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Busch Ice

Anheuser-Busch
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🌍 United States · American Lager · One of 79 American Lagers in hopIQ

Busch Ice was introduced in 1995 and goes through an ice-brewing step in which the beer is chilled below freezing so that ice crystals form during finishing, which also lifts the strength. It pours a very clear pale straw with a thin white head that shrinks quickly. The nose shows cereal grain, a touch of green apple and some alcohol. On the palate grain and sweet corn lead, a faint hop note stays in the background, and the finish is smooth and slightly sweet with a gentle alcohol warmth.

ABV
5.9%
Bitterness
Mild
SRM
pale gold4
See all American Lager alternatives →
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

A sharp texture drives the beer — a clean, direct pour with room for the palate to fill in.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another American Lager.
Malt character
malty
Fermentation & yeast
clean

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Busch Ice

◎ Appearance

Pours a very clear pale straw color with excellent transparency. A thin white head forms at the pour but dissipates quickly, leaving minimal lacing on the glass. The beer displays bright, active carbonation throughout.

pale strawcrystal clearlow head retentionlively carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with clean cereal grain and adjunct sweetness, supported by a subtle green apple note. A mild alcoholic warmth emerges in the background without harshness. The overall bouquet is straightforward and unpretentious, typical of the ice-brewing process.

cereal graingreen applecleansubtle alcohol

◐ Taste

The palate opens with grain and sweet corn flavors that dominate the entry and mid-palate. A faint hop note lingers softly beneath, providing minimal counterbalance to the malt sweetness. The beer remains smooth and approachable throughout, with balanced residual sweetness.

sweet corngrainysoft bitternesssmooth

◑ Finish

The finish is smooth and slightly sweet, concluding with a gentle alcohol warmth that adds body without creating heat. The aftertaste is brief and clean, fading to a soft grain note.

smoothsweetshort finishwarm
72
hopIQ score
Aroma
70
Taste
72
Appearance
75
Finish
73
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Busch Ice

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 Ice

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 clean, crisp, refreshing character as Busch Ice 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 →