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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 4MBllWjk6EQZ5Sl1tGtqbw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179834-03-000006.txt : 20030617
<SEC-HEADER>0001179834-03-000006.hdr.sgml : 20030617
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030617122638
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179834-03-000006
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030616
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030617

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STOKES PATRICK T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001179834

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07823
		FILM NUMBER:		03746893

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ANHEUSER-BUSCH COMPANIES, INC.
		STREET 2:		ONE BUSCH PLACE
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63118-1852
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3147656565

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ANHEUSER-BUSCH COMPANIES, INC.
		STREET 2:		ONE BUSCH PLACE
		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>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-16</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000310569</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ANHEUSER BUSCH COMPANIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BUD</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001179834</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STOKES PATRICK T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock ($1 par value)</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-06-16</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>8132</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>12.0185</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>24288</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership
><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock ($1 par value)</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-06-16</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>F</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1825</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>53.56</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>22463</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securi
tyTitle><value>Employee Stock Options (Right to Buy) - ISO</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>12.0185</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-16</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>8132</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1994-12-15</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2003-12-14</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>8132</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwn
edFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">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><footnote id="F2">Mr. Stokes also holds the following shares of Common Stock ($1 par value) (subject to footnote 1 above):   351,252 I
ndirect - held by Family Limited Partnership (Beneficial ownership of these shares is disclaimed); 15,645 Indirect - by Trust (The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of shares held by the Trust except to the extent of his and his wife's pecuniary interest therein.); 38,352 Indirect - by 401(K) Plan (based on latest plan statement as of April 1, 2003); 122 Indirect - by spouse's trust. </footnote><footnote id="F3">Options vested over three years beginning one year following the date of grant (12/15/1993).  The date provided represents the first year of vesting.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Laura H. Reeves, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-17</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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