Expert: Ed Westemeier - 4/14/2005

Question
Ed,
Since you write an informative column, I thought that you may be able to help me with a query that recently came up:  What happened to regular Michelob?  The Amber Bock that replaced it is truly nasty with a cloying aftertaste and "thick" presentation.
My fallback position is Ice House (I know, chortle, chortle) which I may have to make a primary position because , now, I don't like any AB product.
Thanks for any help.          lyle

Answer
Nothing happened to regular Michelob. It's still available.

Back in 1997, they came out with 5 or 6 new beers, trying to compete with the microbreweries. They put those new ones out under the Michelob label, and created a new division in the company called "Michelob Specialty Ales & Lagers."

They didn't do as well as they hoped, and Amber Bock is the only one left. But you can still buy Michelob, the same as always.