quote:Originally posted by stlouisguy
I am amazed by the folks here who hold A-B in such contempt. If you don’t like the beer, that’s your right and preference, of course. They didn’t get to be among the world’s biggest by being slouches, though. SOMEBODY out there must like the stuff, and the appeal is widespread.
Drink your microbrews, which have their place, but don’t discount that Bud appeals to more people than other beer in the world. I enjoy microbrews too, but for my Sunday afternoon bbqing, I’ll reach for a Bud, thank you very much.
This is kind of like bashing Walmart….maybe you don’t shop there, but you are in the minority. I personally don’t care for Wally World that much, but I admire their successful business model And folks, this is all about business.
that's the point. A-B is about business, not making high quality beer. They've cornered the market on cheap beer at a cheap price. The fact they sell more has nothing to do with quality. McDonalds sells more burgers than anyone else in the world. That does not mean they sell the best burger.
As per the mass appeal, truth be known, most things that appeal to th masses, do so, because they appeal to the lowest common denominator. That doesn't mean the lowest quality either. Most A-B beers are infact, crisp beers. That has a lot to do with the rice. And A-B even has stated that the rice is not used merely as a filler, but on purpose, because it creates a refreshing feeling. And that is the mass appeal. The beer is, on the whole, refreshing...like water. Cold, crisp and clean. It's not that it tastes good, it's that is doesn't taste bad. It's nopt that the beer is attractive to the distinguished beer tastes, rather, the beer isn't offensive to anyone. That's what mass appeal is all about.
If that's one's idea of a high quality beer, then by all means, one is going to love A-B beers. If one, however, believes that quality is in: boldness of flavor, aroma, texture, and complexity, then one is not going to find A-B beers palatable.
Advertising is crucial to the success of A-B. Being the cheapest and the most abundant beer in the stadium is helpful. Selling $9.99 18 packs of Bud cans in rural/suburban area stores compared to $8.99/six pack bottles of microbrew, is helpful. Being an institution in American culture in movies, tv, sporting events and even art, is helpful. The fact that a couple generations of Americans had only the Bud type of beer available to them, helped A-B, as they used a solid business model to dominate other similar beers like Miller and Coors.
And that brings me full circle, that it was their business model that made them successful, not the beer. Beer in the U.S. was ALL similar to Bud post prohibition (when A-B could actually grow as a company). Now that they're engrained in the American psyche, they're here to stay. In fact, it's that they are seen as an American institution rather than an American business that has outraged the general populatione with this sale to InBev. "What, pray tell, is left when one takes the American out of Budweiser?" Folks didn't drink Bud because it was good, they drank it, because it was American. "Piss on the Germans! Screw the Canadians! I drink American Beer! And I drive American trucks!"
I know St. Louis has its love affair with Bud. And frankly, it should. The same way Pennsylvania has a love affair with Hersheys. the company gives back to St. Louis and the area, from schools to community centers to charities and more. The company employs St. Louis. The company is integrated into St. Louis life. There's no question, one doesn't crap where they eat. If I lived in St. Louis, I'd probably drink a Bud before a Yuengling, too.
However, the people of St. Louis must realize, that popularity often has little to do with quality. And while Bud is the most popular beer, it is a far cry from being the highest quality beer. I'll even re-say that when I'm at the ballpark drinking a Bud from a can shapped like a long neck bottle. My thought isn't on the beer one way or the other, but rather I'm thinking, "this is better than being at work, or mowing my lawn."
