It's not enough the un-annointed experts are insufferable about beer, must they double-down and be insufferable about food, too?
Nevertheless, the distinctiveness of a beer paired with the distinctiveness of a particular food does in fact have some merit. Beer goes great with food. But for the majority of drinkers, those food choices are most likely to be a slice of pizza or a burger. And for Budweiser, that simple insight spelled opportunity. See for yourself...
The best part? The sharp elbow for the crafties that removes a beer-snifter glass ("goblet" to the cognoscenti) bearing very dark-colored, implicitly heavy-tasting beer, and replaces it with a refreshing-looking, tall glass emblazoned with the Budweiser logo. This is a compelling visual statement of competitive distinctiveness, and it's based on fact. Budweiser's lighter-than-craft-beer taste actually is a better companion for a burger, an assertion most beer drinkers would endorse and accept.
Distinctiveness, the basis of Budweier's "brewed the hard way" strategy, is cleverly brought to life... with a burger on the side.
Anything missing?
As we've noted before, Budweiser could gain some traction for their distinctiveness effort by better defining the beer's taste-experience in a way that's true to the beer, desirable, and different from craft beers. We offered one idea. There are certainly others. But regardless, distinctiveness is the underlying driver for Budweiser, and they're doing a good job of it.
Including this tasty effort.