Budweiser Harvest Reserve by Anheuser-Busch InBev is an American Lager and is being evaluated as an American Lager (category 1B from the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). American Lagers are known for their light flavor profile, low bitterness and high attenuation. Harvest Reserve is brewed with a 100% barley grist and was co-created with Anheuser-Busch’s family of barley farmers.
Harvest Reserve pours dark golden in color with a crystal clear clarity and a small finely-beaded, off-white head. The aroma is prominently malty with a moderate-light bready maltiness; no hops or esters are evident. The flavor is again prominently toasted and bready malt with just a hint of spicy hops. The bitterness is very low and the finish lingers with a light bready malt flavor. The beer is medium-light bodied, well-carbonated, clean and crisp.
This is a well-brewed, crisp and clean lager. The color and malt intensity are a little high for the American Lager style but are welcomed. The malt flavor is well-done: toasted and bready with a hint of bread crusts but lacking any sweetness. A little more hop intensity would be welcomed to balance this increased malt intensity but perhaps that would push the beer towards a different style. Perhaps think of this beer as a light Helles Bock.