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Budweiser Freedom Reserve Red Lager
Anheuser-Busch
- From:
- Anheuser-Busch
- Missouri, United States
- Style:
- American Amber / Red Lager
Ranked #57 - ABV:
- 5.4%
- Score:
- 79
Ranked #26,636 - Avg:
- 3.45 | pDev: 15.65%
- Reviews:
- 95
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 31, 2022
- Added:
- Apr 25, 2018
- Wants:
- 10
- Gots:
- 65
The Freedom Reserve is a specialty red lager brewed with toasted barley grains for a slightly sweet aroma with a touch of hops, a rich caramel malt taste, and a smooth finish with a hint of molasses. Inspired by George Washington's recipe.
For every case purchased, Budweiser is donating $1 to Folds of Honor - a non-profit that provides scholarships to families of fallen or wounded soldiers.
For every case purchased, Budweiser is donating $1 to Folds of Honor - a non-profit that provides scholarships to families of fallen or wounded soldiers.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by crob3888:
Rated by crob3888 from California
3/5 rDev -13%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Aug 13, 2018
3/5 rDev -13%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Aug 13, 2018
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by brewme from Massachusetts
2/5 rDev -42%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
2/5 rDev -42%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Had that one time at a party back in the day. I have had a wicked lot of beers from these guys, most of which are not at all good whatsoever, this included.
Dec 31, 2022Reviewed by Dingbat88 from Louisiana
3.31/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
3.31/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Way better than regular Budweiser. Much better taste and it is drinkable. Love the theme they use and it adds the the look of the beer to me. Overall not bad something I might drink again.
Jul 17, 2020Reviewed by HardTarget from Texas
3.49/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
3.49/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: Clear deep amber red glass struggles to hold a thin collar of white foam.
Aroma: Grape skin tannin, earthy hop note, light sweet malt.
Taste: The grape skin tannin is almost fruity, there is a melanoidin malty character like a German dark beer, some crystal malt, and a clean finish with a mild fruitiness.
Mouthfeel: Low carbonation, medium light body, clean finish.
Overall: Well crafted. I've always said the best brewers work for AB. It's nice to see them get a chance to do something different. This is a pretty good effort at not being a Bud. It's not radical, it's a pretty straight forward Red Lager, but it's easy drinking and flavorful enough to be enjoyable. Can't see buying a ton of it, but if you like Red Ales/Lagers, you should approach it with an open mind and give it a chance.
Even better give it blind to a beer geek then tell them it's a Bud.
Sep 14, 2019Aroma: Grape skin tannin, earthy hop note, light sweet malt.
Taste: The grape skin tannin is almost fruity, there is a melanoidin malty character like a German dark beer, some crystal malt, and a clean finish with a mild fruitiness.
Mouthfeel: Low carbonation, medium light body, clean finish.
Overall: Well crafted. I've always said the best brewers work for AB. It's nice to see them get a chance to do something different. This is a pretty good effort at not being a Bud. It's not radical, it's a pretty straight forward Red Lager, but it's easy drinking and flavorful enough to be enjoyable. Can't see buying a ton of it, but if you like Red Ales/Lagers, you should approach it with an open mind and give it a chance.
Even better give it blind to a beer geek then tell them it's a Bud.
Reviewed by defunksta from Wisconsin
3.62/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
3.62/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: Pours a deep, clear, red and slightly coppered color, with a clingy off-white head. SRM of 15 (4.00)
Aroma: Aromas of toasted bread, baked berries, and cinnamon. (3.75)
Flavor: The flavors are more toasted sweet bread and some berry hop flavors. Some vanilla and cherry. Then more french toast and maple syrup malt flavors. Finishes drier than I expected. (3.75)
Feel: Relatively lighter bodied. Malt flavored, but lighter bodied and slightly crisp. More or less clean on the palate. (3.25)
Overall: So this is a lighter-bodied red lager. Good flavors, but lighter bodied as I expected. Not the body or sweetness of some of the craft brewers, but this si sort of nice. A lighter, darker, and amber flavored lager. Very drinkable. It's not going to wow you, but it's like the light beers of malt-focused beer. (Final Rating: 3.62)
Aug 31, 2019Aroma: Aromas of toasted bread, baked berries, and cinnamon. (3.75)
Flavor: The flavors are more toasted sweet bread and some berry hop flavors. Some vanilla and cherry. Then more french toast and maple syrup malt flavors. Finishes drier than I expected. (3.75)
Feel: Relatively lighter bodied. Malt flavored, but lighter bodied and slightly crisp. More or less clean on the palate. (3.25)
Overall: So this is a lighter-bodied red lager. Good flavors, but lighter bodied as I expected. Not the body or sweetness of some of the craft brewers, but this si sort of nice. A lighter, darker, and amber flavored lager. Very drinkable. It's not going to wow you, but it's like the light beers of malt-focused beer. (Final Rating: 3.62)
Reviewed by AccipiterofBeer from New York
3.64/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
3.64/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
L: 3.75 sudsy white head. Ruby-ish body. Light to medium carbination
S: 3.5 I can get behind this. Metalish hops. Roasty malts
T: 3.75 Better than expected. Amber malt. The hops are there.
F: 3.25 I expect better from Budweiser. More of a slow drinker. Medium bodied.
O: 3.75 Not a bad offering from the King of Beers. Much more suited to craft drinkers than their flagship beer.
Jun 24, 2019S: 3.5 I can get behind this. Metalish hops. Roasty malts
T: 3.75 Better than expected. Amber malt. The hops are there.
F: 3.25 I expect better from Budweiser. More of a slow drinker. Medium bodied.
O: 3.75 Not a bad offering from the King of Beers. Much more suited to craft drinkers than their flagship beer.
Reviewed by abnormal from Alaska
2.67/5 rDev -22.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.5
2.67/5 rDev -22.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.5
Appearance: Clear amber color, plenty of bubbles, a thin crackly white head with some sporadic lacing.
Aroma: Caramel, sulfur, marmalade, wonder bread.
Taste: Toasted grain up front, syrupy sweet malt body takes over. A suggestion of earthy/grassy hop hidden in the mix. Bitterness is very low. Surprisingly long aftertaste that is mostly comprised of brown sugar.
Mouthfeel: Light bodied, fairly low carbonation. Not as dry or carbonated as most amber lagers.
Overall: A little too sweet and flat for my taste.
May 23, 2019Aroma: Caramel, sulfur, marmalade, wonder bread.
Taste: Toasted grain up front, syrupy sweet malt body takes over. A suggestion of earthy/grassy hop hidden in the mix. Bitterness is very low. Surprisingly long aftertaste that is mostly comprised of brown sugar.
Mouthfeel: Light bodied, fairly low carbonation. Not as dry or carbonated as most amber lagers.
Overall: A little too sweet and flat for my taste.
Rated by Jsagur72 from Ohio
5/5 rDev +44.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +44.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Very smooth tasting beer . Craft taste . Nothing commercial about it . They've done a great job with it . No after taste .
May 19, 2019Reviewed by CTHomer from Connecticut
3.57/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.57/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A: crystal clear; bronze in color 1 finger finely pored light tan head that receded to a wispy cap; little lacing;
S: sweet malt and a hint of molasses;
T: follows the nose - pretty sweet throughout; the molasses is more pronounced toward the finish; very mild bitterness at the end;
M: light to medium bodied; moderate carbonation; moderately dry finish;
O: pretty sweet, but except for not being able to smell or taste the "touch of hops", this was what the label said it would be;
Apr 29, 2019S: sweet malt and a hint of molasses;
T: follows the nose - pretty sweet throughout; the molasses is more pronounced toward the finish; very mild bitterness at the end;
M: light to medium bodied; moderate carbonation; moderately dry finish;
O: pretty sweet, but except for not being able to smell or taste the "touch of hops", this was what the label said it would be;
Reviewed by Caveworm from Ohio
4.4/5 rDev +27.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.4/5 rDev +27.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Budweiser Freedom Reserve Red Lager | Anheuser-Busch. Poured from the bottle into a pint glass, this rocks a three finger thick off-white head, spotty lacing, and a reddish amber body.
Smells like nicely caramelized malts and roasted barley.
Those aforementioned grains really blend together well with the taste. Even a minute hop bitterness to keep it from getting too sweet. Smooth and clean finish.
Medium mouthfeel with mild carbonation.
I'll go ahead and rate Budweiser Freedom Reserve Red Lager | Anheuser-Busch with an overall 4.5
Apr 09, 2019Smells like nicely caramelized malts and roasted barley.
Those aforementioned grains really blend together well with the taste. Even a minute hop bitterness to keep it from getting too sweet. Smooth and clean finish.
Medium mouthfeel with mild carbonation.
I'll go ahead and rate Budweiser Freedom Reserve Red Lager | Anheuser-Busch with an overall 4.5
Budweiser Freedom Reserve Red Lager from Anheuser-Busch
Beer rating:
79 out of
100 with
223 ratings
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