-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SqF9urOfCFtzu/tWMvpTwpT4gIAPFNumR1tpWb3xAlH/6AJTRoxeL8tIAflmr2aK
 5+gg5w0soDu2Iw+VIwe98A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000310569-04-000030.txt : 20040107
<SEC-HEADER>0000310569-04-000030.hdr.sgml : 20040107
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040107100048
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000310569-04-000030
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040105
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040107

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SHELTON GENERAL HENRY HUGH
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001168683

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07823
		FILM NUMBER:		04511892

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5008 SWINTON DR
		CITY:			FAIRFAX
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22032
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7033181900X128

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>2004-01-05</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000310569</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ANHEUSER BUSCH COMPANIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BUD</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001168683</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SHELTON GENERAL HENRY HUGH</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5008 SWINTON DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FAIRFAX</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>22032</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock ($1 par value)</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2004-01-05</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1045</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>52.655</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3384</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></directOrIndirectOwnership><natur
eOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Shares acquired in lieu of cash for 2004 annual retainer fee pursuant to the Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. Non-Employee Director Elective Stock Acquisition Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F2">In connection with the Rights Agreement adopted by the Company, Preferred Stock Purchase Rights were distributed to shareholders and are deemed to be attached to the shares of Common Stock of the Company listed on this Form.  One-quarter of a Preferred Stock Purchase Right is attached to each share of common stock.  If and when the Rights become exercisable, the holder of each Right initially would be entitled to purchase one one-hundredth of a share of Series Junior B Participating Preferred Stock at a purchase price of $195 (both the number of fractional shares and the purchase price are subject to adjustment).</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Laura H. Ree
ves, Attorney-in-Fact for (General U.S. Army (Retired)) Henry Hugh Shelton</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-07</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----