The bottle: American, The taste: bittersweet

*This post is a little late...I've been playing Diablo II and studying for the MCAT...and at the bar*

July 14, 2008, Anheuser Busch was sold to Inbev, and with it....a part of my St. Louis soul died. After being of legal drinking age for only 3 months and looking forward to a whole lifetime of Budweiser consumption, the fledgling-beer-drinker-in-me was shot though the heart...and Inbev's to blame...(they give beer a bad name.)
To someone not from St. Louis, Anheuser Busch's sale may not be such a big deal. To the average beer enthusiast, the AB-Inbev merger may be seen as the loss of the last big American brewery, but to me, it's like the death of royalty. St. Louis is the city it is because of the Busch family--August Busch's sons even go to my high school.
If you ever enter the city of St. Louis through highway 40, coming from across the Mississippi, you will notice 3 things: the Arch, Busch Stadium, and a lit A and Eagle sign (it looks like it's flying at night.) Is it a coincidence that 2 out of the 3 first visual cues one sees when coming into the city represent Anheuser Busch? I think not.
In fact, the "Gateway to the West" would not be what it is today without the King of Beers. For years the highways were maintained on the AB dollar. Many of St. Louis University's buildings were funded by AB (like the Busch Student Center.) Also of note, the brewery itself brings in tourists and defines the Soulard area of the City.
Unfortunately, all public works that AB has been doing for the city of St. Louis WILL cease when the AB-Inbev merger is complete. Inbev is known as a cost cutter, and last time I checked, charity did not improve profits. Many hard working men and women will be laid off, blue and white collar alike. (Even Obama agrees.)

This Bud's for you, Mr. August Busch.

It's only fitting that I drown my sorrows with a tall, cold Budweiser (not lite, the original). I'll be honest, my bias will get in the way here. To ME, this is the king of beers (and by that I mean it's the standard of American Lagers). I'm not saying that it's the smoothest. It's definitely not complex, but when I want a beer, and someone offers me a Budweiser, I know I'm going to be satisfied. It's color (when out of the bottle), is a clear light amber. There is no strong aroma to the beer- it can be best described a faintly sweet scent. This sweet scent is accompanied by the slightly sweet taste. It starts smooth, is light bodied, and finishes cleanly. Also, the beer tastes slightly acidic due to the carbonation/water used. This gives the an almost "soda" like character, allowing it be used to wash down meals, or just as a drink in itself.
The only "downside" to Budweiser is that it has no distinguishing characteristics. It doesn't have the strong flavors of other lagers, like St. Pauli girl, but also, it's much less expensive.

Verdict: It's goes with anything, anytime
...and no, it is definately not Miller Time