An Observation on AAL

I'm sure this has been said already in this forum but I think some of the craft brewers are looking to appeal to more "typical - non craft drinkers" by brewing "better versions" of your typical AAL as a way to appeal to the typical beer drinker and allow them to more comfortably dip their toes into the craft scene. It's honestly not a bad idea.

I'm not a huge fan of AALs and have yet to try recent entries like Solid Gold from Founders, but I highly doubt AALs will be the new fad in beer styles, I think things like IPAs and other craft staples like stouts, porters, ambers, etc. are here to stay and will always be staples.

Regardless, if this gets more people into craft beer I think we will all benefit from it - regardless of whether we agree with it or not.

 

It only comes down to taste for me. There is always water.

 

I do wanna state that I don't think Solid Gold is a bad option, and in your neck of the woods at those prices, it would probably be a solid option for me. It's a fine beer, but it doesn't have the value here that it must in your area.

 

A Craft Brewery’s AAL beer

Earlier today I mowed my lawn. After I was done I said to myself: Self, wouldn’t now be a good time for an AAL beer? My reply was: Yup!

Luckily I recently purchase a Sierra Nevada Party Pack (12-pack) and part of that pack is an AAL beer: Sierra Nevada Sierraveza – Easy Drinking Lager. This beer was brewed using some corn grits.

I enjoyed this beer. It was refreshing and ‘it hit the spot’.

I will more thoroughly discuss this beer in an upcoming New Beer Sunday thread but permit me to provide this snippet: I enjoyed drinking this beer much more than I did Founders Gold.

Cheers!

P.S. For the interested reader here is my discussion of Founders Solid Gold in a NBS thread: https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/new-beer-sunday-week-681.563003/#post-5919229

 

OK, but did you drink the Founders Gold after a hot lawn mowing experience? If not, your comparison is invalid!

 

That's the perfect glass for this style, I find. Looking forward to the full post.

 

Man, this was a trend I called a year ago...if only I had documented it!

I think a lot of people focus too much on the sales power for why beer trends rise and fall. Yes, sales efforts are a huge part of beer trends, but it all starts with this brewer...

Why are AALs growing in popularity? I think part of it is the old guard brewers are getting burned out on the big stouts and hop bombs. I mean, the class of ‘88 guys are getting into their sixties, and most of them don’t want to be drinking 8% DIPAs after work.

The younger guys, like myself, never had that ‘us against them’ mentality that made AALs taboo. Most of us have always seen the style as what it is - supremely balanced and challenging, regardless of the politics...

I’ve brewed an AAL for years as a homebrewer for 4th of July. It is the quintessential American style and we should celebrate it!

I think ultimately, this isn’t a case of craft brewers brewing more of a style, but them brewing the appropriate amount of the country’s most popular style after years of ignoring it.

 

Have you ever brewed a Classic American Pilsner? The beers that were popular in America circa 1900?

Cheers!

 

You know, I am kinda pissed that most of the AALs I enjoyed are not on local shelves anymore.

 

Who said folks were not able to drink whatever fucking beer they want?

 

Yeah, I miss the Falstaff, Schlitz and others we had back in the 60s. Oh, they weren't that great but were different from the AALs of today and think our current craft drinkers might've found them interesting.

 

Oh jeez, Falstaff could hang with the current best. And maybe top them, with few exceptions.

 

I've tried FW lager and Solid Gold. Both taste just like any other decent AAL to me but as others stated, 2x the price. No thanks. For summer drinking, I'll stick with a few hard to find good pilsners, Helles lagers, lighter pale ales etc. and scatter in a few sixers of my favorite AALs when I need to save a few bucks. I'm just not willing to pay premium craft prices for low flavored AALs, when there are equivalent options at 1/2 the price.

 

I have to disagree that Solid Gold compares to Bud, Let both beers sit for 15 min under no refrigeration and then tell which is better,Founders should win every time,just my opinion,Cheers

 

I haven't read through all of the responses so I apologize if it's already been said, but I think the escalating price of craft beer is causing some folks to reconsider AAL's. They'll drink less craft beer and balance it off with AAL's. I know people who are doing this exact thing.

 

I've thought of trying this, but there's plenty of affordable 15 packs of craft out there. I still buy overpriced stuff in search of the holy grail, even with these offerings present...

 

Agreed, I usually buy 15 packs of Founders Centennial IPA - happy with that!

 

Oh yeah, plenty. Hey, if I don’t buy all the cluster hops, who will?