By now, you’ve seen it: Budweiser is “proudly a macro beer.” It’s not brewed to be fussed over. It’s a beer for people who like to drink beer. “This is the famous Budweiser beer,” the [costly Super Bowl] ad says.
And to Anheuser-Busch inBev, we have just one thing to say —
You mad, bro?
While Budweiser is still the third most-popular beer brand in America (behind Bud Light and Coors Light), more and more beer drinkers are choosing craft over Clydesdale. In fact, a recent study conducted by Anheuser-Busch inBev themselves found that nearly half of all drinkers aged 21 to 27 have never tried the brand.
Oh, how far this self-proclaimed king of beers has fallen, from 50 million barrels sold at its peak in 1988 to just 16 million barrels sold today. Compare that number to craft beer’s 15 million (alongside an exponential growth rate), and it’s clear to see why the macro-brewers are running scared.
Don’t Drink Macro Beer. Drink Craft Beer.
Why?
Because it’s made with better ingredients.
That mass-produced, macro beer isn’t exactly known for its organic or high quality ingredients. Tell me, why do you think you can buy a six-pack of those golden suds so cheap? Consider Lost Rhino Brewing Companyinstead: The regional brewery out of Ashburn, Virginia sources supplementary local hops as often as they can. BONUS: They have a vested interest in the community, because they are a part of the community.
Because craft beer can teach you something macro beer cannot.
Just a few months ago, Hop & Wine columnists ventured to Port City Brewing Company (Alexandria, VA), where we had the chance to learn about the history of the brewery; about the process — the craft, if you will — of beermaking; and about the rich beer culture. Betcha can’t do that with a brewing company based in Belgium.
Because you never have to drink the same beer twice.
If you want to be boring, go ahead, drink macro. But when you drink craft beer, you can drink something different at every party, with every meal, and with the changing of the seasons. That’s part of the fun, don’t you think? Expand your horizons. Tantalize your tastebuds. Drink craft beer.
Because it’s good for your health.
That’s right. Craft beer is basically health food. While all beer drinkers are exposed to polyphenols — an antioxidant found in hops that help to lower cholesterol and fight certain types of cancer — all beer is not created equal: Craft beer contains up to 30 times more hops than that macro stuff. Drinking craft beer can also help reduce stress; it has bone-building benefits; and has been shown to help with cognitive function.