What could be more American than standing in a backyard at a barbecue while holding a beer on the Memorial Day weekend in the United States? Budweiser thinks it has the answer: Holding a beer called America.
The brewer said on Tuesday it will rename its eponymous Budweiser brew as “America” from May 23 through to the Nov. 8 presidential election to “inspire drinkers to celebrate America.”
Here’s to America the beautiful. Hold her high this summer. #ThisBudsForYou pic.twitter.com/puATIxT0Th
— Budweiser (@Budweiser) May 10, 2016
During that period, cans and bottles of the beer will be adorned with U.S. icons such as the Statue of Liberty, phrases from the Pledge of Allegiance and lyrics from “America the Beautiful” and “The Star Spangled Banner.” The change will coincide with the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
#Budweiser Brands “America” on Cans And Bottles for a Patriotic Summer https://t.co/UWEXlMaznQ #ThisBudsForYou pic.twitter.com/TsLI4X5tNn
— Joe Miragliotta (@JoesDaily) May 10, 2016
The marketing effort sent both Budweiser and “America” trending on Twitter in the United States, with social media users reacting in befuddlement and amusement.
America is weak, cheap, and tastes like pee. #budweiserAmerica
— Chuck Wendig (@ChuckWendig) May 10, 2016
#Budweiser has decided its overconfident tastelessness is the perfect icon for American culture. I do not disagree. #BudweiserAmerica
— Alexander Billet (@UbuPamplemousse) May 11, 2016
#budweiserAmerica No beer deserves the name more than a tasteless, watered-down, middle American one that’s desperately clinging to the past
— Hillary (@Hillennial) May 10, 2016
Budweiser is changing their name to “America” and rumor has it, Corona is changing their name to “Screw Your Wall.” #beer #budweiserAmerica
— Jason Nocera (@NicheCartoons) May 10, 2016
Make America great again. Or make it into a can full of semi-filtered rust water and horse sweat. Either way. #budweiserAmerica
— Christopher Lewis (@hoveringgiraffe) May 10, 2016
#Budweiser temporarily changing it’s name to #budweiserAmerica for the summer is very patriotic of Belgium. #Merica
— Ryan Readman (@juster12) May 10, 2016
Nothing more American than a multinational suppressing competition through lobbying and draping itself in the flag. #budweiserAmerica
— M.A. Scott (@YEGBierFrau) May 10, 2016
#Budweiser has changed its name to #America in honor of the election. Because let’s face it,when you think of these choices you wanna drink.
— Jimmy Failla (@jimmyfailla) May 10, 2016
Budweiser is owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev, which is based in Belgium.