Anheuser-Busch
St. Louis, MO
Available: nationwide by January
World Select, a continental-style pilsner, is a collaboration between Anheuser-Busch brewers in ten countries: Ireland, Spain, Italy, Korea, Japan, Canada, China, Argentina, UK and the United States, hence the tagline of “Ten Brewmasters. Four Continents. One Beer.” The beer is bottled at A-B’s Baldwinsville, NY brewery.
Alcohol by weight: 4
Color: n/a
Bitterness: n/a
Gravity: n/a
Fancy gold leaf package, obviously designed to compete with Heineken and Beck’s, is not as believable. Embossed map of the world on bottle is a not so subtle hint of the impact of globalization on the planet. The creamy head dissipates immediately, yielding a bright greenish yellow drink, visible from all sides. Clean, remotely malty nose offers little balance and a thin, slightly metallic “me-too” palate—lacks substance.
If someone hadn’t told me, I would have figured from the aroma that this was an imported beer from a green bottle. Not. Green bottle yes. Imported not. Aroma is faintly indicative of light-struck beer that so many import aficionados have grown to adore. But the flavor of this brew is clean, crisp, with superbly satisfying malt flavor and an elevated balance of hop character that is more European light than American light. If this beer was meant to compete with European imports they have a winner, based on flavor.
Rich toasted grain aroma backed by resiny hops and a hint of tart fruit. Tangy hops and juicy malt dominate the mouth, followed by a lingering finish, with sweet malt balanced by hop bitterness and a hint of citrus fruit. A well-made lager beer with a skilful balance of aromas and flavors.
Founder of Merchant du Vin and the Pike Brewing Co., Charles Finkel is a pioneer in the marketing of craft beers in America.
Author of the New Complete Joy of Homebrewing, founder of the Great American Beer Festival and a Beer Examiner at www.examiner.com, Papazian is a leading voice in beer and brewing.
Roger Protz is the author of Complete Guide to World Beer and 300 Beers to Try Before You Die. He is a respected beer authority and editor of the CAMRA Good Beer Guide.
