Coors vs. Budweiser: Which Beer Tastes Better and Why?
Coors vs. Budweiser: The choice becomes difficult when you’ve two top brands side by side. Coors and Budweiser are popular and reliable names in the brewing industry due to the high-quality beers they have been producing for years.
When you have the two best choices available, which one will you choose? To help you with that, here is a quick comparison highlighting all the major aspects of Coors and Budweiser.
A Brief History of Coors and Budweiser
Both Coors and Budweiser are American-owned beers and equally famous, yet their origins are considerably different. They belong to two different companies that produce different style beers having different flavors, ingredients, etc.
Aside from the differences in their manufacturing, their history is different too. Let’s have a brief look at the history and origin of both beers individually.
– Coors: Origin and History
The manufacturing of Coors beer started in an American brewery known as Coors Brewing Company in 1873. The founders were Adolph Coors and Jacob Schueler, who migrated to the United States from Germany. They established the Coors Brewing Company in Golden, Colorado, after purchasing the recipe of a Pilsner-style beer from William Silhan, a Czech immigrant.
Initially, Coors and Schueler contributed $2000 and $18,000, respectively. But later, in 1880, Coors purchased all the company’s shares from his partner and became the sole owner of the brewery. For a long time, Coors beer was famous as the “Banquet Beer.” This was because Clear Creek Canyon miners used to drink it in banquet halls or vast banquet tents.
– Budweiser: Origin and History
Interestingly, Budweiser refers to two separate brands that operate under the same name. The more popular and largest selling beer brand, Budweiser, was introduced in 1876 in the United States. This 145-year-old beer company had to face a strict prohibition period and disputes due to name clashes with a company of the same name.
When Budweiser was introduced, in fact, a beer brand with the same name was already existing. The ancient Budweiser was produced in the Czech Republic by the Budweiser Budvar Brewery from 1265. The original Budweiser company got its name due to its country of origin, the Czech Republic, as Budweis was the old name for the Czech Republic.
Centuries later, Carl Conard and Adolphus Busch produced the famous American Budweiser version. They started manufacturing a “Bohemian-style” lager in America, in their own brewery — the Anheuser Busch — located in St. Louis, Missouri. Despite the different style of the two beers, the same name led to trademark disputes.
A mutual settlement resolved the issue. In some countries, the American Budweiser is sold as “Bud,” and Czech Republic Brewery solely owns Budweiser. While in some countries, including the United Kingdom, both the breweries sell their beer under the name “Budweiser.” However, the logo of Budvar and Anheuser Busch Budweiser is different.
Difference Between Coors and Budweiser: How Are These Beers Different?
If you read a Budweiser review and then compare it with Coors beer reviews, you’ll see that these beers are significantly different. There are a lot of differences between Budweiser and Coors; the most significant are listed below:
– Grain Constituents
Both Budweiser and Coors are adjunct beers. That means that they need an additional ingredient other than the basic ingredients. These adjuncts added to the beers help to enhance different characteristics of beer and make them unique.
While they share this similarity, Coors and Budweiser actually use different adjuncts. Budweiser has rice, while Coors has corn grid as an adjunct.
– Yeast
The yeast used for production further highlights the difference between Coors and Budweiser. Both beers utilize different yeast for the fermentation process, due to which the time for fermentation also differs. In addition,
Budweiser also uses beechwood chips to distribute yeast on the base of fermentation tanks evenly. As a result, more yeast is in an active form during the fermentation of Budweiser. The extra yeast also removes the dead yeast from the fermenting wort, producing certain compounds such as acetaldehyde and diacetyl.
These compounds are responsible for giving an astringent flavor to the beer. In the case of Coors, the yeast used can’t entirely remove dead yeast from the wort, which produces these compounds. Due to this, Coors has a slightly more astringent flavor than Budweiser.
– Hops
In addition to yeast and grain constituents, Coors and Budweiser also use different blends of hops. The primary purpose of hop addition is to add more flavor, aroma, or bittering. The difference in the addition of hops results in different flavors and aromas for Coors and Budweiser.
Budweiser vs. Coors: Which One Is Called “Kings of Beers”?
Budweiser is popularly known as the “King of Beers.” The immense popularity as the “King of Beers” was due to two reasons, and these include:
In ancient times, Budweiser was a famous beer in the Holy Roman Empire. It was brewed in the imperial brewery in the Roman Empire, and it tasted better than other available beers of that time.
The popularity among the Kings and other people earned Budweiser the title “King of Beers.” Later, when Adolphus Busch opted for the name Budweiser for his beer, he also adapted the slogan. Since then, both Budweiser beers have ruled the brewing world as “King of Beers.”
Budweiser was on the list of the top three best-selling beers in the United States. The popularity of Budweiser over the other beers also made it a King of the brewing industry.
Is Budweiser Still the “King of Beers”?
No, Budweiser isn’t the “King of Beers” anymore. The reason behind this is the sudden and massive drop in the popularity of Budweiser. The recent Beer Marketer’s Insights reveals that Budweiser isn’t among the top three best-selling beers now.
The decrease in popularity of Budweiser can be due to a lot of factors. These include people drinking less beer or switching to craft spirits, wines, or brews. At present, the top three best-selling beers listing include:
- Bud Light
- Coors Light
- Miller Lite
Which Beers Coors and Budweiser Produce?
Coors and Budweiser produce different beer styles under their label or brand. Some of the common beers that Coors and Budweiser make are listed in the table.
| Company | Beer |
| Budweiser (United States) | Budweiser |
| Budweiser | Bud Light |
| Budweiser | Bud Ice |
| Budweiser | Bud Ice Light |
| Budweiser Budvar | Budvar |
| Coors | Coors Original |
| Coors | Coors Light |
| Coors | Coors Extra Gold |
| Coors | Coors NA |
What Is the Alcohol Content in Coors and Budweiser Beers?
Both Coors and Budweiser produce different beers; the alcohol content varies in different types. The table below shows the alcohol content in Coors and Budweiser beers.
| Company | Beer | Alcohol percentage |
| Budweiser (United States) | Budweiser | 5.0 |
| Budweiser | Bud Light | 4.2 |
| Budweiser | Bud Ice | 5.5 |
| Budweiser | Bud Ice Light | 4.1 |
| Budweiser Budvar | Budvar | 5.0 |
| Coors | Coors Original | 5.0 |
| Coors | Coors Light | 4.2 |
| Coors | Coors Extra Gold | 5.0 |
| Coors | Coors NA | <0.5 |
Does Budweiser Taste Better Than Coors?
No, Budweiser doesn’t taste better than Coors. Consumer reports statistics for Coors and Budweiser reveal that Coors tastes better than Budweiser. Coors has a clean and balanced taste with a bit of citrus flavor.
On the contrary, Budweiser has slightly off notes due to the presence of tin and sulfur. Budweiser is also lighter and has more yeasty notes than Coors. All these things collectively give a better taste to Coors than Budweiser.
Do Budweiser and Coors Produce Low-calorie Beers?
Yes, both Coors and Budweiser produce low-calorie beers. These low-calorie beers have a lower carbohydrates content than the other beers produced by these breweries. This is a great way to be in tune with the demands of the public, which is increasingly interested in leading a healthier lifestyle while still enjoying a beer from time to time!
Is Coors Light Gluten-free?
No, Coors Light isn’t gluten-free. It contains significantly less gluten content, almost 10ppm. Although the amount is negligible, it still can’t be called a gluten-free beer, and it will have an adverse effect on people affected by celiac disease.
FAQ
Is Coors pure lager?
Yes, Coors pure is a lager beer that is brewed with simple, quality ingredients and without any artificial preservatives.
Best Budweiser food pairings?
Some popular food pairings for Budweiser include burgers, hot dogs, pizza, and spicy wings. The beer’s crisp, clean taste and light body complement these foods well.
Best Coors food pairings?
Some popular food pairings for Coors include grilled meats such as burgers, steaks, and barbecue chicken, as well as pizza, nachos, and tacos. Coors also goes well with spicy and flavorful dishes, as its crisp, refreshing taste can help cool down the palate.
Conclusion
Coors vs. Budweiser can be a tough choice, but for someone who doesn’t know about these beers in detail. But not for you, as you just read a detailed guide on comparing these two. Let’s quickly revise the most important points.
- Coors and Budweiser are two separate brands for beers. These beers are different from each other regarding grain constituents, yeast, and hops.
- Budweiser was once known as the “King of Beers” due to its flavor and immense popularity in the Roman Empire and the United States.
- At present, Budweiser is no longer the “King of Beers.”
- Both beer brands produce a variety of beers, including beers with less alcohol and calories.
- In terms of taste, Coors is superior to Budweiser.
- Coors Light isn’t an entirely gluten-free beer. The gluten content is low, but it’s present.
After reading this guide, you should no longer be confused between Budweiser vs. Coors. You’ve read all the major aspects of these beers and now choosing the best for you is entirely up to you. After considering all the things, you can better decide which one is better for you and why!
