(Courtesy Anheuser-Busch)

This year’s beer commercials, all of them from Anheuser-Busch, the” Official Beer Sponsor of the NFL,”  leaned heavily into nostalgic storytelling and  big personalities.

From Budweiser’s prideful tribute to America and friendship, to Bud Light’s slapstick wedding chase and Michelob’s active-lifestyle spin, these ads weren’t just about marketing beers — they were hoping to tap into a larger cultural moment.

And in that arena, they mostly scored.

Budweiser — “American Icons”

At the heart of this ad is a friendship between a Clydesdale and a bald eagle, a bond that serves as a symbol of Budweiser’s long-standing connection to the American story.

“American Icons” opens with a Clydesdale foal peering from its stable. He emerges to explore the world beyond before spotting a baby bird, tousled and chirping next to an overturned tree. Curious, he approaches, but turns away as “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd begins to play while the bird looks on longingly, eager to befriend him.

When a storm rolls in, the foal returns, standing over the bird to shield it from the rain, marking the beginning of a lasting friendship.

To bring “American Icons” to life, Budweiser worked with Academy Award-nominated filmmaker and Emmy Award-winning commercial director Henry-Alex Rubin for the third year in a row. The 60-second in-game spot was one the commercial highlight of Super Bowl LX .

Unapologetically sentimental, this year’s Budweiser commercial was as warming as it is welcome, and Anheuser-Busch absolutely nailed it.

(Courtesy Anheuser-Busch / Bud Light)

Bud Light — “Keg”

“Keg” was a kinetic, chaotic whirlwind that turned a wedding reception into a rollicking chase featuring Peyton Manning, Post Malone, and Shane Gillis in hot pursuit of a runaway keg that at the wedding the three were attending.

The clever juxtaposition — the solemnity of a wedding with the absurdity of a beer chase — was enjoyably on brand.

Bud Light doubled down on its reputation as the beer for good times and questionable decisions, and the result was hilarious. Hell, halfway through the spot you found yourself smiling even if you’re not a beer drinker..

Michelob Ultra — “The ULTRA Instructor”

Michelob Ultra returned to Super Bowl LX with a spot that felt more like a mini-movie than a beer commercial. Starring Kurt Russell as a ski-savvy mentor teaching Lewis Pullman’s Greg how to conquer powder and self-doubt.

Set to the unmistakable pump-up anthem “Eye of the Tiger,” the training montage unfolds on the slopes, where Pullman’s underdog transformation starts turning heads, including Olympic gold medal snowboarder Chloe Kim, and Olympian and NHL champion T.J. Oshie.

(Courtesy Anheuser-Busch)

The spot which was directed by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick, F1) and some of the best moments—like Russell’s line “find your inner Greg”—were improvised.

Bottom Line

All three of Anheuser-Busch’s 2026  beer commercials were memorable in their own unique ways, and all three of them were well received.

Budweiser’s “American Icons” was the top-rated beer ad of Super Bowl 2026, finishing #1 overall on the USA TODAY Ad Meter. Michelob Ultra’s “The ULTRA Instructor” came in at #5 and Bud Light’s “Keg”at #9.

So, definitely, marketing money well spent.

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