An Observation on AAL

A couple of my local/regional breweries have entered this segment. I treat 'em like I do all AALs: once for the tick, and then I'm done. I don't like the style, and don't drink 'em.

 

The microbrew/craft beer movement of the late 20th century
was not an expansion or further development of the
the existing US beer market. It was a rebellion against it,
and offered an alternative to it.

(Or maybe that's just how I choose to remember it.)

 

Not too surprisingly some BAs view this as an either/or proposition. Either you are a craft beer drinker (and thereby only drink craft beer) or you are the other type of beer drinker.

I personally choose to not view this as being an either/or proposition. While the majority of the beers I drink are what many (most?) folks would classify as being craft beer I have no issues with drinking AAL beers from time to time. I will freely admit that when it comes to drinking AAL beers I am selective in which brands I drink.

Cheers!

P.S. Shemp's is an AAL!

 

As mentioned earlier in this thread, Yuengling and Schell's have been competing successfully for the AAL drinker for decades upon decades. That doesn't mean Founders will successfully break into this market, but it does indicate there IS a market for regional AAL.

 

Bingo! It's always been about increasing variety and choices, not reducing them. Jeez!

 

Founders is a pretty national brand. Their distribution web is pretty far beyond regional in my opinion. http://www.grbj.com/articles/87639-brewery-extends-distribution-footprint
Apparently ya they are a few states away. While I agree yuengling is pretty regional and there is definitely a market for a regional AAL that founders isn’t gonna be looked at in a regional spotlight. Founders is everywhere and therefore competing with AB and sabmiller.

 

Actually, it's probably more like, "Fuckin' nerds."

 

While I haven't gone back to drinking AAL beers (I used to be fairly brand loyal, and only drink Keystone Ice and Coors), I find that the occasional lager really helps to "reset" my palate. It's a good beer to start a session off with. In general, I think we are all doing ourselves a disservice to only stick to one or two styles.
I am a Founders homer, but I was kind of meh with Solid Gold. Firestone Walker's Lager on the other hand is good, as is Deschutes Pacific Wonderland Lager.

 

I know. I got it. The question would be, "Is the average macro drinker as witty as you are?" I wouldn't think so.

 

*Paul Mooney Voice*

Everybody wanna drink an 'AAL', but dont nobody wanna drink an AAL. In other words, a lot of folks on here would be willing to buy something like a Founders Solid Gold or FW Lager, but wouldnt drink the Bud Heavy or PBR standing next to it even though they are probably very similar in taste. Like previous posters have stated AALs have their proper time and place. If and when I indulge, I go with an option like Hamms or Narragansett - cheap and inoffensive, easy to drink.

 

I like AALs from time to time. In the age of NEIPAs and pastry stouts, sometimes I want something cold, light, bubbly, refreshing, and relatively flavorless. In fact, I just bought a sack of pilsner malt so that I can brew a bunch of non-hoppy lagers, one of which I plan to be an adjunct lager. Meanwhile, I have three cans of hazy triple IPA I haven't touched in months. Variety is the spice of life, after all.

The thing that bothers me, though, is when breweries and craft drinkers try to have it both ways. They brew/drink cream ales and "Mexican" lagers, but would never let an AAL or "light beer" pass their lips, craft or otherwise. A local place here brews a light lager and a malt liquor, and I applaud them for it. No need to be pretentious about it.

 

But those are AAL beers despite the geographical nomenclature.

Cheers!

 

Haha, everytime I think I forgot about paul mooney...

 

That's exactly my point. If you will drink a beer called a Mexican Lager, but not a beer simply called an AAL, you're fooling yourself. And I think it's fair to say that a fair number of craft drinkers fall into that category.

 

I don't look at it as an "either or". I look at it more like, "I always want to drink the most flavorful beer that I can at any given time." Sometimes that happens to be an AAL, but not very often.