Budweiser, one of the best-selling beers in the United States, is an American-style pale lager that was first introduced in 1876. With a crisp, clean flavor profile, it’s considered one of the easiest lagers to drink and enjoy.
How I Would Describe the Taste of Budweiser
Budweiser is considered an adjunct American lager, a type of lager with a significant amount of added rice or corn in it in addition to Barley. Because of this, it has a highly palatable and fruity flavor profile. Budweiser contains 5% alcohol by volume, similar to many other adjunct American lagers.
In addition to Budweiser, the brand also produces some other beers including Bud Light, Budweiser Nitro Gold, Budweiser Select and alcohol-free Budweiser, each of which taste different to regular Budweiser.
Budweiser Nitro Gold
A new addition to the market which came to life in early 2020, Budweiser Nitro Gold is a deliciously refreshing golden lager that has been brewed using nitrogen. Featuring notes of caramel malt, this new addition to the Budweiser family is both sweet and bold.
With a silky smooth flavor thanks to the new brewing process, Budweiser Nitro Gold is the perfect beer to enjoy after a long day at work.
Bud Light
Bud Light is a clean, crisp, refreshing beer that contains less alcohol than regular Budweiser. It’s incredibly popular worldwide and came to fruition in 1982 after Budweiser tweaked their original recipe to produce a lower calorie alternative to a regular beer.
There are a few different flavors to this popular light beer, including Bud Light Lime and Bud Light Margaritas, which have both been adapted to provide a fruitier beer-flavored beverage.
Bud Light is one of the best beverages to drink on a hot summer’s day, although it’s the perfect go-to for many occasions as it’s light, zesty, low in calories, and cheaper than regular Budweiser.
Budweiser Select
Budweiser Select is like Bud Light in that it’s a light American-style lager, but the key difference is that it contains only 99 calories. Made with only the best quality ingredients, this light lager packs a punch and offers something incredibly tasty and refreshing for drinkers of light lagers.
As it's brewed with roasted caramel, Select has a much richer color and flavor profile than regular Budweiser or Bud Light.
Alcohol-Free Budweiser
Budweiser Zero is Budweiser’s alcohol-free version of their incredibly popular American lager. It’s a light-bodied alcohol-free lager that tastes very much like the alcoholic version, which is great if you’re trying to watch how much you drink or are unable to enjoy a good beer due to medication or pregnancy.
Why Do People Like Budweiser?
Most people like Budweiser as it's a palatable alcoholic beverage that doesn't sit too heavy on the stomach. People often try Budweiser as their first lager so it holds nostalgia for many too.
Who Might Not Like Budweiser?
Although Budweiser is incredibly versatile, it's not to everyone's taste. Many beer fans that enjoy strong and bold flavors may even jokingly compare Budweiser to drinking water as it's incredibly light and refreshing rather than impactful.
How Is Budweiser Usually Served?
Just like any beverage, the way in which it is served can make or break the drinking experience. Factors such as type of glass, serving temperature of beer and whether you drink from a can, bottle, or keg can all have an impact on your bud-drinking experience.
For the best Budweiser drinking experience, the brand recommends serving it cold either in a pint glass if it's from draft, or cold from a can or bottle.
Below, we'll have a look at how each factor can make or break your drinking experience.
Temperature of Budweiser
The perfect temperature to serve American lagers such as Budweiser is around 38-40F. Because Budweiser has a high amount of carbonation, the coldness really enhances this crisp fizziness.
Type of Glass
You should aim to serve Budweiser in a large, wide-mouthed glass such as a pint glass or schooner to get the best qualities out of it.
Bottle, Can or Draft?
If you're out at a bar, you'll commonly find that your beer is served out of a keg. But what actually tastes better? The keg, bottle, or can?
This completely depends on how quickly the Budweiser is being served. If being served quickly from the keg, this will be your best choice as it will offer a refreshingly light lager for you to enjoy fresh.
However, if your plan is to nurse your Budweiser over an hour or more, a can or bottle will be much better as they allow a more relaxed drinking experience so you don't have to worry about your pint going flat.
When Is Budweiser Consumed?
Budweiser is a great all-around casual beer for a variety of occasions; sporting events, at a bar, after a long day at work and relaxing at home as its sweet, light taste makes it incredibly easy and enjoyable to drink.
What Food Does Budweiser Pair Well With?
Budweiser is a fantastic beer to pair with a variety of foods—especially anything salty, fried, or spicy!
Salty Food
Budweiser is a great match for salty foods and bar snacks as it can help to keep you refreshed while consuming lots of salt. Some of the best salty snacks to enjoy with your Budweiser are nuts, chips, and pretzels.
Fried Food
Believe it or not, Budweiser can help to enhance the flavors in your favorite fried foods, which is why you'll see so many people enjoying a bottle whilst watching sporting events. Foods such as french fries, fried chicken, and pizza all pair well with Bud.
Spicy Food
A cold, refreshing Budweiser is a great way to recover from spicy foods such as curries. The high level of carbonation can help to cleanse the palate and rid you of any strong spices.
