# What's considered the "Budweiser" of Europe? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 9, 2009, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-considered-the-budweiser-of-europe/509483 "2009-09-09T22:07:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-considered-the-budweiser-of-europe/509483/21 "2009-09-10T07:57:42Z")
I’ll defer to native Swedes if they show up in this thread, but my impression here is that Pripps and Spendrups occupy the low mass-market rung 'round these parts. I haven’t looked too closely but I don’t recall having seen Bud for sale either at the liquor stores or the grocery stores here. Will keep an eye out. Don’t know what it’s like in the rest of Europe, but Sweden’s got a funky arrangement for beer selling. It’s available both in the state-run liquor stores (Systembolaget) and in grocery stores, but the groceries are only allowed to sell Utah-strength beer (3.2%). It’s weird, and a little saddening, to see bottles of 3.2% Guinness on the shelf when I’m grocery shopping. ---
**Author:** ![Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walker_in_Eternity)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-considered-the-budweiser-of-europe/509483/22 "2009-09-10T08:21:29Z")
We also seem to be forgetting Carling Lager. ---
**Author:** ![VanillaGorilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f9ae1b/32.png) [@VanillaGorilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VanillaGorilla)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-considered-the-budweiser-of-europe/509483/23 "2009-09-10T08:27:14Z")
> [@Olentzero](#): > > I’ll defer to native Swedes if they show up in this thread, but my impression here is that Pripps and Spendrups occupy the low mass-market rung 'round these parts. I haven’t looked too closely but I don’t recall having seen Bud for sale either at the liquor stores or the grocery stores here. Will keep an eye out. > > Don’t know what it’s like in the rest of Europe, but Sweden’s got a funky arrangement for beer selling. It’s available both in the state-run liquor stores (Systembolaget) and in grocery stores, but the groceries are only allowed to sell Utah-strength beer (3.2%). It’s weird, and a little saddening, to see bottles of 3.2% Guinness on the shelf when I’m grocery shopping. Yes, Pripps Blå would probably be the best equivalent of Budweiser in Sweden, if I understand the attitude against Budweiser in the US correctly. Not sure why though, it’s not that bad a beer. Oh, and nitpick, the beer at grocery stores are up to 3,5%. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-considered-the-budweiser-of-europe/509483/24 "2009-09-10T08:52:52Z")
> [@VanillaGorilla](#): > > Yes, Pripps Blå would probably be the best equivalent of Budweiser in Sweden, if I understand the attitude against Budweiser in the US correctly. Not sure why though, it’s not that bad a beer. I doubt Pripps puts adjuncts in its beer like Anheuser-Busch does. I think the similarities lie more in the fact that Pripps is mass-market and cheaper than most other beers in Sweden (give me Oppigård or Nils Oskar any day!) than in the two beers’ respective ingredients and quality. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-considered-the-budweiser-of-europe/509483/25 "2009-09-10T09:53:54Z")
In Ireland (both sides of the border) I’m pretty sure Harp must hold that distinction. Rather more tasteless than Heinekin or Stella Artois, despite being “brewed with pride” at the “Great Northern Brewery” :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-considered-the-budweiser-of-europe/509483/26 "2009-09-10T10:15:59Z")
It ain’t Europe, but… Here in Korea, a popular-but-bland local “premium” beer is Cass. Not great, but in quantity, surprisingly okay. Budweiser and Heineken are pricey imports and lose some flavor this far from their point of manufacture. The kids love their Soju, though (a rice wine that tastes like watered-down vodka). ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-considered-the-budweiser-of-europe/509483/27 "2009-09-10T10:20:23Z")
I’d say in the UK it’s not really UK brands that share the reputation. I inwardly groan when I go into a pub and see Skol, Lowenbrau, Budweiser, Carlsberg, Kronenbourg or Fosters on tap. (And I inwardly cheer when I see Staropramen, Budvar, Nastro Azzuro, Becks [not that ghastly Vier stuff], or Pilsner Urquell - I’m surprised to see that disdained in its home of origin, it being an award-winning lager.) ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-considered-the-budweiser-of-europe/509483/28 "2009-09-10T11:00:23Z")
> [@wierdaaron](#): > > I’ve not been to europe, but my guess would be Heineken. They’ve got multiple breweries all over europe. Dutch here. No, Heineken is a premium brand. Instead, most supermarkets got a home brand, a brandless brand. Those are the cheapest. For instance, Aldi beer. Otherwise, there are just too many brands, because there are so many local brands. It can’t really be compard to the US. ---
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-considered-the-budweiser-of-europe/509483/29 "2009-09-10T11:07:11Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > Czech possibly Budweiser Budvar and Staropramen > Each of these beers has its own devotees, and while each country/region has its own speciality brews, none of the major brewers are seemingly looked down upon in general, (meaning you could go to a nice, upscale restaurant in Amsterdam and the house brew could be Heineken, Grolsch or Oranjeboom) except for those who are loyal drinkers of another brand… Well, to me, Staropramen tastes really great. It’s fairly light and smooth but still enough beer to be satisfying. I don’t know if it’s one of those cases where its price point hurts its reputation, i.e. it would be more appreciated if it was more expensive. Or perhaps it’s the ale boars who thinks it’s beer for girly men. When I think of really cheap beer, I too think of those strangely cheap, run-of-the-mill mass-market beers that Maastricht mentions. Also Löwenbräu. ---
**Author:** ![Elvis\_Chimney](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/50afbb/32.png) [@Elvis\_Chimney](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elvis_Chimney)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-considered-the-budweiser-of-europe/509483/30 "2009-09-10T11:17:47Z")
In Scotland it’s Tennents, although we get our fair share of imported swill too. The general configuration of lager taps in a standard pub will be to have one or more “cooking” lagers (Tennents, Carlsberg, Carling, Fosters), and at least one “premium” lager (usually Stella or Kronenbourg, sometimes something like Staropramen, Budvar or Krusovice in the better pubs). When I lived in Norway, Ringnes seemed to be the main offender. ---
**Author:** ![kombatminipig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5ac83/32.png) [@kombatminipig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kombatminipig)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-considered-the-budweiser-of-europe/509483/31 "2009-09-10T11:21:58Z")
> [@Olentzero](#): > > I doubt Pripps puts adjuncts in its beer like Anheuser-Busch does. I think the similarities lie more in the fact that Pripps is mass-market and cheaper than most other beers in Sweden (give me Oppigård or Nils Oskar any day!) than in the two beers’ respective ingredients and quality. The three mass market beers in Sweden (i.e. those that represent the mainstay of a pub’s sales, i.e. what you get when you order “a beer”) are Pripps Blå, Spendrups Export and the Danes’ Carlsberg Export (depending on who is the primary supplier of that particular proprietor). The draft versions of these are considered equally bad (though in my opinion Pripps Blå is undrinkable and tastes of soap), but their status as Budweiser equivalents is also due to their equally hyperbolic advertising campaigns and slogans. The Swedes, like the Americans, produce some darn good beers from microbreweries though. ---
**Author:** ![footballisplayedwithyourfeet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9f8e36/32.png) [@footballisplayedwithyourfeet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/footballisplayedwithyourfeet)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-considered-the-budweiser-of-europe/509483/32 "2009-09-10T12:47:36Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > Dutch here. No, Heineken is a premium brand. Instead, most supermarkets got a home brand, a brandless brand. Those are the cheapest. For instance, Aldi beer. > > Otherwise, there are just too many brands, because there are so many local brands. It can’t really be compard to the US. I don’t think this is what is meant. Your absolutely right that supermarkets sell boatloads of cheap, bad beer, but you would not be able to get them at a cafe or bar. I personally do feel heineken is often seen as the standard - don’t want to think about it - beer. And people who will bring a sixpack of Brand, hertog Jan, gulpener or even Grolsch will be complimented for that ( at least in my group of friends:)) Heineken is definiately not the worst beer you can get, but given the choice many people will prefer something else, and if somebody would specifically order a Heineken over other possibilities I would assume it was a tourist and would find it hard to stop myself from having alittle eye-roll. On another note add gambrinus to all your Czech bear lists please 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-considered-the-budweiser-of-europe/509483/33 "2009-09-10T13:19:04Z")
Ah. I stand corrected. Well, that shows how much I know about beer. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-considered-the-budweiser-of-europe/509483/34 "2009-09-10T15:19:08Z")
> [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](#): > > Last time I was in Ireland, Budweiser was insanely popular. In '95, we spent 2 weeks in Ireland. As beer lovers, we enjoyed the Guinness, and that’s where we discovered Smithwicks (which is finally available here in the States). We also noted that, at nearly every tavern, there was a Bud tap. Needless to say, we never had it. At the end of the trip, we were dropping off our rental car, and the shuttle-bus driver was taking us from the car rental facility to Shannon Airport. He asked us, “so, did you have any Budweiser while you were here?” “Umm, no.” “Oh, you should have. We like to call it, ‘getting kicked in the head by a Clydesdale!’” No idea if that was meant to be a compliment to Irish Bud or not. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Neptunian\_Slug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce7236/32.png) [@Neptunian\_Slug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neptunian_Slug)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-considered-the-budweiser-of-europe/509483/35 "2009-09-10T15:49:12Z")
Not Europe but a New Zealander friend has always called Foster’s “weasel’s piss”. Not sure how much it has to do with the beer or his disdain for Australians. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-considered-the-budweiser-of-europe/509483/36 "2009-09-10T15:53:39Z")
> [@Neptunian\_Slug](#): > > Not Europe but a New Zealander friend has always called Foster’s “weasel’s piss”. > > Not sure how much it has to do with the beer or his disdain for Australians. That’s not just a Kiwi thing: a lot of Aussies think that Foster’s is the Budweiser of Australia. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-considered-the-budweiser-of-europe/509483/37 "2009-09-10T16:01:35Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Stella Artois would be my vote. “Reassuringly expensive”. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-considered-the-budweiser-of-europe/509483/38 "2009-09-10T16:14:08Z")
> [@VanillaGorilla](#): > > Yes, Pripps Blå would probably be the best equivalent of Budweiser in Sweden, if I understand the attitude against Budweiser in the US correctly. Not sure why though, it’s not that bad a beer. > Oh, and nitpick, the beer at grocery stores are up to 3,5%. 🙂 You may enjoy a friend of mine’s blog post where he pits the various Swedish swills against each other and comes up with a surprising conclusion: [http://www.twinbeer.com/?p=240](http://www.twinbeer.com/?p=240) ---
**Author:** ![\_xiao\_wenti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/b782af/32.png) [@\_xiao\_wenti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_xiao_wenti)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-considered-the-budweiser-of-europe/509483/39 "2009-09-10T16:18:41Z")
Doesn’t InBev own most of the breweries of any size in Europe? And the Americas? Yep. They own most of them: …including budweiser. Anheuser-Busch InBev NV (AB InBev) is a Belgium-based company engaged in the business of brewer and consumer products. It manages a portfolio of nearly 300 brands. The Company had operations in over 30 countries across the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific, and sales in over 130 countries. The Company has global brands, which includes Budweiser, Stella Artois and Beck’s; multi-country brands, which includes Leffe, Hoegaarden, and Staropramen, and local brands, which includes Alexander Keith’s, Alexander Keith’s Stag’s Head Stout , Andes, Andes Red Lager, Antarctica, Apatinsko Pivo, Astika, Bagbier, and Baltica, Bass. The Company works in six operation zone, which includes North America, Latin America North, Latin America South, Western Europe, Central and Eastern Europe, and Asia Pacific. [cite [http://www.google.com/finance?q=inbev](http://www.google.com/finance?q=inbev)] monopolists destroying craft beer (rant) ---
**Author:** ![Elvis\_Chimney](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/50afbb/32.png) [@Elvis\_Chimney](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elvis_Chimney)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-considered-the-budweiser-of-europe/509483/40 "2009-09-10T16:35:55Z")
I’ve noticed a lot of Polish beers appearing lately (due I’d imagine in no small part to the numbers of Polish immigrants to the UK in recent years - which is no bad thing in my opinion. As long as immigrants bring beer I have no problem with them moving here, but I digress) Most off-licences now sell Tyskie and Lech (which I’m quite fond of), and for a while my local had Okocim on draft, which gave me a hangover of truly epic proportions. I’ve no idea how these beers are viewed in Poland, but in the case of Okocim at least it’s once bitten twice shy as far as I’m concerned. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-considered-the-budweiser-of-europe/509483.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-considered-the-budweiser-of-europe/509483.md?page=3)