Budweiser

Budweiser is a pale lager introduced in 1876 by Adolphus Busch, a German immigrant who partnered with his father-in-law Eberhard Anheuser in St. Louis. Busch used refrigerated railcars and pasteurization to ship beer nationwide, making Budweiser one of the first nationally distributed American beers. The recipe uses barley malt, rice, hops, and water, giving it a crisp, clean taste. The brand became the flagship of Anheuser-Busch, which merged with InBev in 2008 to form Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world's largest brewer.

Budweiser's marketing is legendary. The Clydesdale horses first appeared in 1933 to celebrate the end of Prohibition and have since starred in Super Bowl ads and holiday parades. Taglines like "This Bud's for You" and "The Great American Lager" have reinforced its patriotic image. The brand sponsors the NFL, FIFA World Cup, Premier League, and many other sports properties, spending over $400 million annually on U.S. advertising.

The brand has faced challenges. A century-long trademark battle with Czech brewer Budějovický Budvar means Budweiser is sold as "Bud" in parts of Europe. In 2023, a Bud Light partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney triggered a conservative boycott, causing a 25% sales drop and over $1 billion in lost market value. Despite this, Budweiser remains sold in more than 80 countries and is AB InBev's flagship brand.[edit]