Budweiser no longer American!

[Colt W. Knight]

Originally Posted by kp8

Because there are someplaces where the big brewers are the only thing you can get and you are forced to drink their slop or go without. I was on a boat in NO LA and the only beer choices the whole night were bud (yuck) and bud light (quite possibly the worst beer made in human history). The same is true in many other places (ball parks, etc). It is a fight to get good beer in the US in such places because the mainstream American beers are so dreadful to drink. It takes the pleasure out of the whole event. If you love beer, than bad beer can be real drag and there are many instances where the big brewers have the concessions locked up. Life is too short to drink bad beer. Too many instances in my life where i been forced to do just that by the beer hating colossus that is mainstream American brewing.

I don't think you have ever been "forced" to drink anything you dislike. If everywhere had all the microbrews available, they too would be large corporate giants. A couple of guys in their garage couldn't keep up with the demand of major venues. We don't expect Ron Kirn or Rich Rice to replace the Fender corporation, but those who prefer a product in which more care has been taken to produce have to seek out or wait for their product.

Like I said before, just because you don't like something doesn't mean it's the downfall of the industry. Major companies like Bud and Miller are selling more beer than ever, and microbreweries and small batch stuff is more readily available than ever.

[Tim Armstrong]

As a longtime beer snob and former microbrewery and brewpub brewer, I have no problem with A-B or Coors or whoever making bland beer, since there are so many alternatives these days in the USA. I can't remember the last time I walked into a bar or restaurant that didn't have at least ONE relatively flavorful beer available.

Folks do get riled up about other folks liking things that they dislike, as we keep seeing all the time around here, but that's just an unfortunate aspect of human nature!

Me, I'm just glad we have so many choices!

Cheers, Tim

[tiktok]

Why isn't there anything as organized as CAMRA in the US? These guys have been fighting the good fight for decades.

[surfoverb]

Originally Posted by tiktok

Why isn't there anything as organized as CAMRA in the US? These guys have been fighting the good fight for decades.

CAMRA was great and instrumental in bringing back real Ale drinking in the US but its strident restrictions can be bad for beer drinkers. They expect beer to be cask conditioned and gravity pumped which most barkeeps are not keen on doing simply because its a PITA. I've had a few 'real' ales and since they never sold they were in poor condition and overpriced ($5 a pint) so of course I'm gonna choose a local micro that was brewed a few weeks earlier and kept chilled and force carbed; that is FRESH....The US has over 1000 brew pubs so I'd say were doing just fine...The days of macrobrew monopoly are over...Sure we can't easily get a fresh tapped cask of 'real' ale but we can surely get plenty of really good ale from a bottle or ss keg.

[tiktok]

Originally Posted by surfoverb

CAMRA was great and instrumental in bringing back real Ale drinking in the US but its strident restrictions can be bad for beer drinkers. They expect beer to be cask conditioned and gravity pumped which most barkeeps are not keen on doing simply because its a PITA. I've had a few 'real' ales and since they never sold they were in poor condition and overpriced ($5 a pint) so of course I'm gonna choose a local micro that was brewed a few weeks earlier and kept chilled and force carbed; that is FRESH....The US has over 1000 brew pubs so I'd say were doing just fine...The days of macrobrew monopoly are over...Sure we can't easily get a fresh tapped cask of 'real' ale but we can surely get plenty of really good ale from a bottle or ss keg.

Well, stale beer and lazy barkeeps rarely add up to a great drinking experience...

[surfoverb]

Originally Posted by tiktok

Well, stale beer and lazy barkeeps rarely add up to a great drinking experience...

Its not even that once you tap a cask the beer immediately starts to oxidize. If it doesn't sell right away it goes bad so its either sell it or dump it, there's no alternative...A keg kept under C02 pressure and chilled will last for weeks but thats not 'real' ale.

[kp8]

Originally Posted by Colt W. Knight

I don't think you have ever been "forced" to drink anything you dislike.

I didn't say that.

Originally Posted by Colt W. Knight

If everywhere had all the microbrews available, they too would be large corporate giants.

Large corporate giants that make drinkable beer, bring it on. I am all for it. Go Yuengling! They make a pretty good beer.

Originally Posted by Colt W. Knight

Like I said before, just because you don't like something doesn't mean it's the downfall of the industry.

That's a strawman, since i never really argued that. Anyway i don't over romanticize the past like all those park slope hipsters drinking their Pabst. Rheingold anyone? Schlitz? Schaefer? No Thanks. Crappy beer from the 1970s is still crappy beer. I am arguing the opposite really. I like the new found array of choices you find even in most supermarkets. I never thought this day would come. Of course, Miller is now South African, SAB Miller just bought Coors, and now Bud is InBev.

Anyway if folks want to eat kraft american cheese sandwiches on wonderbread with budwieser and twinkies for desert, go for it, i am glad it makes them happy. I'll be over in the corner with my snobby beer, unless i am at a concert or ballgame where they only serve bud. In which case, i'll leave my beer drinking for later.

[RobBnTX]

Another Shiner Bock drinker here.

I haven't touched Bud in ages. I had a friend brag to me how many 30 packs they went through on a family gathering recently. My question was, "what the hell is a 30 pack?" I am proud to say I have never ever bought anything called a 30 pack!

RFB

[Colt W. Knight]

Originally Posted by kp8

Life is too short to drink bad beer. Too many instances in my life where i been forced to do just that by the beer hating colossus that is mainstream American brewing.

Maybe I misinterpreted. I apologize if I did.

[kp8]

Originally Posted by Colt W. Knight

Maybe I misinterpreted. I apologize if I did.

It's one of those "spirit of the meaning" -vs- literal meaning things.

I certainly didn't mean "forced" literally, as if someone held a gun to my head and elsewhere i also say "or go without". Though, taken literally, you would be correct so i should probably apologize and just move on.

My main point is that the vast majority of American mainstream brewing produces incredibly crappy tasting beer (imo). If it weren't for concern over, say, the some 6,000 jobs on the line in St. Louis, would be nothing to lament over the takeover of this "iconic" brand. Additionally, I wonder if the emergence of all these smaller breweries has not resulting in a net gain in brewery jobs, in addition to its unquestioned increase in options and general improvement in the taste of beer in this country. If the mid-sized brewers of much higher quality brew, e.g. Sierra Nevada, Sam Adams, Catamount, Brooklyn & Yuengling are stepping in and taking market share from Miller, Bud and Coors, than I am all for that. I would be curious to know if this is happening or if, as you state, the big (and now) foreign owned brands are also selling better than ever.

Anyway, down with budweiser, up with beer.

-k

[CatfishStudios]

[strummin67]

So how is HPB?

[CatfishStudios]

Not as strong as one would think.

[mchet]

For me, and maybe this has already been said, it is more about the lose of yet another american owned company to foriegn ownership. I personally would rather drink Sam Adams anyway, but will drink Molson or hinekin or Beck's or Grolsch for that matter. It is, me that yet another "American institution" has been sold to the highest bidder. I have no doubt that Bud as a beer will retain it's top ranking for producing the most intense hangovers regardless of who owns the corperation...

[Colo Springs E]

Originally Posted by Tim Armstrong

I can't remember the last time I walked into a bar or restaurant that didn't have at least ONE relatively flavorful beer available.

Isn't that great! I can nearly always get a Fattie, Newcastle, Dos XX Amber, Sammy, Negra Modelo or something else that at least has some flavor to it.

I honestly cannot remember the last time I ordered a Bud, Miller etc... although, I will occasionally get a PBR just for the fun of it.

[mojocasterman]

it doesn't matter where it's made... horse pee is horse pee.

[CatfishStudios]

Originally Posted by Colo Springs E

Isn't that great! I can nearly always get a Fattie, Newcastle, Dos XX Amber, Sammy, Negra Modelo or something else that at least has some flavor to it.

I honestly cannot remember the last time I ordered a Bud, Miller etc... although, I will occasionally get a PBR just for the fun of it.

Are you referring to a Fatty Tadecaster bychance?!? Maybe an Oatmeal Stout?

[Colo Springs E]

Originally Posted by CatfishStudios

Are you referring to a Fatty Tadecaster bychance?!? Maybe an Oatmeal Stout?

Naw, I was talking about Fat Tire. But I like the name Fatty Tadecaster! I'm usually not a fan of Oatmeal Stouts though.

[CatfishStudios]

Good ole Tadcaster


We used to call these Fatty Taddy's....not for the feint of heart.

[DennisMc]

Originally Posted by BritishBluesBoy

I like Brooklyn Lager... I had some Saranac Pale Ale the other day that was great too...

Saranac, Good Pale and IPA. Its brewed in my hometown, Utica, NY. They just survived a fire in their plant, and are recovering fine. My sister is getting married about 3 hours from here tomorrow, and I am bringing a case of their original beer, Utica Club! Many of the people going to the wedding are from Utica, and will enjoy some "UC".

[Robert H.]

On a hot dry day---I'd drink a Bud in a heartbeat.
The US of A help teach the world how to gobble up assets from other countries---particularly in the past 100 years.
What goes around, comes around.

[ramblinmike]

Originally Posted by CatfishStudios

Good ole Tadcaster


We used to call these Fatty Taddy's....not for the feint of heart.

Man that stuff is good. That and their Imperial Stout are my favorite brews.