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Busch

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

Busch was introduced regionally in 1955 as the first new Anheuser-Busch brand after Prohibition and has grown into a large value lager family. It is brewed from barley malt and corn with a blend of American-grown and imported hops. The beer pours a clear pale gold with a white head. The nose is faint, with grainy malt and sweet corn. On the palate grainy, lightly malty flavours lead into a smooth, mildly sweet finish with very little bitterness.

ABV
4.3%
Bitterness
Mild
SRM
pale gold4
See all American Lager alternatives →

AWARDS

Gold · 2002
Great American Beer Festival
American-Style Lager
★Gold — Great American Beer Festival (American-Style Lager)
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
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 American Lager.
Malt character
malty
Fermentation & yeast
clean
Distinctive notes
smooth drinking

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Busch

◎ Appearance

Busch pours a clear pale gold, bright and translucent under light. A white head forms with moderate retention and delicate lacing. The carbonation appears lively, with fine bubbles rising steadily through the body.

pale goldbright claritywhite headfine carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose is restrained and subtle. Grainy malt and sweet corn notes dominate, with a faint floral quality from the American-grown hop blend. The overall aromatic impression is clean and straightforward, without aggressive hop character.

grainy maltsweet cornfaint floralclean nose

◐ Taste

The palate opens with light, grainy malt flavors and a gentle sweetness from the corn adjunct. The mid-palate remains smooth and approachable, with minimal bitterness—the 12 IBU contributes only a soft drying sensation on the palate. Flavors are delicate rather than layered.

light grainmildly sweetsmooth bodylow bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and brief, fading into a slightly sweet aftertaste. No lingering bitterness or astringency intrudes.

clean finishbrieffaintly sweet
72
hopIQ score
Aroma
70
Taste
72
Appearance
78
Finish
72
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Busch

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 Busch

About American Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a American Lager?

American 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 American Lager

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same smooth, sweet, smooth-drinking character as Busch will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other American Lagers in hopIQ

Compare with another beer →Explore all American Lager beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →