Germany: Budweiser beer to restart sales in Germany as Anheuser-Busch Bud

Decades after a legal dispute over the beer brands Bud and Bit, the world's largest brewing group, AB InBev, is bringing its lager beer back to the German market under the name Anheuser-Busch Bud, Yahoo! Finance reported.

The launch will begin with a supermarket chain, the German subsidiary of the brewer said on October 22. Additional retailers and bars are expected to follow in 2026.

Anheuser-Busch Bud will be brewed within the European Union, the company said. After the Belgian group InBev acquired Anheuser-Busch in 2008, the lager beer was no longer sold in Germany’s pilsner-dominated beer market.

AB InBev sees growing demand for international lagers in Germany and aims to capitalize on this trend with the reintroduction of its globally known beer. The move reaffirms the company's commitment to the highly competitive German beer market, it said.

German-born brewers Eberhard Anheuser and Adolphus Busch began brewing their lager beer in the United States in 1876.

The return to Germany of the beer, which by company estimates is now sold in more than 80 countries worldwide, follows numerous trademark disputes.

The family-owned Bitburger Brewery filed suit in Germany charging that its flagship beer known as Bit could be easily confused with Bud. Judges ruled in favour of Bitburger, but said the competitor beer could be sold under the name Anheuser-Busch Bud.

There were also legal disputes with the Czech brewery Budweiser Budvar (Budejovicky Budvar) in numerous countries as the name Budweiser originates from the historical German name of the brewery's home city, Budweis, and over sales at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, which was hosted by Germany and where the US company had secured rights.