Bud Light Golden Wheat and MAXIM TOP 25????

[mikebiewer]

Agreed.

BLGW does not hold a candle to these other brews, let along getting the top spot. Plus, A/B's official statement is that the beer is not a "craft beer" except we see it marketed like one and we find it in our craft brewing section...

I don't believe this to be a gateway beer. I believe this to be a lure for anyone that drinks A/B's product who is starting to see the craft beer revolution happening because of people like us talking about things better than A/B. So they feel like exploring into the craft brew section to see what it is all about. What do they see? A familiar face. So what do they buy thinking they are trying a craft beer? A commercial beer.

It can't be a gateway beer to craft beer if its still a commercial beer in my opinion. They are just luring unsuspecting people into their product, stealing a craft beer slot for someone more deserving because they have the power to and marketing it like a bunch of snakes.

Just my two cents.

[thatguy314]

It can't be a gateway beer to craft beer if its still a commercial beer in my opinion.

How is craft different from commercial? Craft brews are sold, the brewers want to make a profit. If it's not commercially viable, it will go under.

[Dirk McLargeHuge]

Wow. There's a lot to reply to here. In no particular order: Should Zymurgy accept AB-IB or MillerCoors ads? If they are members of the Brewing Association, they can't refuse them, I suppose. What's gonna replace it? BeerAdvocate.com ads pimping their beer fests that go on opposite NHC or GABF?

ThatGuy134 has it right: if a craft brew doesn't sell enough to keep the brewery afloat, it isn't better than Bud Light Wheat. Sometimes, a Bud Light or a Silver Bullet is good. I like it after mowing the yard, for example. Fortunately I don't mow the yard very often.

Maxim's list is likely advertiser driven, but for a mag that likes to tout the high end stuff, I'm surprised they went with BLW. But I also quit reading Maxim fours years ago, and could give a rat's ass what they think. "B-b-b-but they are telling people that Bud is better than craft beer." So? Are we going to get all snobby on people and tell them what they like sucks? I hate Corona. Do I prohibit my brother from bringing any with him, or that nasty Land Shark Lager? {Northern Brewer Beer Geek Voice}"No! You musht drink craft beer in my houshe."{/Northern Brewer Beer Geek Voice} (Of course that is assuming my brother would ever actually bring beer to drink at my house, but that's another story. The mooching bastard!)

Finally, I will end with that I won't criticize anyone for the beer they drink. If we all liked the same thing, there would only be one beer on the shelf.

[mikebiewer]

I agree Dirk.

I don't think anywhere in my responses I said anything about people shouldn't drink it. I even say in my Review of Bud Light Golden Wheat that it has a place, its just that that place is not in MY mouth.

I still drink a Miller Lite and Coors Original or any of that stuff for that matter from time to time. I'm merely stating that the beer isn't that good and I am not fan of their marketing techniques because they are lying and monopolizing the uneducated drinker. Sure, that is that persons problem, but it pains me you know?

As for the commercial beer statement. I guess I should clarify. Craft beer instead of mass produced beer. Instead of saying commercially produced lets call it mass produced. That is a better term for classification I think. Yes, I agree they should all make a profit and be out for making a profit. However, some are more in it for quality versus quantity.

I will never point at someone drinking a Bud Light and say "You suck for drinking that" However, I may walk up to them and start talking about beer and possibly offer to buy them something different. People are close to their cash so they tend to buy crap because its cheaper and gets the job done. Why do you think Wal Mart is so successful? However, if a brand can get in front of someone and show them that their money is well spent for a better product...well anyone knows that brand loyalty can shift based upon new interactions and quality.

Hope I didn't rant to much here...

[Dirk McLargeHuge]

I agree Dirk.

I don't think anywhere in my responses I said anything about people shouldn't drink it. I even say in my Review of Bud Light Golden Wheat that it has a place, its just that that place is not in MY mouth.

I still drink a Miller Lite and Coors Original or any of that stuff for that matter from time to time. I'm merely stating that the beer isn't that good and I am not fan of their marketing techniques because they are lying and monopolizing the uneducated drinker. Sure, that is that persons problem, but it pains me you know?

As for the commercial beer statement. I guess I should clarify. Craft beer instead of mass produced beer. Instead of saying commercially produced lets call it mass produced. That is a better term for classification I think. Yes, I agree they should all make a profit and be out for making a profit. However, some are more in it for quality versus quantity.

I will never point at someone drinking a Bud Light and say "You suck for drinking that" However, I may walk up to them and start talking about beer and possibly offer to buy them something different. People are close to their cash so they tend to buy crap because its cheaper and gets the job done. Why do you think Wal Mart is so successful? However, if a brand can get in front of someone and show them that their money is well spent for a better product...well anyone knows that brand loyalty can shift based upon new interactions and quality.

Hope I didn't rant to much here...

No such thing as too much of a rant, unless you can't do it civilly.

About your last paragraph, I have a couple of issues. First, I used to work for a tobacco company that was trying to knock Marlboro off the top spot of the sales list. We were expected to approach Marlboro buyers, buy them a pack of our competing brand and give it to them and ask them to consider buying it next time. To me, that's admitting their choice was better.

Second, where do you draw the line? If you see someone drinking a Westvleteren 12 should you approach them and offer to buy them a DFH 120 minute pale ale because it's the DFH is #1 on the best beers in the world list? And what if that person, like me, hates DFH 120 minute? How would you appreciate someone walking up to you and telling you that your Imperial Stout is a second tier RIS and you should really try this one. . .? I actually saw a guy in a bar approach a Bud drinker and tell him how much better Red Dog was. Do you really wanna be that guy?

[TheMadHopper]

Well, I first started reading Maxim because of the chicks. Then I started to get into some of their product reviews of gadgets. Then I really started loving the "Girl Next Door" column in the back of the magazine. And every once in a while I enjoyed an article here and there, but it started taking a down turn earlier this year as I began to see exactly what you are saying, a frat guy targeted magazine.

So alas, this is just the straw that broke the camels back.

I actually got the very first issue of Maxim. Some kid came to my dorm room door in college and was selling mag subscriptions. I said sure, I'll take Penthouse. But when it came in, it wasn't Penthouse at all. All I thought was "what the f* is "Maxim" and where is my Penthouse? Nothing I could do, though. Other than deal with a year's worth of Maxim. Of course, back then it was about 3/4 of an inch thinner than it is now. Not near as many ads and pull out "scratch and sniff" cologne pages.

I'm still waiting on my Penthouse subscription. I've been looking for that kid for 12 years, just so I can kick his theiving little ass.

[mikebiewer]

Dirk.

Good point. I don't want to be that guy. I suppose my main point is that if myself and two other people are sitting at a table talking and two of us are drinking some like the Sam Adam's Nobel Pils. (A fine beer in my opinion) and the other dude is drinking a Bud Light.

During the conversation I mention that this beer is awesome and the other person drinking it likes it as well. Myself and this person talk about the hops, the flavor, the color, etc and get all excited about the brew. The third guy, the Bud Light dude mentions that He would like to try another beer, but doesn't know where to start.

THEN, this is where I would mention some styles/brands and offer to buy something for them.

I would never walk up to someone at a bar and tell them to stop drinking a Miller Lite and I'll buy them something I think they might like. That is just rude and if I came off that way, that is not what I intended.

I don't like commercial light lagers that much. I will drink them from time to time, so I won't go up to someone and tell them their beer sucks. I may not like it, but I respect it. So again, I didn't mean for that to come off that way.

Thanks for the discussion! This is great!

[azbrewhooligan]

MONEY... sad to say i see more and more people selling out. I try not to be bias though........... some may say, wave a couple thousand dollars in my face I would sell out to.... who knows... But I will never give up flavor to support a company when all they got going is a couple of fancy add campaigns and beer that tastes like they brewed it it with kitchen soap. That's just an opinion though, they sell the shit out of that stuff so they must be doing something rite. Or not enough people have been exposed to good tasting beer.