It was Shakespeare who wrote the oft-misquoted line, “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown” within the pages of “Henry IV, Part II”.

But when a crown is made of Budweiser beer caps, helps you win $50,000, and delivers you the title of “The King of Buds” in a national fan contest, that crown-wearer is likely to be a bit less uneasy.

Warren resident Paul Castro can attest to this notion, as the 40-year-old construction worker is still happily reveling in the inebriating high from being crowned the winner of Budweiser’s fan contest that ran last October.

“My family is finally proud of me,” Castro joked during a recent interview.

Castro started collecting Budweiser bottle caps back in 2012 with the idea to use them for some sort of creative outlet. Rather than make something boring, like a table as some had suggested, he thought that it might be unique to turn them into a cloak. A tinkering hobbyist, Castro used an awl to punch holes in over 1,000 bottle caps, fastening them together with fishing line.

A bottle cap crown came next, along with a scepter made of beer bottles that can hold (and pour) a beer.

As all kings need protection from errant assassination attempts, Castro thought a suit of chainmail would be appropriate. He painstakingly snipped and strung together can tabs from over 2,000 beer cans to craft it, including an artful flourish to create the Budweiser logo and crown within the center of the armor using the brand’s red tabs to make it stand out prominent.

“Somebody actually stabbed me at a party once. He was dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow,” Castro recalled. “It didn’t penetrate, so I guess it works.”

Now fully immersed in the project, Castro enlisted the help of a welder friend to fasten together some steel for a sword. A Budweiser tap handle he acquired made the perfect hilt for the impressive claymore. He would wear the regalia around to parties and amassed a few thousand dollars from a couple victories in various costume contests.

When Castro saw on his Instagram feed that Budweiser was hosting a fan contest to see who was the most enthusiastic fan, he knew he had a potential winning submission already.

“I can’t walk 10 feet without people wanting to come up and take a picture and I’m like, well I got something here,” he said.

With a beer case castle as his backdrop — crafted from over 7,000 empties — Castro took the photo that would change his life.

The king is crowned
After submitting his photo decked out his meticulously impressive outfit, it took a couple months before Castro learned he actually won. He found out the day before New Year’s Eve. As he was celebrating and walking on air through a beer store in Swansea, his native home, music in the background of a podcast he was listening to spoke the line, “I was made to be a king.”

“It was a real moment of serendipity,” he said. “I get chills just thinking about it.”

As part of his victory package, in addition to the $50,000 cash prize, Castro gets a VIP trip to Milwaukee to tour the Anheuser-Busch factory and a $2,000 travel voucher to set him and a few guests up. He gets a special Clydesdale experience and his photo and plaque hung up in the brewery for a year. Castro said he was more than willing to lend his time and persona to Budweiser whenever they wanted for commercials or other marketing opportunities.

On his 40th birthday a couple weeks ago, his family threw him a Budweiser-themed party. His aunt gifted a shirt with the phrase “The King is 40” emblazoned across the front.

Castro plans to drive out to Milwaukee with his mother, brother and sister some time in the spring, once the prize money comes through. He is already in the process of crafting a kilt to add to the costume.
And although the contest somehow, tragically, did not include any free beer for the winner, Castro said that hasn’t really been an issue.

“Since I’ve been crowned I haven’t paid for a beer in a while,” he said.