Budweiser Black Crown

It seems that Bud is , once again, trying to woo craft beer drinkers.

This post on the Drinking Made Easy blog, states that "Black Crown" won a nationwide taste test of 25,000 drinkers and that, according to Bud's VP Rob McCarthy, "“It didn’t matter where in the United States we asked, this is the beer that consistently drew the best feedback, and overwhelmingly so..."

Some people could read those stats and think that Bud has done good and is coming around.  But then again, read between the lines and you can't help but say, "So what?"

Of the 25,000 tasters, how many do you think were actual craft beer drinkers? How many of those could tell the difference between a lager and an IPA?  How many of those picked a type of beer to pair with food or for a specific occasion? I'll bet dollars to donuts that most of those people are current Bud drinkers (macro drinkers) and have never experienced anything that craft beer has to offer.

Of course they're going to be wowed!

Similarly, the statement that the beer did well anywhere in the US, indicates that it appeals to a majority of people.  Gee, you mean, just like regular Bud does?

Craft drinkers are increasing in number, most likely due to diligent crusading by fellow beer geeks, but perhaps also due to the fact that American drinkers are finally getting tired of the same bland swill and are looking for beverages that carry more flavor.  But craft beer drinkers are not in the majority.  So, if this Black Crown is enjoyed by a "majority", doesn't it stand to reason that the majority is not "us"?

Hell, craft beer drinkers as a group are fragmented!  Some enjoy all well-made brews where some have style preferences. I, for one, have yet to develop a taste for sours.  So for Bud to make a beer that will appeal to the craft market, they will have to accept that it won't sell like gang busters as its main line does.

That is, if they didn't care solely about the bottom line.


Successful craft breweries like Dogfish Head are, of course, concerned about business.  They are, of course, desirous of making a profit.  But even their "bill payers", the beer that should appeal to as wide an audience as possible, don't make everyone happy.  They understand and accept this.  And they still make weird ass shit like Chicha- a pub only exclusive that is made in the traditional Peruvian way of using human salivary enzymes to ferment the beer.  (Even craft beer geeks shudder at this.)  Or they make stuff like Sah'tea which some people hate and some people love.  The point being, they are continuing to make beer for the sake of the beer itself.

I am skeptical of Black Crown.I'm sure it's a better beer than regular Bud but I wonder how good it really is. Apparently, it's available now so I think I'll have to go out and get one or two and see.  It may not be that bad but, even if it tastes kinda good, I suspect the motive behind its creation isn't.

Stay tuned...

I've created a monster.

Went to the Tap Room and availed ourselves of the happy hour specials.  As it so happened, there was a Dogfish Head Tap Takeover!  I initially had some 60 minute IPA but then switched to My Antonia, which was pretty damned tasty!

I'm normally not a pilsner guy but the bitterness of the hops worked really well with this imperial pilsner and paired really well with the 1/2 price mussels!  The white wine version was pretty good but the Red was much, much better.  Stay away from the fried cheese.  It's a little too mushy, I think.

Jackie had the Bitch's Brew and loved it and therein lies the problem.  I absently boasted how I had a couple bottles of it in the cellar and now, she's demanded I open one up.  Happy wife, happy life.

So I busted open a 2010 BB that's been languishing in the cellar next to other goodies and poured her some.  It smells much better,deeper and richer than what was on tap.  A little funkified, dark chocolate, cocoa, raisin (or some other dark fruit) and cola in the nose.  But I think the nose is more interesting than the taste.

It feels a little thin and is more sour than rich. It's still pretty good, as far as imperial stouts go, but I think I'll be trying to drink the other one I have most ricky tick.  But maybe tomorrow.  Right now, I'm working on a Sculpin IPA growler fill from the distributor in Huntington.  More on that later.