“Heavy” AAL Comeback?

Get a case of Hamm's. You're welcome.

Wait..... what was the question?

 

This is why I don't/can't drink Budweiser. I have enough issues with IBS. I don't need any extra added issues.

 

I have to disagree with some of the comments about light beer and if you are calorie counting, just want the taste of a beer to satisfy a craving, all day drinking, etc., they can be a solid choice. I was out at dinner and the restaurant had a special on the BIG beer mugs so it made little sense to order anything else but I didn't want to drink that many calories so I got a Corona Premier and it hit the spot and was perfect for what I was aiming for.

It seems like Hard Seltzer's popularity is waning just a bit but if that spikes again or continues I think that breweries would be wise to look into some more light/session beers.

As far as this topic goes I haven't noticed any change and BL, ML, etc. are still popular choices around me, especially on Eagles game day.

 

No mention of Founders DKML yet? (had it ... like it... would not revisit it again tho )

 

I agree. I usually order light at the watering hole if there’s a lack of desirable craft choices. Not everyone drinking Bud light is an alcoholic. Cheers.

 

You're gonna make us all guess #3 aren't you? My first guess is Pabst.

 

I had a High Life and a Schlitz yesterday. Local has them on special $2.00 for 16 oz cans all day, every day. For Happy Hour they are a $1. Also had a couple of Moon Mans and a Bells double cream stout which were all of $3 each.... regular price.

 

My guess would be Miller Lite.

 

Oh. Went right over my head. That question is the story of my life. Glutton for punishment is my answer

 

Don't start hitting yourself in the head with a hammer... just because it feels so good when you stop.

 

Nope. Here's the Top 10 around that time, listed by barrelage (millions of bbl) not market share:

 

Thanks! Missed it by that much.

 

It’s football season so AAL is making a comeback! I saw some guy with multiple trashcans full of bud light at the recycler and he told someone “it’s football season”. Nothing but a sea of blue bud light cans. I threw up a little in my mouth thinking of drinking that many bud lights.

I’ve always enjoyed various AALs. When I do drink a lot in a single sitting with friends I enjoy Miller lite and Hamms. Also, AAL make excellent golf beers. I find that I can stuff my bag full of them and don’t get drunk. And drinking a warm one is better than drinking a warm ipa. If you have to hide your beers since they weren’t bought there. Some places I have been to don’t allow coolers in the cart.

 

Well, that's one way to look at it - it was also 5 million barrels off.

But after you guessed Pabst I thought, "Nah, it was on the way down by then..." so when I checked PBR's barrelage at the time I was surprised it was still that high in '81. The brewing company would be bought twice in the follwing years (by Heileman and Kalmanovitz's S&P) and PBR would continue downhill > 1.5m bbl. in '95, when their Olde English brand* sold 2m bbl. Can't find confirmation but pretty sure PBR was down around 1M bbl. before it's consumer-driven rebirth, much to the surprise of the company itself.

After they bought the Stroh-Heileman portfolio in '99, both Old Milwaukee and Colt 45 were bigger brands in their enlarged portfolio than Blue Ribbon.

*They sold OE to Miller in 1999, when they bought most of the Stroh/Heileman brands.

 

No comeback for this guy. Life is short, precious, f'd up and glorious. May as well do it right (without those AALs).

 

For me it's always the wrong choices.

Brain: You're full, stop eating/drinking.
Me: Pffft, I got puh-lenty of room!
Brain: You'll be sorry!
Me: Shut up brain! What do you know?

2 hours later....

While visiting the bathroom for what feels like the 10th time...

 

Is that another Homer Simpson dialog?

 

When did the Pabst plant in Newark close?

 

I had to look up what Bud “Heavy” means.



We don’t use that term here, and Chicago is one of the few places in America (Wisconsin is the primary other) where Miller Lite is by far the most popular selling Light Beer over Bud Light. In 2019, Nationally Bud Light had 55% share, Coors Light 24% and Miller Lite 21% per Forbes). When people order a light in Chicago, they get a Miller Lite unless they are in a “paid tied house” aka Wrigley Field / United Center. The again, Boys Town also has a different meaning in Chicago.

While I find them more open to Seltzer, most of my friends and many people 40 and older here are lifelong Miller Lite drinkers. They will consider something else if Miller Lite isn’t available, and Seltzer is a leading candidate, but otherwise it’s Lite all night. It’s cheaper, near universal and what they were conditioned to drink when they became beer drinkers.

I like Budweiser, Michelob and Budweiser were my beers of choice pre craft (except Irish bars, Guinness was the choice), and I still enjoy both (Michelob is hard to find in my area, though still pick up in Vegas). I would trade the rest of my Bells Christmas Ales for Budweiser Christmas cans right now if I were on the trader forums.

The only light beer I ever enjoyed or bought for myself on purpose was the OG Michelob Light. This wasn’t Ultra, or the current version of light. It was as very close to the flavor as Michelob “Heavy”. Alas, AB dumbed it down shortly after the release of Ultra, which made no sense.

Cues the Hollies.

 

I think 1985 or 86? Pabst's then-owner, Paul Kalmanovitz (who also owned S&P/General-Falstaff-Pearl) shipped the guts of the place to China, along with the General brewery in Vancouver, WA. Right after some ad campaigns to keep the place open.


The brewery was built right after Repeal by the Hoffman soda company, and was one of the most modern breweries at the time (designed to bottle unpasteurized beer, no less), brewing several different Hoffman branded beers. Pabst bought the company right after WWII ended.