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Bud Light NEXT

Anheuser-Busch
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🌍 United States · Light Lager · One of 78 Light Lagers in hopIQ

Bud Light NEXT arrived in February 2022 after close to ten years of development and around 130 prototypes. It starts from the same barley malt, rice and aroma-hop base as Bud Light, but the brewing process ferments the wort out almost completely, and natural flavors are part of the recipe. The beer pours nearly water-clear with a pale, champagne-like tint. Its aroma is faint and clean, and the palate is very lean and crisp, with a soft grain note and a hint of citrus on the finish. The body is thin, closer to sparkling water than to a standard lager.

ABV
4%
Bitterness
Mild
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Lean body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Off-dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Soft bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Crisp mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

Crisp and light-bodied.

Nimble on its feet with a clean close — the kind of beer that earns the next glass.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Light Lager.
Hop character
citrusy
Malt character
malty
bready
Fermentation & yeast
clean
Distinctive notes
smooth drinking

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Bud Light NEXT

◎ Appearance

Bud Light NEXT pours nearly water-clear with a pale, champagne-like tint that sits at the very light end of the color spectrum. The head is thin and dissipates quickly, leaving minimal lacing on the glass. Carbonation is brisk and persistent, with fine bubbles rising steadily through the transparent body.

pale champagne tintwater-clearthin headbrisk carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose is notably faint and restrained, reflecting the beer's lean profile. Clean malt and rice grain notes form a subtle backdrop, with only the gentlest suggestion of aroma hops—no hop character dominates. The overall impression is more neutral than aromatic, closer to mineral water than to a traditional lager.

faint, cleangrain notesminimal hop presenceneutral character

◐ Taste

The palate is very lean and crisp, with a soft grain note providing the primary flavor foundation. A hint of citrus emerges on the finish, though it remains delicate and fleeting. Bitterness is virtually absent, allowing the watery, attenuated malt body to define the drinking experience.

lean, crispsoft grainsubtle citrusnegligible bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is short and clean, with minimal aftertaste. The citrus note fades quickly, leaving behind only a dry, refreshing sensation closer to sparkling water than fermented grain.

short, cleandry finish
72
hopIQ score
Aroma
70
Taste
72
Appearance
75
Finish
72
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Bud Light NEXT

Serve at 4–7°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 4–7°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Stein
Recommended for this style

The sturdy German stein maintains temperature and keeps carbonation intact. Built for long, convivial drinking.

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Bud Light NEXT

About Light Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Light Lager?

Light Lager is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Light Lager

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same crisp, light, clean character as Bud Light NEXT will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Light Lagers in hopIQ

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