10 Barrel's of Bud

Recently with 10 Barrel Brewing being acquired by Anheuser-Busch. You would think the whole craft beer community has turned a tizzy over this. Cries of "sell-out"and claims of quality going out the window now. Many claim they'll be boycotting 10 Barrel beer now. You'd think Darth Vader himself had bought this tiny rebel brewery and stormtroopers will now be making the beer.

Little do these doomsayers realize that when they wake up in the morning the same beers will be on the shelves tomorrow. The craft beer movement will go on. Beer will be made and beer will be drank.

Some don't realize these are business's that need to to make a profit too. Apparently this brewer caught Bud's eye as a way to expand AB's portfolio and a way to free up 10 Barrel to concentrate on doing what they do well which is make great beer. 

It would seem craft beer fans would like them to remain their own and small. Seems to think that if they stay local quality will be better. Not understanding many companies would like to expand and grow. It's like a local rock band making it big and now they've sold out. What nerve they had for wanting to be successful.

 

Maybe now people like us on the east coast will get a chance to grab some of 10 Barrel's offering's. Beer is beer. Enjoy it. 

To Bud or not to Bud

 If Darth Vader's evil empire had an official beer it would be Budweiser. To the craft beer geeks it's the symbol of the evil bland pale macro brew swill. It had also become a working class type of beer that was marketed as a an all-American beer. I doubt that there is any beer name that is more well known or despised. Does it deserve to be so? Is it really bad? Yes and no. 

At Beer Advocate it has a rating of  57 and RateBeer is at 0 overall and 3 for style(out of 100) with a weight average of 1.44 of 5. I rated it at 2.7. 

I picked up a 16oz single for sampling and a refresher for this commentary. It pours a fizzy straw yellow with a very sudsy head. Faint straw aroma. Faint hint of sweet malt on the taste buds. Remember anything offensive has been brewed out of it. I can see why it's popular. It's kind of a beverage that could probably go with anything as it. Serves as a social lubricant that doesn't require much thinking.It's not great  but it doesn't have bad qualities either.

Bud without beer coloring and carbonation.

It really is beer that became king through smart and aggressive marketing(for better or worse). I think this is where they've gained a bad name by playing the heavy against smaller upcoming brewers. The beer itself is unexciting and offending. Like politicians before elections it strives not to be too daring or different than the mainstream in order to get your vote (or in this case buy their product). 

Bud is what it is. I do try not to judge people who drink it. I don't think of it as bad but the the king of bland. One useful thing about this is that it could be used a bench mark to judge other brews. Enjoy it for what it is if you choose.