Tuesday’s ad is for another one of Anheuser-Busch’s series of beers they marketed under the name “American Originals,” beginning in the fall of 1995. This one was Black & Tan, a “Porter.” Here’s what a press release said about it at the time:
Adolphus Busch’s Black and Tan was first brewed in 1899 as an American porter, and was particularly popular on draught in saloons. Black and Tan is a full-bodied porter with a bit more malt to soften the flavor, and it has a deep reddish-brown color. It is a hearty, rich and dark ale that features taste characteristics of roasted malt, chocolate and coffee. Its aroma combines roasted malt, chocolate, fruity and slightly floral characteristics.
Black and Tan is brewed using a true English ale yeast, a blend of chocolate, caramel and two other varieties of roasted malt, and a combination of Washington State hops and imported hops.
“Black and Tan is a very hearty, rich, and dark beer that is a perfect complement to foods of a similar nature, such as meat stews, chilis and strong chocolate-flavored desserts,” Kahn said.
Not even sure why AB even tried anything like this — as they were so focused on generating huge volume and maximizing plant efficiency.
Look at Rolling Rock. Bought that label because its numbers had been growing for some time — then stupidly closed Latrobe Brewing and put all the production in their Newark plant. Now ABInBev’s trying to sell the brand because it isn’t doing anything.
Maybe AB should’ve dedicated their Fairfield plant, the smallest one they’ve got, over to one specializing in short runs and quick changeovers. That way, they could have kept making products like this — while trying other craft-style products in hopes that one or two would take off.
No wonder the Brazilians were able to pick them off.
If I’m stuck with some regular American lagers I just mix in some Mississipi Mud Black and Tan and presto – very drinkable and tasty beer!
Cheers
JD
Agree w/Mr Nuts (where does he live?); I don’t remember ever seeing any of that series of brews in the Bay Area. The early 00’s Michelob Amber Bock is tolerable & still around; the more recent American Ale deserves being 86’d (if InBev hasn’t already done so).
Miller tried the “craft brew” gig early 90’s & gave it up a year or 2 later. Some of my San Andreas Malts cronies & I did a “taste test” of their 3 offerings (stout, pale ale, & one I don’t recall). We pretty much trashed all 3, but we saw the “open-invite” 800# on the label, & created a list of questions to ask about the brews – whoever called would report back next meeting. The folx answering Miller’s phones were in “script mode” & all we got were “generic” answers, which we had a good laugh over – in the mega-brew world, the MO generally was & still is anything but “full disclosure”.
No, the American Originals were here in the Bay Area. We had them at BevMo when I was the beer buyer there. I don’t think they got wide distribution, though, and they didn’t sell well for us, either. I remember we had to deep discount them to get them out the door before they went out of code. I tried two out of the three at the time. They weren’t bad, but they weren’t great either. A bit like Bud’s American Ale of recent years, not terrible but there are so many better ales, why would you ever choose that one? I think the hard sell for the American Originals series was loyal Bud drinkers didn’t want all-malt beers with flavor and craft beer fans wouldn’t buy a beer from A-B, a bit of a catch 22.