Budweiser American Ale

So, there I was, up in Nashville's best beer store, Frugal MacDoogal's, checking out the offerings. I had already checked the big beer side (beers over 6% ABV), and was over at the "strictly beer" part.

The Bud Guy was there, so I asked him when was the Bud American Ale going on t he market. He said "September 29th". Well, unlike some people, I usually don't get to try beers before they are released, but this time, fate smiled down on me.

The Bud Guy said "You want a sample?" Why hell yes, I want a sample.

Be advised, this is not the actual commercial label, that's why it says "sample" on the top.

So, I managed to get it back to West TN without drinking breaking it, and I set it up in the fridge to chill. Later, I went ahead and made the pour:

Yes, that is the Alehouse beverage center on a Friday night. Not fancy, but functional.

Anyway, as you can see, the head is impressive. It wasn't what I would describe as rocky, more like how a homemade wheat bread might look like, with holes of varying sized throughout.

I can't recall a specific aroma about it. Although the promotional materials mention a Cascade hop aroma, I can't say it really registered with me.

I will say, however, that the taste is much better than I expected from Bud, having tried, and not been overly impressed by, their Michelob line of "craft brews". It has an excellent balance of malt and hops, but it's not sweet malty, it's bread malty. If you don't get what I'm saying, grab yourself a Fat Tire sometimes. That's one bready beer. The hops provide the necessary balance, but if you're a hop head, this beer isn't for you.

So, as Lew asks in his review above, who is this beer for? Well, me, for one. Although I like great beer, I'm far from being a "beer snob". I'll knock back the Beast Light with the best of them. I think this beer would be a good way to introduce a Bud/Beast Light drinker to how real beer is supposed to taste. Ok, not the Beast Light drinker. It costs more than three bucks a sixer.

Now, for the interesting news. You can't get Bud Ale in the Memphis area. Not in Shelby county anywhere. You can, however, drive to Fayette county, to the Wal Mart in Oakland, and get it there. Tennessee beer laws were written by morons.

This is a good beer, one that will have a place in Da Beer Fridge for a long time to come.

.