Budweiser American Ale Commercial

[Eves]

Its actually funny that Bud took all this long to make an ale. I believe what will happen from them doing this is that people will go out and try this, if they like it they may say to themselves..."Wow...this ale is good, maybe I should try other ales".

I believe this will back fire on Bud, they will sell it and make money but if this beer is ok and does have a taste that BMC drinkers like they may start to look into other ales out there which is great.

Considering AB happens to own a lot of those supposedly local breweries out there if this American Ale steers people into the direction of AB's other beers that 'appear' to be micro brews then it isn't really a loss for AB. I wonder if the whole purpose of the American Ale isn't so much to gain business for the American Ale itself but to increase business for some of their micro breweries they own.


With regard to price...Its insane they are selling a brand new beer for more than existing brews with reputations for being what they claim American Ale to be. Everytime I go into a liquor dept I check the price of the American Ale, shake my head in disgust, and then move on to something else.

 

[nosmatt]

$9.99 a sixer around my parts, thats three different stores.... no effin way. only stone is that expensive, and at least i know it rocks. till bud drops the price, or i can buy a single for a buck, i will never know what it tastes like.

 

[Bigsnake]

Considering AB happens to own a lot of those supposedly local breweries out there if this American Ale steers people into the direction of AB's other beers that 'appear' to be micro brews then it isn't really a loss for AB. I wonder if the whole purpose of the American Ale isn't so much to gain business for the American Ale itself but to increase business for some of their micro breweries they own.


With regard to price...Its insane they are selling a brand new beer for more than existing brews with reputations for being what they claim American Ale to be. Everytime I go into a liquor dept I check the price of the American Ale, shake my head in disgust, and then move on to something else.

I agree the price they sell it for is a bid ridiculous. Glad I bought it for $6.99 for a six pack when I got some. It's still not worth that price.

I do like to see AB moving in this direction though. If this sells well, then maybe they'll try something a little more adventurous. I'm not sure what some people expected from AB though with this Ale. They are a large company and are trying to appeal to a large customer base. Look at their past brews and know they are going to go on the waterey/bland side of the style.

 

[mthompson]

So wait a minute, this beer is selling for the same price or more than a good micro or craft beer?

I get for $5.62 (tax and all).....nothing els comes close to that price in a popper. Sam Adams are $7.49+tax, and it goes up from there. I am fermenting my second brew, so I am in need of the bottles and the american ale is cheapest around these parts. I just wished my friends/aquaintances drank it or other pop-tops!

As for the quality, the first two sixers we bought weren't all that bad. But, the last three sixers have tasted really plain (wife still liked 'em). Let's just say that I can't wait to have enough bottles so that I don't have to buy any more.

later,

<edit> forgot to mention, last time I picked some up, there was a stray pack of Paulaner Oktoberfest that I snagged as well. Got to the counter and the dude asks how I can stand drinking all of that dark beer crap! I started to inform him that Oktoberfest, while considered a dark-lager, was not really 'dark' at all......but he was already on to ringing me up, so I dropped it.

 

[Gordie]

I'm sure I'll get a lot of disagreement on this but - God bless Bud for putting this thing out there.

The idea that Bud is going to be using its monstrous distribution network to expand the sensibilities of those that prefer the "making love in a canoe" style of beer towards more flavorful, well made craft-beer-style brew will have a rising tide effect on most micros and craft brewers. After years of crap marketing and innuendo which included things like how darker beers are darker because of "impurities" (yes - that was a marketing point some years ago from the BMC clan) having the machinery of the BMC marketing goliath move towards convincing people there is more to beer than pale yellow is a good thing.

I haven't had it, but I hope its decent only because I wouldn't want people to try it as "something different" and have a completely crap beer moment and swear off drinking anything that doesn't look like urine from that moment forward. I might try it, or might not. Kind of one of those "can't look away from the fat naked chick" things...

Ok. Done. Commence the pelting...


Gordie.

 

[McCuckerson]

My intent for starting this thread was not to critique Bud AA, but to dissent against the fact that they are selling us BS marketing rather than good beer. 6 months ago I would not have known any better and said: "wow, its dry hopped for more body....." I have learned so much from our beloved craft!

 

[MikeG]

I had one a week ago that was a draft (and cheap). It's amazing, all that work to use Ale yeast and make it taste like a Bud even though it's not lagered. I doubt I'll ever drink another, like the lager it's nearly tasteless.

 

[McCuckerson]

EDIT--And not to split hairs on the subject, but dry-hopping CAN affect flavor....body not so much, but flavor, I agree with Bud's statement.

Shenanigans! Dry hopping will not increase body as the ad states! Keep them honest.

 

[McCuckerson]

It ain't that bad....considering the source...and besides the 22oz bottle is a pop top....win/win...IMHO

Hammy is winner winner chicken dinner! I tried one. Drinkable and a re-useable 22oz bottle...... fits my criteria.

 

[Sucram]

I have no problem with AB. I'm a beer snob, but I believe that all beer has it's occasion and that AB has it's place in brewing history. With that said, American Ale does suck. I can't think of a micro pale ale it stands up to.

 

[McCuckerson]

I have no problem with AB. I'm a beer snob, but I believe that all beer has it's occasion and that AB has it's place in brewing history. With that said, American Ale does suck. I can't think of a micro pale ale it stands up to.

It's not a pale ale.....

 

[Medo]

Ahoy hoy,
At the last craft beer show up here, Bud had a booth for their new ale. I didnt even see it until after my wife handed me her sample glass of it and I tasted it. First thing I said was, who would dare bring bud light to a craft brew show? Then I turned and saw what it was and what it was supposed to be. In a mystery glass, it was just another fizzy gold BMC, only a little darker. It was so nothing special. But, if you like BMC, it would be a welcome addition, as theres no doubt its close enough to BMC not to chase their loyal customers away.
They play their games, we play ours :rockin:
I bid you all a great day!

 

[carnevoodoo]

It's not a pale ale.....

I can't think of an amber I've had that it stands up to either. I've had a whopping 4 ounces of this beer, and I could have done without about two of them. I am a snob as well, and I freely admit it, but I don't think this is a good quality beer by any mark.

Oh, and for that silly Russian River comment... If ANY of their beer tasted like this, they wouldn't be where they are today. The craft brew industry is kept honest by people who aren't afraid to give their opinions, and the need for these smaller breweries to keep their product at the top of its game to compete against the big guys who can afford to buy shelf space.

 

[fat x nub]

I think a lot of people that have come out bashing it would be singing its praises if it was poured out of a Russian River bottle

I agree to that. It's not that bad guys. Just doesn't taste dry hopped (or hopped at all) and isn't full bodied because they know the avergae Bud drinker would drink it

 

[carnevoodoo]

I agree to that. It's not that bad guys. Just doesn't taste dry hopped (or hopped at all) and isn't full bodied because they know the avergae Bud drinker would drink it

You have to realize they're not going for the real craft beer market. They're trying to appeal to the masses with this beer. And I'm sorry, but the masses don't know jack **** about beer.

 

[bbrim]

I decided I had to try it. It's not very good. Very Bland and no hop character. Definitely targeted at the BMC crowd. Maybe it will help "those" people realize not all ales are too strong or "heavy."

 

[beersydoesit]

It isn't bad for a mass market beer. There are many better ones for a few dollars more and of course it doesn't come close to homebrew.

But I think it shows slow progress in recognizing that we're still to recovering from the damage prohibition did to brewing in America.

 

[beersydoesit]

Sorry, What is BMC?

 

[Chriso]

Sorry, What is BMC?

There's a sticky around here with a list of all the acronyms. Stickies are great sources of info.

 

[hcarter]

Oh, you were finished. Well then, allow me to retort. What does Marsellus Wallace look like?

Too Funny.

 

[isac777]

IMO it tastes a lot like REDHOOK ESB . Does anybody know who owns Redhook? WAIT..................

 

[brett]

The people on this thread who are saying that Bud American Ale has "no flavor", "no hop character", or is the "same" as American Lager but just darker in color may need to just develop their palates.

I have had this beer, and to say that it has no hop character or flavor is flat out wrong. My advice to those who are reading these comments is to ignore those people. If their palates are so weak that they cannot detect the obvious flavor profiles in this beer, then I can't take any kind of food/beer review from them seriously.

 

[Sucram]

When we are talking about palates we are talking about taste and as the old adage goes: "no arguments can be made about taste." Read any beer tasting column in Zymurgy magazine--three different beer experts will often disagree on specific details. These people you're condescending may not be senior members or have the discerning palate that you do, however they possess the ability to express their opinions respectfully.

 

[frolickingmonkey]

IMO it tastes a lot like REDHOOK ESB . Does anybody know who owns Redhook? WAIT..................

I don't mean to come off as an a-hole here, but this is a misconception that I used to hold until I did some research a while back. In total, AB only has a minority stake in Redhook (less than 25%). The purpose of that ownership is basically a distribution agreement with AB so that Redhook gets national distribution of their beers...

So, I guess I'd say Redhook owns Redhook.

ALSO, my favorite part of the American Ale commercial is, "American Ale is top fermented..." Isn't that redundant? It's an ale, so that implies that it's top fermented. Ah, marketing...

 

[MikeG]

...
ALSO, my favorite part of the American Ale commercial is, "American Ale is top fermented..." Isn't that redundant? It's an ale, so that implies that it's top fermented. Ah, marketing...

Wha..? No 'beechwood aging'????

 

[Homercidal]

I've had this again, and I think my opinion is that I'll search for something better if it's there, but this would do in a pinch. The bitterness is there, but there doesn't seem to be much American flavor IMO. I think it's lacking in complexity.

But, much better than their regular yellow fizzyness.

 

[Deacon240]

It was really light for what I was expecting when seeing it in a glass. Didn't taste much of the hops but that may of been the bar's fault as it seemed like most of their beers came out of improperly set up kegs. (They'd shoot foam, let it sit till the head was gone then shoot more foam...). I did find it more drinkable than their normal shat.

On the other had if I'm goin cheap I go cheap. PBR

 

[Wicked Daddy]

The people on this thread who are saying that Bud American Ale has "no flavor", "no hop character", or is the "same" as American Lager but just darker in color may need to just develop their palates.

I have had this beer, and to say that it has no hop character or flavor is flat out wrong. My advice to those who are reading these comments is to ignore those people. If their palates are so weak that they cannot detect the obvious flavor profiles in this beer, then I can't take any kind of food/beer review from them seriously.

If they are drinking it at typical BMC drinking temperature (VERY COLD) then perhaps they can't taste anything in the flavor profile. In most cases with BMC products, that is the goal. But with a proper Ale, serving temperature is as important to the flavor as the brewing process itself.

 

[Christian]

I'm a super snob, i wont drink this beer because i'm pissed at A-B for merging with INBEV and they just announced the other day that they are going to lay off over 1400 salaried positions as a result and that's just the beginning.

 

[FiddleTilDeath]

It is really not bad at all.