There are many great beers throughout this world. I love tasting them and I’ve even had temporary favorites throughout the years. Sometimes, I’ll get into an Import phase in my life where all I buy is that one. But, Budweiser has to always be at the top of the list and not just because it’s a great tasting beer.
It’s not a well-known fact that Budweiser was the beer that the president enjoyed once the prohibition was lifted in 1933. President Franklin Roosevelt is trademarked as having said, “I think this would be a good time for a beer” the day he signed the Cullen-Harrison Act legalizing the sale of beer in the United States. The next day Anheuser-Busch sent the president beer. They were delivered by the infamous Clydesdales themselves, the trademark horses of Anheuser-Busch and their most famous Budweiser Beer.
When Adolphus Busch, the founding father of Anheuser-Busch, introduced German lager to the American beer enthusiasts, he changed the way American’s thought of beer forever. Budweiser was originally named Budweiser Lager Beer because it captured an interesting Bohemian Lager style. In 1901, Budweiser sold its one millionth barrel.
Budweiser was the first beer to actually put labels on their bottles. At first, they were molded into the glass itself. By the time the rest of the beer world caught up to them, paper labels worked just fine and the Budweiser logo has remained virtually the same since its inception in 1876.
Budweiser trademarks have become American institutions. Starting with the pocketknife Adolphus Busch had designed. It became a collector’s item and there are still some around if you look hard enough to find one for yourself. Just plan on spending your life’s savings to own one of your own.
The eagle itself hasn’t gone anywhere since it first appeared on a bottle of Budweiser. It has not really even changed. The artwork has become more sophisticated over the years. But, bottles and posters from the earlier days serve as great collector’s items for beer enthusiasts if you ever have a failure thinking of the perfect gift.
Advertisements have always seemed very American, even though Budweiser is enjoyed around the world. Ads have always tapped the psyche of beer enthusiasts, identifying with the times and making itself a staple of every generation. The Bud Bowl was prominent in the late 80s. Budweiser Frogs came out in the mid 90s. And “Whassup” was popular in the late 90s. But, that’s just a sample of how Budweiser has inserted itself into our culture in recent years. There are plenty of examples how Budweiser has spoken to the American beer enthusiast since it was first brewed.
The Clydesdales themselves are an American staple. The Clydesdale Budweiser commercials roll in during the holiday season and all of sudden, it feels like the holiday season has been ushered in for us. But, the most touching Clydesdale commercial aired during the 2002 Superbowl in which the beautiful horses bowed to what appears to be ground zero, where the World Trade Centers once stood. It only aired once and it brought tears to my eyes.
It’s just a beer, you might say. But, it’s a company, a family and a large part of the American culture. It has been a shining star in each and every generation. There is no other beer, nor company for that matter, that can say that for themselves.