Busch Light Apple is coming back in 2026. What we know

Harvest season approaches for fans of Busch Light Apple, as the popular flavored beer that crops up occasionally is returning.

However, Anheuser-Busch, which owns the Busch brand, as well as Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob Ultra and others, is being coy about the return of Busch Light Apple. The flavored lager, initially launched in July 2020, is returning to store shelves, but the timing remains a secret.

For now, the beer giant is simply planting a seed with Busch Apple Light lovers.

“Listening to our fans and giving them what they want is always our top priority. To let them know we’ve heard them loud and clear – Busch Light Apple is coming back in 2026," said Krystyn Stowe, head of marketing for the Busch family and Natural family for Anheuser-Busch, in a statement to USA TODAY. "While we’re not spilling all the apples just yet, fans can look forward to the same refreshing-to-the-core, cold and smooth sip that they know and love.”

Busch Light Apple comes and goes like McRib

Busch Light Apple's on-again, off-again presence is similar to that of McDonald's McRib, a sandwich that regularly crops up on the fast food giant's menu for limited stints to the joy of devotees, wrote Dave Infante in a story entitled "Busch Light Apple Is the McRib of Beer," on VinePair, a news outlet covering wine, beer and spirits.

Anheuser-Busch launched Busch Light Apple in 2020, and it returned for limited time periods in 2021 and 2022, before an availability gap until May 2025. During its time on shelves, the beverage captured more market share during its first month available than any other brand and sold 1.2 million cases, according to Anheuser-Busch.

The success of Busch Light Apple has 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 released Michelob Ultra Zero Lime, an extension of its popular non-alcoholic brand.

The "tactical" releases of Busch Light Apple have "clearly paid off" for Anheuser-Busch, while at the same time not diluting the flagship Busch Light brand, Dave Williams, vice president of analytics and insight for Bump Williams Consulting, a Connecticut firm that specializes in the alcoholic beverage industry, told USA TODAY.

"Plus, the limited time window keeps the excitement and demand intact for the next drop," he said.

An educated guess on Busch Light Apple's 2026 return? Think about this spring toward the end of April.

Anheuser-Busch announced the beer's return last year on April 29, 2025. That timing helped sales spike in May 2025, "perhaps getting ahead of other Summer-oriented launches and promotions," Williams said.

Mike Snider is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at  mikegsnider  &  @mikegsnider.bsky.social  &  @mikesnider & [email protected].