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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 MHrfH7HQCzE2a0Pzqj/epmP+rwxbL2WHgD08clridndtaClhrs1SYEzNy/aN92D4
 GnojEhtyWJlT/sX6/EozyQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000310569-04-000018.txt : 20040105
<SEC-HEADER>0000310569-04-000018.hdr.sgml : 20040105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040105123703
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000310569-04-000018
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040105

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EDISON BERNARD A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001185347

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07823
		FILM NUMBER:		04502881

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		220 NORTH FOURTH STREET
		STREET 2:		3RD FLOOR SUITE A
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63102
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3143316501

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ANHEUSER BUSCH COMPANIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000310569
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MALT BEVERAGES [2082]
		IRS NUMBER:				431162835
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE BUSCH PL
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63118-1852
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3147656565

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE BUSCH PL
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63118-1852
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000310569</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ANHEUSER BUSCH COMPANIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BUD</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001185347</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EDISON BERNARD A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>220 NORTH FOURTH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>THIRD FLOOR, SUITE A</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ST. LOUIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>63102-1905</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>1</isOther><otherText>Advisory Director</otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-31</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>181</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>52.575</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>181</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>43624</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-05</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>I</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1155</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>52.575</value></transactionPricePerShare><transa
ctionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1155</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>42469</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">This security converts to common stock on a one-for-one basis.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Phantom Stock Units acquired pursuant to the Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors.  Payable in cash triggered by the earliest of the 
following:  (1)  the date specified by the reporting person, payable in either a lump sum or equal quarterly installments over a period not to exceed ten (10) years as selected by the reporting person; (2) death, payable in a lump sum; or (3) a Change of Control, payable in a lump sum.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Transaction reported represents cash settlement of reporting person's phantom stock unit account under the Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Laura H. Reeves, Attorney-in-Fact for Bernard A. Edison</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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