The biggest beer brands, Budweiser and Heineken, had opposite outcomes in China in 2025. Budweiser Brewing APAC, part of Anheuser-Busch InBev, saw its biggest profit drop since 2020. CEO Yanjun Chen admitted, "Our performance in China in 2025 was below our potential." Meanwhile, Heineken said China ranked among its top three profit sources. CEO Dolf van den Brink called it "an absolute success story." Experts say this happens because more Chinese people are drinking beer at home instead of bars and restaurants. Both brands aim at premium beer buyers but with different strategies. Budweiser, entering China in 1995, focused on bars, pubs, and upscale restaurants where profits are bigger. In 2015, Budweiser APAC held nearly 50% of China's premium beer market, according to Euromonitor. The economic slowdown seems to push drinkers toward cheaper, home options, favoring Heineken’s approach in the current market.