Lite versus Light: corn syrup dispute bubbles over

After jousting with Game of Thrones’ episode The Mountain in its Bud Knight Super Bowl ad, Bud Light now finds itself in a tussle with competitor Miller Lite.

As part of its Super Bowl strategy, Bud Light placed an ad featuring a cast of Medieval misfits into each quarter of the Big Game. Emphasizing Miller Lite’s use of corn syrup, Bud Light intended for the spots to start conversations.

According to AgencySpy, Miller Lite responded with a full-page The New York Times ad by agency of record DDB Chicago.

“We want consumers to know the facts about why and how Miller Lite uses corn syrup in the brewing process,” a MillerCoors spokesperson said, explaining the brand chose The New York Times for its reach and the size of its audience. “We want readers to know we are proud of our beers and proud of the ingredients we use in those beers. Corn syrup cleanly and efficiently converts to alcohol during fermentation and has a neutral taste. It isn’t added after brewing nor does it appear in the finished beer.”

ALSO READ: The Best and Worst of Super Bowl LIII commercials

 
 
Twitter Offensive
Miller Lite also has realized that the pen (or keypad) is mightier than a Bud Knight’s sword by trolling Bud Light on Twitter:
 

 
 
Blog Retaliation
On a Miller Lite Blog, written by MillerCoors Communications Manager Peter Frost, the brand pondered why Bud Light launched the “low-performing” Super Bowl spots:

“Bud Light VP Andy Goeler told Ad Age’s E.J. Schultz Sunday that the brand aimed to bring “ingredient transparency” to the industry and elevate the standards. “As the lead brand in the industry this is something that’s good for beer. It’s good for us, the lead brand, to make a bold move like this.”

What Goeler didn’t tell Schultz was that a number of Anheuser-Busch products also use corn syrup. And on top of that, some of them use high-fructose corn syrup, which nutritionists have called “Public Health Enemy No. 1.” No MillerCoors product uses high-fructose corn syrup.

MillerCoors CEO Gavin Hattersley has his own suspicions on Bud Light’s motive.

“Bud Light is starting this fight for one simple reason. They are scared. Coors Light and Miller Lite are making inroads and Bud Light doesn’t have an answer. We’re getting under the competition’s skin, and we’re ready to take more of their market share too,” he said in a Sunday note to distributors.”

 
 
Civilian Engagement
Twitter users have also jumped into the “brewing” war:

 
 
Cycle of Vendettas
In response to Miller Lite’s full-page ad, a Bud Light launched their own Twitter trolling:

Bud Light has also made an enemy of the Corn Farmers. But they’re not showing up with pitchforks. They too are trolling on Twitter:

 
Who will win this? Not sure. But, Bud Light may need a dragon or frozen zombies to stop Miller Lite and the Corn industry from going all “Killy, Killy” on them.

Source: NY Times