The Michelob Mix

[The Beer Babe]

I haven't been able to find this yet, but I am eager to try the Michelob Mix pack of their craft beers. I will be reviewing it if I find it. Their website has a lot of information about it and I have to admit to my curiosity.

Believe me I'm not thinking that this will replace my daily variety of craft beer, but I was wondering what your thoughts are on the Bud American Ale (not made with rice by the way) and the Michelob Craft Beers.

Will they hurt the craft beer industry?
Act as a gateway beer to get bud drinkers over to the craft beer world?
And are we all afraid to review them because we might like em?

Discuss!

[Eli the Mad Beer Man]

I'm having an equally hard time finding it out here in Colorado too. I've now been to 3 different liquor stores and none of 'em have it.

[Shawn, the Beer Philosopher]

An interesting subject, indeed. I've written several pieces on these beers lately over on beerphilosopher.com. There were several interesting comments from readers that ensued.

I have tried all of these beers and the Budweiser American Ale in bottles and on draught. While there's nothing astounding there, a couple of them will give most true craft beers a run for their money in terms of quality. I realize that is hard for some die-hard craft beer advocates to fathom, but it is so.

The Pale Ale and the American Ale (an amber) are both quite good, in my opinion. The latter I tried last night on draught and I thought for a moment I was drinking a Goose Island Honker's Ale ... the dry-hopped addition of Cascade hops is really nice ... and obvious. Yes, a full-flavored Budweiser. These beers are "all malt," as you pointed out - no adjuncts.

Another surprise was the Dunkel Weisse. Again, not necessarily terrific, but better than several craft beers of the same style I've tried in recent memory.

I don't believe the core craft beer devotee will migrate over to Michelob, but I do think these beers will have an impact. In particular, I think the lower price tag will attract some who are on the fence. In and of themselves, these are worthy beers. I think the argument that these beers are inferior doesn't hold water (or wort) anymore. This is predudice against A-B, pure and simple. Having said that, I can totally understand a dedicated craft beer fan avoiding these beers for philosophic reasons ... not so much for concerns of quality.

My initial two cents.

[The Beer Babe]

Thanks, and great posts on these, btw. One of the main reasons I want to try these is to lay off of my own anti-AB bias for a while. I love encouraging people to drink new beer, so if I turn my nose up at these without trying them myself, then I feel like I'm being exclusionary - never my goal. And personally I wouldn't mind seeing colors other than clear light yellow in beer glasses while watching a big game at the bar with the boys. Might make an interesting conversation starter, too!

[Virgil G]

Had the American Ale last night... I'm not a fan.

Oddly, I don't mind most of the Michelob's. Their Winters Bourbon Cask Ale two years ago was outstanding, this past year it wasn't as good as I remembered, or it had changed (or I had changed). Amber Bock used to be one of my go-to beers when there was nothing else as good.

I don't like their Ultra line, and see no need for their lager or light lager. If michelob is going to be AB's craft line, then they don't really need to be competing in the macro line. Also, bud doesn't need to compete in that line either.

But it's all about market share. Bud American Ale will sell more because of the Bud name, than Michelob.

[Matt Peters]

The Beer Babe said:

One of the main reasons I want to try these is to lay off of my own anti-AB bias for a while. I love encouraging people to drink new beer, so if I turn my nose up at these without trying them myself, then I feel like I'm being exclusionary.

I totally hear you there. I did sort of slam the American Ale on my blog without having tried it, but I will try as soon as it becomes available.

[Seamus Watson]

I sincerely doubt the faux craft brewed beers will hurt the small guys. Coors produced their Killians Red several years ago, and many other pretenders have been on and off shelves for just as many if not more years. I am gonna take what is likely to be an unfavorable position here, but the Big Breweries (AB, Coors etc... ) have not really produced BAD beers per se, just beers many of us do not favor.Who here did not first taste hops and malt through a sneaky sip of dad's PBR or stand in line for foamy cups of bargain lagers at highschool/college keggers? Those experiences ultimately led us to more complex barleywines, IPA's, and belgians. Ultimately I respect the concept of truth in labeling by Michelob and Budweiser, producing a product that bears their names. What I do find a little bit ironic is that over the last few years AB has been critical of "sweet" ( read MALTY") or "bitter" ( read HOPPY ) beers in several past ad campaigns. Touting their own label as "crisp and refreshing" ( read bland ). And yet now are emulating what they tried to convince the public was inferior.

[theBryon]

I think we should all give these faux craft brews a fair shake. I recently tried and blogged about some made for grocery brews... Not bad, but not great... Bottom line, if it looks, tastes and smells good, then why not enjoy it...

[KegGremlin]

The only beer I'd had previously to buying this pack was the Amber Bock, which is a good beer to take camping. The porter, pale ale, marzen, and wheat were pretty boring and unimpressive. I'd hate to think that I've sorta become a beer snob, but I do what my palate tells me to.