Update: Competitors keep merging, and Anheuser-Busch still remains the largest. I will try to update information on proper beers, and maybe malt liquors, but I'm not going to keep up-to-date on alcopops, energy drinks, and such.
Busch products appear and disappear at an amazing rate. Recent additions include:
Finally, I should write about various distribution deals (Hill Brewing Company, Star Hill, etc.)
Founded in 1850 by Schneider and sold to Eberhard Anheuser in 1860. Adolphus Busch joined the operation when he married Annheuser's daughter. Budweiser, named after the Czech city of Ceske Budjovice [1] was first made in 1876 [Jackson-2]. Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, Busch is the world's third largest brewer, and makes nearly half of the beer sold in the U.S.
A grab at a bit of Guinness market share. Might be bigger out East, but I haven't really seen this one around, either.
"King of Beers."
Since 1876. Budweiser's overall bland character is redeemed by
a distinct hint of hoppiness, much superior to other beers in
its class. Don't forget Bud Dry, Bud Light, Bud Ice, and Bud
Ice Light (or is it Light Ice?). Is Ice Light Dry expected soon?
Budweiser Select has lower carbs, more hops, or something like that. Actually, their press release suggests but doesn't exactly say that it's all malt. Just rolled out nationally.
A.k.a. Bud Extra -- beer and an energy drink in one. I don't really want to try this.
Originally Busch Bavarian Beer, introduced in 1955. There's a light and an ice of course, as well as Busch NA.
Now a range of "super premium" beers, thinned out a bit since its mid-nineties expansion, but it's still good to see a bock from a megabrewer.
Current offerings are the old-school Michelob Lager and Light, the relatively established Honey Lager and Amber Bock, and the new Pale Ale, Porter, Marzen, and Bavarian Style Wheat (some are seasonal). Michelob Golden Draft fits in there somewhere.
The low carbohydrate line from Michelob, including Michelob ULTRA and Michelob ULTRA Amber. For Summer 2007, there was a line of three fruit infused beers: Pomegranate Raspberry, Lime Cactus, and Tuscan Orange Grapefruit.
Also, Natural Light [?] and Natural Ice. When beer advertisments advertise "no bitter aftertase," this must be the beer they're talking about. Unfortunately light, with none of the delicate, fragile hoppiness of Bud -- this beer is in your face bitter, at least by cheap beer standards. Actually, I'm not sure if Natural pilsner is still out there.
A pale ale in the Sierra Nevada style, only a little less imposing. Suprisingly good. Available only in California, I thought it might give some competition to some of the less imaginative west-coast microclones.
A fairly new introduction clearly designed to compete against Spoetzl's Shiner in the Texas bock beer scene. Also, ZiegenLight.
Busch also makes O'Doul's NA products, Hurricane and King Cobra malt liquors, Bacardi Silver, Tequiza, and 180 Energy Drinks. They have an interest in and distribution arrangement with Redhook and Widmer, and equity in Modelo, Tsing Tao, and other foreign brewers.
A mid-nineties attempt to capture some of the burgeoning microbrew market, these were intended to be recreations of historical Busch products.
A resurrection of the "Anheuser" name for an all-malt pilsner. Never saw an ad for this one.
Busch used to make these competent, not exciting beers.
Haven't had it, but you can guess what beer it's trying to compete with.
Reportedly the best-selling red beer in America, briefly.
Good.
Assorted A-B websites, not otherwise listed above, include:
![[Cheap Beer Server]](/art/icon48/cbs.gif){kind=small}