Anomaly, Jake Scott and Budweiser Clydesdales
The famous Clydesdales of the Budweiser ‘hitch’, are at the core of the brand’s affinity for millions of horse-lovers across the world.
Owing to their imposing size, gracefulness, calm disposition, gentle-heartedness, remarkable intelligence, and ‘feathers’ around their hooves, Clydesdale are the most recognisable equine breed in the world.
Budweiser Brewery’s breeding program in the United States however, has created the erroneous impression that Clydesdales are an American equine breed whereas, as the name suggests, their origin is actually Scottish.
In the middle 18th century they were used for pulling heavy farm equipment in the Clydesdale region of Scotland, now known as Lanarkshire. But apart from being Draught (or Draft) horses they also served as highly prized war horses and are still used today as ‘Drum Horses’ by the British Royal Household Cavalry.
The End of Prohibition
The 1933 repeal of the prohibition on the production and sale of alcoholic drinks in the United States happened on the 7th of April.
To celebrate the lifting of the ban a coach drawn by a ‘hitch’ of eight Clydesdales, proceeded to transport the first case of post-prohibition Budweiser beer in a special journey from the Anheuser-Busch brewery to Pestalozzi Street in St. Louis.
The sight of the celebratory event’s majestic clydesdales made an indelible public impression that became an integral part of Budweiser’s brand persona and identity that continues to this day.
Advertising Agency: Anomaly, New York, USA
The live coverage of the American Super Bowl Football Championships attracts an annual TV audience of all ages in excess of 100 million, and viewer expectations of family entertainment commercials, with rewarding stories, are at an all time high.
Budweiser has a noteworthy record of living up to viewer expectations. Their 2012 Super Bowl commercial, by supremo storytelling filmmaker Jake Scott, recalled the historic end of prohibition to popular acclaim.
Advertising Agency: Anomaly, New York, USA
Budweiser’s Clydesdale ‘Brotherhood’ was the most popular commercial aired during the 2013 Super Bowl.
The story about the special bond between trainer and horse, achieved 5.5 million views, and over 1.5 million people sharing it, making it the most shared Super Bowl commercial of all time overtaking VW’s ‘The Force’.
Advertising Agency: Anomaly, New York, USA
Traditionally a ‘coach dog’ proudly accompanies the Hitch Drivers. Close ties develop between the dogs and Clydesdales and ‘Puppy Love’ is a story about one such special relationship, that was the most shared Super Bowl commercial of 2014, receiving over 56 million views.
Within 24 hours of being released online, a further 17 million views were activated.
The soundtrack features “Let Her Go” by English singer-songwriter, and musician, Michael David Rosenberg, known as ‘Passenger’.
Advertising Agency: Anomaly, New York, USA
Budweiser’s 2015 Super Bowl commercial ‘Lost Dog’ was a sequel to the hugely popular ‘Puppy Love’ and features a great soundtrack of an acoustic version of “I’m Gonna Be 500 Miles” by ‘Sleeping At Last’ singer/ songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, Ryan O’Neal from Wheaton, Illinois.
Once again Budweiser won the love of viewers who voted ‘Lost Dog’ the best 2015 Super Bowl commercial and according to iSpot’s tracking analysis of online commercials, was viewed 17.8 million times.