expensive? I doubt it

[rewster451]

My friend who doesn't really drink the best beer came into town for a few days, and when he took off he left a bunch of Budweiser in my fridge. I've been reluctantly drinking it because I don't like seeing beer go to waste. But I was looking at the label and it says "We know of no other beer which costs so much to brew and age." That can't be true unless they're just ignorant. Or else, it's just not money well spent. Surely, pint for pint there are more expensively produced beers out there, right?

 

[Baron von BeeGee]

I guess "pint for pint" is the key phrase here! Perhaps they're speaking in absolutes in which case they may have a point as they produce so much 'beer'.

 

[rewster451]

Yeah, I've heard they produce something like 12% of the world's beer. Or maybe that's Anhuieser Busch as a whole. At any rate, it's a lot, and I could do without it.

 

[homebrewer_99]

I read somewhere that the Budwiper aluminum can cost more than the contents...

 

[Cheesefood]

Why is it so expensive? Consider all they own:

1. All the fields and equipment used to grow the grains and hops.
2. The water treatment facility.
3. Facilities to create 60% of the aluminum cans and almost all of the bottles they use.
4. The world's largest aluminum recycling facility
5. The transportation used to distribute, including refrigerated trains and trucks.
6. The marketing spent to advertise
7. The QA facilities.
8. The brewery.

A lot goes into their product. They have to employ a lot of people to make sure is tastes exactly the same every time.

Then there's the R&D for new varieties.
The waste
The buy-backs of spoiled product.

Not cheap.

 

[Cheesefood]

Oh yeah...almost forgot. They also have to pay George Clooney to read the label for their commercials.

 

[Dude]

Oh yeah...almost forgot. They also have to pay George Clooney to read the label for their commercials.

And the house band for that cool jingle?

"It's Budweiser...."

 

[Tony]

Also the billions spent on ad campaigns, with Super Bowl spots and all the sponsorships they provide. The company has come a long way itself to becoming the top beer giant in the world...

...the only problem is we dont drink ad campaigns, sponsorships, brewerys, trucks, recycling equipment or anything else they spend their money on besides beer. Maybe they should cut back on their outside spending and concentrate on making a better lager. Go back to the original brewery days and refine a process to make smaller batches and expand their lines to include ales, bocks, and other styles that actually TASTE worth a damn.

::steps down from his well stained inverted plastic bucket used to ferment many a TASTY ale, now retired::

 

[homebrewer_99]

Also the billions spent on ad campaigns, with Super Bowl spots and all the sponsorships they provide. The company has come a long way itself to becoming the top beer giant in the world...

...the only problem is we dont drink ad campaigns, sponsorships, brewerys, trucks, recycling equipment or anything else they spend their money on besides beer. Maybe they should cut back on their outside spending and concentrate on making a better lager. Go back to the original brewery days and refine a process to make smaller batches and expand their lines to include ales, bocks, and other styles that actually TASTE worth a damn.

::steps down from his well stained inverted plastic bucket used to ferment many a TASTY ale, now retired::

I don't think they became giants because of their product as much as the success of their lawyers...weasels!

I've said it before and I'll say it again..if Adolphus were alive today he'd slap the hell out of all the relatives for making a substandard (wait...this is the NEW standard) brew. I don't think he'd be pleased drinking corn squeezings over barley beer!

I hope you didn't retire the bucket!!!

 

[david_42]

Don't forget they "brew heavy" and dilute the product before canning. Water ain't cheap.

 

[Tony]

I don't think they became giants because of their product as much as the success of their lawyers...weasels!

I've said it before and I'll say it again..if Adolphus were alive today he'd slap the hell out of all the relatives for making a substandard (wait...this is the NEW standard) brew. I don't think he'd be pleased drinking corn squeezings over barley beer!

I agree!

I hope you didn't retire the bucket!!!

It holds my JPS Maltmill now to crush my grains really.

 

[kornkob]

...the only problem is we dont drink ad campaigns, sponsorships, brewerys, trucks, recycling equipment or anything else they spend their money on besides beer. Maybe they should cut back on their outside spending and concentrate on making a better lager. Go back to the original brewery days and refine a process to make smaller batches and expand their lines to include ales, bocks, and other styles that actually TASTE worth a damn.

They have a responsibility to their stockholders to execute whatever strategy achieves the greatest return on investment possible. Seeing as their ad campaigns, sponsorships and current product processes are gathering up a massive amount of return on investment, I'd say they are sucessful as all hell, even if there is a small, slowly growing community of people who are looking for something different than the kinds of products they generally produce. Changing that process to target an audience of people who have particular and varied tastes would be a disservice to the orgnaization and it's stakeholders.


Bud's mission statement:

Our vision:

Through all of our products, services and relationships, we will add to life's enjoyment.

Our mission:

* Be the world's beer company

* Enrich and entertain a global audience

* Deliver superior returns to our shareholders

Our values:

* Quality in everything we do

* Exceeding customer expectations

* Trust, respect and integrity in all of our relationships

* Continuous improvement, innovation and embracing change

* Teamwork and open, honest communication

* Each employee's responsibility for contributing to the company's success

* Creating a safe, productive and rewarding work environment

* Building a high-performing, diverse workforce

* Promoting the responsible consumption of our products

* Preserving and protecting the environment and supporting communities where we do business

Bud is what it is-- some folks like it, others don't and making what most people like isnt' a bad thing-- it's just sound business practice.

 

[homebrewer_99]

What you said is true, but that goes for any product. Shareholders have no personal investment at stake, only $$$. In general, shareholders They could not care less about the product as long as it makes them $$$.

Unfortunately, in our canned/cookie cutter PC world that is the mission statement for 1000's of other companies as well. Nothing different here.

Like I said before...chicken places making burgers, burger places making chicken...what do you have? Two places exactly alike with different names.

Once there was a Taco pizza, now they're all over the place. Once there was a Chicken Alfredo pizza...coming soon to a chain near you and copied by the next chain. There once was a Mega-Burger, now you can special order them at any of the burger joints. The masses are ignorant indeed.

At times I think the mission statement of the educational system is to produce functional illiterates. But that's just my opinion.

I humbly apologize for hijacking this thread.

 

[Tony]

This is a fun topic for sure...

Im not saying that AB doesnt have a sucessful business, as they definately are very sucessful. Im just saying they have a poor product. Ive said that way back before ever brewing my own, and was legal to drink. I refuse to drink it as it is cheap and bland tasting. So many other pilsners and lagers are 10 times the product. An very uneducated American public will fall for mass hysteria 9 time out of 10 and so comes the success of AB.


*Hmmm, I remember reading about a nation in the 30's and 40's who were uneducated in the ways of politics and fell for hype and hysteria as well. But at least their country still makes good tasting lagers

Their Mission Statement should be: To make a better beer...period!


*No references or likenesses are being made to compare the politics of the Nazi party with the business ethics of AB. Only the response of the masses in response to massive hype and advertising.

 

[anthrobe]

well said......

 

[homebrewer_99]

This is a fun topic for sure...Im not saying that AB doesnt have a sucessful business, as they definately are very sucessful. Im just saying they have a poor product...*Hmmm, I remember reading about a nation in the 30's and 40's who were uneducated in the ways of politics and fell for hype and hysteria as well. But at least their country still makes good tasting lagers Their Mission Statement should be: To make a better beer...period!

*No references or likenesses are being made to compare the politics of the Nazi party with the business ethics of AB. Only the response of the masses in response to massive hype and advertising.

There was nothing wrong with the National Democratic Party...only their leadership...much like this country...

I believe the success of good brewing goes to the monks ...

 

[Caplan]

Then there's the R&D for new varieties.

That one made me smile!

There was nothing wrong with the National Democratic Party...only their leadership...

They weren't around in the 30's. Back then it was the National Socialist Party. The National Democratic Party of Germany (NPD) was founded in 1964 and are still around today unfortunately.

 

[homebrewer_99]

...in the 30's..it was the National Socialist Party. The National Democratic Party of Germany (NPD) was founded in 1964 and are still around today unfortunately.

My BAD! You are right. I did a faux pax...that is the American National Democratic Party that's Socialist...

 

[kornkob]

While the 'uneducated public' that buys Bud products may very well be uneducated, that doesn't mean that Bud products are 'bad'.

In terms of the complexity of the flavors and the craftsmanship that goes into generating that flavor, perhaps it is a rather simplistic veiw of beer but that does not make it 'bad'. What it makes it is 'not very complicated'.

I guess what I am saying is that while Bud may not be 'great' beer, it is far from as bad as it could be. Me-- I've never much liked Bud, although I've had a couple in my day (although being from Wisconsin my 'major brand' beer of choice tended to be MGD) but I've never said it's 'bad'--- I just don't like it.

I also don't like saki, liver, Land Rovers or colesium concerts. Not that those kinds of products are 'bad'--- I just don't like them.

 

[Tony]

Ypu have your opinion, Im keeping mine!

 

[rewster451]

Like I said before...chicken places making burgers, burger places making chicken...what do you have? Two places exactly alike with different names.

I think that is exactly the appeal of Budweiser. It's the same everywhere, and everyone else drinks it. It's just easy. No one thinks it's great, but it's consistent, and it's a popular choice. No risk, no reward.

America is just a big McDonald's.

 

[robmee]

you forgot the theme parks, zebra are expensive. If I remember correctly Bud is stronger in some states (I think it is 6% in tenn, if I remember correctly...if not 6% it is stronger than it is in FL), well atleast it was 15 yrs ago...hehehe

 

[homebrewer_99]

I think that is exactly the appeal of Budweiser. It's the same everywhere, and everyone else drinks it. It's just easy. No one thinks it's great, but it's consistent, and it's a popular choice. No risk, no reward.
America is just a big McDonald's.

Damn...I can't argue with any of that!

 

[Tony]

Damn...I can't argue with any of that!

Yup, would say that sums it up for me as well.

 

[kenmc]

I've been reluctantly drinking it because I don't like seeing beer go to waste.

But throwing Bud away is not a waste, cos it sure as hell ain't beer.
You've all heard that the joke that Bud is like having sex in a canoe - it's fcuking close to water.
What I would have done is ever so gently uncap them, fill with HB, reseal, and leave in the fridge for some unsuspecting punter to come over and prefer Bud to your "dodgy" homebrew, and then wait to see if he prefers HB when he thinks it comes from a mainstream brewery....

 

[God Emporer BillyBrew]

you forgot the theme parks, zebra are expensive. If I remember correctly Bud is stronger in some states (I think it is 6% in tenn, if I remember correctly...if not 6% it is stronger than it is in FL), well atleast it was 15 yrs ago...hehehe

Yep, in Oklahoma and Florida it is weaker than it is in other states.

 

[david_42]

Bud is very good for brining sausage, chicken & other fine BBQ items.

I think they haven't changed their labels since the 1800's. Just like PBR still has that "blue ribbon" on it from 1884 or so.

 

[rewster451]

Bud is very good for brining sausage, chicken & other fine BBQ items.

I think they haven't changed their labels since the 1800's. Just like PBR still has that "blue ribbon" on it from 1884 or so.

I agree with most of that except to say that Old Style is better for brining sausage, and PBR is just better all around. When your flavor sucks, less of it is better. IMHO.