Anheuser World Lager (World Select) - Anheuser-Busch

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.68/5  rDev +27.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Radiant gold with a generous dusting of fine particulates. It's hard to believe that this head is on an A-B product because it actually looks good. I don't believe that any adjuncts are used in the brewing, so maybe that helps. The cap is ivory in color and is substantive enough to last for a bit. A more than respectable amount of lace is a pleasant surprise as well.

The nose is classic Euro pale lager with musky noble hops at the forefront. Fresh grain is present as well, although I can't appreciate the Munich malt that the brewery claims is in there. No off-aromas are a definite plus in beer of this style. I've often thought that I'd like EPLs more if they reached these shores sooner after bottling. This one makes me think that might actually be the case.

World Lager is good beer, I don't care who brewed it. The most surprising thing to me (among many surprising things) is the solidity of the lightly caramel malty backbone. That judiciously sweet, toasted malt flavor puts this version far ahead of the majority of European lagers as far as I'm concerned. If this beer was brewed in order to kick Heineken Lager's ass back to Zoeterwoude, then it's time to break out the 'mission accomplished' signs.

I like the fact that World Lager gives the taste buds something other than grassy, somewhat spicy noble hops to keep them occupied. This is balanced beer in the best sense of that term. It's both sweet and bitter, with neither one dominating at any point along the flavor arc. It tastes like the brewery took their time with this one and got it just right.

I'm also impressed with the mouthfeel. It's on the light side of medium, as it should be for the style. A modest mouthfilling creaminess (that is being maintained nicely as I enter the bottom half of the bottle) pulls it well above average and keeps it there.

I couldn't be more suprised by Anheuser World Lager. I expected more dreck from a brewery that specializes in barely palatable beer. I hope the reps don't strong-arm establishments into keeping this one at a temperature in the low 40s, as they do with most of their offerings, because the last thing that a World Lager drinker needs is numb taste buds. After all, this is just about the only A-B beer worth tasting.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2006 13:54:42 | More by BuckeyeNation

Thorpe429

Illinois

2.5/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Reviewed from notes.

Pours a clear golden with a thin white head and little lacing. Nose brings forth some grain and a bit of some Czech/German hops. Taste is about the same, with a bit of grain but mostly just faint hops and some carbonation. Light feel with a good amount of carbonation to carry what little flavor there is. Drinks okay, but probably has a bit too much carbonation and not much real flavor.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2010 00:36:29 | More by Thorpe429

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

oberon

North Carolina

3.3/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I have to say I never thought about buying this until a co worker who likes good beer as well said this wasnt half bad and well he is not completely wrong.Starts out nicely pouring a light golden with a nice well retained fluffy head with good carbonation,aromas are light some German-like iron and faint grass.A light flavored lager some definant hop presence lightly grassy with a sweet backbone but pretty light.Pretty crisp easy drinker head and shoulders above any other A-B product and Iam not ashamed to say so the price is ridiculous for this brew but it really isnt half bad at all.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2005 22:07:04 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +21.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

While talking with one of A-B's operational managers about the green glass bottle I was told that it's a slightly darker green glass but that it still lets light through. Then when asked about it becoming light struck I was told "Look, the marketing people are not dumb. They're going after a certain market and it's supposed to be a certain way". From there we discussed the suggestion that they might actually skunk it in-line prior to packaging for maximum consistency! That said, it does give off a skunky aroma unless you purchase an unopened case... and it's supposed to!

Its crystal clear, deep-gold body reveals tiny, rising bubbles; and its short but creamy bright white head holds fairly well initially but leaves little more than spotty lace. The body is medium and it's crisp in the mouth due to its fine, standard-level carbonation. The flavor displays a grainy malt that's well infused with floral, grassy, and herbal hops that are somewhat murky. No doubt, that's intended as well! The bitterness teeters between being low-key and firm, but generally builds on the palate throughout the glass. It's partially satisfying, but it doesn't really have the bite of say... oh, perhaps, Heineken! Still, at the very least, there are some hops there in both the flavor and the bitterness; and it finishes dry with a lingering herbal hop and bitter note. Overall it's not a bad beer by any stretch, but for what it's intended to be I think it falls a little short. Personally, I'd rather have a perfect, crisp, cool Bud.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2003 03:55:59 | More by NeroFiddled

WesWes

New York

3.58/5  rDev +23.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours a nice golden color with a thick frothy white head that quickly fades to lacing. The aroma is decent. It has a light pale malt scent with a dry lager yeast finish. The taste is decent as well. It has a pale malt flavor with little hops and a dry lager yeast finish. It goes down smooth with good mouthfeel. It is a low bodied beer with good carbonation. This is a fine lager. It tastes much better than most AB products; a good drinker.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2004 21:42:25 | More by WesWes

WVbeergeek

Ohio

3/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: Straw golden color with a decent sized head with an ample amount of lacing formed that sticks around for awhile. Aroma: Sweet grassy grainy tone with the typical Euro lager herbal hop aroma, definitely a marketing campaign to compete with one of the top selling imports Heineken. Taste: Clean grainy sweetness with a nice hop bitterness not bad just has the same characteristic "skunky" tone with those herbal hops in the mix. Mouthfeel: Medium to light bodied strong carbonation. Drinkability: Decent shot at copying a green bottled Euro lager reasonably refreshing just I would rather taste more complex brews than this one.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2004 16:53:09 | More by WVbeergeek

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

Jason

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev +27.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz green bottle with a “Born On Date” for freshness. Thanks to my good buddy John B. for the sample.

Appearance: Quite bubbly during the pour which lead me to think that there is some crispness involved. A patch white head drops some lacing on the glass, clarity is what I expected in a pilsner as well.

Smell: Faint Euro hop aroma, very clean with a neutral grain in the back.

Taste & Mouthfeel: Still a good amount of crispness after a hard pour, moderate body with a malty slickness. Subtle sting of hop bitterness from beginning to middle which eludes to being refreshing. Fresh grassy malted graininess leads the palate from middle to end with a faint lingering hop presence.

Notes: Tastes very similar to a fresh Heineken or Carlsberg from the source, very well done replicating the typical mass-produced Euro Lager.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2004 00:09:07 | More by Jason

Billolick

New York

3.25/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle, with Brewed on dating information. Pours pale and clear with a white head which quickly departs. Large bubbles, light to medium body. Bit of malt detectable, sort of skunky notes. grassy hop flavors. Crisp and refreshing pilsner, goes down easy, lawn mower quaffer at best. Fancy bottle, same crap inside.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2004 12:35:47 | More by Billolick

Zorro

California

2.53/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours a clear gold color. Born On Date was 12 Jan 04.

This bottle has been skunked; there are rumors that it is intended to smell that way, if true Anheuser Bush needs 20 lashes with a CLUE STICK.

Smells malty and a bit like citrus.

Taste is sweet and grainy, tastes like a souped up Budweiser. Slight bit of hops in this.

Mouthfeel is a little better than Bud.

Drinkable but overpriced.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2004 01:54:15 | More by Zorro

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

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

RoyalT

Ohio

2.48/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Appearance – Light yellowish-orange in the body with a moderate head.

Smell – There’s actually a touch of floral hopping to cover the typical Bud grain along with a musty grass aroma.

Taste – Did they finally get it right? Nope. I’ll take this over the regular Bud if for no other reason than the absence of that nasty sucrose taste. But, other than that, you’ve got a slightly mellower grain mixture with a tease of hop flavor.

Mouthfeel – The carbonation is too cheap and fizzy to please the palate, and the ultra-thin body keeps this one from feeling like a real beer.

Drinkability – I’ll take this over a Bud or Bud Light and will probably finish this bottle, but don’t expect any big deviation from the standard American macro fare.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2004 01:31:53 | More by RoyalT

cokes

Wisconsin

2.68/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Golden sheen topped with white froth. Moderate, scattered carbonation.
There's a faint sulphur blast upon opening the bottle, but that seems to vanish once it's poured. Now, there's grain and a strange honeyed artificial vanilla bean sense. Dry, grassy hops in the background.
Grainy in the mouth, but not especially crisp or sharp. Seems to lean a bit sweet, with a near sugar sensation (possible adjuncts?). Then again, it's not especially sweet either. Dry honey towards the middle. Ends grassy and mostly vacant.
Light bodied, drainable and that's about it. Carbonation dies about halfway through.
This is a passable Macro Euro-lager attempt. But who cares?

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2004 19:41:05 | More by cokes

francisweizen

Australia

3.6/5  rDev +24.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The best AB beer iv'e had, by far! Classic golden appearance with a bleached white head of foam. Aromas are of husky grains, lightly floral hops, and juicy malts. Taste is malty up front, with euro-hops in the middle and a nice husky/grainy finish. Mouthfeel is medium bodied and refreshing and the drinkability is great. Like fresh heineken, but a bit better...

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2004 19:41:35 | More by francisweizen

merlin48

Kentucky

3.03/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Cool looking, non-returnable green bottle with born on date of Dec 30, 03. First time I've seen this in my area. Pours a clear, pale yellow. Small white head with an aggressive pour, no head otherwise. Spotty lacing. Very weak aroma, maybe a hint of sweet grain and floral hops. Mouthfeel is crisp and carbonated. Taste is light bodied and well carbonated. Nothing skunky or disagreable. Goes down very easy. A very well balanced weak beer. Am I missing something here? I've had Budweisers with more flavor and aroma. It's more drinkable than a Heineken or a Rolling Rock, but I'm finding this expensive new AB product to be lacking in character and complexity.The label proclaims this to be a "sophisticated continental pilsner". Hmmm. It finishes clean, dry, and a tad bitter. Very drinkable and refreshing, but no significant taste or aroma. Disappointing, especially for the price.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2004 11:58:27 | More by merlin48

Vancer

Illinois

2.63/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Nice looking pour into a pilsner glass. Good carbonation, dense foamy white head – also noted that it was bottled on 11/5/05. Nice lacey on the glass.

Unfortunately, it’s nut cutting time, and it not passing muster. Just some hints of euro yeast, along with some grains – mostly corn. Taste is very bland and unappealing. Only a harsh, earthy tasting brew from AB, certainly not “World Lager”.

I have a feeling this one will die out due to lack of interest. Any euro lager is better than this. Also glad it was a freebie, I'm not going to pay for any of these.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2006 22:06:48 | More by Vancer

Mebuzzard

Colorado

2.48/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Ok, so A/B is courting the world now, eh? Well, I'll give it a shot...at least they're trying to branch out.
I can smell it already. A bit of skunk. Is this deliberate? Are they marketing to Americans who like skunky imports? Or are they trying to grab the "foreign" style? Anyway, not a good smell.
Pours light. Pale yellow body, a good size head...that just went away.
Taste: Hmmm. Like Bud but with a slight twinge to it. More malty? More skunk! Still, not that bad, just a bit weak.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2007 22:43:55 | More by Mebuzzard

mynie

Indiana

3.23/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Surprisingly nice pour. Dark golden with a nice head, very bubbly.

Smells like faint euro hops with grain, along with a hint of Bud-ish malt.

Tastes pretty good, light hops up front, sweet grain and malt in back. No complexity, really. A bitter, slightly soapy aftertaste.

Goes down smooth with a crisp body that's nothing special.

This sixer was worth the $4.00 the grocery store charged, but I wouldn't pay much more.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2004 02:05:31 | More by mynie

GCBrewingCo

North Carolina

3.65/5  rDev +26.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer poured crystal clear pale golden. Not a trace of particulates in the glass at all. The head was essentially not there at all. It retreated in an instant to the edges of the surface and only slightly laced the glass.

The aroma was saaz hops and slight malt, but not much of either. Perhaps a slight Munich malt aroma in the background.

The flavor was crisp and slightly fruity. The munich malt is apparent in the flavor and gives the beer a slight nuttiness.

The finish was dry and fruity. The body was medium to medium light.

I expected a cleaner beer from AB, but it is nice for them to have one out that has some flavor and is above average. The price on this has dropped as of late. I only purchased a single bottle, but the sixer price has dropped over a dollar.

Green 12 ounce bottle. Born on date of December 30, 2003

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2004 00:19:56 | More by GCBrewingCo

Suds

Pennsylvania

3.08/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Honestly, it's about what I expected: mass-market mediocrity, gimmicky concept, all-around average beer.
Pours a deep, gold color with a shiny white head (that doesn't have much staying power). Sweet malt and fresh-cut grass in the aroma...very grassy. Smell could be a little more intense, but it's not all that bad. Slightly malty up front, crisp finish. Not quite as carbonated as I expected.
In summary, it's better than almost all other AB products, but still a disappointment.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2003 00:24:37 | More by Suds

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

2.48/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

Appearance - nice color, orangey gold. Small white head evaporates quickly into nothing and leaves zilch on the glass in the way of lace.

Aroma - Nasty skunk in a damn green bottle. I expected that. Fades to only slightly nasty after a few moments.

Taste - way better than it smells. Decent pilsner, a little on the sweet side. Good flavor with some depth. Even a noticeable hop bite in there. Nice job AB, but *please* put this in cans or brown bottles.

Mouthfeel - fairly crisp and fairly smooth, too. Nice recovery from a poor first impression. Leaves a nice sweet residue.

Drinkability - Some good points, some very bad points. I'd enjoy it much more on tap probably. I guess if I had a sixer I could hold my nose on the pour until the heavy offensive odors dissipate, but better beers are above that, as am I.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2004 16:21:32 | More by brewdlyhooked13

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

cjgator3

Florida

2.48/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Born on date: 20Feb07

12oz green bottle poured into a pint glass. Pours a golden yellow color with a decent looking white head that leaves some sporadic lacing around the edge of the glass. The aroma is grain, some euro hops and a detracting metallic quality. The taste is much like the aroma with some grain and mild hopping. The mouthfeel is extremely thin and watery. Overall, I am not at all impressed with this offering from A-B.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2007 02:25:54 | More by cjgator3