Best Anheuser-Busch Beers | Anheuser-Busch Beers Ranked Worst To Best
If you’ve ever cracked open a cold one to unwind or celebrate, there’s a high likelihood you’ve encountered a brew from Anheuser-Busch. As one of the world’s largest beer companies, they’ve got a footprint that’s hard to ignore. In fact, if you’re sipping on a beer right now, the odds are good that it was crafted in one of Anheuser-Busch’s many breweries. So, what beers does Anheuser-Busch make?
Anheuser-Busch boasts a diverse and expansive portfolio of beers that cater to almost every palate. Their most popular offerings include Budweiser, Bud Light, Kona Big Wave, Michelob Ultra, Stella Artois, Estrella Jalisco, Busch Beer, Natural Light, Landshark Lager, Presidente beer, Hoegaarden, and Shocktop. These beers range from American lagers to European imports and even include craft-style ales.
In this post, we aim to determine the best Anheuser-Busch beer. Obviously, ‘best’ means different things to different people, so what we have decided to do is scour the top beer review websites and aggregate the scores to create an average review rating out of 10 for each beer. First, let’s look at the list of Anheuser-Busch beers we will be using in this post.
List Of Anheuser-Busch Beer Brands
Now that we’ve set the stage, let’s dive into the beers that we’ll be evaluating in this post. The following list is sourced directly from Anheuser-Busch’s official website under the ‘Our Beers’ section:
- Budweiser
- Bud Light
- Kona Big Wave
- Michelob Ultra
- Stella Artois
- Estrella Jalisco
- Busch Beer
- Natural Light
- Landshark Lager
- Presidente Beer
- Hoegaarden
- Shocktop
While this list showcases the beers we will focus on in the reviews below, it’s worth noting that Anheuser-Busch actually produces many more beers – too many to list in this post. For a complete list of beers that Anheuser-Busch offers and information about each beer, you can visit their website here.
Best Anheuser-Busch Beers
To figure out which Anheuser-Busch beers are the ‘best’, we’ve aggregated review scores for each beer from the top beer review websites Beer Advocate, Untappd, and RateBeer. Alongside the rankings, we’ll provide key details about each beer, such as its type and ABV (Alcohol By Volume).
So, without further ado, here are the best Anheuser-Busch beers, ranked in reverse order from worst to best.
12. Natural Light (3.85/10)
Natural Light, often abbreviated as Natty Light, is an American-style light lager. It’s one of the lighter beers in terms of both flavor and alcohol content, aimed at drinkers looking for a drinkable option. The ABV is a modest 4.2%.
Review Scores
| Platform | Review Score (Out Of 10) |
| BeerAdvocate | 4.50 |
| Untappd | 4.30 |
| RateBeer | 2.74 |
| Average Score | 3.85 |
As you can see, Natural Light didn’t fare well in the reviews. With an average review score of just 3.85/10, it ranks as the worst on our list of Anheuser-Busch beers.
11. Bud Light (4.08/10)
Bud Light is a light American lager that offers a delicate malt sweetness and a crisp finish. It’s designed for easy drinking, with fewer calories and less alcohol, boasting an ABV of 4.2%.
Review Scores
| Platform | Review Score (Out Of 10) |
| BeerAdvocate | 4.70 |
| Untappd | 4.66 |
| RateBeer | 2.90 |
| Average Score | 4.08 |
Bud Light also didn’t receive favorable reviews. With an average score of only 4.08/10, it only just managed to outperform Natural Light.
10. Michelob Ultra (4.24/10)
Michelob Ultra is a light lager with a clean, refreshing taste. It’s known for being low in calories and carbohydrates, making it a popular choice among health-conscious consumers. The beer has an ABV of 4.2%.
Review Scores
| Platform | Review Score (Out Of 10) |
| BeerAdvocate | 4.90 |
| Untappd | 5.02 |
| RateBeer | 2.80 |
| Average Score | 4.24 |
Although this beer may be popular with those watching their calorie and carb intake, it is not so popular with beer enthusiasts. It received an average review score just 4.24/10.
9. Busch Beer (4.30/10)
Busch Beer is an American lager known for its refreshingly smooth taste and easy drinkability. It has light malt flavors with just a hint of sweetness, complemented by a moderate hop bitterness. The ABV is 4.3%.
Review Scores
| Platform | Review Score (Out Of 10) |
| BeerAdvocate | 5.10 |
| Untappd | 4.90 |
| RateBeer | 2.90 |
| Average Score | 4.30 |
As you can see, Busch Beer only marginally outperforms Michelob Ultra, with an average review score of 4.30/10.
8. Budweiser (4.82/10)
Budweiser is an American-style lager known for its clean and crisp flavor. It’s a medium-bodied beer with a smooth texture, complemented by a blend of premium hop varieties, malt, and rice. Budweiser has an ABV of 5.0%.
Review Scores
| Platform | Review Score Out Of 10 |
| BeerAdvocate | 5.7 |
| Untappd | 5.24 |
| RateBeer | 3.54 |
| Average Score | 4.82 |
Budweiser sits in the middle of our list with an average review score of 4.82/10. While not the worst beer on the list, it’s quite far from the top.
7. Presidente Beer (5.59/10)
Presidente is a Dominican pilsner that has a pale, golden color and a crisp, refreshing taste. It’s a well-balanced beer with a mild hop character and a light malt sweetness. The ABV is 5.0%.
Review Scores
| Platform | Review Score (Out Of 10) |
| BeerAdvocate | 6.50 |
| Untappd | 6.02 |
| RateBeer | 4.26 |
| Average Score | 5.59 |
Presidente Beer marks a step up with an average review score of 5.59/10. While not exceptional, it does start to move into the realm of more favorable reviews.
6. Landshark Lager (5.66/10)
Landshark Lager is a tropical-style lager often associated with beach settings and outdoor gatherings. It has a light, malty sweetness balanced by a crisp, clean finish. Landshark Lager has an ABV of 4.6%.
Review Scores
| Platform | Review Score (Out Of 10) |
| BeerAdvocate | 6.30 |
| Untappd | 6.46 |
| RateBeer | 4.22 |
| Average Score | 5.66 |
Landshark Lager is just slightly more popular compared to Presidente, with an average score of 5.66/10, making it a moderately reviewed beer in the Anheuser-Busch portfolio.
5. Estrella Jalisco (5.93/10)
Estrella Jalisco is a Mexican pilsner-style beer. It’s light in flavor with grainy malt characteristics and a slightly bitter, but smooth finish. The beer has an ABV of 4.5%.
Review Scores
| Platform | Review Score (Out Of 10) |
| BeerAdvocate | 7.00 |
| Untappd | 6.30 |
| RateBeer | 4.50 |
| Average Score | 5.93 |
Estrella Jalisco is a more positively reviewed beer compared to the previous beers on this list, with an average review score of 5.93/10.
4. Shock Top (6.27/10)
Shock Top is a Belgian-style wheat ale brewed with citrus peels and coriander. It has a zesty orange aroma and a creamy, smooth body. The beer is well-balanced, with a slightly sweet wheat malt flavor and an ABV of 5.2%.
Review Scores
| Platform | Review Score (Out Of 10) |
| BeerAdvocate | 6.90 |
| Untappd | 6.62 |
| RateBeer | 5.30 |
| Average Score | 6.27 |
Shock Top fares better than many of Anheuser-Busch’s other offerings, with an average review score of 6.27/10. This isn’t too surprising, given that many beers on this list are light lagers, which often have milder flavors. In contrast, Shock Top is a Belgian-style wheat ale with a more distinct and flavorful profile, which likely contributes to its higher review scores.
3. Stella Artois (6.40/10)
Stella Artois is a Belgian pilsner with a rich history dating back to 1366. It has a full-bodied, rich, malty flavor with a hoppy bitterness and a clean, crisp finish. The ABV for Stella Artois is 5.0%.
Review Scores
| Platform | Review Score (Out Of 10) |
| BeerAdvocate | 7.20 |
| Untappd | 6.54 |
| RateBeer | 5.48 |
| Average Score | 6.40 |
Stella Artois secures a respectable position with an average review score of 6.40/10. Unlike many of the American lagers on this list, which often lean toward lighter, less complex flavors, Stella Artois is a Belgian pilsner with a more nuanced taste profile. Its full-bodied, malty flavor paired with a hoppy bitterness and a clean, crisp finish sets it apart, likely contributing to its above-average review scores.
2. Kona Big Wave (7.16/10)
Kona Big Wave is a Golden Ale with tropical hop aroma and flavor. Crafted in Hawaii, this brew aims to capture the spirit of the island with its light-bodied, easy-drinking style and a hint of tropical fruitiness. It has an ABV of 4.4%.
Review Scores
| Platform | Review Score (Out Of 10) |
| BeerAdvocate | 8.10 |
| Untappd | 7.04 |
| RateBeer | 6.36 |
| Average Score | 7.16 |
Kona Big Wave impressively lands near the top of our list with an average review score of 7.16/10. Kona Big Wave, a Golden Ale crafted in Hawaii, brings a tropical twist to the table. Its easy-drinking style combined with a hint of tropical fruitiness distinguishes it from the rest, likely making it a favorite among reviewers.
1. Hoegaarden (7.61/10)
Hoegaarden is a Belgian-style Witbier, featuring a slightly cloudy appearance and flavors of coriander and orange peel. This beer is spiced and fruity, offering a refreshing and slightly tart finish. Hoegaarden has an ABV of 4.9%.
Review Scores
| Platform | Review Score (Out Of 10) |
| BeerAdvocate | 8.50 |
| Untappd | 7.10 |
| RateBeer | 7.24 |
| Average Score | 7.61 |
Hoegaarden takes the crown as the best Anheuser-Busch beer on our list, boasting an impressive average review score of 7.61/10. Like Shock Top, Hoegaarden’s higher complexity and distinctive taste undoubtedly contribute to its top-ranking position.
Wrapping Up
And there you have it! Hoegaarden emerged as the best beer on this list of Anheuser-Busch beers with an impressive average review score of 7.61/10. Natural Light found itself at the bottom of the barrel with average review score of just 3.85/10.
It’s important to note that ‘best’ is subjective, and what appeals to one palate might not resonate with another. And so, we encourage you to try these beers for yourself, while drinking responsibly of course.
