Oh my goodness, a behemoth of a brewery gets into the microbrew business? What is this world coming to?

What if we told you…gasp…that this stuff is actually…gulp…quite good?

Okay, so it’s not earth-shattering: Budweiser Black Crown Golden Amber Lager is a bit of a mouthful – but, if it’s a mouthful, that implies that there’s something in your mouth, like taste.

“Toasted caramel malt” is where it gets its color. And, this beer actually won a contest: if you were part of the trial last year, where 12 regional A-B brewmasters came up with new recipes, then they were tried throughout the country and the best was chosen, then you MIGHT recognize this as the West Coast brew.

Taste

Without sounding crass, if you’re a beer snob you’re expecting something marked “Budweiser” to have a certain watery-pilsner effect. This isn’t that: you can taste the toasted caramel malt, and that’s a good thing. Heavy without being too heavy.

Profile

ABV 6.2%. Amber color, but not “Black” at all (again, it won a contest, thus earning the “Black Crown” name).

Value

You expect to pay about a buck a bottle – or more – for 12 ounces of a craft beer. This one we found in 12-packs in suburban Chicago for $11.97, so that’s right in line. And it’s pretty solid (for a microbrew coming from a macrobrewery).

Grade: B

Have you had the Budweiser Black Crown Golden Amber Lager?