Every year, Super Bowl commercials get about as much attention as the big game—and the ads featured during Super Bowl LVI weren't any different. Some iconic brands that took an advertising break during the pandemic returned to the small screen, including one of America's favorite beer companies: Budweiser. For equestrian lovers everywhere, it's hard for the NFL to compete with the Budweiser Clydesdales. The majestic horses are fan favorites, and in 2022 they were once again paired with man's best friend for the more heartwarming commercial of the year. Budweiser's latest Super Bowl, featuring a Clydesdale and a yellow lab, was first released on social media ahead of the highly anticipated game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams.
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This year's commercial was directed by Academy Award winner Chloé Zhao and is titled "A Clydesdale's Journey." While a shorter version aired on NBC on Super Bowl Sunday, you can catch a glimpse of the full-length video above.
According to a news release from Daniel Blake, Group Vice President of Marketing for Budweiser & Value at Anheuser-Busch, the brand wanted to acknowledge everything Americans have been through during the pandemic in this year's Super Bowl commercial:
"As America's beer, we wanted to come back to the Super Bowl with a message of strength and resilience. Budweiser has a history of supporting the country through difficult times and reminding communities across America that better days are ahead. With this Super Bowl spot, our goal was to highlight the perseverance and determination of the country and depict that by coming together, we can grow and move forward stronger than before."
In the video, one of the iconic Clydesdales is galloping across a field and fails to make his jump over a barbed-wire fence, injuring his legs. His canine friend runs to his side as he falls to the ground. As the commercial follows the horses' recovery, his furry friend is by his side the entire time. The commercial ends on a positive note with the horse running at full speed again with his friend by his side. At the end, the tagline "In the Home of the Brave, Down Never Means Out," flashes across the screen. Is someone cutting onions in here?!
This article was originally published on February 5, 2022.
