Budweiser World Select

[Payson]

Has anyone tried the "World Select" yet? I tried one this weekend and was very dissapointed. I hoped that Bud would come out with something more akin to a craft or micro beer. Not so! It had nothing special to offer. A little hoppier than their standard fare but nothing to write home about. Green bottle.... any thoughts?

[Jarod]

It is hideous, and what is with the green bottle.
Talk about not pleasing to the eye.
I guess it goes with the not pleasing to the nose or pallet portion of beer tasting either.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Jarod
It is hideous, and what is with the green bottle.

I've come to the conclusion that green bottles represent status symbols because Heineken is perceived as a "classy" beer to drink. But don't get me wrong...I didn't say I agreed with the status.

S.

[hopjack13]

crudweiser ...hurl , ralph , barf and puke!
i've heard of the world select but never actually seen one.......then agian i haven't really looked.
i was in vegas this weekend , took the kids to circus circus, and no real ale! so i told the barkeep to give me some of that saaz flavored water that they call heineken, couldn't quite choke that one down. i hear the monte carlo has a brewery now???didn't get to check it out though.

[newportstorm]

Y'know, Newport (RI) is supposedly one of the 10 test markets for the World Select. But I have not yet seen it heavily advertised (or at all) at the bars/pubs I've been to this summer. Though I tend to frequent places that serve better beer for the most part.

If I saw it or one of the Beer Whores offered to pay for my sixer at the liquor store, I might give it a shot to see what all the hype/criticism is about. A-B definitely has the talent, facilities and distribution network to produce a great (by beer geek standards) beer. But there seems to be more of a market for their bland, neutral "beer".

Cheers!

[Payson]

I stumbled upon it in Helen GA. I figured it was worth looking into and gave it a shot. It states on the bottle that it is a collaboration of 10 different countries... I can't remember the ones listed. Anyway, I had high hopes that Bud would have broken the mold and gone out on a limb and produced something a little less lackluster.

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by hopjack13
crudweiser ...hurl , ralph , barf and puke!
i've heard of the world select but never actually seen one.......then agian i haven't really looked.
i was in vegas this weekend , took the kids to circus circus, and no real ale! so i told the barkeep to give me some of that saaz flavored water that they call heineken, couldn't quite choke that one down. i hear the monte carlo has a brewery now???didn't get to check it out though.


The Monte Carlo does indeed have a brewpub. They make decent beer but I have had nothing outstanding there. Except a plate of great Oysters. Up in the old downtown there is a better brewpub I think it is called Main Street. The Holy Cow has shut down. I think there are others off the strip including Gordon Biersch. Circus Circus has a fantastic steak house. The best in Vegas. Did you try that?

[hopjack13]

no i've never been to the steak house, everytime i go to vegas i do however stop off at the four kegs (off jones and the I95)
and get some stromboli ...mmmmmm i've never been able to find a place that makes it quite like they do there ,so i always make it a point to stop in........no real beer there either though : (
i passed by the gorden biersch over by the hardrock? but didn't stop in...next time i go im not bringing the kids, it's going to be all about me! also off lake mead and rancho ,the texas (don't know if they still do) has/had a b.b.q. buffet... b.b.q. chicken, ribs mash potatos n gravy , corn on the cobb . probably my fave , as far as buffets .

[chazwicke]

I have heard that the RIO has a great buffet. I have only eaten at the restraunt up on top of the Rio. I always eat at the Rosewood Grille they are now in a new location kinda near MGM. Used to be right next to the Venetian. I usually get out there about 4 times a year. My next trip is scheduled for early January. I recommend the Venetian as far as hotels go but I have stayed in Mirage, Paris, Flamingo and others as well and I often gamble in all of them. Another good steak house is Gallaghers in NYNY. and I ate at a restraunt in the Barbary Coast that was excellent but I have forgotten the name. I have also eaten in f Emerils restraunt in the Venetian but I can't think of the name either. Delmonico maybe. The Steak House at Circus Circus is the best steak in town though and I have eaten there several times.

[hopjack13]

Originally posted by chazwicke
I have heard that the RIO has a great buffet.

the world carnival buffet, something like 7 buffets from 7 countrys all in one place.. yhea it's great, no place else can you get sushi, a burrito, a hambuger and lasagna all on one plate!
once again however......no real beer : (
it'd be nice if their beer menu was as diverse as there dinner menu.

[davesarman]

I was curious how the evil empire was going to market this new "World Class" beer, so a few weeks back I went to their website and let me say that if they put as much coin into their product as they do in their webdesign and marketing, we might have something good to talk about.

A few things I noticed:

They kept talking about the "10 brewmasters" from 10 countries, but when quoting them, they gave no names or what country they were from.

They acknowleged the fact that light is bad for beer and stated that becuase of this fact, they used a green bottle with "thicker" glass.

That got my curiosity up enough to send them an email. I asked how green glass protect from light better than amber and I also asked how the "thicker glass" would help protect from light as well. About 2 or 3 days later, I got an automated reply back that just had some of the quotes and text that raised my questions in the first place, it did not answer them at all.

I then replied back to that email asking them to answer the question and not give me an automated response. I re-asked my questions again and sent away. I thought that would be the last I'd hear from them.

Low and behold I got another response a few days later that stated thicker glass keeps out more light. (didn't say how much thicker the glass was or how much more light it keeps out.) They also acknowleged that green glass does not in fact help with being a barrier to light, but it was used to give the beer the "continental look appropriate for such a world class beer."

Hmmm.....I was surprised to get a response back and even more surprised that they addressed my question directly. But the response they gave me left no doubt in my mind that this beer is all about marketing and packaging and not about the product itself as they would like you to believe.

But considering this is an A-B product, does that REALLY surprise anyone..????

[hopjack13]

Originally posted by davesarman
I was curious how the evil empire was going to market this new "World Class" beer,

the evil empire huh???lmao
i firmly believe that if any of the 10 brewmasters were of reputable brewerys they would have used names.
marketing is a mother f#@&er, it's not the product that counts it's how many people you can get to buy the product

[Herb Ninja]

The beer tastes like they wanted to raise the alcohol of budweiser from 4.2 to 5.0 and put it in a "better looking" bottle, then waste all the money on advertising. Its nasty, this is world don't select.

[paty]

I own a bar, and we got the World Select in today! Not only do I like it, but the majority of customers do as well. In one afternoon, I have already had some die-hard bud (anti-draft) drinkers, convert to World Select...and we have it in draft form!!
GOOD JOB BUD!!!

[steveh]

Originally posted by paty
I own a bar, and we got the World Select in today! Not only do I like it, but the majority of customers do as well. In one afternoon, I have already had some die-hard bud (anti-draft) drinkers, convert to World Select...and we have it in draft form!!
GOOD JOB BUD!!!

Knock yer-selves out boys -- :P No Pilsner Urquell on draft anywhere, eh?

S.

Life's too short to drink bad beer.

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by paty
I own a bar, and we got the World Select in today! Not only do I like it, but the majority of customers do as well. In one afternoon, I have already had some die-hard bud (anti-draft) drinkers, convert to World Select...and we have it in draft form!!
GOOD JOB BUD!!!

Regardless, Welcome to the board.

[fretlessman71]

Originally posted by paty
I own a bar, and we got the World Select in today! Not only do I like it, but the majority of customers do as well. In one afternoon, I have already had some die-hard bud (anti-draft) drinkers, convert to World Select...and we have it in draft form!!
GOOD JOB BUD!!!

This is on tap, you say? I wonder how much of a difference there is between draft and bottle in this case.... there's no green bottle to skunkify it, so I'm sure it can't be WORSE.....

[chazwicke]

Good point Fret.

[newportstorm]

Originally posted by hopjack13
i firmly believe that if any of the 10 brewmasters were of reputable brewerys they would have used names.

These are all A-B brewmasters - whom, I assume, either work at a facility in that country or originally hail from there. The ten countries represented are:

USA, UK, China, Argentina, Canada, Italy, Ireland, Spain, Japan, Korea.

Cheers!

[newportstorm]

Originally posted by paty
I own a bar, and we got the World Select in today! Not only do I like it, but the majority of customers do as well. In one afternoon, I have already had some die-hard bud (anti-draft) drinkers, convert to World Select...and we have it in draft form!!
GOOD JOB BUD!!!

If it's good for your business, sell away. Do you offer any local craft brews on your menu as well? If not, consider throwing a keg on or some cases of bottles and see how it goes. If you can convert "die hard bud drinkers" to a continental pilsner, maybe they'd take to a locally brewed lager or ale just as well. Either way, welcome to the site. Enjoy.

Cheers!

[steveh]

Originally posted by newportstorm
USA, UK, China, Argentina, Canada, Italy, Ireland, Spain, Japan, Korea.

And not a true Pilsner country in the bunch.

S.

[dennis3951]

AB World Select is a Heineken knockoff ,this was the idea in the first place ( i know because my brother in law works for a AB disturibtor and was told so by an AB product person). They wanted to make a beer that looks like Budwiser and tastes like Heineken and it seems they have. I don't like Heineken but friends of mine who do say except for the color you can't tell the two apart.

[chazwicke]

Too bad they chose to imitate such a poor product. I have heard similiar reports and that is why they used the green bottle. They were trying to capture the so called premium import market. Sheesh!

[hopjack13]

you know i find it odd that buttwiper would try to compete with other beers, they're doing so well already just selling crap!
now they've come out with the world select and from what i hear a bare knuckle stout? it seems funny that they would try to ruin themselves that way. if they turned their already faithfull fallowers on to better beer, what would stop them from exploring further and finding out the true meaning of beer? you'd think they want to hide that their beer sucks and not go in to other markets.isn't that kind of like admitting their beer sucks?
keep your people in the dark man! you'll keep more of your business.
not that i suport ab , but that would be my attitude if i was in charge over there, keep pouring the money in to where it pays! marketing!

[steveh]

Originally posted by hopjack13
you know i find it odd that buttwiper would try to compete with other beers, they're doing so well already just selling crap...
...it seems funny that they would try to ruin themselves that way. if they turned their already faithfull fallowers on to better beer, what would stop them from exploring further and finding out the true meaning of beer?

It's their way of slowly muscling in on the import and craft brewing segment. Padding the competition by trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the middle-of the-road beer drinker, the guy that walks into a joint and asks what's on tap? Hears, "Guinness, Hacker-Pschorr, Blue Moon, Killians, various swillsners..." and asks for a Heineken.

It's all part of the A-B master plan to ease in and eventually dominate the beer world! Okay, maybe a little melodramatic and tongue-in-cheek, but you know with A-B, contrary to Heineken's tag-line, it's all about the money.

S.

[threecb]

Originally posted by steveh
It's all part of the A-B master plan to ease in and eventually dominate the beer world! Okay, maybe a little melodramatic and tongue-in-cheek, but you know with A-B, contrary to Heineken's tag-line, it's all about the money.


It may seem a little melodramatic, but I think that this isn't far from the mark. I'm sure there are separate meetings going on with themes like "How to get the Import Market" and "How to fool the Craft Crowd".

Or else products like Bare Knuckle and World Select wouldn't exist...

[chazwicke]

I believe that they would actually gain market share if they would put out a line of products utilizing their top quality ingredients and the true skills of their brewers. They could produce a separate quality line of brews that had flavor and would compete with the craft brewers and keep their Bud / Michelob line as well. I think they would actually win some of the craft brew and import market by doing this and using their tremendous advertising power. And if it tasted good then we would all benefit by having another option. It might even be a good thing because establishments that only handle mega beers might have at least one that tasted good. Aditionally, it may convert some drinkers to better beer. (Maybe that is what they are worried about)

[unkle bik]

Originally posted by Herb Ninja
The beer tastes like they wanted to raise the alcohol of budweiser from 4.2 to 5.0 and put it in a "better looking" bottle, then waste all the money on advertising. Its nasty, this is world don't select.

I was under the assumption that regular Buttwiper was already 5.0%

[threecb]

Originally posted by chazwicke
I believe that they would actually gain market share if they would put out a line of products utilizing their top quality ingredients and the true skills of their brewers.

I think it would be too little of a ROI for them. They've spent years training lemmings to swim upstream for the tasteless fizz they sell. The investment of R&D of a line of brews for such a small market would prove fruitless for a giant such as A-B.

[Brownbeard]

I think we all have to agree that A-B has talented brewers. They have been working on putting out different brews for years now. Isn't it possible that the brewers at A-B have made their case to the powers that be and they have agreed to let them experiment? I realize it is more fun to think of A-B as an evil company that sits around all day thinking of ways to put craft brewers out of business, but I don't buy it.

[steveh]

They seem to be trying with Ceske Budejovice.

S.

[chazwicke]

Agreed. And I think this helps support Richard's suggestion that we have some sort of vigilant watchdog organization like CAMRA in the US. Not only to lobby for our causes, but to keep an eye on the powers that be and also to educate the beer drinking community on different issues, styles of beer, serving recommendations, proper handling for retailers and servers. And any number of other beer related topics. It could also serve as an information clearing house.

[Brownbeard]

I think that is a different situation. They are concerned with a name recognition thing there. That is not a plot to but the company out of business. I am just always skeptical of the evil corporation scenario. I think it is odd that we always talk about how A-B and the like only make the same swill, but when they try to branch out, then we say, "Oh well they are doing that to squash craft brewing". I think they are trying to get a piece of the market. I have a buddy who's first breakaway from bud light was Amber Bock. While I think Amber Bock is a mediocre beer, it was enough to get him to try something else. Now he is buying and drinking micro brews. I think this will generate a lot of that.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Brownbeard
I think that is a different situation. They are concerned with a name recognition thing there. That is not a plot to but the company out of business.

Name recognition that they stole from another company in the first place, and are now trying to muscle into submission.

I am just always skeptical of the evil corporation scenario. I think it is odd that we always talk about how A-B and the like only make the same swill, but when they try to branch out, then we say, "Oh well they are doing that to squash craft brewing".

And we make that claim after numerous people have reported the beer to be only slightly better than swill. People have mentioned some of Miller's past forays into specialty brewing - some have even liked the beers, but I was never impressed by them either.

The only specialty I ever thought was a step in the right direction was Coor's Winterfest - at least for the first few years, then it went down hill too.

I think they are trying to get a piece of the market.

A piece of the market they don't already have, in order to garner the whole market.

I have a buddy who's first breakaway from bud light was Amber Bock. While I think Amber Bock is a mediocre beer, it was enough to get him to try something else. Now he is buying and drinking micro brews. I think this will generate a lot of that.

It's good that your friend has moved up through the ranks. And I do hope that more stepping up will occur among beer drinkers, if by this marketing strategy or some other reason, but you can bet that A-B doesn't feel that way.

S.

[Budman]

A-B Budweiser was introduced in 1876, Budvar started production in 1895, doesn't sound like A-B stole the name to me

[threecb]

Hey, Budman, I think you're on the wrong board.

But if you want to see the history of why Budvar lays claim to the name, you can find it here (http://www.budvar.cz/jsp/index_en.jsp?menuid=1). Then choose HISTORY OF B.B. on the left.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Budman
A-B Budweiser was introduced in 1876, Budvar started production in 1895, doesn't sound like A-B stole the name to me

"Budweiser" beer has been brewed in Budejovice ever since the 14th century. The disputed "Budeweiser" name is an adjective originating from the German name of the Czech town Ceske Budejovice – Budweis- where the beer was born in the Middle Ages and thus describing the origin of the brew. Budweiser means the beer of the Budweis region, same as Champaign in France describes the wine of the Champaign wineries. Logically then, the Czechs claim to have the right to the name from long before the Americans even started the beer brewing.

A-B didn't acquire U.S. rights to bottle and sell Budweiser until 1883. They didn't acquire the U.S. rights to the name until 1891. And even then, you can bet it wasn't the same swill being passed off as beer today.

S.

[Budman]

"Name recognition that they stole from another company in the first place, and are now trying to muscle into submission."


I was just pointing out that they didn't take the name from Budvar. I agree that Budweiser is pretty much recognized as meaning the beer brewed in Budweis.

And by the way I hope I'm not on the wrong board. While I do enjoy drinking Budweiser ( I actually like the taste - stop laughing I do) I also enjoy many fine beers from the like of breweries like Lagunitas (Hairy eyeball, Censored) SN(Celebration, Bigfoot) Old Dominion (Ale, Tuppers Hop pocket) and many others from around the country.

Cheers

[steveh]

Originally posted by Budman
I was just pointing out that they didn't take the name from Budvar. I agree that Budweiser is pretty much recognized as meaning the beer brewed in Budweis.

And you'll also notice I said "U.S." rights. All of a sudden A-B wants to sell overseas and becomes the Ugly American.

And by the way I hope I'm not on the wrong board. While I do enjoy drinking Budweiser ( I actually like the taste - stop laughing I do) I also enjoy many fine beers from the like of breweries like Lagunitas (Hairy eyeball, Censored) SN(Celebration, Bigfoot) Old Dominion (Ale, Tuppers Hop pocket) and many others from around the country.

Next you'll tell us that you drive a Ford AND a Toyota, have a dog AND a cat, root for the Packers AND the Bears! ;)

S.

[hopjack13]

Originally posted by Budman
And by the way I hope I'm not on the wrong board. While I do enjoy drinking Budweiser

with a name like that your asking for it here. most of us (including myself) find a/b products appalling (i thinks thats the sp? wheres our happy helper ;) ) any way welcome to the board, but you might want to change your screen name, it's almost a slap in the face to some here i would think.

[Budman]

Nope only American trucks, and Dogs! A lifelong Redskins fan and I love NASCAR and apple pie also:)

[fretlessman71]

Drat. And to think we almost had a convert... ;)

Welcome anyway! We'll change your tastes in no time, and you'll start getting rice headaches like we do.... Really, though, even the most highbrow among us say if you like it, drink it. Enjoy! (Just keep it to yourself... our little secret...)

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by Budman
Nope only American trucks, and Dogs! A lifelong Redskins fan and I love NASCAR and apple pie also:)


Well being a Skins fan is a big plus. Welcome to the board. Maybe we'll be able to wean you off the Bud completely!

[chazwicke]

By the way, Where do you hail from?

[Brownbeard]

I am still and always will be a fan of Leinenkugel's. I find it to be a great representation of an American Lager. It is the closes thing to Bud I buy. But, I have a close friend who is a sales rep for Anheiser Bush, and when I go to her house, I respect her enough to drink A-B products. I will drink Bud in quantity when I am there. It always gives me the same shits the next morning. The kind where you know you have pooped it all. And then you have to go again. I know many would say they would not have beer. I am not that strong, I love all beer!

[Budman]

Hey Chazwicke, originally from Dumfries VA but now residing in San Jose CA

[chazwicke]

I have high hopes for the Skins now that Gibbs is back. I once visited a couple of brewpubs in San Jose. Winchesters and the Tied House. Are they still open?

[Budman]

Tied House is still open and I definitely like their beers. Winchesters is closed but we do have the first 2 Gordon Biersch's close by as well as a couple of Stoddards, Los Gatos Brewery, BJ's and Rock Bottom close by

I am defnitely looking forward to see what Gibbs can do with the skins this year

[threecb]

Originally posted by Budman
Tied House is still open and I definitely like their beers. Winchesters is closed but we do have the first 2 Gordon Biersch's close by as well as a couple of Stoddards...

Hey, Stodbrew on this board is the brewer at Stoddards.

[SAustinTX]

Originally posted by newportstorm
Y'know, Newport (RI) is supposedly one of the 10 test markets for the World Select. But I have not yet seen it heavily advertised (or at all) at the bars/pubs I've been to this summer. Though I tend to frequent places that serve better beer for the most part.



I tried searching the Bud website for more info on this and couldn't find anything, although I did find a hilarious item in their FAQ:

Q: My favorite restaurant doesn't serve Budweiser... how can I change that?

Yeah right! As I mentioned in another post, there were a few bars catering strictly to beer connoisseurs in Austin that I used to go to that didn't serve Budweiser, but the number of alcohoh-serving establishments in the USA that DO NOT serve any sort of Budweiser product would have to be less than .01% I would think. They even admit earlier in their FAQ that nearly one out of every two beers sold in the US is an Anheuser-Busch product. Frightening.

[Prankasaur]

Let us not forget that Bud is in business to make money, and lots of it. They make generic swill with cheap ingrediants, however that is what the public demands. I recently gave a sample of"good beer" to a friend of mine, only to remark that he couldn't believe people drank that ( It was Three Floyds Alpha).

I guess ultimately what the buying segment of beer drinkers want dictate to the BMC's of the world, and they are glad to produce. It is comfort in recoginization; why drive a Ferarri with some sort of gearshift and bad mileage to the gallon when you can drive the same old Pontiac Grand Am.

[HarkJohnny]

Originally posted by hopjack13
the evil empire huh???lmao

It's the Microsoft of Beers.

[chazwicke]

maybe the AOL

[Brownbeard]

No, it is the McDonalds of beer. They make a mediocre product, and sell more of it than anyone else. But the difference is, you don't hear chefs calling McDonalds evil. They just realize that it is a different market and disregard it. A 4 star resturaunt can no more compete with McDonalds than Rogue can compete with AB. But they don't try. Does anyone else think it is ironic that every time there is a pos on here about AB, it gets more attention than anything else? Funny. It seems to be everyone's favorite topic here.

[Jughead]

The problem with the McDonald's analogy is that everyone knows that they can get a better meal at the 4 star restaurant, but they still choose to go to McDonald's for other reasons.

With AB, not everyone realizes that there are better beers to be had. AB has been able to convince most consumers that it is the product of choice.

I'm going to vote for the Microsoft analogy. People run Microsoft products because they are familiar, available everywhere and they have been led to believe they are the best.

[Brownbeard]

Originally posted by Jughead
The problem with the McDonald's analogy is that everyone knows that they can get a better meal at the 4 star restaurant, but they still choose to go to McDonald's for other reasons.

With AB, not everyone realizes that there are better beers to be had. AB has been able to convince most consumers that it is the product of choice.

I'm going to vote for the Microsoft analogy. People run Microsoft products because they are familiar, available everywhere and they have been led to believe they are the best.

I will have to disagree. Most AB drinkers I know are aware there are other options out there. I offer them, every time they come to my house. They simply do not like it. They have tried them, and no matter what it is, they don't like it. They like Bud products though. Most people really do like Bud better. Your argument does not hold water when you consider Bud is the number one selling beer in the UK. Are you suggesting the English are not aware of other beer options? I think Richard would take issue with that.

[Jeff]

I still ponder this point often and still cannot come to a conclusion. Before my awakening to better beer when I drank Bud Light and Michelob I would get the opportunity to try some good stuff. I remember for the most part I wouldn't like it. The question I have though is did I think this beer was on the same level with the micro that I just tried. Did I somehow think that bud light was made better?

When I drank bud light and Michelob light I actually thought it was better than busch light. I guess the point I am trying to make is that I can't conclusively say that the McDonalds analogy worked at least in my case. I don't think I understood that there was better beer out there, I really thought that BMC was just as good as everything else. I don't even really know what spurred me on to try all the different types of beers that I have in the last year. I do know you have to really want to change, I still have plenty of friends that will try good beer but then revert back to their BMC, so for them I guess the McDonald's analogy does work because they say they do like some of the stuff I get them to try.

(Sorry about the long post, but I really have been pondering this and hope somebody can shed some light on the ideas)

[Jughead]

I don't think that people are unaware of their options when it comes to beer choice. I do think that they are unaware of the variety of beer styles that they could learn to like. Growing up in Canada, I thought Molson's and Labatt's products represented the entire world of beer. It was only later that I found out that things like Belgian Ales exist out there.

AB and their friends have done a great job of convincing people that Bud is what "Beer" is supposed to taste like. I don't think people belive that the Big Mac is as good as it gets. Everyone knows that the 4 star meal is going to be better.

Hopefully we will hear from Richard. Richard, why do people in the UK drink Bud?

[Stodbrew]

I think that most people still truly believe that most micros are made by brewers who don't know what they're doing. I have brought kegs from my pub to parties and people won't drink it because "I don't want to drink that homebrew." Somehow that myth has been ingrained in the conciousness of the American psyche. Its funny because some of my classmates from school now work for some of the big boys. And no matter what I tell them, they simply refuse to try my beer. I can't stand small minded people.

[chazwicke]

It is their loss!

[hopjack13]

BUD SUCKS! STODBREW ROCKS!

[Jughead]

It came to me on the way home. AB isn't like Microsoft or McDonald's.

It's like disco :eek:

[Fast_Eddy]

IMO, people continue to drink Bud_Miller_Coors because it's a fundamental tenet that people like what they know. They know and are comfortable with Bud_Miller_Coors and don't see a reason to change. Maybe for these people - there is no reason to change??

[barley ben]

I also think that many people do enjoy A-B, Coors, Miller and truely believe that is what beer is supposed to taste like. After all those years of drinking it, quality beer actually tastes bad to then. I have had several people not want to finish a beer I gave them or ask how I can drink that stuff. They don't realize that the part they don't like is actually the taste of beer and not water and rice.

[Beaver]

I think it is pretty understandable that people can have such varying tastes. Beer is an acquired taste to begin with (much like coffee).

[Tweek]

Originally posted by hopjack13
BUD SUCKS! STODBREW ROCKS!

hehe, make sure you bring your tights and pom poms with you when you come visit us Hopjack! :p

[hopjack13]

LOL... i need more esb! that last growler didn't go very far ;)
hey tweek check check this (http://www.stonebrew.com/epic/challenge/) out , go for it man!

[Tweek]

hmm maybe ill send in a bottle of the o2 clone, if it ever finishes fermenting. We will have to see how it turns out.

I know what you mean about his esb, I need to get that flowing here too.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Stodbrew
And no matter what I tell them, they simply refuse to try my beer. I can't stand small minded people.

That is unbelievable. They're in the business and they won't expand their minds or their experiences to try other brews? Wow - I've heard it all about the macro-boys now.

An acquaintance (friend of a friend) was a salesman for the local distributor of one of the macros. He drank nothing but their product and scoffed at any other beer, macro or micro, saying they were far inferior. A few years later he got a better offer from another distributor of another macro and guess what? Yep, their beer is far superior to anything else out there. :/

S.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Brownbeard
...when you consider Bud is the number one selling beer in the UK. Are you suggesting the English are not aware of other beer options? I think Richard would take issue with that.

AB is number one in the U.K. because of advertising, market flooding, and the "fad of the moment" for the youth in the U.K. Remember when drinking imports was so cool as a kid? Bud is the cool import for the uninitiated U.K. youth.

And yes, they're also unaware - unaware that the other beers they see their parents or the distinguished (older?) gentlemen in the pub drinking are better beers. They see the ales as old-fashioned and out-of-style - not hip - and I think Richard would agree.

S.

[stronk]

It's true. Bugger this bloody international spirit which seems to be averaging the world out. All culture is gradually merging into a worldwide system. And we're even helping it along: look at the EU, the UN, the Euro, Coca Cola, MacDonalds, etc.

I'm amazed that Budweiser is supposedly the most popular beer in Britain. Is this information accurate (is there a source quoted anywhere)? There are many more common mass-produced lagers in England than Budweiser taps and bottles, and that's what I see people drinking. Bud has always appeared to be a small part of the drinks market to me.

[Stodbrew]

Originally posted by steveh
That is unbelievable. They're in the business and they won't expand their minds or their experiences to try other brews? Wow - I've heard it all about the macro-boys now[/I].


S.

I'm sorry, I went back and reread my post, and I wasn't entirely clear. The people at parties are the ones who don't want to try my beer. The point I was trying to make was that I have the same schooling as that of the brewers at the big boys, and the people at said parties still don't think I know what I'm doing.

As far as the brewers at the big boys, they love to drink micros. Every November, my local MBAA section has a gathering at A-B in Fairfield, CA, and everyone brings beers, we hang out, talk and drink one another's beer.

I'm sorry if I caused any confusion.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Stodbrew
I'm sorry, I went back and reread my post, and I wasn't entirely clear. The people at parties are the ones who don't want to try my beer. The point I was trying to make was that I have the same schooling as that of the brewers at the big boys, and the people at said parties still don't think I know what I'm doing.

I guess that just brings us back to those that have the perception that all beer should be flavorless swill. There used to be t-shirts available for home-brewers that had Warning: My Beer Actually Has Flavor. Beer flavored beer, what a concept.

I'm sorry if I caused any confusion.

Nah. And my story about the distributor salesman with double standards is all true.

S.