If you haven’t yet heard, Budweiser has a new specialty beer for the holidays: Budweiser 1933 Repeal Reserve Amber Lager. Now, I was all about trying this beer because I love a good retro beer, and then too, I’m always curious to try craft beer (or an attempt at same) by the megabrewers. Anheuser-Busch is the hated Evil Empire amongst beer geeks, and with some justification. Their business practices have been borderline as well as outright anti-competitive at times. That said, beer geeks love to hate them for things as simple as not wanting to share their own proprietary hops.
Be that as it may, I wanted to try Budweiser 1933 Repeal Reserve Amber Lager, for the reasons enumerated above. I mentioned the history of the beer (note the retro label and stubby bottle), and here’s how AB describes that on their website:
Introducing Budweiser’s limited edition 1933 Repeal Reserve. The recipe behind this special brew dates back to the pre-Prohibition era when our founder Adolphus Busch created and brewed a special Amber Lager for his friends and local community to enjoy. Due to the onset of Prohibition in 1920, the beer didn’t have a chance to be widely distributed outside the St. Louis area…until now. This holiday season, Budweiser is releasing this historically inspired recipe nationwide to celebrate the Repeal of Prohibition.
Immediately, I’m a little suspicious of that. I’m not doubting that Adolphus formulated an amber lager, but he died in 1913-7 years before Prohibition. Born in 1839, he was 74 when he passed, which means he likely formulated this beer significantly before he died. That would give him plenty of time to market his prized Amber Lager nationally.
Then, of course, there is the label. A variation on the classic Budweiser label, it reads:
This is a specialty Budweiser Amber Lager beer. We know of no amber lager brewed by any other brewer that is so flavorfully brewed and aged. Our exclusive Beechwood Aging produces a taste, a smoothness and a drinkability you will find in no other amber lager at any price.
Kudos to Anheuser-Busch for brewing a more flavorful beer than Budweiser or Bud Light. This is not their first attempt at same (remember Budweiser Black Crown?). But let’s be realistic. If they know of no other amber lager so “flavorfully brewed”, they clearly don’t know much about other beers. That said, I will go back to the kudos I’ve offered them. Beer geeks constantly complain about their bland mass-market lagers. When they try to brew something better, they get criticized for that, too. Can’t have it both ways, beer geeks.
Budweiser 1933 Repeal Reserve Amber Lager has an alcohol content of 6.1% by volume. I paid $8.49 for a six-pack at the package store around the corner but Total Wine has it for $7.99. My bottles have a best by date of 04FEB18.
When I poured out the first bottle, I went in with an open-mind. Initially, I observed that Budweiser 1933 Repeal Reserve Amber Lager pours to a beautiful reddish amber color with a moderate creamy head and a soft, rather faint nutty maltiness. Taking a sip, the beer has a pleasant maltiness up front, though it thins as the beer progresses and I only get a hint of the light chocolate I want. There’s a gentle toasty nutty maltiness (but not as much as I want) and a balancing gentle grassy hop finish.
Truth be told, Budweiser 1933 Repeal Reserve Amber Lager is better than I expected it might be, but not as good as I want. The thinness is the problem here for me, I love malt and there’s not enough. There is no mention of adjuncts but I *suspect* perhaps rice is lightening here. Some of have compared this to Busch Copper Lager, which I have not tried. It does remind me of Michelob Marzen from the past, though that beer was fuller and maltier.
Anheuser-Busch has a tough task with such a beer. Clearly, they have to keep their feet in two worlds. While trying to brew a beer approachable for craft beer enthusiasts, they can’t alienate the Budweiser crowd and, to be blunt, cut their own throats. In attempting to please both, they may satisfy neither. The retro theme is appealing, but even on that score this beer succeeds nowhere near as much as Pabst did with their Ballantine IPA.
Would I buy Budweiser 1933 Repeal Reserve Amber Lager again? In the final analysis, I would not. There are far better beers in the style (or close to it) that are much better for about the same price. Brooklyn Lager immediately comes to mind. The next beer I drank after Budweiser 1933 Repeal Reserve Amber Lager was a Samuel Adams Amber Bock, a Texas Bock similar to Shiner. I had not intended the comparison, but that beer was, while not nearly the best beer ever from Boston Beer, fuller and richer in malt character and depth. For less money to boot.
Budweiser 1933 Repeal Reserve Amber Lager is a step in the right direction. Those that don’t regularly drink craft beer, and there are many, may enjoy it. I recommend giving it a try. That said, there’s quite a ways to go, and Anheuser Busch has not quite reached the destination yet.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft