Last Call for Bud Light

The Fall and Future of America's Favorite Beer

De: Anson Frericks

Narrado por: Kirby Heyborne

The astonishing inside story of how Bud Light lost its position as the most popular beer in the United States from a longtime Anheuser-Busch executive.

Anson Frericks, a former president at Anheuser-Busch—formerly the home of America’s most popular brewery—watched as the company unraveled at the hands of globe-trotting financiers and progressive middle management.

Rather than pursue shareholder profits, Anheuser-Busch suddenly became focused on stakeholder capitalism and the vague mandates of environment, social, and governance (ESG). This ill-advised change cumulated in the shocking evaporation of $30 billion in market cap after releasing an advertising campaign starring political activist Dylan Mulvaney.

Now, Anheuser-Busch’s evolution and its subsequent fallout is brought to light as never before with this ultimate insider’s look. Compelling, candid, and eye-opening, Last Call for Bud Light is the unforgettable story of the downfall and future of an American icon.

©2025 Anson Frericks (P)2025 Simon & Schuster Audio

Loved the history and back story

Loved the history and business back story of Bud and Bud Light. Very interesting and informative.

The Most Expensive Can of Beer ..... Ever

The title, admittedly, is crafted for shock value.

Young Mr Frericks came to AB just as I was departing for the 3rd time. I wanted to hear a point of view about the best company I ever worked for that was different than my own.

What i got was a concise, objective account of the trajectory that a storied American Company that was, in its heyday, simply marvelous to work for.

If you have ties to AB (classic or InBev), this is a MUST READ. Anyone else will gain a unique perspective of an HBS educated Young Turk that navigated the storm of the last decade well.

Congrats, Mr Frericks

Great breakdown of the post AB sale to InBev

Great read. Couldn’t put it down. Enjoyed the stats and stories regarding the demise of a great company with a rich history.

Very interesting explanation of corporate incompetence and madness.

Very well written and logically explained by someone who was on the inside. A fast and interesting read! I’ve been baffled by corporate behavior over the last few years, and now I better understand thanks to Mr. Frericks.

Good history lesson!

I like that the author did not dwell too much on his personal impressive career.

The business of business is business

This is a case study proving Milton Friedman was right and pinning a business’s mission to unrelated social goals is bad for business AND society.

It’s also an engaging listen and is sympathetic to both conservatives and progressives. Its criticism is reserved for the assholes from Belgium who never learned anything about the US and cynically used social justice to obscure their incompetence at working with and selling to Americans.

The last 4 chapters

The beginning was boring lots of unnecessary information still worth the listen I have no more to say but it’s making me with a work minimum