Definitely american beer isn't exactly a trading good most countries are interested in. With due respect, I don't think Americans ever understood this beverage.
Though there are some exceptions, I'm inclined to agree - at least where mass-produced beer is concerned. There are still a lot of beers in the US that are good, but most come from the lower-tier of the mainstream or micro-brews (Samuel Adams is one exception of what I consider to be a great American beer).
Understanding is one thing though, but what people are used to is another. What I've found is that most people I know who drink mainstream beers, like Budweiser, never care to experiment with other beers. They grew up drinking whatever it is they did, and for some reason never had an interest in exploring other choices. Most people in my own family fall into this category. Most are Budweiser or Alpine (local) drinkers, and rarely ever give other beers a try. When they do, it's just another lackluster mainstream brand.
I am willing to bet that most people just don't
care what their beer tastes like. They want what's affordable and familiar - hence the reason beers like Budweiser succeed so well (constant promotion might not hurt). I admit, the reason I first started trying out other beers was because of films... I just wondered what else was out there. I first tried Heineken and loved it, then moved onto other imports. After a while, I could never go back to regular beer, and to be honest, I'm at a point where certain mainstream beers, I just cannot drink due to their lack of flavor, or for their poor flavor.
OT: From the few American beers I actually tasted, I can say that I prefer the diswashing water the glasses are cleaned in anytime over the actual "beer"
Haha! Suds one way or another.