(Since I’m without internet at home right now, the following was written on a previous date)

3 October, 2008

When I first heard that Budweiser was making an ale, I have to admit I was kind of excited. Not so much because I expect a lot from it, but because I’m interested in trying out what it is they feel they have to bring to the ale world.

Now, it has been theorized that this beer is strictly being introduced to re-iterate the “American” in Budweiser, since they were bought out by ImBev. I don’t know if that’s true; either way they’re making most of their money from selling shitty beer.

In any case, I bought this hoping it would be good enough that I could have a cheap go-to beer at bars where I couldn’t get anything beyond the standard Bud/Miller fare. Is it good enough? Lets find out.

So I poured it first into a pint glass, so I could get a full impression of the color. I must say its redder than I expected initially. It also pours with a very slight head, which quickly dissipates into a slight spread of bubbles on the top, as an ale sometimes does. It doesn’t appear as bubbly as a pilsner (like regular ol’ Budweiser) either.

As for drinking, I somehow felt that it could only be drank out of my 1983 Budweiser Holiday Stein. I bought it a while back, and up until this moment, it had only graced my shelf.

Obviously it foamed up some more when I re-poured it, but I can live with that. I’m not expecting a world of complex flavors that is enhanced by the carbonation and mouthfeel of this. It is, after all, still Budweiser.

After a couple of sips, I’m surprised to say it holds up fairly well. It is definitely an ale, with a noticeable malt character, and a somewhat hoppier flavor to it. The bittering isn’t too strong, but its definitely there, unlike a lager like (duh) Budweiser. There’s still not a ton of hops, but I think I would still drink this over Samuel Adams.

All in all, the biggest negative is there still seems to be that subtle flavor imparted by the preservatives in mega-brewery beers. Will that still be enough to increase the hangover factor of this beer? I don’t know, but it sure drinks like a decent session beer.

I’m not sure I’ll buy this for me at home, but at a bar of the poor-selection variety? Absolutely.

4/10