The "America" branding will of course coincide with this year's Rio Olympics, for which Budweiser is an official sponsor. It is also the 240th American Independence Day on July 4.
Here's to America the beautiful. Hold her high this summer. #ThisBudsForYou pic.twitter.com/puATIxT0Th
— Budweiser (@Budweiser) May 10, 2016
The new labelling will feature the de facto motto of the United States, "E Pluribum Unum" and lyrics from the famous folk song "This Land is Your Land" by Woody Guthrie, "from the redwood forest to the Gulf stream waters this land was made for you and me."
Quite what the renowned communist singer would have made of his lyrics being used to promote a multinational corporation however, is difficult to say.
@garywhitta I just… what…why…oh nooo….
— Kim Swift (@K2theSwift) May 10, 2016
This is not the first time Budweiser has used its branding to capitalize on US patriotism — last year, a limited edition design featured the statue of liberty, and they've been known to use the stars and stripes on their cans too.
A number of other popular brands have targeted the nationalist dollar over the years, most notably Coca-Cola, who've implemented a few patriotic packaging designs in various countries.
If Budweiser is now called "America", when do they make America great again?
— Kick (@MatthewKick) May 10, 2016
One of the most famous examples of patriotic rebranding in the US though, wasn't implemented by any specific corporation, rather the cafeteria of the US Congress. Following France's opposition to the Iraq war in 2003, French Fries were actually renamed as "Freedom Fries" in certain restaurant chains, although the practice died out as support for the war in Iraq waned.
Wake me up when they change the name of America to Budweiser.
— Luke O'Neil (@lukeoneil47) May 10, 2016
The new design will run from May 23 through to the election season in November, and will sit alongside a TV ad campaign entitled "America is in your hands."
