Beverage Review: Budweiser Black Crown

Today, I tried Budweiser's new Black Crown Golden Amber Lager. It just came out a couple of months ago, and had its first advertising push as a superbowl commercial (I didn't see it, I just heard about it).

Black Crown is Budweiser's attempt to compete with Yeungling Lager and Sam Adams Boston Lager. And it is an Amber Lager, much like Yeungling and Sam Adams. It still tastes like a Budweiser product. It has the aftertaste that says "You just drank a Bud." And if you like that flavor, and you are hoping for a deeper flavor than regular Bud, or Bud Light, this is what you're looking for. If you don't like Bud, you probably won't like it, but it's worth trying. From a flavor standpoint, it has a nice caramel note that makes it distinctly an amber lager, with the standard Budweiser hops coming in at the tail end. The Amber color is nice and rich, but not intimidating. It's still a shade lighter than Yeungling or Sam, but not by much, and definitely darker than your American Domestics (Coor's, Miller, Bud, or Michelob). I personally think that it goes very well with hot wings.

Also, Black Crown, like Bud Platinum from last year boasts a higher alcohol content at 6% alcohol, which beats out the 4.5% of Yeungling, and makes it comparable to some of the other craft beers, but at cheaper than the premium domestic price.

Why it'll work, and why it won't : Alright, so here's the skinny. Bud Black Crown has the potential to work, and will probably stick around in bottles for as long as Bud Light Lime and Bud Platinum. It can't really stand on it's own in Pennsylvania (where I am), and probably won't in New England either. At least in PA, Yeungling is a Domestic Beer at the same price as Coor's, Miller, and Bud. Black Crown is going to be priced slightly higher than that, and most people will stick with what they're comfortable with, at the lower price (either Bud, or Lager). 

Outside of PA, from everything that I've heard, Yeungling is sold at the Domestic Premium Price (comparable to Sam Adams or a Craft Beer). In those cases, Black Crown, sold at a cheaper price than Lager or Sam, will do very well as an alternative to either. And if marketed right, and suggestively sold, it will make a lasting impression on the types of people that Black Crown was made for, the Lager Drinker that wants something new.

For all of it's detractors, Bud and Bud Light are two of the three most popular beers around the world as of 2011. And will continue to do well for many years to come.

And the fine print. This is entirely my own opinion, nobody paid me to say anything about this. I don't represent anybody but myself. And it is up to you to decide if you like it and to drink responsibly.