Bud's SuperBowl ad

[swenocha]

Now Mr. Beer is getting in on the act...

linky

EDIT: Might I add, two cans of peaches in heavy syrup? Umm, wow...

[DirtRacer]

I didn't watch most of the super bowl so I missed this ad and wow, how pathetic. I am liking the responses from the real breweries though. Honestly I had no idea there was any aging involved in Budweiser, let alone involving wood, because it's so watery and tasteless. I figured Mr. Beer might jump in on this somehow as they seem to be lacking on business with all their constant emails trying to get me to buy from them again. And last time I used a can of fruit with heavy syrup, it came out tasting more like cough syrup.

[jimjohson]

Honestly I had no idea there was any aging involved in Budweiser, let alone involving wood, because it's so watery and tasteless.

all the way from the brewery to the store. what more do you want?

[Chuck N]

Side note: I do believe that this is the first time ever they've acknowledged their ownership of Blue Moon and/or included it in marketing with Miller and Coors. Or Leine, for that matter, but Blue Moon is a bigger surprise, imho. It may also be the first time I can remember that I've seen Miller and Coors in the same ad copy. Interesting.

The funny thing about Leine's is that two years ago LOML and I were visiting my sister in Wisconsin. We weren't far from Chippewa Falls so we went for the tour. During the tour I asked the guide if they were still owned by Miller. She got a little huffy and said that while Miller owned them at one time for a while the Leinenkugal brothers had bought the brewery back and it was, once again, a "family owned" brewery.

[FedoraDave]

The thing about the commercial that rankled me was the intimation that craft beer drinkers are pretentious hipster snobs simply because they want to experience their beer, rather than just drink golden sudz.

So I have to ask: does the fact that I would rather eat at a genuine Mexican restaurant instead of Taco Bell make me a pretentious food snob? I think not. I think it just means that I have found a certain eating experience preferable over another, and I have my reasons for so thinking. The fact that Taco Bell is more convenient, less expensive, faster, and more accessible is not enough inducement to get me to eat there if I have a choice.

Budweiser should be familiar with the BJCP judging categories, which include appearance, aroma (yes, you're SUPPOSED to smell your beer!), mouthfeel, flavor. All of these combine to create an experience, and each style of beer is unique in their representation within these categories. Budweiser is, in fact, a BJCP example of Standard American Lager, so if what you want to experience with your beer is a Standard American Lager, you might want to drink a Budweiser.

But if I want to experience a Schwartzbier or an Oktoberfest or an Imperial Stout, I'm not going to grab some Buds.

Yes, I'm sure there are some craft beer drinkers who are doing it because they perceive it as hip and trendy, and don't know anything more about the Smoked Peach Amber Ale they're drinking than stalwart Budweiser drinkers know about their beer. But rather than being that beer's niche customers (as is probably the case with Bud -- "My dad drank Budweiser, and it's always been good enough for me, too!") those people are bandwagon jumpers. Serious craft beer drinkers may try the more exotic types of beer, but I think they tend to choose whatever they're drinking based on other influences, such as food pairings, whether they're having a session or just one or two, or even just whatever they're in the mood for at the moment. As beer consumers become more educated and discerning, the more Budweiser is going to suffer. They've been the Big Dog for so long, they've forgotten that people will most often opt for diversity if given a choice. It's called the Free Market, and it works. Maybe not the way Budweiser wants it work, but it works for the consumer, and that's more important.

[Chuck N]

Once again Dave hits the nail squarely on the head.

I know we all like to joke about ourselves being beer snobs but in reality I really don't think any of us are. Oh sure. We like to come here to the Borg and bitch and complain about the ABV beers. Both product-wise and business-wise. But I know none of us go to the bars and put down anyone we see that is drinking those beers. At least not verbally.

For myself if that's what they want to drink then more power to them. In fact, at least where I live, I'm more likely to be the victim of beer snobbery from the ABV drinkers than the other way around. (I think I've said in the past that I'm pretty sure I'm one of the few non-ABV drinkers in my small town. My usual "M-O" is to look to see what they have on tap and if I don't see anything I like there then I ask the bartender or waiter/ress what they have for bottled beer and order something there. But I don't run to the local Tap House (the name of the near-by bar that always has an incredible selection of craft, seasonals, and limited release beers) just because they have a certain type of beer on tap that night. That would put just too much stress into my beer enjoyment.

Oh. And thanks a lot, Dave. Because of you I can now say that I'm also a Mexican Food snob along with beer, bourbon, scotch and coffee.

[FedoraDave]

Just to clarify, Chuck, I think you mean BMC beers, not ABV, since all beers have some alcohol by volume. I knew what you meant, though.

But I also think it's important to recognize what we are as beer consumers. Are we bandwagon jumpers, be it the craft bandwagon or the BMC bandwagon, because that door swings both ways. Are we beer snobs, looking down on someone who drinks what we consider an inferior beer, be it Bud or a craft beer, because those people exist, too ("Well, Stone makes a decent IPA, but if you're really interested in a great IPA experience, you'll drink Dogfish Head"). Or are we beer geeks, loving the diversity among beer styles and brewery renditions of those styles?

I think we're in the last category, because there's no end of people posting about trying a new milk stout, or a different pale ale, and giving honest critiques, rather than just saying they liked or didn't like it, or it doesn't compare to their go-to beer of that style.

I'm proud to be a beer geek, actually. As far as the three types of consumers I've listed above, it's the only honest beer consumer there. I think we're all beer geeks.

[Chuck N]

Just to clarify, Chuck, I think you mean BMC beers, not ABV, since all beers have some alcohol by volume. I knew what you meant, though.

Yep. Stupid fingers don't no hoe two speel.

[FedoraDave]

Just to clarify, Chuck, I think you mean BMC beers, not ABV, since all beers have some alcohol by volume. I knew what you meant, though.

Yep. Stupid fingers don't no hoe two speel.

Your fourgivvin.