Budweiser American Ale - with Taste notes

[IrregularPulse]

I too will trying a pint at the bar for the shear idea of it. It's kind of a big deal as far as Beer in America goes. I'm not gonna buy a 6 pack until I try a pint but you can't not try it.

 

[StunnedMonkey]

+1

• AB does not release a new product until they have performed exhaustive market (taste) testing on their target audience. (In this case, the targeted audience includes craft beer drinkers.)

In my opinion, it's just that type of "exhaustive market testing" that will insure an uninteresting product. Mass marketers like AB will be shooting for a product that essentially doesn't offend anyone...the lowest common denominator if you wish. I can't imagine anything coming out of such market testing that would have much (if any) appeal to the craft brew crowd.

I guess we'll all find out together.

 

[BierMuncher]

...Mass marketers like AB will be shooting for a product that essentially doesn't offend anyone...the lowest common denominator if you wish...

Let's hope that's not the case. If the beer is good, I can certainly look past the label and buy some...depending on how they price it.

Maybe they'll over do it like they did their most recent beer (too much lime in their lime beer, too much spice/clove in their shock top wheat...)

Maybe...just maybe, they'll over hop this beer.

 

[StunnedMonkey]

Maybe...just maybe, they'll over hop this beer.

Heh. Over hop? probably not.

I thought I read somewhere that the IBU's were around 30, which is probably as high as they could go without turning off the "uninitiated."

I don't have HIGH hopes for this brew, but I guess my hope is that it's at least drinkable enough that I could order it in those restaurants that never seem to have anything beyond a Killian's or Honey Brown. Being an AB product, it's likely to get some tap space. Though like Revvy said, the beer that's likely to get dumped from tap row in order to make room is the one decent craft brew that they might have previously carried.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

Heh. Over hop? probably not.

I thought I read somewhere that the IBU's were around 30, which is probably as high as they could go without turning off the "uninitiated."

I don't have HIGH hopes for this brew, but I guess my hope is that it's at least drinkable enough that I could order it in those restaurants that never seem to have anything beyond a Killian's or Honey Brown. Being an AB product, it's likely to get some tap space. Though like Revvy said, the beer that's likely to get dumped from tap row in order to make room is the one decent craft brew that they might have previously carried.

And that, I'm sure, is the plan.

 

[Tankard]

Maybe...just maybe, they'll over hop this beer.

I doubt it. It'll be a lot hoppier than a typical Bud, but I still think Sierra Nevada will be hoppier.

 

[carnevoodoo]

And that, I'm sure, is the plan.

And that's why I only drink in good places.

 

[CBBaron]

Though like Revvy said, the beer that's likely to get dumped from tap row in order to make room is the one decent craft brew that they might have previously carried.

And that, I'm sure, is the plan.

+1 I'm very sure that is the intention of this beer. It will take shelf space and bar taps from craft beers. It may not win many customers from craft beers when given the choice but they are hoping to reduce the choice.

AB does know their beer but their breweries are not driven by the brewers but rather by the accounting and marketing. I'm sure this is a beer they think will sell but I think we will find it mostly uninteresting. Remember this is not AB's first attempt at a different style of beer. For the most part those other attempts have been bland by comparison to the offerings from the craft brewers. Bland is where the mass market is. An interesting beer would have too small of a market to justify using one of their massive kettles and fermenters. I may try it if the opportunity presents itself and something interesting is not available but I won't be sorry if I don't get the chance.

AB knows what it is doing but what it is doing doesn't really interest me.

Craig

 

[farmbrewernw]

I have heard that it's not a bad beer, this being said by one of the craft beer blogs I read, that being said I doubt it will do all that well. AB hasn't really had that much luck thinking outside of their box because their loyal drinkers only like light lagers like Budweiser. I doubt that they will peel off any of the craft brew market because that demographic is past gateway beers. I could be totally wrong, if it does convert people it may actually work in craft beer's favor bringing more people into craft beer appreciation. AB is just trying to adapt.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

Being as Bud is actually harder to brew than ale, and the new ale will be only be lightly hopped, how will they justify the new ale as being "somewhat" more expensive? (to use their own word)

 

[Revvy]

Being as Bud is actually harder to brew than ale, and the new ale will be only be lightly hopped, how will they justify the new ale as being "somewhat" more expensive? (to use their own word)

Well, considering they now will be using 2 ounces of hops for every 1,000 barrels of ale instead of their usual half ounce for every 1,000 barrels of lager, they can justify the increase in cost by blaming the hops shortage...

 

[carnevoodoo]

Also, if it is all malt, the barley will cost more than rice and corn.

 

[DrewsBrew]

I actually feel quite guilty at wanting to try this stuff. I agree with the statements that this wil actually help the craft brew industry. People will try it and if they like it, will associate ALE with something they like. It will make previously unapproachable craft beers suddenly less daunting to the common beer drinker simply because ALE is something they can now relate to. People will start with Bud Ale and use that as a bridge to other things. So, this will have the opposite affect as intended by AB.

You have to give AB major Kudos here. Sure, this stuff is underhopped a bit. But, keeping all else the same and upping the IBUS, and you'd have a quality recipe that some of us brew in our kitchens. For a session beer, I prefer something tipped more towards the malty side as my palette fatigues after a couple of hop heavy brews.

An article I read made me see the light as to why the recipe is the way it is. Beers like this are done in committees and are not the "singular vision of one brewmaster". Naturally, to appeal to a couple of dozen bigwigs at AB, you will end up with a pretty neutral product. It will be much like the Michelob craft offerings. Blander than we are used to but not undrinkable. I survived in Florida for a week with almost nothing but Michelob Amber Bock. It wasn't traumatic and was exactly what I needed....a neutral beer that went well with most food...nothing memorable about it either in a positive or negative sense. I think Bud Ale will be much the same.

 

[jeder212]

Well, I got a little surprise today. My wife's cousin, who works at a restaurant/bar brought me this home today...

The Budweiser salesman brought them a sixer of it, to try to convince them to put it on tap when it comes out next month. I'm not really skilled at tasting beer, besides just knowing if I like something or not, but I will let you know what I think of it once I drink it. Has anyone else had a chance to try it yet, and what did you think?

 

[IrregularPulse]

You've had that bottle for 9 hours and haven't drank it yet?! C'mon! how is it?

 

[jeder212]

I got it not long before I posted last nite, and was headed to bed just after I posted. Had to be at work this morning for a 48 hr. shift. So sometime Sunday, I'll be able to drink it, and let you all know what I think.

 

[carnevoodoo]

I got it not long before I posted last nite, and was headed to bed just after I posted. Had to be at work this morning for a 48 hr. shift. So sometime Sunday, I'll be able to drink it, and let you all know what I think.

So what you're saying is you didn't drink it before work?

 

[StunnedMonkey]

I got it not long before I posted last nite, and was headed to bed just after I posted. Had to be at work this morning for a 48 hr. shift. So sometime Sunday, I'll be able to drink it, and let you all know what I think.

Er, it was evening when you posted the pic, and I can tell from said pic that the bottle is cold. Whether you were in the mood to drink it or not isn't relavent. You OWED it to us to wolf that beer down and report back.

I award you no points, and may god have mercy on your soul.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

I think that not drinking that ale, and not posting your opinion on it immediately should carry an infraction from the mods. Possibly even a short ban!!

 

[Tankard]

I award you no points, and may god have mercy on your soul.

"Well a simple "wrong" would have been just fine, but uh...."

 

[Tankard]

I think that not drinking that ale, and not posting your opinion on it immediately should carry an infraction from the mods. Possibly even a short ban!!

I agree. You're the first person that has one of these here, and you post a pic and tell us that you won't be able to try it until SUNDAY?

Cruel.... very very cruel.

 

[Revvy]

I agree. You're the first person that has one of these here, and you post a pic and tell us that you won't be able to try it until SUNDAY?

Cruel.... very very cruel.

+1 on this...

I mean, I would even sleep with ohiobrit's swmbo for a chance at being the first one on here to write up tasting notes on it...

Sheesh

j/k brit! (unless she's hot)

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

j/k brit! (unless she's hot)

Oh my SWMBO is hot alright! Well, in brief flashes anyway.

 

[jeder212]

WOW, if only I knew what I was in for by not drinking it. I will be home around 7am Sunday morning, I will drink it immediately upon walking into the house, and report back ASAP. I'll even take pics if you would like.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

WOW, if only I knew what I was in for by not drinking it. I will be home around 7am Sunday morning, I will drink it immediately upon walking into the house, and report back ASAP. I'll even take pics if you would like.

And a video filmed in smellavision too please.

 

[jeder212]

And a video filmed in smellavision too please.

Yeah, I'll be all over that.

 

[niquejim]

+1 on this...

I mean, I would even sleep with ohiobrit's swmbo for a chance at being the first one on here to write up tasting notes on it...

Sheesh

j/k brit! (unless she's hot)

Hey, I started this thread

I should get first night with SWMBO'ed

 

[Bob]

Its because the American beer market was started by Germans.

Not even close. Nice try, though!

Read this and this and this.

I'll grant you that nationwide distribution was started by lager beer breweries started/owned by German immigrant brewers. Once you really start digging into the history of brewing in North America, you'll figure out what's what.

Cheers,

Bob

 

[z987k]

The only hope I have , is that it won't make me puke, since you know it is going to be in everybar in the country (probably knocking out the 1 craft beer that a bar might have on tap.)

So since it's going to narrow my choices of finding a decent beer in the typical sports bar after a hockey game...I'm not hoping for much, except that it be drinkable....Which personally Bud is not...

Here's anther video I found...this is "The Making Of."

[youtube]wGcqjJootQY[/youtube]

ANd here's some notes I took watching both videos...

Pale and Caramel Malts,

Hopped with Palisades for Bittering, Willamette and Saatz for Flavor, and Cascade for aroma...Dry Hopped with at least Cascade.

Ale yeast, fermented cold, yet warmer than Lager...

14 days fermentation.

It would be interesting to keep nosing around, picking up clues here and there, and then brew a small batch of what I think it might be like, ahead of time...

lol, they did a blind taste test of the beer with all the different hops. wtf? um you can ****ing tell what hops were used by tasting them.

I'm sorry but how does a brewer for BMC hold his head up to the public, when clearly that can not be his background. I'd like to see what's actually in this guy's fridge.

I know I'm bashing but I do hate how they try to take some of the craft market. We need to get people off the swill they call beer.

 

[sterling214]

Can we stop trashing BMC's for one sec, and wait to taste this stuff. If in a year, I am able to go to a ball game and get a beer that isn't a watered down lager (please don't let this beer just be a watered down ale) I will be extremely happy.

 

[jeder212]

Alright guys, I finally tried it. Sorry it took me so long. Like I said, I'm not really the one certified here to be judging this for the first time, but I'll tell you what I think. I was really wanting to have a SNPA to drink also, so I could have something to compare this to, but finished off those last Thursday.

When I first poured it, I could actually smell the hops. It wasn't as strong as some other ale's, but it was there. When I first drank it, it was straight out of the fridge. It actually tasted like an ale. But, like some of you suspected, just not as good as most micros. I think it wasn't as bitter as it should have been, but still way better than a BMC lager. I let it warm up a bit before I continued to drink it. It wasn't all that bad, and had some good flavors. If I went out somewhere and this was the only ale I could get, I would get it. Overall, it had a decent taste, but just not as bitter as most ales. I wouldn't call it "watered down", just not a very good usage of hops maybe?

Like I said, I'm not a beer judge at all. I know what I like, and if I don't like it, I don't drink it. I've had plenty of ales that I would drink over this one, but if this was my only choice, I would def. order it. I'm not going to be buying any from the beer store tho. I do think this may work out to be a good cross-over beer, to possibly get BMC drinkers to come to our side.

**Sorry if the pics are sideways, I'm trying to fix that, but photobucket is giving me fits right now.

 

[BuffaloSabresBrewer]

Is this available now?

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

Interesting! The head and colour in your pics look a lot better than Bud's own pics!! It actually looks very drinkable.

I will definitely be giving it a try when it comes out.

Thanks!!!

Edit. You only had the one? I guess it's too late to see a half emptied glass to see the lacing porn then.

 

[jeder212]

Is this available now?

Not yet....

Well, I got a little surprise today. My wife's cousin, who works at a restaurant/bar brought me this home today...

The Budweiser salesman brought them a sixer of it, to try to convince them to put it on tap when it comes out next month. I'm not really skilled at tasting beer, besides just knowing if I like something or not, but I will let you know what I think of it once I drink it. Has anyone else had a chance to try it yet, and what did you think?

 

[jeder212]

Interesting! The head and colour in your pics look a lot better than Bud's own pics!! It actually looks very drinkable.

I will definitely be giving it a try when it comes out.

Thanks!!!

Definitely drinkable, but not going to be one of my go-to beers, unless it's all I can get wherever I'm at. I do kinda hope that the restaurants that don't normally carry anything but BMC will carry this.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

Definitely drinkable, but not going to be one of my go-to beers, unless it's all I can get wherever I'm at. I do kinda hope that the restaurants that don't normally carry anything but BMC will carry this.

But as you said, this could be a good cross-over beer.......Our evil plan is working!!!

 

[BierMuncher]

Sounds like most folks certainly plan to give it a try.

I think I'll set up an official "Bud American Ale - Critique Thread" (sticky).

The thread will be limited to a critique format where we judge the beer on its:
Aroma
Appearance
Flavor
Mouthfeel
Overall Impression

The beer should be judged according to the BJCP Description of an American Pale Ale.

Off topic banter would be deleted. All posts would need to adhere to this format.

General discussion would remain in this thread.

What do you think. Should we as brewers ourselves, step up and give this beer a fair judging?

 

[billtzk]

I will definitely give it a try. I think this is a smart marketing move by Bud given the growing interest in micro and craft brews, and with AB's clout in the marketplace, it is likely to do well. I, for one, hope that it does, because it could very well be a gateway brew to open up the world of craft/micro brews to a much larger market.

I think it is smart of them to package it in a regular non-twist off bottle with a pry-off cap. SNPA has recently done that too. I wish Full Sail would. Such a seemingly innocuous packaging decision sets the beer apart psychologically from the normal Joe-SixPack swill that comes in the twist-off bottle. The simple label design and the wonderful color of the ale makes a similar statement that this isn't your typical beer. And I think that will be an important element in mass-marketing this brew.

A light American ale offered by the giant of American mass-market brewing, if it sells well, will very likely encourage the other big ones (Miller, Coors) to come out with a competing product. This can't be a bad thing for American beer drinkers.

I'd like to see how this brew stacks up against my favorite go-to light American ale, Samuel Adams Boston Ale. I think the Sam Adams Boston Ale has much the same characteristics that AB is trying to capture in its new ale. It's what I usually buy to offer to friends when I want to give them a gentle introduction to ales to help them develop a taste for something other than horse-piss corn-rice lager. My guess is the uninitiated would be more likely to try an AB product in the same category.

Here's to AB for recognizing that there is a market for something with more flavor than their normal swill. I hope the brew does well and helps to change the taste of American beer drinkers. In the long run that'll be a good thing for all the micro and craft breweries.

 

[olllllo]

Anyone notice that the acronym for this beer is BAA?

 

[billtzk]

Has anyone noticed the unusual bottle shape? It is NOT the standard long-neck shape; it's more pinched in at the bottom of the neck area. Modern long-neck bottles are fatter at the shoulder of the main reservoir where it necks down. It has a very nice retro-look to it. It might make a good home-brew bottle if the glass is heavy enough and if our cappers will work with the rather odd looking crown area just below the lip.