Retail

People are slamming Budweiser's super defensive ad that mocks craft beer

Read in app

The rising popularity of craft beer is hurting Budweiser's business, and the company took a stab at its competition in a Super Bowl ad. 

The company says Budweiser isn't brewed to be "fussed over" and suggests it is a superior product to craft brews. 

Finally, it pokes fun at "Pumpkin Peach Ale."

Budweiser's jab at craft brews attracted criticism on social media.

Budweiser also has a web ad with a similar sentiment. That ad shows a man selecting craft beer over Budweiser, disappointing a Clydesdale horse. The man is eventually bullied into buying some Budweiser.

Budweiser is quickly losing its status as the most iconic beer brand in America. 

A recent company study found that 44% of drinkers aged 21 to 27 have never tried the brand, reports Tripp Mickle at The Wall Street Journal.

Budweiser is the third-most-popular beer brand in America, behind Bud Light and Coors Light. It has recently also been challenged by craft beer, which is hugely popular with the millennial set. 

At the brand's peak in 1988, it was selling 50 million barrels of beer a year. That number has declined to 16 million barrels. 

Read next

Ashley Lutz was Business Insider's creative director. Ashley joined BI as a retail reporter in 2012. Her work led to Abercrombie adding plus sizes and Lululemon changing its policy of banning customers who tried to resell clothing online. She was previously a retail reporter at Bloomberg News. Ashley has a Bachelor's of Science degree from Ohio University. Follow her on Twitter @AshleyLutz.