The Bottom Shelf

Bud versus Bud Select

I guess it was bound to happen. When Anheuser-Busch introduced “Budweiser Select”, they intended to reach the slightly yuppier Heineken-drinking crowd. They priced their beer accordingly. I’m not surprised that this apparently failed. Now Bud and Bud Select are sitting next to each other at the market for the same price. I like the Select, it has slightly more flavor than straight up Bud (more than none that is), but is still watery and carbonated enough to be refreshing. If they keep the price at Bud levels, I’ll continue to drink it. What baffles me is that they can still sell Bud right next to it for the same price. Most people don’t want taste in their beer.

As for the Heine to Select comparison it is difficult to say, as I’ve never had them side by side. I think they are pretty similar. Select has the advantage of shorter supply lines so it’s probably fresher (though Heine may have a U.S. plant?). Heine is formulated for the more discriminating palates of European beer drinkers (though maybe Heine here is an Americanized version). Please weigh in if you have had both, I’ll do a tasting some day and come back to this post.