Recently added to the list of things that decrease my faith in humanity, a list that includes America’s Next Top Model, Paris Hilton, Gary Bettman, the US Republican Party, Hummers, and most rap music, is Bud Light Lime.  I mean really, if you want some lime flavor with your watery beverage, why not drink vodka water with a splash of lime?  Why pretend that this is even beer at all?

Bud Light Lime also comes in a clear bottle, perfect for soaking up some summer skunkiness.  What compelling reason would somebody have to drink this beer, other than it is probably really cheap?  I can’t think of any besides marketing.  It really bothers me that a giant corporation can just repackage crap, hire an agency to rattle off a marketing blitz, and have a winner, especially when there are many small time brewers pouring their hearts and souls into superior products.

I understand the need for a cold, light refreshing beer in the hot hot heat of summer, but there are plenty of non crappy ones out there.  If it is a bit of citrus you’re after, why not drop a lemon wedge into a German Hefeweizen or a Belgian Wit?  I should note that the act of adding a lemon or lime wedge to a beer was popularized in North American to mask two things, one being bad tasting beer and the other being our own general beer wussiness.  If you find a wheat beer to flavorful for you, there are many fine local lagers out there too.  I have assembled a list of wonderful, light summer beers that most anyone would enjoy:

• Mt. Begbie High Country Kolsch
• Swans Old Towne Lager
• Old Yale Pale Ale
• Red Canoe Lager
• Central City Springboard Lager
• Howe Sound Garibaldi Honey Pale Ale
• Mission Springs Brewery Bombshell Blonde Ale
• Phillips Phoenix Gold Lager
• Granville Island Belgian Wit
• Driftwood Farmhand Ale
• Tin Whistle Peach Cream Ale

Every time I see somebody drinnking a Bud Light Lime I die a little bit on the inside.  When you reach for a cold one this summer, why not grab something from the list above?

Cheers,

Chris