Like many of you, my comrades, I waited patiently in anticipation for the release of Bud Light Golden Wheat on October 5, 2009. With the wide success of craft witbiers across the country, Budweiser was all like, we can do that too.
So, I bought myself a six-pack at the beginning of the week to hopefully be amazed. I was looking for the full citrus-laced taste of Blue Moon, the spiced smooth aftermath of Hoegaarden, yet with increased *ahem* drinkability brought by the Bud Light. I hate to use that word, but it's true. Last winter break, along with my buddies Rico and Ryan, I drank about 14 Blue Moons in three hours. Bad idea. The coriander singed my tastebuds for weeks, and the unfiltered wheat fermented in my belly, giving me more gas than Nolan on hot dog night. Simply, witbiers are very tasty, but I can't drink too many of them.
Unveil the Bud Light Golden Wheat (BLGW)!
To my disappointment, BLGW is unabashedly boring. It is basically Bud Light with some spices and a faux-orange taste. It sits on the taint between a light beer and a wheat beer, while denying each of their respective greatness. It is definitely more drinkable, and it is definitely witbier-esque, but not enough of either. While it does not elicit the response of Famous Grouse (insta-puke), it invokes the emotions of watching Nolan work through a math problem: everybody knows what the answer should be, but he can not produce a viable final product.
I had lofty goals, but was indeed let down. This is not the first time. Recall last fall, when we were all duped into buying copious amounts of American Ale. Then, too, I was let down by Budweiser's imitation of a craft beer.
Advice to Budweiser
- Budweiser, Bud Light and Bud Select are all good products. Don't let Inbev bully you into being something that you are not (American Ale, Bud Light Lime, Golden Wheat). Stick to the basics.
- You perfected viral advertising, before that was even a term! Budweiser Frogs, Whasssssup ads and the like were the cornerstone of your company. At least put a good advertising campaign behind your new beer. The 80's called. They want that totally awesome logo back.
RATING: 6/10
Have you tried it? Leave a comment.
KC
4 comments:
I like the logo and the rock paper scissors commercial is hilarious. I read a wsj article on the way to work one morning and budweiser's new strategy is to bring back the funny so stay tuned.
As for wheat beer, every time I have more than two I throw up so I generally stay away but a good wheat beer and a burger is a tough combo to beat in my book. Nice post kris.
I have had exactly one of these, but maybe we aren't looking at the whole picture. With BL, the 1st tastes good and the 8th tastes like water. Maybe after 7 or 8 of these bad boys the whole bouquet of flavors will start to reveal itself, getting better with consumption.
If they can pull that off, that would apparently be deserving of a Nobel Peace Prize.
I agree that it is not that overwhelming, but I'm going to give it another go.
Great analysis by Kris and I like your theory, Brett.
Drank two wheat beers and threw up, everybody called me Puke. Went in after and aced all my classes, they called me Ace. Got straight B's, they called me Buzz.
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