Touring Anheuser-Busch in St.Louis, with fond feelings for Michelob
In answer to Tim D, the AB brewers I spoke with in St. Louis seem to feel that the production of their American beers, especially Budweiser, will continue as always.
I toured the Budweiser operation; even saw several of the much-discussed Clydesdales. I was told that Bud operations, including the daily 3 p.m tasting of the products, remain unchanged. The new ownership is just that, new. So we shall see.
I asked about potential cutbacks in quality control, and was told the operation is very high-tech and much of the monitoring of brews is computerized and remains unchanged.
I was surprised that a batch of Bud had 9 hop infusions, in three separate doses; some of the hops were repeats. Bud is not my favorite beer, but at a lunch tasting, I loved pairing it with a serving of smoked Gouda. Who knew?
The most impressive part of my tour was the Michelob operation, which is basically a craft brewery inside the AB complex. Brewer Nathaniel Davis experiments with new beers using the vast AB resources. As he put it: "It is like playing with your dad's tools, if your dad is Donald Trump."
I tasted several of the Michelob brews. The Dunkel Weisse, a dark wheat, was my favorite. It is one of their 14 Michelob beers. The Michelob Porter isn't too shabby either. I confess I have a new appreciation of Michelob beers, even if they come from a big brewery.
Anyone else taste them recently ?
What do you think?
Can you get past the big brewery bugaboo?
Comments
This divey bar on St. Mark's in Manhattan that I go to occasionally serves a pitcher of some type of Michelob (Amber Lager, maybe?) for only like 9 bucks, and at that price I'll drink it. It's not too bad. It's kind of like a slightly less flavorful Yuengling.
Otherwise I generally don't bother.
Posted by: Grant | December 3, 2008 2:07 PM
I thought their Marzen was quite good - definitely my favorite so far of their "craft" line, although I haven't had a chance to try the Dunkel yet.
Posted by: Hunter | December 3, 2008 3:34 PM
Nothing wrong with big brewers if they actually make good beer. Boston Beer (Sam Adams) is hardly a small operation, but they brew some of the best stuff out there. Plus, they are available almost everywhere you go and they helped make the market for all the tremendous beers we have today. Leinenkugel's (Miller) also brews a solid beer, and most of the Germans are very large operations.
Posted by: WillClark4HOF | December 4, 2008 9:56 AM
Good beer is good beer, regardless of who makes it and on what scale.
Fresh Budweiser is an outstanding beer made to incredibly high standards of purity and quality.
Michelob's line of beers is that much better because it has the purity of the marcobrews with a microbrew touch.
Always been a fan of michelob.
Posted by: bryanintimonium | December 4, 2008 12:59 PM
I toured the AB plant in Williamsburg back in '83 or "84 and even though I didn't know then what I know now, I was still into whatever premium products where available at that time, ie, Andeker, Guiness Ex. St., Becks Dark, etc. What I was surprised with during my brewery tour was how good the Michelob Lager was right off the tank. It has since never duplicated that quality whenever I had it in bolttles or on draft elsewhere. That being said, I have samped, within the last 2 years, Mich and Bud products at the GABF and at home on various occasions and I have found them to be accepatable, but nowhere near the depth of body and hop character of the average or better craft brews. They have a better price point than the micro's and are great for your swill drinking friends who are transitioning into a more sophisticated product.
Posted by: Dominic Cantalupo | December 4, 2008 11:21 PM
I'm surprised to hear that Bud has 9 hop infusions - you can basically taste zero hops in it.
I've found that almost all beer taste great when it's fresh from the brewery, but I'll always take a High Life over a Bud.
Posted by: Flash | December 5, 2008 9:37 AM
Brewery fresh beer always tastes good.
Posted by: Rick | December 5, 2008 2:18 PM
9 hop infusions in Bud ?u got to be kidding! me!!
gimme a Miller High lIfe for great taste in mass producded domestic brew. any day of the week.
Posted by: pete | December 5, 2008 10:20 PM
A-B can make good beer! The Michelob beers I get from sales reps are always good, and I am always embarassed to admit it to the A-B rep.
Posted by: Doug Weatherholtz | December 20, 2008 1:06 PM