Anheuser World Lager (World Select) - Anheuser-Busch

Ianhockey91

Pennsylvania

1.18/5  rDev -59.2%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1

flat out awful, its just like bud but with a little less corn, and a bit better head retention. Went to a paty at my fiances aunts house and her husband got this because he heard that "I like those fancy beers" So i drank it with a smile all the while wanting to spit it out.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2003 03:20:09 | More by Ianhockey91

Gusler

Arizona

1.3/5  rDev -55%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

Well at almost $9.00 a sixer, I’m sure this must be truly the “King Of Beers”. As it pours from the quite cute green bottle the color an unclouded gold, the head modest in size, the texture frothy and the color a bright white, lace a patchy sheet to not cover the glass. Nose as expected, sweet malt, fresh, crisp yada yada, start is sweet, modest malt profile, top cadaverous. Finish is moderate in carbonation, hops unimpressive, dry aftertaste “Loser”, nuff said.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2004 00:18:06 | More by Gusler

badbeer

Iowa

1.3/5  rDev -55%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 1

Poured a decent golden color with a pretty nice white head, and carbonation sparkling up the glass. Smell, was not appealing, had some graininess to it, but was skunked. Taste was just terribly skunky and tasted like something went wrong. Not sure if I got a bad batch, but A-B is usually pretty consistent which makes me wonder if it was designed like this. Mouthfeel is lightly bodied and highly carbonated. I couldn't even have half the bottle, not drinkable. I really didn't want to hate on A-B with this one, I thought given the extra presentation put into this beer, it might be pretty good. If this is what their top 10 brewmasters came up with, I'm scared. Maybe I'll try it again sometime, but not for a while. Hopefully it will be better then.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2006 00:41:36 | More by badbeer

Beerbuddha

Louisiana

1.5/5  rDev -48.1%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

This beer was garbage. The fact that they "challenged our top brewmasters representing 10 countries around the globe to collaborate and create something extraordinary" and this is the end result. I would be upset if I spent all that money and this is the final product. No smell. Poured a straw color with thin to no head. Musty taste and no aftertaste. They even changed th name of this beer. It used to be called Anheuser World Select but then AB came out with Bud Select so they changed names.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2007 14:44:18 | More by Beerbuddha

twi1609372

Florida

1.65/5  rDev -42.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

had this at a bar, wanted to see first hand anheisers attempt at a good beeer,they came "socos" to making a descent beer. a watered down beck is the first thing that comes to mind.tastes not quite as skunky as heineken, nothing really overtly impressive here, not impressed with buds attempt at a good beer, why drink an attempt when you can drink the real thing, and cheaper too.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2004 19:53:50 | More by twi1609372

matty

Pennsylvania

1.85/5  rDev -36%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

I bought a 6 pack of this stuff and boy am I sorry I did. The smell of skunk oozes from the bottle,and the taste is no better.The only compliment I can give is it is smooth and goes right down but skunky aftertaste destroys the smoothness.I am usually very generous and non critical of beers but I can honestly say yukkk!!!!

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2006 04:51:33 | More by matty

pio

Virginia

1.93/5  rDev -33.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

holy crap this (green bottled) beer had a pry off top, how are the red necks going to get to it, use their bics? straw colored browned yellow liquid, a shade or two darker than most yellow beers. active body. whispy white head that dies almost immeadiately a halo will stay if you rouse it alot....
smells like stinky green apple rot, like bud, like a double bud.
dosen't taste very good at all, not really like beer as far as i'm concerned. i got no real malt flavor and no real hop flavor. while it was cold it went ok with buttery pretzels. that was the last one i'll ever have.
crisp carbonation, false feeling body that leaves a blunt bitter bite on the palate along with industrial after flavors, like city tap water.
i didn't finish this beer, i'll not have another one.
this sample was one of several left by the dist. at one of my watering holes, they put it up to the pio test and at first i said 'no way am i drinking that' but got pulled in. you figure the samples the rep gives should be better than what they peddle on the whole, it's like that in some cases, but if that's true here i can't see this one getting much worse.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2004 01:47:36 | More by pio

ngandhi

Illinois

1.93/5  rDev -33.2%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Canopy Club (Urbana, IL): 1.00/pint

World Select's rich malt profile has a touch of grain on the finish, but is much smoother than most lagers.

I can't go so far as to classify this as a German pilsener, however, even if it is Anheuser-Busch's foray into craft beer. There are no hops on the nose and no bitterness on the palette. The water profile is clean and unintrusive, a nice canvas for the flabby malts, but not charismatic enough for a German pilsener.

And though the malt tastes pure, it's also laden with the same muddy qualities so true to Budweiser. Perhaps it's death by association, but World Select offers very little to the beer world outside of yet another lager beer. This is better than their other offerings, but still largely unpalatable. If you try hard enough, you can detect a little helles, as if the brewer was drinking one with his pastrami sandwich right before he brewed this batch. Overall, it's too malt-driven and shies away from hops like every mass-produced American lager beer.

If Budweiser is beer after it's passed through the human body, World Select is what was left behind.

Relax, relax.
ng

Serving type: on-tap

05-19-2004 14:15:53 | More by ngandhi

kunzbrew

Massachusetts

2/5  rDev -30.8%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Well I had this for the first time this past weekend and I was not inpressed.

Pours the same pale yellow as the regular Bud. Has a little more of pilsner aroma but not much.

I still taste the same bud flavor, not any more of pilsner than Bud.

Still crap for AB.

Cheers

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2003 17:42:43 | More by kunzbrew

harpus

Alabama

2/5  rDev -30.8%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Aroma:Smelled like a European Lager but with a little less skunk

Appearence: Pours a golden will standard American Macro or European Lager color, the head was small and disappeared after a minute or two.

Flavor: It had a fuller and crisper flavors then other AB lagers

Mouthfeel: Low to Medium bodied, did not taste much alcohol

Drinkability: Better then Bud, Bud Light, Grolish, heiny, ect.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2007 03:34:52 | More by harpus

Reidrover

Oregon

2.03/5  rDev -29.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

First time I had seen this beer in Oregon bought a single as the six pack was way too exspensive.Nice looking green bottle by the way.
Pretty average looking pale golden lager..small bubly head , minimal lacing.
Average hop roama ( saaz)..fresh at least.
A sweet tasting lager..very sweet and this dominates the tongue for 2/3 of the mouthful..there is a a small astringent hop aftertaste.
Too carbonated for my tastes and horribly cloying on the back of the tongue.
Not drinkable.
For $8.49 a sixer this is very poor..way worsethan the "imports" it hopes to beat..I had a Becks after this and realy there is no comparison..the Beck's kicked this into touch.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2004 11:20:05 | More by Reidrover

assurbanipaul

Texas

2.03/5  rDev -29.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Pour is little different than any other A-B product, light golden and clear, a bit darker than typical. Nose is strongly skunked and grassy, very off-putting. Date on bottle confirms this sample is still fresh.

Taste is corn, corn and more sweet corn. Cloyingly sweet and one-dimensional, no hop bite, nothing to explore more than the syrupy malt-corn sweetness. If this is a competitor to Heineken, they waaay overshot the taste.

Slightly stronger and richer than the typical Budweiser product, but I think I even prefer a standard Bud to something like this.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2004 05:52:23 | More by assurbanipaul

jasonpeckins32

Michigan

2.03/5  rDev -29.8%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Cheers on attempting to cash in on the green-bottle, european import, high class appearance niche! This beer, to me, seems to be nothing more than another marketing scam infecting the truth of what otherwise is an outstanding growth of the American craft beer industry.

If youve had more than 40 or 50 beers, the descriptions are probably fairly predictable: Pours a fizzy golden/yellow color with nearly no head retention. The aroma is a bit sweet, a bit adjuncty, and just maybe you could pick out some hops (good luck). Taste follows suit, as its just a hair better than most other a-b products. . . but you also run the risk of getting a skunked one, as someont had the brilliant idea of bringing out everybodys favorite green bottles. They really put their guns in on this one to compete with the heinekens and grolschs.

My guess is we wont see this one in stores much longer than another few months, if at all.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2007 04:12:32 | More by jasonpeckins32

jdhilt

New Hampshire

2.05/5  rDev -29.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Pours with a two-fingered head and actually leaves a good lace. Light carbonation and very light bodied. Color is a clear, golden amber. Hoppy nose. Starts with a mix of hops and malt, finishes slightly bitter. You know it won't be good with a green bottle but a good lawn mower beer. Expensive for A-B, $1.29 for a 12oz bottle.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2004 23:42:33 | More by jdhilt

blitheringidiot

Pennsylvania

2.05/5  rDev -29.1%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Just had a freebie bottle poured into a pilsener glass at me local.

Poured an unimaginative pale clear bubbley champagne at best looking roll. Nothing special to gander.

Scents were a barely present cabbage and broccolli like leaf notes thatblended into the flavor which reminded me of nothing more than an absolutely 100% Heineken wanna-be rip off clone, but more grainy and watery.

Barely drinkable, but went back with a struggle.

Fear this beer!

Beer is good, if free. Happy beering.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2004 03:43:32 | More by blitheringidiot

nick76

Florida

2.05/5  rDev -29.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A bitter beer that is more astringent than flavorful. Not too much in the way of sweet malt to balance it out either (rather dry). I think calling this beer world select is a little humorous unless you are comparing it to Bud Light. The aroma is somewhat malty with a strange hop character. The mouthfeel is thin. Pass.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2008 08:16:03 | More by nick76

nickd717

California

2.1/5  rDev -27.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Review dated 12/19/2008 from 12oz bottle.

Looks like Bud - pale yellow with a fizzy white head. Mild hops and malt on the aroma with adjunk. This is the best their top brewmasters could come up with? It is BARELY better than Budweiser. Watery and ricey. Faint grassy hops. Carbonated yet weak mouthfeel. Wow, A-B is bad. I am really happy they are Belgium's problem now.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2011 20:45:45 | More by nickd717

Beastdog75

New Jersey

2.15/5  rDev -25.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

This beer seems like a blatantly obvious attempt to get some of the Eurolager market. Everything about Anheuser World Select, from its green bottle to the somewhat familiar "imported pilsener" taste seems to be taking a page from the brewers of Beck's and Heineken. I was thinking that this was going to be a pretty decent brew, but I was let down.

Anheuser pours a pretty nice golden color, with a somewhat thin foamy white head, which lasts for about 30 seconds. Smells like a cheap beer. Some malt and hops in the aroma, along with a cheap husky/musty/adjunct scent. Surprisingly no skunk. Watery/fizzy mouthfeel. For a beer that's supposed to be "world class", it tastes awfully cheap. Light on malt, heavy on cheap husky grain flavors. Somewhat hoppy and bitter. Boring. Aftertaste has some leftover bitterness and some grassiness, and finishes out with no alcoholic warmth.

It seems that "import" prices are being charged for this, and all I can say is that it is not worth it. In my opinion even AB's own Michelob is better than this. Disappointing and overpriced.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2003 06:03:33 | More by Beastdog75

far333

Connecticut

2.25/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

This is supposed to compete with imports? This beer is the same light yellow color as regular Budweiser. It is pale and fizzy, but it did pour a nice soapy head that lingered for a little while. The flavor was a little sweeter than regular Bud, with some hints of corn. Head felt creamy, but once it was gone, this beer just turned into a glass of Bud without that regular Bud burnt rubber taste in the back of the throat. Couldn't even finish the glass. Don't bother.

Serving type: on-tap

08-29-2003 06:45:01 | More by far333

Dogbrick

Ohio

2.25/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

This is the first time I have paid my own money for an A-B beer in living memory. Whoever these top brewmasters from around the world are, they obviously spent countless hours and spared no expense...coming up with the name. The beer is below average, which is the highest praise I have ever given a macro. Pours a clear and bubbly gold color with a thin white head and little lacing. Mild hops aroma. Light and crisp with a weak hops flavor and maybe even some nuttyness. The finish is thin and lightly bitter, and it seems they are hoping for the Pilsner Urquell skunk after this sits on the shelves in the green bottle for awhile. Luckily I got a fresh bottle. Satisfied my curiosity but I won’t ever get it again.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2004 14:45:35 | More by Dogbrick

Loki

North Carolina

2.3/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

On tap at Antone's (I think) in the USAir Terminal at LaGuardia Airport, NY. I will say I didn't not receive a full glass. Since I didn't want to pay airport prices for a beer I may or may not like. I asked for a sample and the bartender filled up the glass a little over 1/3 of the way. Thank you nice lady.

Poured a golden yellow with a small head that faded quicker than I could get to the glass. This may have been due to the fact it was served in a chilled, near frozen, glass but I don't think so. There was no lacing what so ever.

Aromas of corn, malt, and is that hops? Noticable hops in an AB product. Ok, sure. There is a definite hops aroma, not strong, but it is there.

Taste was, well watery at first, maybe because it was so cold, but it was definitely watery. Then the taste progressed to corn, malt, and exactly what I remember Bud tasting like from the last wedding I was at, but wait. A kick of hops, distinct, bitter hops kicks in. The body is very light, medium-high carbonation.

This is Bud with hops, maybe good hops, but it is still an adjunct laden beer with hops. Not a good beer and nothing to seek out. Good think I wasn't really in the mood for a beer, just killing time in the airport, b/c I would have been disappointed.

Serving type: on-tap

06-27-2003 07:12:31 | More by Loki

kinger

Ohio

2.3/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Been looking for this one for a while now so when I came across one I quickly grabbed it. Deep dark ruby pour with a thick tan head and some nice lacing. The aroma is very malty with a good sweetness to it. Great smokey flavor with a nice roasted quality. Licorice, coffee, and a touch of chocolate complete a tasty brew. Mouthfeel could be a touch thicker but it works. Overall a good porter.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2008 12:49:51 | More by kinger

SkeeterHawk

Texas

2.38/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Appearance: Pours a somewhat hazy golden yellow color that initially had a ¼” head of small white bubbles on top. The head was gone within about 30 seconds to end up as just a small film across the top of the beer that is maintained by quite a few bubbles rising.

Aroma: Very reserved aroma. There is some graininess that is evident as the beer is cold, and that is about it. As the beer warms a bit, there is a little bit of a floral hop thing going on there...but I tell you, this beer is very restrained. As the beer warms a little, there is a bit of a skunky aroma becoming noticeable.

Taste: The flavor is about as uneventful as the aroma was. There is a slight sweetness that you notice at the beginning of the profile, but then you can pick up a faint taste of hops. There is a metallic component to the flavor that is as big of a player as the hops. There really isn’t much else to say about the flavor at this point. The finish is pretty dry and well attenuated, but leaves an almost watery feeling in its wake at the same time. As the beer warms a little, there is a bit of a buttery flavor coming out.

Opinion: Obviously this isn’t my favorite beer. It is very restrained and uneventful. If I can say something in its favor, it is clean and not flawed. I would be surprised if AB hasn’t figured that one out yet. It would be good for a homebrew to come out this unflawed...but as a commercial product I wouldn’t say that was worth buying this stuff. Support craft brews!

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2006 00:24:38 | More by SkeeterHawk

koolkat

United Kingdom (England)

2.4/5  rDev -17%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Found this at the grocery store and figured I see what the best AB can do would taste to my palate. (for 6.99 a six pack Ill never get it again)

Pours a nice yellow much more color that a normal bud and looks like a nice pilsner. Upon tasting it though all I could think was rollingrock. There was a fair bit of dimethylsulfide that just detracts horribly from beers in my opinion. If it was aged a little longer over some yeast to pick up some of that DMS or maybe boiled with the kettle open or something it would actually be a decent beer but DMS is just nasty to me.

The body is decent for a light pilsner and overall everything else is just average nothing great but average. It is a little sweet and some corn definately comes through in the flavor, but not in a horrible way just in a minor annoyance. If they could fix the DMS problem I would get it again but I am doubtful that they will fix it. I just keep on wondering why with 10 master brewers working on this beer at least one didnt think that they had too much DMS and tried to fix it.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2004 00:53:37 | More by koolkat

BEERchitect

Kentucky

2.4/5  rDev -17%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

I guess that this is the Anheuser-Busch answer to Heiniken. It looks very similar...Light straw, overcarbonated, stark white head that falls to a trace. Smells similar also, but not as skunked or astingent. Still a mild sweet aroma that is dominated by light striken hops souring. Tastes the same mild sweetness, but overpowered by noble hop bittering, sourness, graininess, and vegitol flavors. Unlike Heineken, World select is a bit tolerable. I won't pour it out, but I won't be buying it either.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2005 20:50:45 | More by BEERchitect