Who should get "Budweiser"?

[marioh]

I remember looking over the beer selections in Amsterdam, and seeing : "Budweiser- King of Beer".

I then wondered why the hell would they sell such garbage beer in Amsterdam when they have Heineken which is around 5,000,000,000 times better than Budweiser. Add to that the excellent German beers available, why would anyone want to sell such crappy beer ?

 

[Winner]

Well, this matter is a bit complicated. Legally speaking the US Budweiser has certain right to use that trademark. But as far as I know, they've obtained it during the World War Two, when the Czech lands were occupied by Nazi Germany. The Czech company desperately sold the trademark to a US company.

Personally, I'd like it to be returned back to Budvar. "Budweiser" means budějovický - isn't it a bit of nonsense?

 

[magritte]

Not to mention the fact that the beer made in Ceske Budejovice tastes better.

Seriously, though, given that the name is associated with both products and has been for a long time, I'd prefer that both be allowed to use it, with some other trademark that would make it impossible for them to be mistaken for one another.

 

[Zarn]

Anheuser-Busch shouldn't even be allowed to exist. I can't believe people keep them in business.

By default I must say Budejovicky Budvar.

 

[Winner]

Not to mention the fact that the beer made in Ceske Budejovice tastes better.

Seriously, though, given that the name is associated with both products and has been for a long time, I'd prefer that both be allowed to use it, with some other trademark that would make it impossible for them to be mistaken for one another.

It's not the only problem associated with trademarks and czech beers. For example Pilsner is commonly used to describe the type of beer, but the original producer, Pilsner Urquell sees it as a violation of its rights. They want EU to protect their trademark.

 

[Lambert Simnel]

In a pub, I just ask for a Budvar. It'd be nice if they got the rights to the name, but I can't see them winning out over Annnheiser-Busch.

And, for the record, I'd rather pay for Budvar than get a free US Budweiser. Maybe it's just a level of income thing, but if I'm going to drink, I'll go for something decent if it's available, and not worry about the cost (unless we're staring to talk Chateau Petrus type prices...).

PS Am I right in thinking that the only people who have voted for Annheiser-Busch are Americans ? (presumably Americans with little grasp of history ? )

 

[Mr. Blonde]

The name should belong to the Czech company, but I am afraid the legal situation is different.
Court decisions can lead to absurd things like the Sacher bakery not being allowed call their speciality Sacher torte (which was btw invented by them) because the rights belong to the Demel bakery now. So you can only get the "Original Sacher Torte" at the Demel and not at the Sacher if you come to Vienna.

Imo American Bud should not even exist or at least stop to call the thing they sell beer.

 

[PrinceOfLeigh]

It all boils down to who can front the cash for the rights anyway. So wish away all you want, it won't make a blind bit of difference. Personally I'm wishing for the Czechs.

Not necessarily, WWF whooped the WWF and acquired the rights to the name. (Since the WWF had it first it was the right thing to do) Vince McMahon's Billions couldn't compete with a charitable fund. Albeit a very large charity.

For clarification World Wildlife Fund whooped the World Wrestling Federation.

I think the more pressing issue is 'Bud' calling itself "The King of Beers", not what I'd name the watered down bubbly pond water.

 

[Lambert Simnel]

Last time I was in St Louis, some of the locals opined that their city was "the beer capital of the world". Nice folk (and a great baseball team), but absolutely no awareness of beer or geography, methinks.

 

[Dell19]

Maybe in quantity rather than quality?

 

[Richard Cribb]

Imo American Bud should not even exist or at least stop to call the thing they sell beer.

I second this.
I am 100% behind the Czechs on this one.

 

[carlosMM]

Why would any brewery in Europe want to be associated with the name Budweiser? Whenever I hear that name I equate it to bad beer.

That's because said beer is the one with the stolen name

 

[klazlo]

I second this.
I am 100% behind the Czechs on this one.

Me too.
It is an utter shame that the American producer uses that name for their piss-quality liquid. Bud in the US is one of the worst beer ever produced, even with US standards! On the other hand, Eastern European beers rock! (I can buy Pilsner Urquell in the US, nyenyenye)
The legal situation is quite complex, however I would say that the American Bud should only have a claim if their product at least marginally resembles to beer.

 

[El Justo]

Well, this matter is a bit complicated. Legally speaking the US Budweiser has certain right to use that trademark. But as far as I know, they've obtained it during the World War Two, when the Czech lands were occupied by Nazi Germany. The Czech company desperately sold the trademark to a US company.

wow Winner. i never knew that.

on another note:
like it not but A-B is by far the largest and most successful brewer here in the States. while i'm not a terribly big fan of their product, i will say that the company itself is most definitely the best run american beer company. i say this from a business persepctive as i, at one time, was a bar mgr and i ordered all of the booze/beer/etc and dealt w/ representatives from all of the companies and the ones from A-B were head and shoulders above the competition [in terms of sales-service]. the worst: Coors - no doubt. they were awful.

 

[kronic]

The Czech Budweiser is at least real beer. Must be the German name.

So yeah, go Czechs!

 

[Quasar1011]

English spelling rule: I comes before E... except in Budweiser.

 

[Dell19]

There are quite a lot of exceptions for that rule which doesn't make Budweiser particularily weird in that sense.

 

[Billy Rubin]

The Czechs of yourse - The Brewery has been around way longer and they actually produce beer.

I never understood why the US Bud is so popular over there.
Is it cheaper?
Is beer unavailable so you use that dish water as a substitute?

OTOH, I don't undertstand US beer drinking habits in general - who came up with the stupid idea to serve it in pitchers? I can't tink off any better way of serving it if you want it to become insipid...


Anyway - I'm pretty sure any brewery over here selling such crap and got the nerve of labeling it "beer" would be torched by an angry mob in the same day the first bottle shipped to the stores...

 

[Zarn]

I never understood why the US Bud is so popular over there.
Is it cheaper?
Is beer unavailable so you use that dish water as a substitute?

I'm from the US, so I will answer.

It is cheap, and heavily advertised. I sense it losing popularity soon (and hopefully I'm right). We technically do have actual beer, though.

There are plenty of Americans who are just as digusted as Europeans are.

 

[basta72]

The Czech Budweiser is a rather good beer in true Czech pilsner tradition. I love Czech pilsner but their Budweiser is by no means my favourite but still a good beer. Few things beats enjoying a good Czech beer on a hot summers day in Prague! It is, however, not often that I have that opportunity.

The American Budweiser is simply awful. In my opinion the only people who like it are those that do not like beer. Unfortunately it is the only US American beer I remember that have seen in Europe.

I could go on and on about different good beers. But I have no opinion on who should have the right to the Budweiser brand.