Why is American beer (Bud + Miller) so bad? Are Americans really that bad at brewing?

Answer 1

Huge generalization.
At last count, there were around 2,000 commercial breweries in the US, yet 'American beer' gets judged by the offerings of only three breweries...A-B, Coors, and Miller.
American beer is not bad, it's just that the marketing strategies of these companies are so good. They have deep pockets, so their name gets put out there in your face. People order what they see or what they know, then they grow to learn that beer=Bud.

FYI:
Many of our founding fathers were brewers, and they weren't German. I've brewed beer based on Ben Franklin's recipe found in his writings and it will hurt you. It's some of the best beer I've ever had and weighs in at around 9% ABV.

You can blame American pale lager partially on the Germans. They invented lager yeast. Blame the other 99% on the US government...prohibition killed off almost all of the real breweries in the US and is what originally caused brewers to turn to filler adjuncts like rice in their brewing.

American beer isn't anything close to water. The strongest beers in the World are brewed in the US. You've just never heard of them because they weren't made by Bud, Miller, or Coors.

Cheers.

Answer 2

It's that mass-produced American Light Lager thing. Most Americans have grown up knowing only these Bud/Miller/Coors type beers, as it's all that was really available. In Texas for instance, microbrewing was only legalized about 15 years ago!
There are some awesome American beers out there, however. Samuel Adams does a fine job - they've always adhered to the German beer purity standards. Many great breweries in Colorado, California, and Oregon. The Great American Beer Festival, held annually in Denver in the Fall, is a great activity if you can make it there.

Answer 3

There are a zillion microbreweries that have cropped up over the past 10-15 years all over the USA. They are making beers more like those found in Europe.

Budweiser and Miller sell to hard-core drinkers for the most part. And then there's some of us who just like a milder beer. Everyone on one side of my family reacts to hopps, so we don't go for real "hoppy" beers. I frankly just call myself a domestic beer snob, but I like to keep it to more regional like Leinenkugels, Point Special, and my all time favorite, Grain Belt Premium. When I eventually do get to Europe I plan on drinking wine.

I'm sure you'd be impressed with the number of brew houses cranking out the Euro-brews. Try to stop at some the next time you're in the states.

Enjoy, in moderation, of course!

Answer 4

Sounds like your experience with American Beer is stunted at best. There are thousands of different labels made in the U.S. and the two you mention are agreeably bottom shelf beers. There is a "Beer Renaissance" happening in the States right now and It's tough to get new beer into the global market as well. Most countries prefer to support they're domestic brands. Check out this link. I hope i can change your mind. Cheers!

Answer 5

OhmiGod!! To suggest that you can blame american beer on the germans!?!?! The Germans ~ The brew masters of the fuggin world~ create a product that is so far superior to aany of teh American commercial beers it is not even funny. You want to try german influenced beer? Try the lovely "Negra Modelo" a classic Octoberfest (with corn instead of wheat) or maybe "Shiner Bock" The fact is American Consumers prefer watery, flavorless lagers.

Answer 6

Miller is not bad, nor is Bud... Try taking one away from a lush and you will get some resistance. Personally all beer is crap German, Brasilian, Italian, Mexican, and on an on and on. I'll drink Corona every so often, it the same ole thing. Beer is Beer.

Answer 7

Mass-produced American beers are primarily made with corn starch and/or rice. Hops are essentially unheard of. Also, they are allowed to put in hundreds of chemical additives without listing them on the label. However, there are many microbreweries in America that are actually making real beer. By the way, mass-produced Canadian beer is just as bad, but we also have many real beer microbreweries too.

Answer 8

Yeah, Budwiser is CRAP! I think that most people are too stupid to know what good beer should taste like, and these breweries know this, so they figure they can make a quick buck selling crap beer to all the suckers that don't know any better. Some American microbrews aren't bad though...

Answer 9

Don't Judge American beer by just those two you ignoramus! I bet you even haven't tried other American beer - and yet hear you are running your mouth. Don't attempt to judge any country by its mass produced cheap brand. That is like saying that all German beer is like Heineken.

Answer 10

I'm not sure but isn't it true that alcohol is considered more of a legal drug in the US than as a part of culture (like in Europe..)


Try Italian beer...
-You'll love that American stuff afterwards...

...Or better try Warsteiner a stop calling that other crap "beer"