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5 beers Americans aren't drinking

Traditional favorites fall out of favor as Americans choose beers that are lighter or have a higher alcohol content.

By Michael B. Sauter and Alexander E.M. Hess, 24/7 Wall St.

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1146Comments
george53
Jan 2, 2013 1:35PM
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Skunk beer taste is why those beers aren't selling.
JxJx
Jan 2, 2013 1:27PM
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All 5 of those beers are terrible! That is why people do not drink them.  If I had a choice between water and either of those 5 beers, I would choose water 10 out of 10 times
Alprazolamerica
Jan 2, 2013 1:16PM
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I live in Phila. and you can only buy beer by the case from a beer distributor. I go to the most competitive priced distributor in the area.

The reason Bud (and Platinum and Shock Top are just marketing ploys, OK beers that are a rip off of great beers) is hitting the skids is because of price. A case of CANS is $18.99. For $24.99-$26.99 I can buy a bottled PA craft beer, like Victory, Dock Street, Troeggs, Stoudts, Yards or Philadelphia Brewing, or a non-PA craft like Flying Dog, Dogfish Head, Flying Fish or Magic Hat. Stella Atois is in that range too. Becks, Labatt's, Molson, Spaten, Fosters, or a case of the old PA standby, Yuengling, are anywhere from two or four dollars less than Bud.

Why would anyone buy sh!t like Bud when you can get real beer at, below, or slightly above the same price?

SandyToes5
Jan 2, 2013 12:51PM
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I think many Americans prefer the beer they first got buzzed on when they were teenagers and it was illegal.  What little taste it had is the definition of "beer" for them into adulthood with all its connotations of having fun while being bad.  No other beer flavor triggers the emotional response being sought.
dws42
Jan 2, 2013 12:41PM
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Best beer's in the world come from Belgium.
soundchaser54
Jan 2, 2013 12:36PM
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I am not surprised by this info, but from personal experience, I can say that the decline of Michelob and Mich Light is a direct result of the poor marketing/distributi​on practices of Anheuser Busch.  I have always liked Michelob and Amber Bock, and will take a Mich Light in a pinch.  However, over the last 5+ years (about the same time span used in the comparison), it has become next to impossible to get one of these in a restaurant or bar.  For a few years prior to that, you could not get a Michelob, but they always had Mich Light.  Now if you say Michelob, you get an Ultra.  

So the question becomes:  did AB just react to the demand, or did they create this drop in demand?
Brushpile
Jan 2, 2013 12:26PM
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Smoken a bud is better any way !
jjsjjsva
Jan 2, 2013 12:23PM
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Gp to the U.P. and drink KBC, any, as they are all great.
dad2xgr8
Jan 2, 2013 12:11PM
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Tax deal is exelent fo WHO?
heavy454
Jan 2, 2013 12:06PM
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I don't mind telling you, I could not find a good tasting American Beer that was affordable, so needless to say I started to drink the harder whiskey, preferably sold in the quart jar.
warren holm (gayland holm)
Jan 2, 2013 11:49AM
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Thats why I drink SKY vodka and no hangover!
kodberg
Jan 2, 2013 11:35AM
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The U.S. is brewing fantastic, innovative beers all over the country, without question some of the best in the world.  This is a list of beers whose sales are dropping the fastest, all of which are bad beers brewed by large breweries.  Anyone commenting that it's because our beers or taste buds are inferior to the Germans/Belgians need to stop buying their beer at Exxon and BP and find a craft brew destination.  The reason this list exists is because of the expanding appetite toward quality beer and the number of great local options in the U.S.

robbopaloobop
Jan 2, 2013 11:35AM
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This might be because Budweiser is basically horse-piss in a can

 

Although the continued popularity of Corona; ie., "Mexican Budweiser" is hard to explain...

 

 

Gas-man
Jan 2, 2013 11:29AM
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Light beers are for "Girls" and American men and the Light Beer Girly advertisements prove my point. Europe knows how to make good beer and IPA's. There are some very good American Micro brews but the Bud, Miller, Coors, Corona (Mexico) is complete junk (tasteless) beer for people without knowledge or taste for good brews...
2 Beachbums
Jan 2, 2013 11:26AM
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Most light beer tastes like crap anyway... cheap light beer even worse... There are good American beers... as there are bad German one's, just find one you like and Prost! Have a Good New Year...
Aegis1964
Jan 2, 2013 11:23AM
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"Michelob, a lager brewed since 1986" - that should be 1896.  Obviously written by someone too young to remember the "Weekends were made for Michelob" ad compaign from the 70's.  Its a shame when "authors" can't even copy out of the Wikipedia correctly.

 

goatbuster
Jan 2, 2013 11:20AM
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Maybe they would sell more Mic's if they put them in the stores. I haven't seen them in years.
I FlyAlot
Jan 2, 2013 10:46AM
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Marketing... that is the key to sales.  Quality is the key to sustainability.  
Back in the 70's  Coors was this mystical beer only sold west of the Mississippi River, (no refrigeration transport).  A friend would get his Dad's moving and storage drivers to bring him back a case or two once in a while and we would go wild!  Thought Coors was the bomb!  
In hind sight, Coors was just sparkling water with a hint of beer flavor, (I guess it still is).  
But that is what a teenager's pallet prefers.
With age comes wisdom... for some of us.
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