The light beer market is seemingly endless, saturated with countless options. What makes light beers unique, and how are Corona Light and Bud Light different? What are the differences between them?
The difference between Corona Light and Bud Light is the taste and ingredients. Corona Light is a pilsner-style beer with a light malt taste and subtle hop notes. Bud Light has a sweet taste and aroma with a bready flavor. The two beers have similar calories: 99 and 110, respectively. Corona Light has a 4% ABV whereas Bud Light has a 4.2% ABV.
Read on for more detailed information on the differences between Corona Light and Bud Light, including ingredients, history, and taste.
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Corona Light vs Bud Light comparison overview
Corona Light and Bud Light are two very different beers, but their respective mass appeal makes each of them a hit amongst most light beer drinkers, especially Bud Light.
Bud Light is the most popular light beer. Corona Light is the best light option if your favorite beer is Corona Extra. Both beers compete with each other for market share, but Corona Light has not come close to Bud Light.
The following information is based on 12-ounce servings:
| Comparison | Corona Light | Bud Light |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 99 | 110 |
| Carbs | 4.8 grams | 6.6 grams |
| ABV | 4% | 4.2% |
| Ingredients | Water, barley malt, hops, yeast, and non-malted cereals | Water, barley, yeast, rice, hops |
| Taste | Light and crisp, light malt and slight hoppiness | Crisp, sweet, light, carbonated |
| Aroma | Sweet honey and fruit, malty | Bready malt |
| Cost | $11 per 6-pack | $10 per 6-pack |
| Popularity | One of the most popular light beers; 1.2 million barrels shipped, 0.6% market share (2017; sales increased after 2020 but specific data is not yet available) | Most popular beer in the country; 33 million barrels shipped, 15.4% market share (2019) |
| History | First released in 1989 | First released in 1982 as Budweiser Light |
What is the difference between Corona Light and Bud Light?
These two beers have similar foundations and even taste somewhat the same. There is, however, variation in taste, aroma, calorie count, and more between them. The rest of this article will detail the two beers’ differences in greater depth.
The main differences between Corona Light and Bud Light are the:
- Corona Light vs Bud Light calories
- Corona Light vs Bud Light carbs
- Corona Light vs Bud Light alcohol content (ABV)
- Corona Light vs Bud Light ingredients
- Corona Light vs Bud Light taste, flavors, and aroma
- Cost
- Popularity and sales
- History
The quantifiable differences reside in the calories, carbs, ABV, and ingredients. Other, more up-in-the-air differences between Corona Light and Bud Light are in the beers’ tastes and aromas.
We’ll also catch you up on the history of each beer including how and when each brand came to be.
Corona Light
Corona Light has become one of the most popular light beers on the market. It’s a light beer brand from Grupo Modelo, a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev.
Corona Light was first brewed in 1989 as a light version of Corona Extra. In 2017, it was the 24th most popular beer in the United States. According to data, 95% of beer drinkers are familiar with the brand. Its competitors are other light beers like Coors Light, Miller Lite, and Michelob Ultra.
Corona Light is available in 12-ounce slim cans and 12-ounce bottles. It has quickly become a popular and low-calorie alternative to Corona Extra and is available nationwide.
Calories, carbs, and other nutrition facts
Corona Light is a light beer designed to have minimal calories and carbs.
Corona Light has 99 calories with 4.8 grams of carbs in one 12-ounce serving. It has zero grams of fat.
For context, Corona Extra has 153 calories per 12-ounce serving with 13 grams of carbs.
Alcohol Content (ABV)
Because Corona Light is a light beer with few calories and carbs, it also has a lower alcohol content than bost beers.
Corona Light has a 4% ABV with 18 IBUs. It is slightly bitter.
This ABV puts it on the lower end even among light beers.
Ingredients
This beer is brewed with the usual beer ingredients – nothing out of the ordinary.
Corona Light is brewed with water, barley malt, hops, yeast, and non-malted cereals.
Taste, flavors, and aroma
This is a refreshing beer with a crisp taste that pairs well with a lime garnish and a hot summer day.
Corona Light has a light bread taste from the malt used. The overall flavor is muted because of the reduced use of ingredients in the beer.
Corona Light is a pilsner-style beer.
Cost
The average cost of this beer is higher than some other light beer products because it’s an import with high demand.
Corona Light costs $11 on average for a 6-pack. It’s mostly sold in slim 12-ounce cans and regular 12-ounce bottles.
Other packing options include 12 and 24 packs of cans and bottles, or single 24 oz. cans.
Popularity and sales
This is one of the most popular light import beers on the market, and almost everyone has at least heard of Corona Light.
According to YouGovAmerica, Corona Light is the 14th most popular beer in the country with a 95% fame rate (almost everyone in the country that can drink beer has at least heard of it).
Corona Light has a rating of 49 out of 100 (Awful) on Beer Advocate.
History
As the demand for beers with fewer calories surged throughout the 80s, Corona followed suit and developed one of its own.
Corona Light was first brewed in 1989 as a light version of Corona Extra.
Corona Extra itself was first brewed in 1925 and quickly became Mexico’s best-selling beer.
Bud Light
Bud Light is the most readily available beer in the U.S. If you go to a restaurant or bar, there’s almost a 100% chance that Bud Light will be available on draft or in cans or bottles.
Bud Light was first brewed in 1982 as a light version of Budweiser. In 1984, Anheuser-Busch rebranded it to Bud Light. In 2019, Bud Light was the best-selling beer in the United States in terms of barrels shipped and market share among other beer brands. Its primary competitors are Coors Light, Miller Lite, and Michelob Ultra.
Bud Light has 110 calories and is known for its drinkability and easy-going taste.
Calories, carbs, and other nutrition facts
Bud Light is a light lager with few calories and carbs.
Bud Light contains 110 calories with 6.6 grams of carbs and zero grams of fat in one 12-ounce serving.
Alcohol Content (ABV)
Bud Light is brewed with fewer ingredients than Budweiser for a lower calorie count resulting in a low ABV.
Bud Light has a 4.2% alcohol by volume.
Light beers generally have an ABV range of 4-4.5%
Ingredients
Anheuser-Busch doesn’t disclose the exact recipe for Bud Light, but it lets us in on the basic ingredients.
Bud Light is brewed with water, barley, hops, rice, and yeast.
The specifications of each of these ingredients are not made public but have everything to do with the final product.
Taste, flavors, and aroma
Bud Light is one of the most popular beers in the country, so it must taste like liquid gold, right?
Bud Light has slightly sweet and bready malt aromas. It has medium carbonation and a thin mouthfeel. It tastes the same way it smells with a hint of sugary sweetness and a malt flavor. The hop flavor is present in the taste but not overwhelming. It is not bitter.
Bud Light should be drunk ice cold and can be served in its original packaging or a pint glass.
Cost
The average price for Bud Light is reasonable. It varies depending on location and can increase over the years.
The average price for a 6-pack of Bud Light is around $10.
Bud Light is available in a variety of packages, including 25 oz. tall cans, 24 and 12-pack cases of bottles, and 12 and 30-packs of cans. It’s available on draft just about anywhere in the US.
Popularity and sale
On the list of popular beers, Bud Light frequently takes the number one spot.
Bud Light is the most popular beer in the country in terms of sales and barrels shipped. In 2019 alone, Bud Light shipped 27.2 million barrels nationwide.
Bud Light is more popular than its main competitors, Coors Light and Miller Lite.
History
In 1982 Bud Light was first sold as Budweiser Light. In 1984, its name changed to Bud Light.
Bud Light was brewed as a light version of Budweiser to meet the increasing light beer demand.
Want to know how Bud Light stacks up to Coors Light? Check out this article!