Budweiser is one of the best selling beers in the United States, but it is also enjoyed all over the world. But what makes this beer so popular? What type of beer is it? And what is the story behind this brew?
We have put together this interesting and informative guide to tell you everything that you need to know about Budweiser beer. Keep reading to find out more.
What Type Of Beer Is Budweiser?
Budweiser is an American style lager. It is a pale lager, which means it is also called a pilsner. It has an alcohol percentage of 5% and is considered to be a classic example of American lager.
Some versions of Budweiser that are sold in different countries have varying alcohol percentages, as the laws for the brewing, export and import of alcohol differ between regions.
What Does Budweiser Taste Like?
Budweiser is known as a crisp and refreshing lager. It has a golden color and a malty aroma. The taste is clean, with notes of fruity citrus.
It is heavily carbonated and a bit heavier than some lagers, with a touch of acidity. Some people pick up a herbal element to it.
What Is Budweiser Made From?
Budweiser is made from four ingredients – barley, rice, hops, water, and yeast. The barley is grown in America and is harvested from a number of growers.
The hops are specifically selected for their aromatic qualities which gives Budweiser its distinctive flavor. Top grade rice is used in the brewing process to make sure that the beer is nice and smooth.
Budweiser is considered a vegan beer as it contains no animal products or by products. However, some versions do contain GMOs. Organic Budweiser is currently only available in Mexico.
The History Of Budweiser
Budweiser was originally brewed by Carl Conrad & Co in St Louis, Missouri back in 1876. The product and the packaging have remained largely unchanged since then.
In 1936 Budweiser began selling their beer in cans as well as bottles after the Prohibition appeal. This helped to make the beer more popular and sales increased, dropping back off at the start of World War Two.
There have been some adjustments made to the labels, but they have stuck to the signature colors of red, white and blue.
Budweiser has been involved in a name dispute with a Czech beer of the same name. Budweiser means ‘Of Budweis’ in German, referring to the town of Budweis which is now part of the Czech Republic.
This town has a strong history of brewing beer, right back to when the town was first founded in 1265. A Czech brewery called ‘Budweiser Budvar Brewery’ raised a trademark dispute with Budweiser.
As a result of this dispute, Budweiser is marketed as ‘bud’ across most of the European Union, excluding Ireland, Spain, Sweden and Finland.
This is why you may hear people refer to a bottle of bud rather than Budweiser. In the United Kingdom you can get hold of Budweiser and Budweiser Budvar products both using the same name – only the logo and packaging is different.
Budweiser is exported to over 80 countries. It is largely brewed in the United States, though they also have a brewery in Canada.
Budweiser is the fourth best selling beer in China, and there are 14 Budweiser breweries in China to supply the Chinese market and save on exporting/importing costs.
Budweiser Varieties
The standard Budweiser beer is available in bottles, cans, kegs and on draught. There are also some other varieties of Budweiser with various features to appeal to different people.
Budweiser Supreme
Budweiser Supreme is a new product from Budweiser. It is marketed as the American Classic ‘re-imagined’. The lager is triple filtered and brewed with honey malt to create premium quality lager with a distinctive taste.
If you love Budweiser but you want to try something new, this would be perfect for you.
Budweiser Select
This is the diet-friendly version of classic Budweiser. It contains fewer calories and less carbohydrates per serving, making it better for health conscious consumers than standard Budweiser. It is also a lower alcohol percentage than standard Budweiser at 4.3%.
Budweiser also has a product called Select 55 which is even less calorific than Budweiser Select. It is made with caramel malts and has a lower alcohol percentage at 2.5%.
If you are trying to lose weight or you don’t want to get too drunk then this beer is perfect.
Budweiser Zero
This is a non-alcoholic version of Budweiser. It doesn’t taste exactly the same as standard Budweiser, but the flavor is very similar.
It is sugar free and contains less calories than Budweiser Select and Budweiser Select 55, making it a great choice for people who are concerned about being healthy.
Budweiser Chelada
Budweiser Chelada is a canned drink that is a blend of classic Budweiser, Clamato, and lime. It is similar to a bloody mary cocktail but with beer instead of vodka.
You could also make your own version using Budweiser, tomato juice, lime, and a touch of salt. This savory drink has an alcohol percentage of 4.2%.
Advertising And Sponsorship
Budweiser may be one of the best selling beers in the United States, but it is also the most heavily advertised, pushing the slogan that Budweiser is the ‘King Of Beers’.
Through various sponsorships and advertising campaigns, Budweiser has been associated with various sporting events like NFL, NASCAR, Daytona, Formula One, The Premier League, The FA Cup, FIFA World Cup, and the Super Bowl.
They have also sponsored individual sports personalities and teams.
Summary
Despite the European name, Budweiser is a classic American lager. It is golden in color and has a refreshing taste that is best enjoyed chilled.
It is extremely popular in America, is growing quickly in the Chinese market, and is also enjoyed across Europe and in countries all over the world.
I want to share with you all of my favorites, as well as share advice on picking certain alcohols and flavors.
I hope you enjoy my articles as much as I enjoyed researching them!
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