Would Calling It ‘American Beer’ Make You Drink More of It?

The CEO of Anheuser-Busch doesn’t like the term ‘domestic beer.’ So he wants to call his product ‘American beer’ instead.

When it comes to beer, what’s in a name? If you have a choice of ordering a “domestic beer” or an “American beer,” are you going to flock to either one over the other? Or will you be smart enough to realize that they’re the same thing?

Anheuser-Busch’s CEO told distributors this week that he thinks “American beer” sounds better.

“The pride we take in this great country should also be properly and accurately applied to our great American beers,” Brian Whitworth wrote in a letter quoted by CNN.

He said the beers are “brewed by American workers who receive American wages.” Said workers ” They “rely on American farmers and on American raw material suppliers.”

“They support American causes like the military and first responders,” he wrote. “They pay American taxes.”

But would anyone drink more beer if it’s called “American” rather than “domestic”?

Somehow, I seriously doubt it.

Full disclosure here: I’m not a beer drinker. I know people who can debate for far too long which types of beer taste better than others. But I’m afraid I’m one of those folks who doesn’t really detect a difference in most beers. They all taste the same to me…and that taste isn’t pleasant.

So I truly don’t care which term they use. It just seems like a silly thing to get fired up about.

Didn’t we try this foolishness with french fries?

Back in 2003, as the United States proposed an invasion of Iraq following 9/11, France opposed the move. So a restaurant decided that “french fries” just wouldn’t do for the name of the popular side. The restaurateur renamed them “freedom fries.”

A misguided politician heard about the renaming and ran with it, renaming the menu item in three Congressional cafeterias.

But a funny thing happened after the invasion. The war people were so itchy to start dragged on. People lot their patience and their enthusiasm.

No one was willing to suggest the French might be right in their opposition to the war. America is never wrong, after all.

But let’s just say that we have french fries on menus today, not “freedom fries.”

‘American beer’ wouldn’t be an inaccurate term

Granted, the “rebranding” of the term would be accurate since they make their brands, which include Budweiser, Michelob Ultra and Busch Light in America.

Not being a beer drinker, I have to wonder if anyone who has a favorite beer truly cares whether you call it “American beer” or “Domestic beer.” I’ve heard people ask which “domestic” wines a restaurant has.

But when it comes to beer, don’t people just order the brand they like? I’d guess most people who like Anheuser-Busch brands order one by the individual brand name, not “American.”

I’m a Diet Coke man myself. If Pepsi suddenly tried to rename Diet Pepsi as “Slimming Pepsi,” I’m still going to order Diet Coke because I like the taste. If I wanted a Diet Pepsi, I’d order that.

For those people who actually can taste distinct differences from one beer to another — in other words, for those who don’t think all beer tastes alike — I’d bet they have their favorite go-to brand. Whether it’s domestic or imported, that’s what they like.

If the flag alone is going to dictate which they order, they’re probably not as much into the taste of beer, either.