Tag Archives: michelob

Shock Top Belgian White

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Beer-a-Day #235

© Christopher Vigliotti

Shock Top Belgian White (Image © Christopher Vigliotti)

Shock Top is an unfiltered Belgian-style wheat ale (also known as a “White” or “Wit” beer due to its appearance) that is naturally cloudy with a billowy white foam head, light golden hue and slight taste of orange peel and coriander.

Yes, this is a faux-craft beer. I suppose it’s Anheuser-Busch’s response to Blue Moon (which is Coors’ faux-craft Belgian White). But I’m all for being open-minded about my beer and not getting hung up on its roots.

Pale hazy yellow. Head drops quickly. A little lemon and spice in the aroma. Taste is a little bland. It’s okay, and it’s not my favorite style, but I’ve had better.

Shock Top Belgian White

Michelob Dunkel Weisse

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Michelob Dunkel WeisseBeer-a-Day #214

Anheuser-Busch InBev has repositioned its Michelob brand as “faux craft”. The slogan is, after all, “Crafting a Better Beer”.

Well, hell, I don’t want to get caught up in that “it’s not really craft so it’s no good” nonsense. Sure, I generally prefer to give my money to smaller, local companies. But if it’s good beer why wouldn’t I drink it?

The Dunkel Weisse web page also has the kind of information I like to see about a beer: color; stats like ABV, IBUs, original gravity, etc.; and recommended food pairings.

Deep amber color and clear, with an off-white head with some staying power. Banana and cloves in the aroma with a vaguely vinyl smell. Taste has a little bit of a smoky flavor in addition. I know that I keep saying I like wheat beers when I profess not to, but this time this is one I don’t like.

Michelob Dunkel Weisse

Michelob Lager

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maltmich.jpgBeer-a-Day #207

Michelob used to be the upscale brand in the Anheuser-Busch stable. No yelling former athletes, no snarky comedians, no scantilly-clad women. I do recall one commercial featured Eric Clapton doing a redone version of “After Midnight“. Then it seemed to be mostly neglected, with A-B tinkering with the formula, only restoring Michelob to an all-malt formula recently.

Of course, now Anheuser-Busch InBev is repurposing the brand as their “faux craft” line. I’ll have to try out the new flavors. In the meantime, I scored one of the last of the original lagers in the new/old style bottles.

Pale amber with a white head. A bit of fruit in the aroma (apples?). Taste is pretty good, if a little overcarbonated. Not bad for a light lager.

Michelob

Anheuser Busch brewing a beer without adjuncts?

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Is it even possible?

Apparently so.

maltmich.jpgI note that William Dowd of the Albany Times Union in his Dowd on Drinks column/blog mentions that Michelob and Michelob Light will return to an all-malt formula as of this Monday.

This reverses a change originally made in 1961 when Anheuser Busch started using rice in its beers to lighten the taste.

Of course, Michelob and Michelob Light sales are down 16 and 10 percent respectively since 2005. A cynical person might suggest that A-B’s move is more about trying to jump-start sales of a family of flagging products rather than love of beer causing such a change of heart.

The new formula will also be in some funky new bottles, which are actually an old style. Everything old is new again.