Anheuser Busch Budweiser

Budweiser is an American-style lager from Anheuser-Busch, listed here as a Missouri beer, at 5.0% ABV and just 12 IBU. That bitterness figure is low, even by the standards of pale lagers, and it tells you most of what to expect: hops are there to provide balance and a faint snap, not to lead. The grain bill pairs barley malt with rice, a combination that typically gives a light body, a dry finish, and a clean, lightly sweet-bread malt character without much residual sugar. Expect a pale straw to light gold pour with a bright white head that fades fairly quickly. Aroma in this style tends to be restrained: a touch of cereal grain or corn-like sweetness, a hint of green apple or fruity ester that lager yeast sometimes leaves, and only a whisper of floral hop. On the palate the carbonation is lively and the finish short and crisp, which is the point of the recipe. It is built to be easy to repeat rather than to be dissected. Serve it cold, around 34 to 38°F, which keeps the carbonation sharp and the faint sweetness in check. As it warms past 45°F the grain notes become more pronounced and the beer loses its crispness, so smaller pours or a chilled glass help on a warm day. A standard pint glass or a straight-sided pilsner glass suits it; pour at a slight angle, then straighten the glass to build a modest head that releases what little aroma there is. At this strength and bitterness, the beer works as a palate-cleanser alongside salty, fried, and smoky foods. Burgers, hot dogs, bratwurst, fried chicken, pretzels, and nachos are natural matches, as are barbecue ribs and brisket where the carbonation cuts through fat. It also handles mildly spicy dishes such as buffalo wings well, since a light body and low hop bitterness will not amplify the heat the way a hoppy ale can.