Is Budweiser Watering Down Its Beer?

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Will Ferrell's character Jackie Moon once hailed Bud Light as a "magical blend of barley, hops, and delicious alcohol," but it turns out the King of Beers may have been holding back on the deliciousness. Two erstwhile Budweiser fans, Thomas and Gerald Greenberg of Philadelphia, have sued the company for allegedly watering down its brews in a bid to rip off consumers. According to the suit, customers of AB InBev, Budweiser's parent company, "are overcharged for watered-down beer and AB is unjustly enriched by the additional volume it can sell." Lest anyone charge the Brothers Greenberg with not knowing of what they speak, it should be noted that they are pretty familiar with Budweiser.

Posted by Dave at 07:33 PM | 45 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

Front Page
Breaking News
Comments
Flagged Comments
User Blogs
Write a Blog Entry
Create a Poll
Edit Account
Weekly Digest
Stats Page
RSS Feed
Back Page

Subscriptions

Read the Retort using RSS.

RSS Feed

Author Info

Dave

Joined 2005/08/02
Visited 2013/05/23

Status: user

MORE STORIES

FactCheck: Repubs Overreach on IRS (28 comments) ...

UmbrellaGate Scandal is All Wet (55 comments) ...

Issa - An act of terror is different than a terrorist attack (26 comments) ...

Freedom Of Speech Ain't Free - Limbaugh costs ABC $5.5 Mil (9 comments) ...

Farrell: Capitalism Killing Our Morals (141 comments) ...

From the Philadelphia Inquirer:

They've been doing serious research to buttress their claim. According to the suit, filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia, Thomas has been drinking two cases a month of the bland lager. That's nothing compared to brother Gerald; the suit says he's been drinking four cases a month.

Comments

Admin's note: Participants in this discussion must follow the site's moderation policy. Personal attacks, profanity, abusive conduct and expressions of prejudice are not allowed. If you have comments about site moderation, contact the site publisher in email.

Instead of advertising its alcohol content, which has always been somewhat negligible...

Actually, 5% is pretty typical until recently.

It's a recent trend for beers to be ridiculously hopped, 7%+ monsters.

That being said, you get what you deserve when you drink Budweiser.

#1 | Posted by jpw at 2013-02-26 11:33 PM | Reply | Flag:

How could you tell?

#2 | Posted by zeropointnrg at 2013-02-26 11:35 PM | Reply | Flag:

I've found dropping a shot glass full of bourbon into my Budweiser evens things out.

#3 | Posted by Harry_Powell at 2013-02-26 11:58 PM | Reply | Flag:

Finally Harry shares his secret with us.

#4 | Posted by Diablo at 2013-02-27 12:56 AM | Reply | Flag:

Diablo, that clearly was a cheap shot.

#5 | Posted by madscientist at 2013-02-27 01:01 AM | Reply | Flag:

Maker's Mark tried watering down recently. Didn't work. Public opinion stopped them cold.

Neat.

#6 | Posted by et_al at 2013-02-27 01:17 AM | Reply | Flag:

I've found dropping a shot glass full of bourbon into my Budweiser evens things out.

#3 | Posted by Harry_Powell a

Man what did bourbon ever did to you to hate it so much to do that!

#7 | Posted by PunchyPossum at 2013-02-27 01:26 AM | Reply | Flag:

Good point, Punchy. I never thought even Harry would sink that low.
Guess I have to apologize to Johnny Red to be fair.

#8 | Posted by Diablo at 2013-02-27 01:49 AM | Reply | Flag:

Bud is watering down their beer? How would anyone know?

#9 | Posted by MUSTANG at 2013-02-27 09:41 AM | Reply | Flag:

Bud Light Light

#10 | Posted by CalifChris at 2013-02-27 10:17 AM | Reply | Flag:

"It's a recent trend for beers to be ridiculously hopped, 7%+ monsters."

I love some of those beers but they jack me up and leave me with a horrible hangover.

#11 | Posted by eberly at 2013-02-27 10:30 AM | Reply | Flag:

Bud is watering down their beer? How would anyone know?

#9 | Posted by MUSTANG at 2013-02-27 09:41 AM | Reply | Flag: Newsworthy

#12 | Posted by cbob at 2013-02-27 10:43 AM | Reply | Flag:

Do you mean to ask if Budweiser is planning on beering up their water?

#13 | Posted by HeuristicGratis at 2013-02-27 10:54 AM | Reply | Flag:

...
... I just thought they were selling a really watery beer .....
..
... I never bought Bud, but would have some at parties when there was no choice .... never understood why people would actually pay for Bud .....

#14 | Posted by skizziks at 2013-02-27 11:08 AM | Reply | Flag:

"never understood why people would actually pay for Bud"

For the exact same reason people like fruity drinks: people like to get drunk but don't like the taste of alcoholic beverages. Pretty simple really. Can't say I blame them, really. I didn't like tequila, bourbon or scotch when I first tried them, but I liked they way they made me feel so I kept drinking. Now neat is the only way to go. Also, in my experience of ten years bartending, I watched many attack the masculinity of those who were underwhelmed with the prospect of drinking unadulterated spirits and/or full flavored beers. With respect to beer that is now coming around full circle, with preferences for beers with a lot of definition treated as effete (also happening with coffee). It's all cultural, imo, for good or bad.

#15 | Posted by Hagbard_Celine at 2013-02-27 11:17 AM | Reply | Flag:

I'll show you politics in America. Here it is, right here. "I think the puppet on the right shares my beliefs." "I think the puppet on the left is more to my liking." "Hey, wait a minute, there's one guy holding out both puppets!" "Shut up! Go back to bed, America. Your government is in control. Here's Love Connection. Watch this and get fat and stupid. By the way, keep drinking beer, you f morons."

#16 | Posted by lee_the_agent at 2013-02-27 11:17 AM | Reply | Flag:

The revolutionary war was born in taverns Lee. Seems to me like Americans need to do a good bit more drinking until they get good and pissed off.

#17 | Posted by zeropointnrg at 2013-02-27 11:28 AM | Reply | Flag:

They will change the label to be within a % range most likely.

If true--Only the lawyers will make money on this scam.

#18 | Posted by MURPHY at 2013-02-27 12:21 PM | Reply | Flag:

How could you tell?

They think they are drinking Coors.

#19 | Posted by northguy3 at 2013-02-27 03:05 PM | Reply | Flag:

Most beer is watered down to bring the alcohol content within limits. Light beers are sugar brews which produces a higher level of alcohol which requires more water as well as liquified malt for coloring.

#20 | Posted by KBM at 2013-02-27 07:42 PM | Reply | Flag:

There's beer in Bud?
Who knew?

#21 | Posted by Zatoichi at 2013-02-27 07:47 PM | Reply | Flag:

Despite all the BS the government and big business has thrown at the American public in my lifetime this story (if proven true) will mark the first time in my life I ever felt ashamed to be an American

#22 | Posted by Gimme_a_Scotch at 2013-02-27 09:42 PM | Reply | Flag:

Bud is beer? who knew? Well, my first drunk was a quart of Bud. It also was when I lost my virginity.

I considered it the nectar of the gods. Have had maybe a case since then. Stuff is rockgut.

#23 | Posted by coyote at 2013-02-27 09:44 PM | Reply | Flag:

To make Bud Light, they take Bud and mix it with distilled water, then they charge more. I do not understand why anyone buys that stuff.

#24 | Posted by nutcase at 2013-02-27 10:12 PM | Reply | Flag:

With piss? I thought I tasted that in it the last time I had it in 1975 before I discovered real beer on a trip to Europe. No Red Necks there.

#25 | Posted by TurnLeftb42late at 2013-02-27 10:28 PM | Reply | Flag:

#16 | POSTED BY LEE_THE_AGENT

If you're going to quote Bill Hicks, give him some frickin' credit, d-bag.

#26 | Posted by Harry_Powell at 2013-02-27 11:37 PM | Reply | Flag:

Of course they're watering beer down; Harry used to drink 6 beers/night and now he's drinking 12 beers/night and he makes as much sense as when he was drinking 6 beers/night.

#27 | Posted by matsop at 2013-02-27 11:47 PM | Reply | Flag:

Guess I have to apologize to Johnny Red to be fair.

Johnny Red is Scotch, not Bourbon.

#28 | Posted by captjimmyjames at 2013-02-28 12:14 AM | Reply | Flag:

I hesitate to call that Scotch, but fair enough. Glenlivet is Scotch. Not to be all snobby, I have drank whiskey/bourbon as long as I have drank. Most of it, probably just Jack. Only now discovering how much better the good stuff is. Even marginally good. Got into a bottle of Mcclelland's Islay single malt a few nights ago - shockingly peaty, with of all things - a hint of brine. Unintentionally got fantastically drunk oversampling because the flavor was so unique. Only to find out later that that was probably the bottom of the barrel for that style.

Beer - that I am snobby about, right up until the thermometer crosses about 75. Then, suddenly lagers become delicious. Except Bud. Coors, Miller, PBR (ok, I learned to like PBR hanging out with the band, getting free beers - but only if they were that,) all are refreshing in hot weather. Except Bud, which to me always tastes a little like I'm trying to eat the can - even when it comes out of a bottle.

#29 | Posted by zeropointnrg at 2013-02-28 02:05 AM | Reply | Flag:

Got into a bottle of Mcclelland's Islay single malt a few nights ago - shockingly peaty

If you haven't tried it find Ardbeg. At least for me, it surprised the hell out of me how peaty it was despite its light color.

Then, suddenly lagers become delicious.

Lagers are always delicious, so long as they're not described as "light American".

#30 | Posted by jpw at 2013-02-28 02:20 AM | Reply | Flag:

10PM news in STL... ran test...AB is 5% alc

#31 | Posted by Greatamerican at 2013-02-28 02:41 AM | Reply | Flag:

I drink www.moritz.com este' una cervesa mejor!

#32 | Posted by yougothurt at 2013-02-28 05:18 AM | Reply | Flag:

If you like scotch, try Balvenie Double Wood or Oban. Laphroaig is ok, but I'm not into the Islay's quite as much. Too much peat turns me off. Glenlivet is my go to at most bars since they usually don't carry the better stuff. Glenlivet 18 or Glenlivet French Oak Reserve are nice as well.

#33 | Posted by rearendhat at 2013-02-28 07:17 AM | Reply | Flag:

Beer run
youtu.be

#34 | Posted by patron at 2013-02-28 11:28 AM | Reply | Flag:

I tried the new Budweiser Black Crown last night. It was awful. No taste up front. The finish has a little malt with way too much sugar. It was one of the worst beer's I've ever tried.

#35 | Posted by johnny_hotsauce at 2013-02-28 01:14 PM | Reply | Flag:

Lagers are always delicious, so long as they're not described as "light American".

#30 | Posted by jpw

I've had some very nice dark lagers lately. Berghoff's Dortmunder Lager is my latest favorite. :~)

#36 | Posted by path at 2013-02-28 03:03 PM | Reply | Flag:

There is nothing that will surprise me about these supposed institutions of integrity and honesty and what they will do to make more money.

#37 | Posted by Robson at 2013-02-28 04:27 PM | Reply | Flag:

Glenlivet is my go to at most bars since they usually don't carry the better stuff. Glenlivet 18 or Glenlivet French Oak Reserve are nice as well.

#33 | Posted by rearendhat at 2013-02-28 07:17

A friend invited me to try some of his Johnny Blue. It is a superb scotch. A bar that carries it typically would charge $25-35 a shot.

#38 | Posted by Robson at 2013-02-28 04:35 PM | Reply | Flag:

Water is a lot cheaper than beer, so you can be sure AB adds as much to their "beer" as they can get away with.

#39 | Posted by SomebodyElse at 2013-02-28 06:03 PM | Reply | Flag:

#38 Johnny Blue runs $229.00 retail for 750 ML here in Pa. I have had it, but I really do think it is worth the price.

#40 | Posted by rearendhat at 2013-02-28 09:58 PM | Reply | Flag:

Sorry, not worth the price...

#41 | Posted by rearendhat at 2013-02-28 09:59 PM | Reply | Flag:

If you're going to quote Bill Hicks, give him some frickin' credit, d-bag.

#26 | POSTED BY HARRY_POWELL AT 2013-02-27 11:37 PM | REPLY | FLAG

He has a VERY long history here of trying to pass the words of others off as his own.

#42 | Posted by soheifox at 2013-02-28 10:29 PM | Reply | Flag:

#40 -

I'd have to agree. I bought a shot for my sister and myself when she turned 21. Since then I've had plenty of Scotch and it's really not the liquid gold they make it out to be.

McCallen 12 year is nice. Pretty smooth... lol I drank a fifth of it one night and was feeling pretty mellow. Just chilling out by the grill waiting for more burgers. My friend asks me to go get some more wood for the fire and when stood up I took 4 more steps than I meant to. Had to steady up a minute but was fine after.

Best part was I slept until about 10:30... no hang over and felt great the rest of the day. Pay up front or pay later... I'd rather pay up front ;)

Just got gifted a bottle of rye... saving that for my St Patty's dinner.

#43 | Posted by captjimmyjames at 2013-02-28 11:07 PM | Reply | Flag:

Beer:

I wish I could drink beer. :/ I think I'm allergic to something in it... I always get a roiling stomach and feel like crap after drinking beer.

I can do all the hard liquor I want... but not beer. O.o Pledging was a real bitch in college >

#44 | Posted by captjimmyjames at 2013-02-28 11:09 PM | Reply | Flag:

That's why I switched to American Made, American Owned Coors!

#45 | Posted by TwoCents at 2013-03-01 11:14 AM | Reply | Flag: