Anheuser-Busch (A-B) has developed a reputation over the past century of being the “King of Beers”. While in many ways it is a self-proclaimed title, it is one that carries a considerable amount of merit as well. A-B has penetrated every market in North America and has reached around the world as well with their myriad of different beers. For many, they are the first choice when it comes to selecting the beer they want to drink at events, in bars and clubs as well as at home.
But how did Anheuser-Busch get to be so big that its title “King of Beers” is now accepted by most people as the truth. In fact, that reputation has been true for many years.
The Largest Brewer in the US
Today, A-B is far and away the largest brewer of beer in the United States, holding a market share of just over 49%. The company owns 12 separate breweries in the US alone and almost 20 that can be found in countries around the world. A-B also runs several different brands of beer under its auspices as well, including Budweiser, Bud Light, Busch, Michelob, Natural Light and many, many more.
The company itself has been considered the “King of Beers” for a very long time. In fact, Anheuser-Busch was as celebrated for being the largest brewery at the turn of the 20th century with its place firmly established on the American scene. To hold that reputation for well over 100 years is truly remarkable, indeed.
The breakout year for Anheuser-Busch was 1876 when it took the top honors as being the best beer at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. Since that time, A-B has won innumerable awards for its beer and has expanded greatly across the United States and around the world.
Staying on Top of the Market
It can be stated that Anheuser-Busch has taken plenty of steps to maintain its reputation over the years, protecting its trademark and establishing a number of different beer brands to help spread out their appeal. In fact, there are many who might not be aware that Michelob, Budweiser, and Rolling Rock are all owed by Anheuser-Busch. It is this diversification and unparalleled marketing effort that has helped to make A-B the most prominent beer in North America by far.
Being the King of Beers takes more than just having a reputation, it means making the moves which keeps them ahead of everyone else. When the craft beer movement first started to take root in the mid-1990s, Anheuser-Busch sent out representatives to the successful ones that have national potential. It is now commonplace for A-B to purchase an interest in successful craft beer brewers and get distribution rights throughout the country.
Today, Anheuser-Busch is not really a single beer company, but a large collection under a single management system. This allows them to stay one step ahead of their competitors. To A-B, being the “King of Beers” is not a reputation that they live on, but instead set out to prove every single day.