I was looking at a beer display the other other day and thought it was interesting to see how some of the premium beers from the major American breweries aren’t their premium brand any longer.
#1. Miller High Life. In the 1970’s and 1980s, this was Miller Brewing’s flagship beer. Miller Lite eventually took over in sales as well as memorable advertising. Then Miller brought out Miller Genuine Draft as their premium regular beer. Miller tried to bring out a beer simply called “Miller” in the mid 1990s, but it never caught on.
#2. Michelob Dry. Remember this beer? Popular and highly advertised in the late 1980s and early 1990s. I don’t think I’ve seen it in 10 years.
#3. Bud Dry. Same story as above, although it was introduced in the early 1990s. “One taste and you’ll drink it dry.” Then Budweiser brought out…
#4. Bud Ice. Ice beer was the thing in the mid 1990s. I still see Bud Ice at the store, but it is at the discount price level.
Was Busch ever considered a premium beer? I remember it being heavily advertised when I was young.
BTW, I’m using the term ‘premium beer’ to describe beers from major breweries that are usually sold at regular price and heavily marketed/promoted/advertised. I’m well aware most beer snobs despise all of the beers mentioned above.
Icehouse used to be a big deal back when it was introduced during the ice beer craze, but it’s terribly nasty beer and has been relegated to the discount section.
I remember back in the '80s Heineken was considered a premium beer. I imagine some people still consider it one. I don’t.
Now I want a Kenzinger. Only half an hour of work to go…
When I was a wee child in western New York, I remember that every adult I saw drinking a beer was drinking a Gennesee Cream Ale as though it were manna of the gods.
Then when I got to college, three states away, I found that Gennessee Cream Ale was sold in the same pile of discount beverages as the Blatz and Piels.
I thought I’d hit the jack-pot. I was ready to call my grandfather and let him know they had Genny-Cream for $8 a case in Orono.
When Gussie Busch bought the St. Louis Cardinals he wanted to rename the stadium they played in (Sportsman Park) to Budweiser Stadium. Major League Baseball denied the name change, not wanting to give the free advertising that would come with that change. Gussie instead renamed the stadium Busch Stadium in honor of himself (or so he told MLB). He then instructed his brewers to develop a new beer that would be named Busch, thus getting the free advertising that MLB did not want him to have.
So, no, Busch was never considered a premium beer.
ETA: I may have heard this story on the brewery tour in St. Louis. The date of purchase for the Cardinals (1953) and the release date of Busch Bavarian Beer (1955) seem to support this version of events.
I remember a lot of the “Head for the mountains” commercials in the 1970s and 1980s as well. As recently as the 10 years ago, I’d see Busch on tap at some bars.
When I was younger, Henry Weinhard was considered a premium beer prior to the microbrew revolution. I don’t recall seeing it here in California for years now, even though it’s still made.
And way back in high school, Michelob was considered high style, with Lowenbrau being downright exotic.
I seriously doubt it was ever considered “premium” in any way, but this thread got me to thinking that I haven’t seen a commercial for Hamm’s in years. Not even on fast-forward while watching on the Tivo. They had some goofy-ass bear in an innertube floating down the river…
Also, the name shift and vodoo marketing that Pabst Blue Ribbon has undergone is quite interesting. They adopted the abbreviated PBR. Pee-Bee-ARRRRrrgghh.
DAB (Dortmunder Actien Brauerei) is a similarly shitty beer that has benefitted from a similarly successful marketing style and abbreviation.
Pabst Blue Ribbon was the first beer I ever drank…my Gramps would pour me a Dixie cup from his can when I was little. Of course this was the early 70s and I’m sure it was a premium beer back then. At least it was to a 6 yo.
