It is an odd time to do this. Miller just came out with MGD Light 64, which is a low-carb, low-calorie beer that is cheaper than Michelob Ultra, which has 95 calories.

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While I am a beer snob myself,I have to come down on you for your comment, "I personally wouldn't drink any beer with a big name on the label". You are worse than those indie music snobs that turn their backs on a good band when they break into the main stream. I personally feel that Michelob is not that bad and I applaud their efforts to put out a more diverse line up. Like you said, by doing so they will open people's eyes to better beer. They would probably make more sticking with their low carb line up, but instead they are getting crafty. Don't be so close minded. Try the beer and if it is bad then dog it. Just as it could turn a swill drinker onto craft beers, it could also turn a beer snob into a swill afficianado.

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I have to agree with JCurtis. I love my local microbrews as much as the next person, but if I am visiting a friend or restaurant with limited selection I will happily drink Michelob. Beer > noBeer.

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The Czech Budweiser (sold under the brand name "Czechvar" here, due to trademark issues), based in Budweis, calls themselves "the Beer of Kings." Honestly, that sounds better than "the King of Beers." And tastes better too.

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Great. The beer market isn't tough enough for small innovative microbreweries. Now they have to deal with increased competition on their own turf from the big guys, who have more resources and name recognition, and will push real craft breweries out of the market. And several self-professed beer snobs are cheering for this to happen.

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I am backing up JCurtis. While I appreciate a good belgian triple bock dildoweisen (aka, craft beer), where would america be without the buds, millers, and keystones of the world? Even the vaunted BeerAdvocate ran a review of Coors Original the other week.

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I think we're all getting snowed because I drank Michelob AmberBoch in college (almost 7 years ago now). If I remember correctly, they had a series of 5 beers, including the AmberBoch, porter, amber ale (semi-light lager), and 2 others.

Smells like re-packaging to me. Remember when Michelob was AB's high-end beer with the distinctive bottle? Maybe they should stop trying to be small and crafty, and stick with what they do best: selling normal beer to normal folks.

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"I personally wouldn't drink any beer with a big name on the label"

Wow, are you trying to sound like a snobby bitch? I mean seriously - you may not realize it but you're committing the same sin as the people that only drink big label beers... you're worrying about the label instead of caring to find out what's actually inside. What you're saying is basically that if your favorite craft beer was bought by A.Busch today and distributed by them tomorrow with no change in the recipe, you'd stop drinking it because some how it's suddenly below you. Is there someplace we can vote off Slashfood writers? Because you'd get my vote Shayna.

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K, first off, the word snob sounds retarded, get a bigger vocab guys and stop using the same word, second off, I don't care who makes the beer, long as it tastes great, light or dark, I will drink it. By the way Guinness for the win.

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Really, guys, can we stop with the name calling? Of course I would drink a big label beer if the situation called for it, though it would not be my preference. And if my favorite microbrew were bought by a big name, of course I would still drink it. It seems to me that this should be implied, but next time I will spell things out more clearly.

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While I am relatively new with my knowledge about microbreweries, I have had both good and bad experiences. Aside from that, I will say defiantly that if given the option I will buy an AB beer compared to anyone else simply for one fact alone: they donate millions per year to troops of the US armed forces. I myself experienced this immediately upon graduation from high school. While it may not be the best beer to some or I may prefer another beer, I know it is an American based company that supports the troops regardless of who we're at war with. So next time you go to buy a beer, consider who you are supporting if the taste is realtively close in comparison.

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"And if my favorite microbrew were bought by a big name, of course I would still drink it. It seems to me that this should be implied, but next time I will spell things out more clearly."
Really? Because I'm pretty sure the following statement seems fairly definitive:
"I personally wouldn't drink any beer with a big name on the label"

Sorry we some of us came off a little bit overly harsh, but that was a world-class stupid comment - regardless of how you try to backpedal it.

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Michelob was originally sold on draught at select taverns. In 1965 the now famous "Tap Bottle" came out, and the rest is downhill for the brand name IMHO.

Adding mango, coffee, etc., etc. does not improve a beer. It makes the drink a cocktail.

Truly a shame to see this once exclusively on tap beer go and try to modernize itself.

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