What I like about Bud American Ale...i know there are others

[JefeTheVol]

First of all, no cynicism implied at all in this post.

I had Budweiser American Ale for the first time this past summer and was impressed with the taste for about $6 a 6 pack, at least here in Tennessee. Its taste, how I describe it, is very malty with a syrup like taste, but not overpowering at all. I feel that the maltiness of this brew is its best characteristic because the hop profile is very difficult to discern. If you pour it into a pint glass you will get a very slight cascade aroma, but its bitterness is very mild.

The local brew club in Memphis did a secret taste test where a guy poured from a bottle in a paper bag and everyone agreed that it was a good beer. Probably not an award winner, but it had a good showing at the club. Of course it was later revealed to be BMC but it doesn't change everyone's initial reaction.

Anyway, I think that American Ale is good and I love the malty character it presents and I want to recreate that feel in a small session beer in the future. Another great thing about it is that its entirely American produced. American barley, American hops, and American factory workers. Whether the profits from the sale ultimately go to InBev is beside the point that they are at least attempting to subsidize American farmers.

I know I might be rehashing previous posts but I wanted to get my opinion out there. Kudos to Budweiser for making a good beer, not a great beer, but a good beer. Too bad my buddy who owns a beer distributor in Memphis says it sells like ****. I buy it for 6 bucks and I get 6 thick bottles to reuse for my brew and a stout 6 pack holder. Its worth it to me, at least for the high quality bottles.

Thanks for listening.
-Jefe-

 

[Trevor57]

I agree. I don't think there is a better beer for the price. I bottle in 22's and love that I can find this beer for $1.97 in bombers!

 

[Proetus]

It's a decent beer imo. Better then their usual crap.

 

[Weezknight]

Interesting review. It's good to know that BMC are trying to do something better. Because of their size they'll never be able to create a great beer. As someone pointed out before, they're always going to get stuck trying to appease the masses (those who don't care that much, so long as it's beer), and, at the same time, trying to appease the craft-brew crowd. The end result is a beer that misses both marks.

I only budget so much to spend on beer per month, and even at the 6 for 6 price, I'd still probably put that 6 towards a case of something that I'm going to LOVE, and not just find to be "good."

Again, though, thanks for the feedback, I'll recommend it to my BMC-friends. It's got to be better than Coor's Light!

 

[luvhopps]

I've wanted to try it, but I can't get past that Buttwiper thing..

 

[skadalajara]

I was at a bar this past summer, and the only non-fizzy water they had on tap was the BAA.
I found it to be palatable. Had a few pints of it while I was there.
If I'm at a bar that doesn't have Sam or Sierra, I wouldn't hesitate to order a BAA.
I'm not likely to buy it at a liquor store, tho, as there are almost always better beers there.

 

[Handle]

It's a good beer, but I think the award for best "bang for the buck" beer goes to Trader Joe's Stockyard Oatmeal Stout (brewed by Goose Island). Awesome beer.

But that's not what we're talking about. I've had the American Ale on draft at places with little selection and enjoyed it. I almost bought a six-pack yesterday, actually.

 

[broadbill]

I'm not sure why anyone is surprised that bud can make a decent craft-beer. They just applied what they know about pilsner brewing to ale brewing. They have a equipment; its the same process to brew BAA as it is to brew bud/bud light (generally speaking).

What makes Bud/bud light a "crappy beer" to someone who likes the typical craft beer is the ingredients. Cut back on the malt and hops and up the adjuncts and you get light beer. ANY brewery (big or small) making beer is going to turn out that way.

What is interesting is that now craft breweries are making beers with the above model (high adjunct beer) to get some of the BMC market share. Just like BMC, they are turning out light, fizzy, watery light beer. No one give them crap about it because its beer from a craft brewery though. Hell, Rogue makes a malt liquor!

 

[DRoyLenz]

I agree across the board on OP's comments, only I've never bought a sixer. BAA is a very drinkable, and dare I say, good beer. I took down many of these one night watching a game with some friends, and didn't even realize I was 7-8 in until it was too late. I can't drink that many light beers, I'll tell you that.

My only hesitation with getting this beer is it, admittedly, pains me a little bit to support BMC. I, like everyone else here, supports the craft brew industry, and it feels like by buying ANYTHING BMC, I'm supporting the enemy. I even felt a little guilty taking the Anheuser-Busch tour in St. Louis, even though it is free, and they give you free beer. That may not be a good healthy way to look at this, but can't help how I feel.

 

[the_bird]

I've had it, it's pretty good. I thought it was a little thin and one-note, wasn't the most complex hop profile ever, but absolutely better that anything else they make.

I won't deliberately BUY it, because there's so much better stuff I can spend my money on, AND be supportize of small craft breweries. Any of the bars/pubs I go to always have something better on draft, anyway.

 

[Synovia]

My only hesitation with getting this beer is it, admittedly, pains me a little bit to support BMC. I, like everyone else here, supports the craft brew industry, and it feels like by buying ANYTHING BMC, I'm supporting the enemy. I even felt a little guilty taking the Anheuser-Busch tour in St. Louis, even though it is free, and they give you free beer. That may not be a good healthy way to look at this, but can't help how I feel.

I feel the opposite. If you're going to buy something BMC, buying American Ale may push them to realize that there is a market for this stuff, and they may produce more of this sort of thing.

 

[samc]

BMC brews what it does because that is what millions want to drink - pretty simple when you think about it.

On a side note I recently tried Bud LIght Wheat and could not finish the first, left the other 5 for the cleaning people at the hotel I was staying at.

 

[Thakog]

I think it has more to do with the quality of ingredients. Sam Caliogne (sp) from Dogfish Head also makes a malt liqour, which he talks about in Brewing Up Buisness. I haven't tried it (yet) but he talks about how it has been well received because he uses quality ingredients, vs what is usually done with malt liquor. I have had Rogue's malt liquor by the way, and while I won't get it again it really wasn't awful like I thought it would be.

 

[DRoyLenz]

On a side note I recently tried Bud LIght Wheat and could not finish the first, left the other 5 for the cleaning people at the hotel I was staying at.

I haven't had the 'pleasure' of trying this, but I recently had a Shock Top. That has GOT to be the worst beer on the market right now. I'd rather drink Steel Reserve directly from the 40 oz bottle then take another sip of this. I choked down the whole bottle, because it was given to me by somebody, and I didn't want to offend them, but it was just awful.

 

[DilvishTheDamned]

While BAA might be a good beer, or heck, even a great beer, I'd rather give my money to a craft brewer.