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Alberta country music icon Corb Lund publicly singing the praises of Budweiser beer has left a bad aftertaste among the province’s craft beer community.

It’s led to a dispute between the singer-songwriter and producers and devotees of smaller breweries that have been proliferating in the province.

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In response to those questioning Lund’s loyalty to his home province, the musician penned a letter explaining his decision to partner with Budweiser’s Alberta Made promotional campaign, emphasizing the brand’s popularity among local cowboy culture.

“I associate Budweiser with Canadian cowboy and rodeo culture; it’s what a lot of my friends and relatives choose to drink back home and a lot of the Canadian rodeo people I know drink it, too,” he states, adding the company’s been a sponsorship mainstay of the sport for decades.

Lund also said he’s a backer of microbreweries, having “had many hangovers to thank them for.”

But that’s not enough for some in the microbrewing industry and their supporters, said Terry Rock, executive director of the Alberta Small Brewers Association (ASBA).

“Betrayal isn’t the word I’d use, people are confused about it,” said Rock.

“There’s generally some passion among the community, a lot of discussion about the tactics of the multinational brewers.”

There is fear Lund’s sterling reputation has been roped into big beer’s efforts to rebrand itself as Albertan, partly by launching microbreweries of their own to gin up a local appearance, said Rock.

Beer blogger Jason Foster said Lund’s move has left a sour taste in the mouths of many craft brew drinkers.

“Many of his fans are unhappy with why he’s doing this — Corb misunderstands the animosity towards ABInBev,” said Foster, referring to the Belgium-headquartered makers of Budweiser beer.

“Aligning himself with that corporation is hard to swallow.”