Budweiser 1933 Prohibition Repeal

While I remember to do so I figured I would post this link to a journal from the Vermont Board of Health from 1908 where the author discusses how Anheuser Busch objected to a test showing salicylic acid in their malt extract Malt Nutrine, since as per AB they used caramel malt in this beer and this malt gave the same reaction as salicylic acid would in the test used. I thought it was interesting to see a reference to the use of caramel malt by AB from the early 1900s and thought I would reference it. Albeit used for a malt extract, if they had it on hand in the brewery one could imagine it finding use in other brands as well as a colorant, either as a replacement or an accompaniment to the older colorant, i.e dry roasted farbmalz/color malt.

 

If "we" enjoy it, its days are numbered.

 

That is very interesting for sure. Is this an early effort by A-B to help prevent headaches and acne? I'm only joking, but not knowing all of the chemistry, this still is curious. What is the main upshot, other than corporate dissembling back in the day?

 

Well the key takeaway is that caramel malt could give a false reading when using a test to check the presence of salicylic acid which was either used by some brewers or claimed to be used by some brewers as a preservative in beer, which some people viewed as adulteration of a food product or potentially poisonous (especially if you were temperance minded).

My interest is however in mapping the use of caramel malt in brewing in the early 1900s which is a question I find to be of interest when it comes to these types of "replicated" recipes, since almost all of them seem to use caramel malt, which makes me wonder if they are actually based on historical recipes or if they are simply craft beers (Anchor Steam, Samuel Adams Boston Lager, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale etc. all contain caramel malt) with retro marketing. That is not to say that caramel malt was not used in brewing in the early 1900s, it was, but going by the "replicated" recipes one could get the impression that all beers did. Since the supposed recipes for these recreations are never shared with the public the drinker has to take the brewer's word for it that they: 1. had a recipe to go by, and 2. followed it as closely as they could.

For example I would be very interested to learn that the semi-new Carlsberg 1883 beer is actually following an 1883 recipe when it includes pilsner malt, munich malt and caramel malt, since this mixture seems entirely modern (found in a myriad of modern amber and dark Scandinavian lager beers), yet if they have records of such a grist from 1883 this would alter my understanding of brewing history. But without the records we are left to trust the brewer, or more accurately the marketing department of the brewery, or even a hired outside marketing company.

 

I hate to admit it, but I really want to try this. Maybe not a six-pack worth, but at least a single worth.

Voice of experience, eh?

 

Check out the ratings on this site they're very good reviews. Just because it's AB doesn't mean they can't craft up a big time brew, unlimited resources , skilled Brewers.

 

I picked up some today.

 

Pretty delicious Amber Lager.

 

I have tried this new Budweiser Amber and I am SHOCKED!
Normally I would not go near anything with a Budweiser label, but I was curious too. This beer tastes like a quality craft beer. It looks gorgeous poured in a glass and has a sweet dry finish. I hope to God Budweiser keeps selling this stuff. It’s wonderful, and I’m impressed they actually know how to brew a great beer.

 

Anyone seen this in Nor Cal yet? My local bottle shop claims that distro is going to large chain stores only. But Bevmo doesn't have it up on their site and the closest Total Wine is in So Cal.

 

Even if you don't think that Budweiser is a great beer for what it is, did you really used to think that the people behind that liquid don't know how to brew a great beer?

 

Saw this in the store last week and wondered about it.

I thought about possibly trying it but then I saw a reply on here saying it was similar to Busch Signature Copper Lager... which was one of the least pleasant beers I've tried. I made the mistake of picking up a 12-pack of back when I first saw it around here and struggled through it over the next few weeks, could barely finish a glass if it wasn't ice cold the whole time (to this day the only beer I've ever frozen my own glasses for, it was so bad with even a little bit of warming up from fridge temperature.)

Hopefully this is better than that one was, considering they're selling it for $7.99 a six-pack (vs. the $8.99 I paid for 12 of the Busch Signature)... but I probably won't be in any rush to try it unless I stumble across single bottles for sale somewhere.

 

I looked for it and the grocery store, they said they ordered 10 cases and only got 2 and sold out. They said they were suppose to get more, will see I'll try back later, hoping to try.

 

With the resources at their disposal, I'm not surprised that they can make a great beer when they want to. The problem is that their massive customer base does not want great beer. Need proof? Just pick one of their commercials at random. If they do keep producing Repeal Reserve, it'll just be a shallow attempt to capture a segment of the craft beer market that they've been actively insulting for at least a couple of years now. Screw them and the Clydesdales they rode in on. #AlwaysTheCynic

 

Great point.

 

I just picked up a 6 pack of Zombie amber lager by 4204 Main Street Brewing in Belleville, IL. It's fantastic. Thank goodness there are other amber lagers available. I'll skip the Budweiser and support the local guys.

 

It is pretty funny how they've seemed to prefer virtually any strategy to compete with good beer other than just brewing good beer themselves.

 

But the have been brewing good beer for years. They are just not the beers we prefer to drink. Also for years they viewed their competition as being other AAL and Light beer brewers since that is what the market preferred. Currently they view their major sources of competition as being wine and spirits which many prefer to any kind of beer at all, regardless of who brewed it or what we happen to think of it.

 

I don't know that it's worth debating but I for one have never been persuaded by the "AALs are actually good" argument.

 

Which is why I specifically said they just are not beers we enjoy. As has been debated many times on here my personal preferences are not an objective definition of "good."