Budweiser American Ale Review

Brewery: Anheuser-Busch, Inc. | Beer: Budweiser American Ale
Style: American Amber Ale | ABV: 5.1%
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into pint glass

By now, I'm sure you've been exposed to plenty of marketing for Anheuser-Busch's newest beer: Budweiser American Ale. The commercials promise a bold beer dry-hopped with one of the most exalted varieties in the American craft-brew realm: the Cascade. American Ale is an all-malt beer, with caramel malt as the spotlight ingredient. I'm glad to see that Anheuser-Busch went with an all-malt backbone for this beer, it would have been quite a joke if it were loaded up with rice like it's brothers in the Budweiser line.

I do like the fact that they're being honest this time, and packaging this as part of the Budweiser brand, instead of a fake craft-brewery with a heart-warming country scene on their six-pack holders. I actually really like the packaging they went with, I think it fits the image they're striving for. The bottles even feature a pry-off cap, instead of the regular twist-off. I think that's AB's way of adding a touch of class to the beer...

Appearance: Crystal-clear copper body. Pours a good two-finger, frothy head that leaves decent lacing. This presents rather well.

Aroma: Pretty thin. There's some sweet caramel malt and some hints at the advertised Cascade hops, but nothing substantial.

Taste: Once again, very thin. There's an initial burst of caramel malt that fades rapidly. I'm not getting the characteristic Cascade citrus, or really anything out of the hop department at all. There's still that shitty twang and the bizarre metallic taste you get with other AB beers. Not really much in the way of an aftertaste, except a bit of biscuity malt.

Mouthfeel: A watery light body, with smooth carbonation. Very poor.

Drinkability: With hardly any flavor and a thin body, this goes back only slightly slower than water. Thing is, you probably won't be ordering a second anyway.

Verdict: Fool me twice, shame on me. American Ale is just another bland Anheuser-Busch beer. While it might be the best of the line, that really doesn't count for anything. If all you drink is Bud Light and you're looking for something a little more daring, you really can't go wrong with American Ale as a stepping stone. However, if you're already solidly in the craft-beer world, this is nothing but a novelty.

Grade: D