Beer Pairings: What to Eat with IPA, Pilsner, Stout, Pale Ale
Pairing the right beer with the right food will help you enjoy a better meal. This is your guide to pairing food with the perfect beer.
Problem solved, USA TODAY
Harvest season is upon us for Busch Light Apple fans, and the popular flavored beer is making a comeback from time to time.
But Anheuser-Busch, which owns the Busch brand along with Budweiser, Bud Light, and Michelob Ultra, is reluctant to revive the Busch Light Apple. First launched in July 2020, the flavored lager is returning to shelves, but the timing remains a secret.
For now, the beer giant is just planting seeds for Busch Apple Light enthusiasts.
“Listening to our fans and giving them what they want has always been our top priority. To let our fans know we heard them loud and clear, Busch Light Apple will be back in 2026,” Kristin Stowe, head of marketing for Anheuser-Busch’s Busch and Natural families, said in a statement to USA TODAY. “We haven’t spilled all the apples yet, but fans can look forward to the crisp, cool, smooth bites they’re so well known for.”
Bush light apples come and go like the McRib
Busch Light Apple’s on-again and off-again presence is similar to that of McDonald’s McRib, writes Dave Infante in an article titled “Busch Light Apple is the McRib of beer” for wine, beer and spirits news organization VinePair.
Anheuser-Busch launched Busch Light Apple in 2020 and brought it back for a limited time in 2021 and 2022, but then it was out of stock until May 2025. Anheuser-Busch said the drink gained more market share in its first month on shelves than any other brand, selling 1.2 million cases during its time on shelves.
The success of Bud Light Apple led to the release of other flavored beers, including Busch Light Peach Lager in June 2023 and Busch Light Lime in June 2025. Earlier this month, Anheuser-Busch launched Michelob UltraZero Lime, an extension of its popular non-alcoholic brand.
While the “tactical” release of Busch Light Apple was “clearly a win” for Anheuser-Busch, it didn’t dilute the value of its flagship Busch Light brand, Dave Williams, vice president of analytics and insights at Bump Williams Consulting, a Connecticut firm specializing in the alcoholic beverage industry, told USA TODAY.
“Additionally, the limited time frame maintains the excitement and demand for the next drop,” he said.
Do you have an educated guess about Busch Light Apple’s return in 2026? As we head towards the end of April, think back to this spring.
Anheuser-Busch announced last year that it would bring back the beer on April 29, 2025. That timing contributed to the sales spike in May 2025, “probably ahead of other summer launches and promotions,” Williams said.
Mike Snyder is a national trends news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, and X, and email him at: mike snyder & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com.
