"... best among the mass-produced American beers."

Umm.... sorta depends on your criteria for "mass produced". There are any number of 'basic' beers (mostly lagers) which I'd pick over Bud... if I was forced to pick.

I remember Johnny Collins, when he was here was here many years ago with Jim Mageean, explaining that in the US (east coast) they usually picked Iron City, because "at least it tastes like something!"

I have not tasted Bud for about 30+ years, when one of my wife's relatives offered me a can..... I drank about a third of it and managed to pour the rest in a potted plant.

As to the "America" cans, I would be very sad to see such a connection being made.... and I'd hope they would have the same success as "New Coke".