How about that Bud American Ale?

[Andy]

Sooooo....what do you guys think about Bud American Ale? I bought some from Wal-Mart a few weeks ago for around $6.75. I thought it was a good beer. Not something I would seek out, but if it was the only thing around...I'd drink it.

[Eli the Mad Beer Man]

We've been talking bout this at Beer Tap TV. As much as I hate InBud (or InA-Bev).... the Ale isn't bad. I would actually drink this in a pinch. Whereas I would never touch the Lager - ever. For any reason. I'd drink soda before regular ole Bud.

[Ragutiene]

I only tried it out of morbid curiosity.
The concept of Budweiser making a "craft" brew makes me sick kind of, but I have to admit the beer itself isn't as bad as I imagined.
If I hadn't known it was Bud I never would have guessed.

[Deege]

I tried one at the GABF. I was underwhelmed. It wasn't an offensive beer. It just was. There was nothing special about it, and I thought the mouthfeel was a bit thin. I'll order it when I'm somewhere where the choice is Bud, Bud Light and Bud Ale. Other than that I won't seek it out.

[Chipper Dave]

I gave it a try also. Bud is trying to hit you up side the face with hops which help but it doesn't make it an outstanding beer - just ok. If someone offered one to me and I didn't know what it was then I'd probably think it was an "interesting" beer. Not sure if I'd drink more than one but then again after sampling a lot of other beers before it - my taste buds were a bit overwhelmed and can easily be fooled.

[Shawn, the Beer Philosopher]

I thought this topic might elicit some impassioned responses.

When A-B first sent out the samples of Budweiser American Ale back in August, I was skeptical. My skepticism wasn't whether this would be a drinkable beer or not - as I knew it would certainly be - rather, I was skeptical about whether this new ale with the storied moniker "Budweiser" would be unique enough to capture some interest from the craft beer faithful (which, I might add, is not their primary target in my opinion). I sampled my two bottles with as much objectivity as I could muster and was underwhelmed, much like others have noted.

But, that's not the end of the story.

After Bud American Ale was released on draught on Sept. 15th, I decided to give it another try. Since doing so, I have changed my initial perception of this beer. Why I didn't get it from the media samples I don't know (hot UPS truck perhaps?), but the draught version gave me something of what I thought should have been there in the initial samples. Contrary to the seemingly predominant opinion here and elsewhere on the web, I find the beer to be quite drinkable and balanced when judged according to the "standards" as articulated by the BJCP for an American amber ale. Here is where I take issue with those who are quick to say they don't like the ale - or more to the point, that it isn't a very good ale.

It's an amber ale. It's not a Double Imperial Amber Malt Hop Bomb and it's not supposed to be. A standard amber ale, by definition, has a low to moderate hop aroma, starts a little sweet on the palate and gives way to a more balanced finish. These beers are typically medium bodied and amply carbonated. Sounds like Budweiser American Ale, and about a million craft-brewed amber ales, to me.

My point is simply this ... If you try Bud Ale and don't like it, more power to you. Don't call it a bad beer though, unless you're prepared to tell me why it's a bad beer according to it's style guidelines. I think anyone would be hard pressed to do so. Love 'em or hate 'em, the brewmasters at A-B know what they're doing and had they wanted to brew a "bigger" beer, they surely could have. Bud`American Ale is what it is and it's pretty damn good at being what it is, as uncomfortable as that might make some of us die-hard craft beer folk. Compare it, unfairly, to bigger craft amber ales or reds and it's gonna come up a bit small and thin. That's not a fair comparison, however.

Match it against a "middle of the road" craft amber (Fat Tire anyone?) and all of a sudden you've got a player. Bud American Ale is one of those evil corporate beers I'd like to bottle in some obscure craft brewer's bottle and label it something weird and wild and watch the beer snobs lavish praise on this great new session beer. "Wow, you can taste the dry-hopped cascade right up front and the finish is really clean ..."

It's all about where this beer came from, not so much what's in the bottle or keg on it's own merits. I have been as guilty of this bias as anyone at times, so I'm not slamming anyone. After having said all this, it may be wise to say I'm also not planning on buying this beer much either. Like others, I'll get it rather than nothing if that is my only choice, but I will choose to avoid this beer more times than not because of my dedication to helping out the craft beer industry ... not because this beer is in any way inferior.

My objection to this beer is an ideological one, not a technical one.

For more Bud`American Ale jousting, check out this article and the comments thread that follows it.

[Eli the Mad Beer Man]

Well stated, Shawn. My objection is ideological as well. It' snot a bad beer, but given "better" (to me) options, I'll always go with those options. However, as I said... I would drink this in a pinch, whereas I would never consider drinking Bud Lager. Not even if it was the only beer available. That's not being a snob... it's just not liking the swill, so why drink it for any reason?

But you made a very interesting statement that IMHO really gets at the heart of things: It's an amber ale. It's not a Double Imperial Amber Malt Hop Bomb and it's not supposed to be.

This can be said about a great many beers. Specifically IPAs, but it's crossing over into all beer styles now. This isn't a new concept either. Hell, it's been raging with IPAs for so long now I think it's become standard for many -- it has to be bigger (totally over the top) in order to be better. And I simply don't understand that. If it isn't an Imperial, Double, Extreme, or whatever other term you want to use for "over the top"... it's not good.

That makes no sense to me.

[Ragutiene]

I think a lot of people are under the mistaken impression that in order to be 'good' a beer has to completely smack you in the face with its flavor and its hop content. Now, I'm a huge proprietor of BIG flavor beers - especially big hops - but only if they're done well. Occasionally I'll try an IPA that is SO blatantly hoppy that the other, more subtle characteristic flavors of the beer are completely overwhelmed. If I wanted to eat a hop cone... I would. That being said, I think beer with a high IBU count can be delicious, but there's much more to the creation of one of these bitter brews than just a whole bunch of hops.

OKAY, that being said, I completely agree with Shawn about the initial reaction to Bud American Ale. I was grudgingly impressed with the flavor of the thing, and the only problems I had with it were matters of personal preference [I'm not a huge fan of the mild Ambers, craft or otherwise], and politics.

Eli the Mad Beer Man said:

Well stated, Shawn. My objection is ideological as well. It' snot a bad beer, but given "better" (to me) options, I'll always go with those options. However, as I said... I would drink this in a pinch, whereas I would never consider drinking Bud Lager. Not even if it was the only beer available. That's not being a snob... it's just not liking the swill, so why drink it for any reason?

But you made a very interesting statement that IMHO really gets at the heart of things: It's an amber ale. It's not a Double Imperial Amber Malt Hop Bomb and it's not supposed to be.

This can be said about a great many beers. Specifically IPAs, but it's crossing over into all beer styles now. This isn't a new concept either. Hell, it's been raging with IPAs for so long now I think it's become standard for many -- it has to be bigger (totally over the top) in order to be better. And I simply don't understand that. If it isn't an Imperial, Double, Extreme, or whatever other term you want to use for "over the top"... it's not good.

That makes no sense to me.

[John LeMasney]

I'd say that ABIB has made a decent, affordable, to-spec ale. Is it going to make anyone rave? No. Is it going to win any awards for taste, craft, or excellence? No. It's not meant to be excellent, IMO. It's meant to be a /standard/ ale. Bud is the definition of standard, like (insert your fave craft brewer here) is the exemplar of excellence.

In that light, they've done a great job, accomplished their goal, e.g. making an affordable, uninsulting entry into a market they had not been in before. Good job, ABIB. Now, back to my HopDevil.

[HefeBaked]

Considering the alternatives even close to the price range ( that doesn't include mcsorley's anymore) what are one's other choices when craving an ale, but low on funds. It happens to everyone, short on cash, just paid all those bills, and by god you are going to still buy yourself some beer. So after counting the change from the center console, you now have enough for a decent ale under seven dollars. If AB/Inbev is smart they will release american ale in CANS, at say ten or eleven bucks for a twelve pack. Why fight preestablished markets when you can cleave open a new one.

[Beerbuddha]

I actually thought it was a decent beer. Not awesome but not bad. I felt that it was a "dumbed down" version of a great beer. They made it as a gateway beer for the masses is what I was told by my local AB Distributor. I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to buy the product for myself BUT if I were throwing a big party with macro drinkers I'd see this as a great opportunity to purchase it then. The price is great for the quality of the product.

[Useless Brewing]

I must admit that I did not try one until after reading this post. Just did not have any interest in drinking a middle of the road Ale. I purchased a 6er and after tasting my first few, I don't have anything bad to report about it. It was very drinkable, and I will buy more. The cost is right and it tastes decent. Why not! Hell I buy BMC for friends that want to pee all night. :) Why not buy something decent for them and win them over slowly.
My 2c.
Cheers
Preston

[Travis]

It's a decent enough ale. It's not amazing, its not bad. Its a great stepping stone for the macro drinkers to try out micros. The main problem with alot of people is their dis-liking of the bitter taste of hoppy beers. Take this ale which is barely offensive and it will start to train their palate.

A major problem with the micro drinkers is that they see the AB label and they turn their noses up at it. I guarantee half or more of the micro drinkers out there would think this is a decent to good beer if they did not know it was from AB. If i were at a party and this was the only thing there and someone said "No I would rather drink water then AB crap" i will punch them in the face....just sayin....