Budweiser

Budweiser is an American-style pale lager brewed by AB InBev, a Belgian company. First produced in 1876 by Carl Conrad & Co. in St. Louis, Missouri, it ranks among the best-selling beers in the United States. This filtered beer, served on draft or in bottles and cans, contains hops, barley malt, and up to 30% rice.

The name "Budweiser" is a German-derived term meaning "of Budweis," a city in Bohemia (now České Budějovice, Czech Republic) where beer has been brewed since 1265. Adolphus Busch and Carl Conrad created their "Bohemian-style" lager after tasting the original Budweiser during a trip to Bohemia. Ongoing trademark disputes between Anheuser-Busch and the Czech Budweiser Budvar Brewery over the name have resulted in exclusive rights being granted to one party or the other in different markets. The American beer is sold in over 80 countries but is marketed as "Bud" in regions where Budvar holds the Budweiser trademark, such as most of the European Union (excluding Ireland, Sweden, Finland, and Spain). In some countries, like the United Kingdom, both lagers are sold under the Budweiser name but with distinct logos.

The Czech beer from Budějovice has been called "The Beer of Kings" since the 16th century, a slogan Adolphus Busch adapted to "The King of Beers." Anheuser-Busch holds the U.S. trademark for these slogans. In 1969, the company introduced the Superman-like advertising character Bud Man, which later inspired characters such as Duffman on *The Simpsons*. From 1987 to 1989, Bud Light ran ads featuring the canine mascot Spuds MacKenzie. In 2010, Bud Light paid $1 billion for a six-year licensing agreement with the NFL, while Budweiser pays $20 million annually for MLB licensing rights.

Budweiser has produced numerous TV advertisements, including the Budweiser Frogs, lizards impersonating those frogs, the "Whassup?" campaign, and the Budweiser Clydesdales. The brand also advertises heavily in motorsports, sponsoring Bernie Little's Miss Budweiser hydroplane boat, the Budweiser King Top Fuel and Funny Car drivers Kenny and Brandon Bernstein, and the CART championship.