Everything to Know About Budweiser Zero (NA Beer)

Oh Anheuser-Busch, you really outdid yourself this time. Like the XFL or Crystal Pepsi, or Bud Ice for that matter, you took the innovative leap to go alcohol-free with one of you newest brews.

Written by CraftJack | Updated 03/20/22 | 4 min read

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You thought to yourself, "O'Doul's is earning too much coin", and you dove headfirst into the no alcohol pool. We don't fault you, lots of breweries are offering low alcohol or alcohol-free beer these days. Those breweries have worked tirelessly to raise the flavor profile (and status) of NA beer for those seeking to enjoy them.

As an aside, here is a list of some of the best non-alcoholic beers on the market today. When it comes to the discussion of alcoholic beverages on this site, we almost always focus on craft beer. However, when something fun needs to be discussed, something like Bud Zero, we need to tackle it. So here goes.

What is Budweiser Zero?

Bud Zero is zero alcohol brew from Anheuser-Busch InBev with all of the taste of Budweiser and none of the booze. So, have as many as you want, you still won't turn into Bud Lightbeer. We think it's got most of the taste of Budweiser, but we're not entirely convinced by the marketing of it. What it does promise is zero grams of sugar and zero alcohol. A lager for the calorie-conscious if you will.

An alcohol free brew, Budweiser Zero is AB InBev's answer to Coors Edge. It goes further than Coors' near beer though, pushing the abv down from 0.5% to 0.0%. In that regard, its competition is a beer such as Heineken 0.0, far more than it is for a craft 0.0% beer such as Hairless Dog Brewing's IPA.

If we're talking style of beer, we refer to Bud Zero as a water-style lager that features carbonation and carbohydrates. What's really interest about the product is that it is meant for legal drinking age beer (and hard seltzer) lovers who wan't to cut back or eliminate alcohol altogether. We bet the old Clydesdale, Tom Brady, has considered having a Bud Zero, you know, with his affinity for living a life without sugar. That said, Gronk probably tosses PBRs at him all day in the off-season.

Anheuser-Busch's non-alcoholic history

Years and years ago (Prohibition days), AB came out with a beverage called Bevo. Bevo was an attempt by the brewery to produce a NA beer. It seems to be their initial attempt at getting into the non-alcoholic or ultra-low ABV market. We assume the Bevo beverage was produced at Anheuser-Busch's Research Pilot Brewery, the Bevo Bottling Facility in Soulard.

Budweiser Zero Review

It's ... alright. It's nowhere near as good as the beer from Athletic Brewing or Kit NA Brewing out of Portland. That's craft NA beer. If your choice of alcoholic beer is a MGD 64, you're probably in good shape with a Bud Zero, as it's fairly thin. Put in another way, it's like drinking a Saltine without the salt kick.

Bud Light vs Budweiser Zero vs Bud Light Next

Colloquially, both will be called a light beer. However, Bud Light is the light beer and Bud Zero is light due to the fact that it lacks the dense sugar profile of a Triple IPA. This is common in low-alcohol beers.

Bud Zero is also, "Double Filtered and brewed to taste like the real thing." What's more, it even has the crown carved out of the can pop top. Lastly, there is no Bud Light Zero. There is no Budweiser Light Zero. What there is though is Bud Light Next, a new version of Bud Light that is set to launch in 2022 which may just be among the beers with the least calories yet on the market, arriving with 80 calories per 12oz can - or - per cup and a half. Oh, and did we mention that Bud Light Next is zero carbs?!

Ok, let's get back to Bud Zero. One noticeable difference between Bud, Bud Light and Bud Zero is the starkly white can. The Bud Zero logo with the red "Zero" really stands out on that white can. Good to catch your eye on the grocery store shelf. The Bud Zero bottle isn't too far off from the can in terms of design. Same goes for the packaging. They're pros at branding.

Bud Light Next is scheduled to hit the market within days and it seems like Bud and Bud Light are just going for market domination. Bud Zero is a zero booze beer, where Bud Light Next is a zero carb beer. That's the major difference between the two, the beer's alcohol content.

Bud Zero FAQs

Where do you buy Bud Zero?

You can purchase Bud Zero in six-pack bottle format, or, in 12-pack can format in a variety of places. Stores such as Total Wine come to mind here. You can even purchase 16oz tallboys of the NA Beer.

Also good places to look are your local grocery stores such as Albertson's, Kroger, Hannaford, Safeway, Walmart and more. You know, maybe Amazon depending on the rules and laws of shipping your state.

When did Budweiser Zero come out?

Bud Zero launched in 2020.

Which NBA star did AB InBev partner with to market Budweiser Zero?

Dwayne Wade. Here he is introducing Budweiser Zero.

What are the ingredients in Budweiser Zero?

Barley, Hops, Rice, Water

How many carbs are in Budweiser Zero?

Single cans (12oz) will have 11.5 carbs

How many calories are in Budweiser Zero?

Again, there will be 50 calories per single 12 fl oz can.

How many grams of sugar in Budweiser Zero?

0g.

Is Budweiser Prohibition Brew really just Bud Zero?

Prohibition Brew was the predecessor to Bud Zero.

What did Monica Rustgi, VP of Marketing have to say about Budweiser Zero?

“Over the past year, we have seen hundreds of new beverage options come to market, with non-alcoholic and alcohol free beverages quickly rising in popularity,” said Monica Rustgi, Vice President Marketing for Budweiser. “Budweiser has an incredible opportunity to propel this movement into mainstream culture by offering a product that doesn’t compromise on the quality and taste people have come to know and love from Budweiser, a brand they trust.”

What did Dwayne Wade, Product Advocate have to say about Bud Zero?

“I’m really excited to join Budweiser in bringing their first alcohol free beer to life. With sports making a return, this is timely as Bud Zero is a game changer by letting athletes enjoy the taste of a refreshing beer without impacting their mental and physical game.”

How does Budweiser Zero review?

It's bud. But it's not. You know, it's like any non-alcoholic version of a beer you've had before, it's just not quite there.

It's not like the difference between Coke and New Coke, there's no Bud and New Bud. So, we shouldn't really be matching it up against it's full-alcohol'd self, Bud Heavy.

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