Liam Gallagher once crooned “I know a girl called Elsa, she’s into Alka-Seltzer,” which, honestly, I didn’t know what meant at the time. Had the song been written today, however, it would have been painfully clear that Elsa, in fact, was into Budweiser Select 55.
That’s right, Budweiser is treating us to yet another beer! This one tasting more than vaguely like Alka-Seltzer.
God bless Anheuser-Busch for trying. So far they’ve failed at producing a decent regular beer, lite beer, Clamato flavored beer, Michelada style beer, ice beer, craft beer, and caffeine infused beer, but they’re not letting a few minor setbacks discourage them! Now they have their sights set on MGD 64.
And give them credit—they’re not exactly trying to beat a beer anyone in their right mind would classify as “good.” This is really a battle where Budweiser stands a chance. I mean, hell, they’ve beaten Miller in the first round by lowering the calorie content by nine! Anheuser-Busch, you little devil, you might just stand a chance.
That is until you taste it. By god, this is the worst swill I’ve ever touched. I could at least see what they were getting at with Budweiser American Ale (which, from what I can recall, was the replacement for the original Select), but Select 55 truly and honestly tastes like Bud Lite mixed with Alka-Seltzer.
There’s a bit of credit that should be given here: I will, with my severely limited homebrewing experience, assume that it’s not easy making a beer taste like Alka-Seltzer. I mean, seriously. Maybe that’s what they set out out to do? Maybe I’m the idiot. Maybe there’s a market for Alka-Seltzer beer.