Hophead: Michelob Rye P.A. And Bavarian Wheat Outdo Some Craft Brewers. What Is The World Coming To?

By Jesse Hughey Thu., Nov. 19 2009 at 5:30 PM

Categories: Hophead

Jesse Hughey

Michelob Bavarian Wheat

Last week, Pyramid's Haywire Hefeweizen proved a tad, shall we say, underwhelming. This week seemed a perfect opportunity to try a couple of macro-brewed attempts at craft-brew styles, just to put things in perspective.

After all, if a relatively small outfit like Pyramid can't get the wheat-beer style right, surely a lowest-common-denominator, masses-pleasing corporate behemoth like Anheuser-Busch couldn't do a better job, could it?

And then there's this new "Rye P.A.," a rye-grain version of an India Pale Ale that Michelob came up with. That couldn't possibly be good, could it?

Could it?

After trying a couple of free sample bottles sent by Michelob, I have had some serious thinking to do. Despite my very low expectations and, I'll admit, prejudice against anything the company could come up with, I couldn't find much to dislike about either of them. And believe me, I tried.

The Bavarian Style Wheat is a hefeweizen, though you won't find that word on the bottle. It's a middling example of the style, pouring a golden orange-yellow color, very foggy with yeast and crowned by a big but short-lived head of soapy bubbles. The smell reminded me of my usual hangover breakfast: orange juice and banana. (Note to self: try a hefe during next hangover.) Banana was even more present in the taste, with some citrus aftertaste and some grassy wheat background as well. The body was fairly robust with strong effervescence, though the flavor wasn't as strong as I like wheat beers to be. Still, it wasn't bad at all.

Michelob Rye P.A.

Even more surprising was the Rye P.A. It poured a clear amber color with a big creamy, lasting head. The smell was not promising, without much of the citrusy hops coming through over the caramel malts. But the taste was pretty darned good, especially in light of my abysmal expectations. Citrus and piney hop bitterness and rye graininess were well balanced by a bit of sweet malt flavor. It's not as bitter as Bear Republic's Hop Rod Rye, the only other rye IPA I've had, not as full-bodied and generally not as good. But for a macro-brewer's attempt at a relatively ambitious style, it's exceptional.

Now all that said, I can't imagine any situation where one would have to choose this over a craft beer other than maybe a Michelob-sponsored festival, or an event or venue with some kind of exclusive deal with Anheuser-Busch. I would think that most stores or bars with a selection big enough to include such a niche offering from Anheuser-Busch would also carry at least a few microbrews.

Unless, of course, the only microbrews it offered were from Pyramid.

Tags:

beer, Hophead, Michelob

Write Comment

Email to Friend

Print Article

Related Content

More About:

Not that Jesse needs further defense, but I'd add that I hate when blogs get free samples, dislike the product, but then refrain from reviewing. These companies are big boys - they can take the criticism. So for better or worse, once a beer makes it his way, I hope he will write. Although when Colt 45 starts sending cases, you can probably keep that one to yourself. Besides, Billy D already told me it works every time.
Smell is a verb.
Mr. Good at Arguing, you really don't want me to pull these monstrosities out.
Anyone who does not like Gordon Biersch's Hefeweizen has small genitals.
I love beer, but the minute I start sounding like spatula city, shoot me.
Oh, and to add to Ms. T's suggestions for Ted: The Libertine on Greenville Ave., the Old Monk on Henderson and Eno's Tavern on Bishop Ave. in Oak Cliff.
Jesse, You're absolutely right. Pyramid is not owned by AB or for that matter ABINBEV, instead they have merged with Magic Hat in a deal that allowed MH beers to be brewed on the west coast and Pyramid beers to be brewed on the east coast. I think what Spatula was thinking about was the Craft Brewers Alliance which involves Kona, Widmer, Goose Island, and Redhook however none of those are owned outright by AB they have a 15% (somewhere around there) stake in the CBA.
Ted- That's right, I had forgotten about Real Ale's Full Moon. That is a good one. Spatula City- Maybe you didn't read the blog from last week, but it was pretty clearly not in favor of Pyramid's hefe. Also, where did you hear Pyramid is co-owned by A-B? I read they were acquired last year by Magic Hat but haven't heard anything about their ownership since then.
djs, is this your first encounter with a beer snob?
you're coming off a little douchy spatula. its just beer and its just a blog.
Why shouldn't he write about it? It's a blog you can write about as much as you want, it's not like there's a limit. They sent it to him, he tried it, reported, and now we know. If I'm at some event that has Michelob Rye Ale and some other mediocre choice, I know which to choose. Quit griping about nothing.
@Ted: Seconding the Gingerman, and I really like The Londoner at 2909 Thomas Ave.
seriously?! can we get someone here with at least a teeeeny bit of beer knowledge? let me write. just to let you know...Pyramid has been producing some of the worst beers known to any self-respecting beer fan for say 10 years or so. they are NOT small, they are co-owned by Budweiser. They sold out years ago and to compare beer A to Pyramid as a benchmark for good beer is a joke. Pyramid is no longer a "craft" brewery, they surpassed those production numbers long ago. same with Sam Adams, Widmer. now on to the Michelob. sure it's Michelob and they'll always be lost particularly now they're trying to get "crafty". their beers arent fails or terrible, but standard and mediocre come to mind. though i do respect their efforts to produce more interesting beers. it's all marketing. A-B surveyed its customers and the customers said that the Michelob outfit had more of a "craft" feel to it (wtf?). nonetheless A-B ran with it and is trying to turn Michelob into its "crafty" producer b/c there's obviously a market for it w/ the rise of craft breweries in the US. in terms of good, interesting beers? Michelob is a joke. sure it's nice when you're stuck at a bar and your other choices are Miller Lite, Coors Light and Bud Light. but when you're writing about it in a blog or in a paper...you're lost.
It's good to see the big brewers trying to cash in on the movement craft brewers helped propel. Just goes to show that they could have been brewing more interesting beers all along. But I forget that there was "no market" for them before. Ugh. @ted: Trinity Hall @ Mockingbird Station; Gingerman off McKinney Ave.
All good German Hefe's should have a banana and clove taste so its good to see that Michelob's is up to style. Their Dunkleweizen was surprisingly good as well, almost ashamed to admit I really liked it. As for Rye Pale Ale's I though Michelob did a fine job on their's, only had a chance to sample it at GABF. However if you want a more local version check out Real Ale's Full Moon Pale Rye Ale. A very very good example of the style, should be available up in the Dallas Area. Speaking of which, besides one of the Flying Saucer's where else can one go for great beer, will be up there visiting Family for Thanksgiving.
1. Say what you will about macrobrewed fake craftbeers, but Michelob's Shocktop is very, very tasty. 2. speaking of weird banana tastes in hefeweizen, that new Gordon Biersh place up off of 75 and park has one that is waaaaaay too fruitsy and should be avoided at all costs. Their other beers? not horrible, but that particular one is pretty bad.