Budweiser American Ale

[Shawn, the Beer Philosopher]

For those who are interested, here is what the new Budweiser American Ale bottle looks like. It's an amber ale with a very "British" influenced palate, in my opinion. The info says this one is dry-hopped with cascade hops ... I don't find it in the nose, though (read my re-evaluation below. The second bottle was much better than the first, proving the fact that one should never review a beer based on a single sample and expect an accurate assessment to result).

I'll post a review in the days to come. This is set to be released on draught on September 15th and in bottles on September 29th.

[Rob DeNunzio]

Bill liked it...

[theBryon]

Must admit, I was intrigued when I saw the TV commercial.

side bar: I think Bud is trying too hard with the American themed commercials during the Olympics though...

[Shawn, the Beer Philosopher]

I just posted a piece about the new Budweiser American Ale on beerphilosopher.com.

Digg it if you will.

[Rob DeNunzio]

+2 for punny title

The Beer Philosopher said:

I just posted a piece about the new Budweiser American Ale on beerphilosopher.com.

Digg it if you will.

[Shawn, the Beer Philosopher]

Rob DeNunzio said:

+2 for punny title

The Beer Philosopher said:

I just posted a piece about the new Budweiser American Ale on beerphilosopher.com.

Digg it if you will.

Thanks! I try.

Speaking of trying, I sat down last night to give this beer a proper tasting. I tried to remain as objective as humanly possible. I have to say I agree with Bill. This is a solid, flavorful amber ale. I'm not too keen on A-B's attempt to deem this a new style sub-category, but it is a worthy amber ale. The dry-hopping with cascades add a nice nose up-front. I'm no big fan of standard amber ales, but this one is as good as many and beeter than some - including crafts.

[Virgil G]

Bud's entire problem is that they have no idea what the "craft beer market" is.

When was the last time any of you had the same beer twice in a night? The last time you had beers, how many styles did you have? How many different breweries did you have?

Bud is thinking they are going to put out a good beer, and suddenly, we'll all stop drinking varied beers, and just drink the one.

That AIN'T gonna happen. (bold for rob)

We'll all probably try it. We'll all say, it isn't that bad. But, right after that, we'll all go back to drinking something really interesting.

Bud is in the game of moving 6/12/24 packs of beer. The only time I buy that much of one beer is if I'm locking it away in my basement until the end of time. I don't think they understand that about me/us.

[Shawn, the Beer Philosopher]

Virgil G said:

Bud's entire problem is that they have no idea what the "craft beer market" is.

When was the last time any of you had the same beer twice in a night? The last time you had beers, how many styles did you have? How many different breweries did you have?

Bud is thinking they are going to put out a good beer, and suddenly, we'll all stop drinking varied beers, and just drink the one.

That AIN'T gonna happen. (bold for rob)

We'll all probably try it. We'll all say, it isn't that bad. But, right after that, we'll all go back to drinking something really interesting.

Bud is in the game of moving 6/12/24 packs of beer. The only time I buy that much of one beer is if I'm locking it away in my basement until the end of time. I don't think they understand that about me/us.

Virgil, I really believe you're onto something significant here. You're precisely right - I seldom, if ever, drink more than one or two of the same beer at a sitting. When I do, it's more for the purpose of "formal" review than any other reason. Craft beer lovers don't live in a monochrome world and to expect some level of uniformity in the beer drinking habits of most craft beer folk would certainly be a fool's errand. I think this is why A-B-InBev is really targeting the "transitional" drinker with BAA. Those guys that have enjoyed Bud lager for years, but always give the A-B produced niche-beers a try when they come out. Or Blue Moon ... or Killian's. You get the idea.

I don't think that A-B really believes they're gonna sway die-hard craft beer fans to give up their crafts for BAA. Rather, they hope to steal just a little bit of market share away by swaying some of those who are "experimenters" toward the new, more flavorful Budweiser. They want to keep them in the fold, so to speak, instead of losing them to true craft beers down the road.

Still, your point is well taken. Does anyone who is genuinely "in" to beer stick with one beer? Maybe a few, not many. And that doesn't build a brand.

[Corbin Choate]

I agree. As much as I dislike AB, I'm willing to at least try it. If I like it maybe I'll slip it into my rotation from time to time.

The Beer Philosopher said:

Virgil G said:

Bud's entire problem is that they have no idea what the "craft beer market" is.

When was the last time any of you had the same beer twice in a night? The last time you had beers, how many styles did you have? How many different breweries did you have?

Bud is thinking they are going to put out a good beer, and suddenly, we'll all stop drinking varied beers, and just drink the one.

That AIN'T gonna happen. (bold for rob)

We'll all probably try it. We'll all say, it isn't that bad. But, right after that, we'll all go back to drinking something really interesting.

Bud is in the game of moving 6/12/24 packs of beer. The only time I buy that much of one beer is if I'm locking it away in my basement until the end of time. I don't think they understand that about me/us.

Virgil, I really believe you're onto something significant here. You're precisely right - I seldom, if ever, drink more than one or two of the same beer at a sitting. When I do, it's more for the purpose of "formal" review than any other reason. Craft beer lovers don't live in a monochrome world and to expect some level of uniformity in the beer drinking habits of most craft beer folk would certainly be a fool's errand. I think this is why A-B-InBev is really targeting the "transitional" drinker with BAA. Those guys that have enjoyed Bud lager for years, but always give the A-B produced niche-beers a try when they come out. Or Blue Moon ... or Killian's. You get the idea.

I don't think that A-B really believes they're gonna sway die-hard craft beer fans to give up their crafts for BAA. Rather, they hope to steal just a little bit of market share away by swaying some of those who are "experimenters" toward the new, more flavorful Budweiser. They want to keep them in the fold, so to speak, instead of losing them to true craft beers down the road.

Still, your point is well taken. Does anyone who is genuinely "in" to beer stick with one beer? Maybe a few, not many. And that doesn't build a brand.

[Virgil G]

Jeff Alworth, of Beervana, said:



The irony and pathos of calling it "American Ale" should be lost on no one, however. No doubt it will be derided by the craft beer community as "Brussels-made American Ale," or "American-style Ale," or somesuch. I hope that I have broken the ice. Feel free to contribute your own variation in comments.

American-style Ale... hehehehehe

[William Brand]

The American Ale is Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Not to say it's the best (although I've always been a big fan) or it was the first. That honor goes to Anchor Steam. But Sierra Nevada's sold just about everywhere in the U.S. and set a standard for craft beer.

[Eli the Mad Beer Man]

Virgil G said:

When was the last time any of you had the same beer twice in a night? The last time you had beers, how many styles did you have? How many different breweries did you have?
Bud is thinking they are going to put out a good beer, and suddenly, we'll all stop drinking varied beers, and just drink the one.
That AIN'T gonna happen. (bold for rob)

You hit it right on the head. In fact, I was just talking about this very thing with our FedEx rep today (who happens to be a big home brewer)... I don't like one beer enough to drink a whole keg of it! Right at this very moment my beer fridge probably has -- I kid you not -- at least 30+ different beers in it. And that's going to increase by another 20 or so come Sunday (big beer run to Daveco Liquors in Denver, the worlds' largest liquor store with supposedly some 1,500 different beers available -- or so I've been told). I will not EVER buy a 24 pack of anything. Ever. It takes a party for me to buy more than a sixer. InA-Bev just don't get it.

After reading everyone's comments though... I am curious to try this new InA-Bev "ale."

[Shawn, the Beer Philosopher]

Eli the Mad Beer Man said:

Virgil G said:

When was the last time any of you had the same beer twice in a night? The last time you had beers, how many styles did you have? How many different breweries did you have?
Bud is thinking they are going to put out a good beer, and suddenly, we'll all stop drinking varied beers, and just drink the one.
That AIN'T gonna happen. (bold for rob)

You hit it right on the head. In fact, I was just talking about this very thing with our FedEx rep today (who happens to be a big home brewer)... I don't like one beer enough to drink a whole keg of it! Right at this very moment my beer fridge probably has -- I kid you not -- at least 30+ different beers in it. And that's going to increase by another 20 or so come Sunday (big beer run to Daveco Liquors in Denver, the worlds' largest liquor store with supposedly some 1,500 different beers available -- or so I've been told). I will not EVER buy a 24 pack of anything. Ever. It takes a party for me to buy more than a sixer. InA-Bev just don't get it.

After reading everyone's comments though... I am curious to try this new InA-Bev "ale."

I like that ... "InA-Bev." Clever.