This year marks the 150th anniversary of Budweiser. I am personally not a fan of this beer but it is quite an accomplishment for this beer brand to last this long. Obviously there was a ‘hiatus’ for brewing Budweiser during Prohibition but still, a brand lasting as long as it did is an accomplishment. Some (most?) folks likely do not realize that when Budweiser was first brewed in 1876 it was a contract brewed beer. Some history here: “The Anheuser-Busch brewery in the 1800’s produced a number of beer brands but the beer that made them famous was Budweiser. Budweiser was first brewed in 1876. The brewery’s business name then was E. Anheuser Company's Brewing Association. Not too many people know this but the original Budweiser was a contract brewed beer; Adolphus Busch brewed this beer for his friend Carl Conrad. Below is a photo of a Budweiser label of 1876. A couple things worth highlighting: · It clearly states this beer is from “C. Conrad & Co”. · It details the beer is brewed using Saaz hops (“Sazzer Hopfen” on the main bottle label) Also, of interest is what was not listed on this particular label: rice (which would be “reis” in German). Rice would later be added to the label. Anheuser-Busch Brewing would acquire the rights to the Budweiser brand in 1883.” Cheers to 150 years! P.S. I suspect that the aspect of 150 years will be mentioned this Sunday in their Super Bowl commercial(s).
Was there any info about how long the release lines were back in 1876 or how much it resold for on the secondary market if you were lucky enough to get an allocation? The hop heads must have gone nuts for the saaz. Of course, like every great beer they eventually sold out to AB and weren’t as good…
I don't mind normal 'ol Bud. It's a little on the sweet side and it doesn't have a ton going on (at least for my tastes) vs. the other non-light macros, but that isn't necessarily bad. It doesn't have any unique flavor notes that can cause some people to dislike Banquet (banana) or MGD (corn). The caveat is, I barely see it anymore. I can't even tell you the last time I saw a Bud tap at a restaurant. Ditto for bottles on the menu or in the cooler. Most places have defaulted to Michelob Ultra and Bud Light from the AB portfolio. Modelo seems to be the non-light macro of the moment. I don't think AB would kill off normal Budweiser, but I can see it continue to fade.
Nor do I, but if sales continue to decline and slide, I could see them discontinuing it as a year round offering. Maybe make it a seasonal or a limited release beer that they periodically resurrect. Where I Iive you can still find cans pretty readily (all local grocery stores still carry it), but it's been years since I last saw it on tap any place other than the airport.
There has been some discussion concerning Budweiser declining sales. From the internet: “Budweiser, formerly the top U.S. beer brand with 25.4 million barrels sold in 1977, has experienced a significant decline in volume, dropping to approximately 11 million barrels in recent data.” Yes, a drop from 25.4 million barrels to 11 million barrels is a significant drop but selling a brand at 11 million barrels per year is ‘nothing to sneeze at’. And if you factor in sales of Budweiser in non-US countries… For example, the top selling beer in Canada is the Budweiser brand. I am not a business/financial person but it seems to me that Budweiser is still a valuable brand. Cheers!
How old was that data? Given what I’ve seen going on with Canada shunning other US goods due to tariffs and invasion talk I can’t believe they haven’t substituted Budweiser at this point. I’m sure there were execs at other breweries that said the same thing as sales declined by half that are now defunct.
According to the internet: “As of 2025, Budweiser and Coors Light are among the top-selling beer brands in Canada, dominating the market in volume and popularity. While Molson Canadian remains a top contender, the market is highly competitive with major players like Labatt Blue and international brands such as Corona also maintaining high sales volumes. Key details regarding popular Canadian beers in 2025 include: · Top Sellers: Budweiser is a top-selling brand, while Coors Light has maintained its position as a leading light beer in Canada.” If you have any other data, please share. Cheers!
I get why you state this but… In a past NBW I discussed a ‘homework assignment’ I was given by Joe Connolly who is the co-author of the book Modern Lager Beer which was recently published. In the book there was information from Dr. Greg Casey concerning the brewing of two AAL beers (Budweiser, Coors): “Maybe surprisingly, it was the more estery yeast strains that beat out their more neutral-flavored counterparts. This can be seen through the apple and banana aromas of two of the bestselling American lager brands.” Apple is associated with Budweiser type beers and banana is associated with Coors (e.g., Coors Banquet).” My tasting was of the suggested brand of Bud Light (I am guessing that the apple ester is more noticeable in Bud Light vs. Bud since it is indeed a ‘lighter’ beer?). You can read more in the below link but the ‘executive summary’ is that I was able to perceive an ester in the Bud Light but only if I drank it from a tulip glass. In contrast I got nothing when drinking this beer from a shaker pint glass. Cheers! https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/new-beer-weekend-203.677491/#post-7995718
Looking at some articles it makes sense now. Canada was calling for boycott and removal of American beer brands due to the tariffs, but there seemed to be local outcry by people and unions because many of those American brands were being brewed for the Canadian markets by Canadians. Bud and Coors have production in Canada.
I guess Canada has ceded the high ground on likening American beer to "making love in a canoe," eh? 0:24 in video
Correct. Do you think the 'average' Canadian beer consumer who is buying Bud (or Coors Light) really knows that these beers are brewed in Canada? Or are they just buying these brands because they enjoy drinking those beers (yeah, I know this is anathema for the BA crowd)? Cheers!
Since we have discussed Budweiser and non-US consumption of this beer brand, permit me to tell you an old story about how I was in a London Pub and I casually asked the bartender if he had any beers that were stronger (my intention being stronger tasting) and he chose to walk away and pour me a pint of Budweiser. He proudly stated with a big grin: "That beer is 5% and it is brewed right here". I really did not want to drink a Bud whilst visiting England but I didn't have the heart to refuse it. Cheers!
I've probably drank more Bud Heavy over the years than any other beer besides High Life. AALs are great end of shift beers when you just need something to help cool you down, both physically and emotionally.
Have you ever picked up the ester (apple?) in those beers? Maybe you only drank those beers from the bottle or can? Cheers!
Seeing as how we're telling old, crappy bud stories... Some years ago I was doing the Ring of Kerry biking tour, and had stopped into some pub in Dingle for a beer. I was sitting at a wooden table, and this young woman sat down across from me with a glass of bud poured over a glass full of crushed ice. I'd seen a number of Irish women drinking this concoction, and was frankly curious. So I asked her about it. She remarked that bud had so little flavor anyway, what harm could a bit of ice do? I laughed and told her I agreed, but pointed out that back in the states Bud was marketed as a rich, full bodied lager. She clearly didn't believe me, and laughed at the very idea. Obviously, I had to be making that up. Sigh.... if only I had been.
I'd get it from draft pitchers once they warmed up a little. I forget the name of the bar in Holland, MI where we'd get get pitchers. But I mainly had it from cans in the kitchen or on porches, backyards, balconies, etc.
