Budweiser Derangement Syndrome is a real problem for the 139-year-old brewer. Despite being a perfectly serviceable mid-priced beer (perfect for hot summer days, sporting events, and when one is too full to stomach an otherwise excellent Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA), it’s pilloried across the Internet by bien pensant blogger types. (Here’s a representative and foul-mouthed example.)

Bud’s declining reputation has taken a toll; the lager, which long enjoyed the highest sales of all beers in the United States, has fallen to third place. And indeed, Bud hasn’t only lost whatever cool cachet it once had–it’s also a victim of current economic conditions. It’s neither cheap enough to appeal to America’s downwardly mobile, nor pricey enough for the Silicon Valley/Wall Street/lobbyist set. (A similar problem afflicts other mid-priced products and retailers–think Sears, JC Penney, and the Olive Garden.)