Bud Light Beer

Origin: United States · Brewer: Anheuser-Busch InBev · ABV 4.2%

Bud Light is the lighter sister of Budweiser and, for nearly two decades, was the single best-selling beer in the United States. Anheuser-Busch launched it in 1982 to chase the new American demand for lower-calorie lagers, and within just a few years it had become a fixture of grocery shelves, sports bars and tailgate parties from coast to coast.

How it is brewed

Bud Light is a 4.2 percent ABV American-style light lager, brewed with a blend of two-row and six-row barley malt, rice, a mild hop bill, water and Anheuser-Busch's proprietary lager yeast. The use of rice as an adjunct (rather than corn) is what gives Bud Light its especially clean, slightly sweet finish - it is brewed to be cold, crisp and uncomplicated. A standard 12 oz serving contains around 110 calories and 6.6 g of carbohydrates, a number printed proudly on the cans for the calorie-conscious crowd.

Brewing scale

Bud Light is produced at multiple Anheuser-Busch breweries across the United States and, under license, in several other AB InBev markets. By volume it sits firmly in the global top three, with annual sales typically estimated in the 40-50 million-hectolitre range. Inside the US it is also sold in seemingly endless line extensions: Bud Light Lime, Bud Light Platinum, Bud Light NEXT (a zero-carb version) and the Bud Light Seltzer family.

The 2023 shake-up

For 20+ consecutive years Bud Light was the #1 beer in the United States. That changed in mid-2023 after a high-profile marketing controversy triggered a sharp drop in US retail sales, and Constellation Brands' Modelo Especial took over the top spot in American supermarkets. Globally, however, Bud Light remains one of the largest beer brands in the world, propped up by sales in Canada, Mexico, Latin America and Asia, and by a continuing presence at major sports sponsorships (NFL, UFC and others).

Sources: Anheuser-Busch InBev published brand facts; NielsenIQ retail data widely reported in 2023-2024; product nutrition information published by the brewer.