Beer

Is Corona a Mexican or American beer?

Corona is a Mexican beer. It has been brewed by Grupo Modelo since 1925. Even the supply sold in the United States is brewed in Mexico at Constellation-operated facilities.

Does Anheuser-Busch own Corona?

AB InBev, Anheuser-Busch's parent company, owns Grupo Modelo and controls Corona globally. But in the U.S., Constellation Brands holds the exclusive rights.

Why did the U.S. government force the sale of Corona rights?

The DOJ required AB InBev to divest U.S. Corona operations to prevent a single company from controlling too large a share of the American beer market after acquiring Grupo Modelo.

Where is Corona beer brewed for the U.S. market?

At Constellation Brands' brewery in Nava, Coahuila, Mexico, with additional production capacity at the Obregón facility in Sonora, Mexico.

Is Corona the same beer everywhere in the world?

The recipe is consistent globally. The difference is in who produces and distributes it — Constellation in the U.S. and AB InBev (through Grupo Modelo) everywhere else.