Bass was purchased by Anheiser Busch about 12 years ago and now they decided to f u c k with the brand by brewing it in the United States in Baldwinsville, NY. I recently purchased a 12 pack and noticed it tasted a little watery. Not as much bite. I looked at the label and to my dismay it stated it was brewed in the USA. You will not be able to purchase Bass from Burton upon Trent in the USA. Bastards!
Still if I was having more than one, Bass was perfect. It's not Dogfish 90 minute IPA, but that pale india ale is not meant to be drunk like water either. Bass had the right mix of body and taste.
Agreed. It's a bit sad in that Bass and Guinness were my first intro to "good" beer in college. My junior year, a pub called the Globe opened up in Athens, featuring stuff like Guinness, Bass, Harp, and McEwens on tap. I was a big fan of Bass for a while, but after tasting other beers over the next few years, Bass didn't hold up as well, IMHO. And, Alberto, I would say this even compared to other session beers.
Meh. I was sad when Rolling Rock was moved to New Jersey. And yes, there are far better beers out there.
Damn. Thanks for the heads up. I concur with what others have said; Bass was always enjoyable, back in the day before the American craft beer scene really kicked in, and when more interesting imports became available. That said, bottled Bass was always something of a distortion of the "real" thing, real in this instance referring to real ale. It was a filtered, force carbonated version of a beer that was never really intended to be served that way. With very few exceptions, to get "real" Bass, you need to go to England and visit a pub that knows how to serve real ale. Same goes for Fullers ESB.
Total bummer. I wish I could find it on line, but one of my friends has a Bass Ale ad, about 3 ft by 3 ft, featuring Albert Camus testifying before some committee. Since he is a philosophy prof, he grabbed it. The only one I can find via an image search is far too tiny. Like Minnman said, as authentic fakes go, Bass was a damn good tasting one. From what Alberto says, not so anymore. Hence it is, thanks to A/B, a fake fake.
Of course, I'm sure most people know that Bass Ale made a cameo in Manet's painting, "Bar at the Folies Bergere Pretty big image. Let's see what happens if it's embedded: And in case that doesn't work: http://ktismatics.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/manet-bar_at_the_folies-bergere.jpg
I'm on board with most of the above. I drank Bass in college when it was the true alternative. Since they started importing Smithwick's I don't think I have had one.
It occured to me that, now that Bass Ale has been rendered a fake fake beer, does that mean it will be considered Ironic to drink it? Could A/B be making a move for the hipster market? How will Pabst Brewing react?
Sounds as if hipsters should love Lowenbrau -- the original fake fake. If fake fakes can be original.
