Drinks: Budweiser Black Crown

While American beer drinkers learned the beauty of craft and foreign brews, Budweiser stood fast as a bulwark for the lowest common denominator. As tastes changed toward more intricate and flavorful brands, Budweiser refused to budge from their proprietary white bread style.

Now they are left to play catch up—first with their “Platinum” label and now with a trio of beers gleaned from their “Project 12” initiative.

The program challenged the company’s 12 brewmasters to produce unique beers (within certain bounds), from which one would be selected to wear the Black Crown.

Where th...