Drinkers sue Anheuser-Busch for 'watering down' beer

[Paprikaboy]

Allegedly they've been watering down Bud.
I'm surprised anyone could tell.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21...

[MOREKASHA]

Bud is what it is. A modern product. No matter what you say about the fellas running it (or their product) , they're no dummies. They ain't puling a Schlitz.

[Insidious Rex]

Do we think the Brewers Association is behind this or more likely some direct macro beer competitor to ABInBev?

[JessKidden]

More likely disgruntled A-B workers and ex-workers, self-styled "patriots" annoyed with A-B's purchase by InBev and/or people who don't understand the concept of the "high gravity brewing" process or how widespread it is (even among some craft breweries, reputedly).

AB's been on the other side of a similar controversy, which resulted in a lawsuit over the process, altho' it was where the water came from not the amount of it that was the important factor in that one http://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/14/bus...

[Jim Dorsch]

There is no way the Brewers Association is involved with this. They wouldn't make such an attack, and even if they did, they would stand up and do it themselves.

[LStaff]

Agreed. But I wouldn't think they would be involved in an attack - via a "blacklist"- of brands that don't meet their self serving definition of craftbeer either.

[Jim Dorsch]

Well, the business of the definition has been going on for a long time. I believe they've painted themselves into a corner with that. I don't think small brewers have a beef against the large brewers, outside of issues regarding access to market.

[The Professor]

I agree. If they do have a beef against the bigs for other than marketplace access issues, then it's just more snobbery. The BA has provided great support and generated some great PR hype for the small brewers, but unfortunately, they do seem to lean towards and encourage snobbery to some degree with their attitudes and "rules" about what's "craft" and what isn't. In the end, it's really irrelevant. Brewing itself _is_ a "craft".

Anyway, I'm sure that the BA did not instigate this particular BUD controversy...but it's probably very safe to say that they are certainly reveling in it. LOL.

[Jim Dorsch]

This story gives some perspective from craft brewers. Please note Mitch Steele's comments at the end.

http://www.brewbound.com/news/waterga...

[MOREKASHA]

Jim, by definition yes. By taste and body (to my taste) not really

[MOREKASHA]

Silly stuff. Who said Spud was a stout or even a pale ale? It's not even a real lager. Aged,what 3 days?

[Jim Dorsch]

If it's cold-aged, (and it is aged longer than three days), then it is a real lager.

[porker]

Its aged under strict controls in the truck on the way to the store.

[Dinermite]

LOL!!! Makers Mark attempted to water down their bourbon, until the word got out and the public made a huge stink about it and they stopped that plan. I wouldn't be surprised if most breweries/distilleries have been watering down their products for quite some time by now. Everyone is cutting corners to the point it's pathetic and not worth purchasing anymore.

[Insidious Rex]

This real story is better than most April Fools jokes I can remember.

[Jim Dorsch]

It tests at indicated strength. Go figure.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013...

[JAB]

That's a trick!

[chuckl]

If they didn't want watered down beer they shouldn't be drinking budweiser

[The Professor]

LOL. True that.

It's pretty well known (I thought) that AB brews at High gravity and then 'cuts' the brew as needed to standard strength (and to lower strengths for the states that still require that).

I'm not an AB fan or apologist (though they do definitely make a few very worthy spcialty products) , but this whole brew-ha-ha is non-story.
Unless false labeling or deceptive advertising can be proven, this dumb lawsuit doesn't stand a chance.

[JAB]

Exactly, how could they tell?