# What is the Bud of your country? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 2, 2004, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-bud-of-your-country/257976 "2004-08-02T15:49:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![occ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@occ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/occ)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2004, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-bud-of-your-country/257976/21 "2004-08-04T19:02:09Z")
> [@SmackFu](#): > > Spain - Cruzcampo. It’s what I always got in response to “Una cerveza por favor.” (The other beer they had everywhere was Heineken. I can’t really explain that.) > > Portugal - Definitely not Cruzcampo! And they give you a really dirty look when you order it before saying no. Sometimes it helps to notice you’re in a new country. Too bad I don’t remember what we did get instead. When I was in Spain I was amazed at how ubiquitous Cruzcampo was. You’d often see it – and ONLY it – constituting a store’s beer selection. I kinda liked it, also. And they have a weird label. ---
**Author:** ![Arch\_Trout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9f8e36/32.png) [@Arch\_Trout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arch_Trout)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2004, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-bud-of-your-country/257976/22 "2004-08-04T20:12:22Z")
In Scotland the generic lager is Tennants. ---
**Author:** ![Beauty\_Personified](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@Beauty\_Personified](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beauty_Personified)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2004, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-bud-of-your-country/257976/23 "2004-08-05T18:46:44Z")
We should consider the physical size of countries like the U.S.A. and Canada with regards to this question, as well as advertizing. Here in Canada, I see more advertizements on television for Molson than any other beer. However, here in the Maritimes, the dominant beer is Moosehead. It should also be noted that Molson has been around since 1786. They also own Brazil’s Bavaria and Kaiser brands. (Which is why I see so many Bavaria ads now.) Labatt has been around since 1847. They’re now owned by Belgium’s Interbrew, but still run by Canadians. Also, in 1997 Labatt took over sponsorship of _Hockey Night in Canada_, which was a pretty big deal to Canadians at the time. Molson had been a sponsor since 1958 (but the show only became _ **Molson** Hockey Night in Canada_ in 1988.) History lesson aside, Moosehead’s products are _much_ better than anything by Molson or Labatt. Anyhoo… ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-bud-of-your-country/257976/24 "2004-08-06T03:05:26Z")
Drinking Molson Canadian in Quebec can get you hurt!!! Actually, I never saw it there. I knew it existed, in this vague fuzzy kind of way, over in the aisle of beers from “elsewhere” that aren’t really imports but no one wants, but I never saw anyone drink it, nor did I see it advertised (BTW, I grew up in Quebec, and my family still lives there) I was always told that it had to be marketed as “CanadiEn” in Quebec, and Molson didn’t want to change the name/label, and so Quebec just didn’t buy it. I don’t know if thats true or not. I’ve only ever seen 6-packs too. Blue just might be the default in la belle province. They actually don’t market it with a maple leaf on the label like they do in the rest of Canada. Export and Black would be the two competing Molsons, IME. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-bud-of-your-country/257976/25 "2004-08-06T03:19:49Z")
In the Dominican Rep. that’d be **Presidente**. It holds 95% of the market. If you ask for \*cerveza \* (or \*una fría \* around here) you’d be given a Presidente unless you state otherwise. As in Venezuela it is served ice cold. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-bud-of-your-country/257976/26 "2004-08-06T03:33:28Z")
In Hungary, it was Dreher. In Slovenia, Laško. In Russia, Baltika (specifically, Baltika No. 7) For Germany, I could swear that I’ve read somewhere that Warsteiner is the most popular brand. From my experience, beer tastes in Germany are very regional, so other beers would dominate certain segments of the country, but Warsteiner – a very neutral tasting mass-market lager, not unlike Budweiser – would dominate overall. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-bud-of-your-country/257976/27 "2004-08-06T08:07:40Z")
Norway has regional beers that are very strong in their local markets, not so much elsewhere. The closest equivalent to Bud would probably be the largest of the Oslo beers, Ringnes, or maybe Frydenlund. But if you just ask for a beer you’ll most likely be served the pilsner brewed by a local brewery. Then you will get the bill and die of shock, but that’s another discussion. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-bud-of-your-country/257976/28 "2004-08-06T22:52:39Z")
A couple of responses from my end. 🙂 **manwithaplan** , you sure Heineken outsells Carlsberg in Ireland? Granted, I’ve only been to Dublin, but I saw far more Carlsberg than Heineken. **SmackFu** , by and large, the two most common beers in Europe would be Heineken and Carlsberg, in my opinion. Heineken is pretty big in the Spanish market, both with the name brand and with Amstel, and even Buckler (non-alcoholic, no longer sold in Holland because a stand-up comedian bashed it so hard no one would buy it anymore). Add to that that Spain gets a lot of Dutch tourists, and presto, Heineken is a common beer. 🙂 **pulykamell** , Warsteiner tastes nothing like Bud in my opinion. Sure, it’s a light and fresh pilsner, but that’s where the comparison ends. Warsteiner is a lot more refined, with a slightly bitter aftertaste. Budweiser… well. Let’s be nice now. 🙂 Germany has such a diverse beer market, that it’s even hard to pinpoint a number one pilsener. Warsteiner? Veltins? Hasseröder? I honestly wouldn’t know. ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-bud-of-your-country/257976/29 "2004-08-06T22:55:27Z")
I think it varies state to state in Australia. In Qld we have XXXX. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-bud-of-your-country/257976/30 "2004-08-06T23:00:36Z")
> [@Carbona Not Glue](#): > > Nobody in Australia drinks Fosters. It is far to horrible. Good enough for export, but not for local consumption. A few years ago when those Fosters commercials were running all the time, an Australian model (can’t remember her name) was a guest on Letterman. Dave asked was Fosters Australian for beer. She replied, “No. Fosters is Australian for crap.” ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-bud-of-your-country/257976/31 "2004-08-07T00:20:01Z")
It might have been Kathy Ireland, not sure if she is an Aussie. However, she is a homebrewer and you can see a pic here: [http://www.thebrewerscoop.com/secure\_html/img/88zy.jpg](http://www.thebrewerscoop.com/secure_html/img/88zy.jpg) Bud is in China, and doing quite well though. Also in China Bud (no other AB brands) is priced and considered a “premium” beer, although it’s the same swill. I know some of the bud guys. Anheiser Brewing also owns IIRC 10% of the shares of Tsingtao beer. Tsingtao is definately the “Bud” of China. Although Tsingtao pre-dates the budweiser investment by about 90 years. Tsiangtao was founded around 1903 by German brewers, and IMHO a pretty tasty cheap light lager. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-bud-of-your-country/257976/32 "2004-08-07T00:35:56Z")
I think it’s a shame that Bud is the “official” beer of America. Granted, I’m pretty namby-pamby when it comes to beers, but I’d drink Old Englishe before hitting up any of the big brewers. Heinies and Newcastles, man. Or Coronas. Those’ll do, in a pinch. (Of course, beer comes the morning AFTER you drink all the hard liquor, y’know, to ease the hangover. Of course.) ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-bud-of-your-country/257976/33 "2004-08-07T01:58:05Z")
The “default” beer in France would be [Kronenbourg](http://www.brasseries-kronenbourg.com/_corporate/marques/index.htm) , which, AFAIK is worth zilch. By the way, I don’t like beer, except when it doesn’t taste like beer (like Kriek, for instance) ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-bud-of-your-country/257976/34 "2004-08-07T01:59:52Z")
Just noticed that Bud would be a “partner brand” of Kronenbourg, byt hte way. I wouldn’t know what it means… ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-bud-of-your-country/257976/35 "2004-08-07T02:12:49Z")
> [@Coldfire](#): > > A couple of responses from my end. 🙂 > **pulykamell** , Warsteiner tastes nothing like Bud in my opinion. Sure, it’s a light and fresh pilsner, but that’s where the comparison ends. Warsteiner is a lot more refined, with a slightly bitter aftertaste. Budweiser… well. Let’s be nice now. 🙂 > Germany has such a diverse beer market, that it’s even hard to pinpoint a number one pilsener. Warsteiner? Veltins? Hasseröder? I honestly wouldn’t know. To be perfectly honest, it’s been a LONG time since I’ve had a Bud…I’m just going by memory. But what I was more trying to say is that it’s the mass-market lager of Germany, something watered down compared with regional beers, but with enough appeal to sell well everywhere. This is about as lightweight as the Germans get, so I think it’s a valid comparison. [According to this article](http://www.economist.co.uk/printedition/displayStory.cfm?Story_ID=709979), Warsteiner is the number one selling beer in Germany, with 8% of the market. ---
**Author:** ![SteveinSpain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@SteveinSpain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveinSpain)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2004, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-bud-of-your-country/257976/36 "2004-08-10T01:24:52Z")
> [@occ](#): > > When I was in Spain I was amazed at how ubiquitous Cruzcampo was. You’d often see it – and ONLY it – constituting a store’s beer selection. > > I kinda liked it, also. And they have a weird label. The regions of Spain still champion their local beers although the beer companies are striving to break beyond the regions. Cruzcampo is “the Bud” of Seville. Since being bought by Heineken 5-7 years back they’ve pumped a lot of money into marketing and distribution. I’ve even seen it in the US at specialty stores. I’d say the Bud of Spain goes to Mahou. It’s the beer from Madrid and can be found all over. Like almost all beer in Spain, it’s a lager served cold. My personal favorite is Estrella Damm from Barcelona and also purchased throughout the country. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2004, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-bud-of-your-country/257976/37 "2004-08-10T05:00:47Z")
The ‘default’ beer for Japan looks to be split between Asahi Super Dry, Kirin Lager and Sapporo Black Label. They all taste about the same, and every bar and restaurant seems to have signed an exclusive contract to use one of those when someone just orders “beer”. Others (both better and worse) are available, but you have to specify them by name. ---
**Author:** ![eunoia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eunoia/32/97_2.png) [@eunoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eunoia)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2004, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-bud-of-your-country/257976/38 "2004-08-10T07:37:28Z")
“That Budweiser, that most American of beers (and brewed by Labatt under an agreement with Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. of St. Louis), had quietly overtaken Canadian as the country’s best-selling beer.” [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040709.wmolso0710/BNStory/Front/](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040709.wmolso0710/BNStory/Front/) Unlike Canadian, is popular in Québec. Unlike U.S. Budweiser, is an alcoholized beverage. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![chattywine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5daacb/32.png) [@chattywine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chattywine)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2004, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-bud-of-your-country/257976/39 "2004-08-10T11:41:11Z")
Default here (Sicily) seems to be Moretti. Nice default. ---
**Author:** ![manwithaplan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@manwithaplan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manwithaplan)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2004, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-bud-of-your-country/257976/40 "2004-08-10T12:02:41Z")
> [@coldfire](#): > > manwithaplan, you sure Heineken outsells Carlsberg in Ireland? Granted, I’ve only been to Dublin, but I saw far more Carlsberg than Heineken. Carlsberg is brewed and distributed by Diageo (who also brew Guinness). Their biggest selling lager is actually Budweiser and there are claims and counter-claims from them and Heineken Ireland as to whether Heineken or Budweiser is the biggest selling lager in Ireland. Funnily enough, Carlsberg doesn’t seem to come into it. > [@BurnMeUp](#): > > Ireland - aside from Guinness how about Smithwicks? The sales of Smithwicks have declined dramatically over the last 15-20 years. Very few people drink ale in Ireland any more, which is a pity although Smithwicks isn’t a great example of decent ale. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-bud-of-your-country/257976.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-bud-of-your-country/257976.md?page=3)