I was in Graingers pub recently and saw they had BASS on tap. Years since I had one so I says, giz a pint of that please. Served in it's proper glass with the logo and all,however, I think I ended up with a pint of Taylor Keith red lemonade. No hops at all and no bitterness to balance the sweet pint. It was once a GREAT beer but no more.
Could it be possible that all the super hoppy beers of today have moved your pallet and the recipe hasn't changed that much.
If you had one you would not suggest that.
I had a few pints of bass on cask in Liverpool about a year ago and loved it. Had a pint on cask about a year before that in Bath and it was awful
In summary, I dunno
I used to drink Bass and wherever you went, the first couple of pints weren't great. I think it's because it isn't a big seller and lies in the line. Having said that, I never thought it was a GREAT beer, it was just the best of a bad bunch. When your only other options are Harp, Tennents, Carlsberg or shit Guinness, a pint of Bass doesn't seem too bad.
I do feel a lot more people are craving more flavour these days and the likes of Bass have stood still. Their recipe probably hasn't changed and just seems bland by comparison now.
You may be right, Phildo79. One thing's to never change your original flavor, but to not come up with new stuff makes you vulnerable to market trends.