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You Call That Beer?
The biggest
disappointment from President Obama's "beer
summit" with Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates and Cambridge
police Sgt. James Crowley yesterday was the beer
selection:
The four drank out of beer mugs. Mr. Obama had a Bud Lite, Sergeant Crowley had Blue Moon, Professor Gates drank Sam Adams Light and Mr. Biden, who does not drink, had a Buckler nonalcoholic beer. (Mr. Biden put a lime slice in his beer. Sergeant Crowley, for his part, kept with Blue Moon tradition and had a slice of orange in his drink.)
Without getting into the merits of citrus fruit in wheat beer (I happen to like it), Crowley seems to have the best taste. While there are many better Belgian-style ales made in the U.S. (in particular, those produced by Ommegang Brewery in Cooperstown, New York, and New Belgium in Fort Collins, Colorado), the Coors-produced Blue Moon is a decent choice (though New York Times food critic Eric Asimov jokingly chides Crowley for not thinking through the implications of drinking a "white" ale). But look at the other selections: two lights and a nonalcoholic "beer." A regular Sam Adams lager (or one of the company's ales) would have been a good hometown choice for Gates, but I've never understood the urge to water down beer. Instead of having two crappy ones, why not just one good one? It sounds like there was only one round at this little get-together anyway.
As for Obama's selection of Bud Light, this has to rank as one of his worst decisions since taking office, somewhere between the stimulus package and the auto industry bailout. Regular Budweiser is bad enough. When you have a beer that already tastes like water, why would you add more water to it? And the less said about Biden and his Buckler, the better. In yet another example of the blatant misrepresentations for which the Times is notorious, Asimov erroneously reports that "Joe Biden, who joined the other three, enjoyed a nonalcoholic brew called Buckler."
The sad thing is that three out of four men, given their pick of the world's beers, chose three of the same bland style. Gates reportedly was considering Jamaica's Red Stripe, which sounds a little more exotic but tastes pretty much the same as the major American lagers. Given the wide variety of excellent beers in myriad styles produced in the United States today, even jingoism is no excuse for the pitiful selection displayed at the White House.
This is a good time to revisit Jay R. Brooks' 2006 Reason article on the "long tail" phenomenon in the American beer industry.
|7.31.09 @ 11:38AM|#
I don't get the media attention this is getting, especially the
beer selection. I don't mean here--blogging on something like this
is entertaining and allows the beer-obsessed commenters to ramble
on for 350 comments or more on their preferred brews--but in the
major news media. Pathetic.
Blue Moon is okay for what it is. I've had it over at Harry's (the
New Orleans' style restaurant chain) a couple of times. Too bad
someone didn't show up with some homebrew.
Interesting that Obama opted for the foreign beer, hmm?
<strike>Strike through</strike|7.31.09 @ 11:39AM|#
Nobody on the White House Genius Staff could figure out how to put four different beers on one tray. Each was served separately. As symbolism goes, it doesn't get much better than that.
PantsFan getting pants down dr|7.31.09 @ 11:39AM|#
Hands down the best wheat beer on the planet is Erdinger.
qwerty|7.31.09 @ 11:42AM|#
I've never understood the urge to water down beer. Instead
of having two crappy ones, why not just one good one?
I totally agree. The same goes for "low calorie desserts". Obama
was clearly trying for the NASCAR vote. He probably hadn't had a
beer in 20 years. He picked a light so it would have as little
effect as possible. Why couldn't Biden just have a Coke?
Tomcat1066|7.31.09 @ 11:46AM|#
First of all, saying Red Stripe tastes anything like American lagers is an insult to all American beer...and that's saying something since there's only a handful of US made beers I'll even drink. If beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy, Red Stripe is proof that he can also be an mean, vindicitive creator with no sense of humor about coming onto his sister at a party.
Bo Darville|7.31.09 @ 11:46AM|#
How much you want to be Obama focus grouped the choice of Bud Light?
Mike M.|7.31.09 @ 11:48AM|#
I'm not sure what was more absurd: the "event" itself, possibly the most mindless, vapid photo-op in the history of the White House, or the media treatment of the whole thing.
WWJGD|7.31.09 @ 11:49AM|#
Goddamn pansies. I'd show up with a stein of 3 Floyd's Darklord
or, even worse, Samichluas. Beer so thick and and hearty it puts
hairs on your balls and the French surrender.
You can't end racism by sipping on piss water.
|7.31.09 @ 11:49AM|#
I can't tell you how glad I am to see others lambasting him on
this. This was populist, pure and simple, and honestly pretty darn
disgusting when you think about what he is drinking when he can
have anything he wants.
Does anyone find it hypocritical that the Obama's have an Organic
garden, Michelle touts local food, etc...and then Barak goes and
drinks a mass produced bottle of urine.
|7.31.09 @ 11:50AM|#
Biden isn't a real american. ..And Bud light?!?!?! I could just
pissed in his mug and but for the temperature, he wouldn't have
noticed the difference.
The best beer is Corona or any German Pilsner. All you beer snobs
can bite by ass.
Xeones|7.31.09 @ 11:50AM|#
Yo, fuck Bud Light. If i had an ounce of respect for Obama, it
would've evaporated upon that revelation.
The insipidity of his beer choice is matched by that of his
presidency.
WWJGD|7.31.09 @ 11:51AM|#
Hands down the best wheat beer on the planet is Erdinger.
Having tried it, I'm going to disagree and nominate Flying Dog
In-Heat Wheat.
|7.31.09 @ 11:51AM|#
If I ever have a beer in the White House, I will order something obscure enough to set off an international incident.
Fred|7.31.09 @ 11:54AM|#
I'm with Peter -- I think Obama should have had the Beast (Milwaukee's Best, for those of you with boujie tastes).
Peter|7.31.09 @ 11:54AM|#
I would have pegged Biden for an XX kinda guy, I heard he can speak French in Russian.
|7.31.09 @ 11:55AM|#
If you're going for an American wheat, Ommegang Witte is
fantastic.
I do like the Flying Dog and the Erdinger as well, but I think the
Erdinger Dunkel-Weisse is far superior to their "white" Weisse.
Xeones|7.31.09 @ 11:55AM|#
Hands down the best wheat beer on the planet is
Erdinger.
Having tried it, I'm going to disagree and nominate Flying Dog
In-Heat Wheat.
No love for
doppelbock? If the jackholes around that table had all been
drinking Aventinus from the beginning, not a one of 'em would give
a fuck about racism.
That said, i do enjoy Blue Moon on occasion.
WWJGD|7.31.09 @ 11:55AM|#
The best beer is Corona or any German Pilsner. All you beer snobs can bite by ass.
If I wanted the taste of ass, I'd stick with tequila. Which oddly
enough is used in the making of Corona.
Many don't know that Corona uses a unique brewing process. First,
small quantities of tequila are inserted into the patented Corona
Brewing and Filtration System (a middle aged Mexican man,
documented...don't worry, LW) alongside several glasses of water.
After a few hours, the CBFS will output fresh but warm Corona into
convenient bottle format where it can be chilled and sent to the
discerning public.
Russ 2000|7.31.09 @ 11:56AM|#
but I've never understood the urge to water down
beer.
Most light beers aren't "watered down" (MGD 64 is an exception)
it's lighter malt. (I'm oversimplifying to keep from writing a
manifesto.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Owades
Tim|7.31.09 @ 11:56AM|#
As long as he was going to have a 'Belgian' beer (Bud), why not choose a real Belgian beer, like Chimay Blue?
|7.31.09 @ 11:57AM|#
I'm hardly one to complain about drinking mass-produced
carbonated water American beers. I love me some Miller High Life
(the Champagne of Beers). Hell, on cheap beer night I can pound
Hamms and Iron City with the best of them.
But Budweiser is just foul and Bud Light even worse. It's like
making beer out of things you don't actually make beer with.
|7.31.09 @ 11:57AM|#
Erdinger Dunkelweissen wins.
I'm disappointed none of them had the balls to select Arrogant
Bastard.
Xeones|7.31.09 @ 11:57AM|#
Although, for my money, Wittekerke beats Blue Moon any day. And Ommegang makes fantastic beers.
Tomcat1066|7.31.09 @ 11:57AM|#
If I ever have a beer in the White House, I will order
something obscure enough to set off an international
incident.
OK, now this is something I have to see. Anyone out there who can
hook up SugarFree with an invite to have a beer at the White House?
That would be 100% win in my books.
It's worth noting that I have no doubt that he can actually
cause an international incident with his beer choice
either!
|7.31.09 @ 11:57AM|#
My favorite wheat beer is definitely König Ludwig Weiss. I
highly recommend it.
If Obama has an incident involving me and invites me to a beer
summit, the beer I'm ordering is a Maker's Mark and Coke. Or maybe
a shot of Porfidio Single-Barrel Añejo.
Just out of curiosity, did the Nazis have a favorite beer? That
would've been a funny--and creepy--choice for any of the
Summiteers™.
WWJGD|7.31.09 @ 11:57AM|#
Aventius has never impressed me. Good, but not great, imo.
I think a bottle of Delirium would've been a good choice.
Definitely a fitting title.
|7.31.09 @ 11:58AM|#
Xeones,
Have you tried Schneider's other offerings (other than Aventius?)
Their Weisse is delicious.
Kevin|7.31.09 @ 11:58AM|#
I'm with SugarFree on this. I'm thinking a Xingu, or maybe a Dos Equis Amber so I could imitate that guy in the commercial. (I don't always visit the White House, but when I do, I prefer Dos Equis).
|7.31.09 @ 12:01PM|#
I'd figured there was a 50-50 chance Mickey's Big Mouth or Colt 45 would have made an appearance. Shut my mouf!
Russ 2000|7.31.09 @ 12:02PM|#
Why couldn't Biden just have a Coke?
There's lots of good root beers around, too.
|7.31.09 @ 12:04PM|#
They should have each had to drink a bottle of Chamay Reserve. That would have losened up the conversation.
|7.31.09 @ 12:04PM|#
Old Nick Barley Wine is the best. It's even better than Corona!
;) You beer proles can bite my...
Xeones|7.31.09 @ 12:05PM|#
Have you tried Schneider's other offerings (other than
Aventius?) Their Weisse is delicious.
Not yet -- Aventinus is, as far as i know, the only Schneiderbrau
at my usual spots, but i'll have to check Total Wine. I have yet to
be led astray by beer suggestions gleaned from this board.
|7.31.09 @ 12:05PM|#
I take back the Chamay suggestion. John David has it perfect. Obama and Gates should have put back a Colt 45 and Crowley should have put back a mickey's bigmouth. It would have been perfect.
Bob|7.31.09 @ 12:05PM|#
Level of discourse America needs
...
Level of discourse most Americans are capable of
...
Crying small children
...
Pigs biting each other and squealing
...
...
Serial flatulent noises
Mainstream news
Zeb|7.31.09 @ 12:07PM|#
I'm a Hoegaarden man myself (and that is "who-garden" not "hoe-garden") when it comes to white beers. It is one of the best beers for drinking a lot of.
|7.31.09 @ 12:07PM|#
"Just out of curiosity, did the Nazis have a favorite beer? That
would've been a funny--and creepy--choice for any of the
Summiteers™."
Hitler was an Austrian who spent his early political career in
Munich. He gave one of his first politcal speeches at the Hofbrau
House. So if there is a favorite Nazi beer, my guess it would be
Lowenbrau, which when drank in Munich is the elixer of life.
Xeones|7.31.09 @ 12:07PM|#
bigbigslacker, i've been skinnydipping in the ocean only one
time in my life, and barley wine played a key role.
After the dark stuff ran out, we switched to MGD, which tasted
EXACTLY like water that had had pennies soaking in it for a couple
days. The next morning was pretty rough.
Urkobold™|7.31.09 @ 12:08PM|#
THE URKOBOLD WOULD'VE HAVE ORDERED A KEG OF HACKER-PSCHORR SERVED FROM THE BOSOM OF THIS WOMAN.
|7.31.09 @ 12:09PM|#
Zeb,
It is light, but the switch to the non-Belgian brewing facilities
has resulted in a thinner, almost flat product that I both really
care for.
Mad Max|7.31.09 @ 12:11PM|#
'If beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be
happy'
In case you're interested, this quote is often attributed to
Benjamin Franklin, but in fact he made his remark about wine, not
beer.
Here is a
discussion of the issue.
Here is some of what Franklin said in a letter to André
Morellet:
'We hear of the conversion of water into wine at the marriage in
Cana as of a miracle. But this conversion is, through the goodness
of God, made every day before our eyes. Behold the rain which
descends from heaven upon our vineyards; there it enters the roots
of the vines, to be changed into wine; a constant proof that God
loves us, and loves to see us happy. The miracle in question was
only performed to hasten the operation, under circumstances of
present necessity, which required it.'
(Nor is this the only fundamentalist quote from Franklin; the epitaph he
suggested for himself (though they didn't follow his
suggestion):
was 'The Body of B. Franklin Printer; Like the Cover of an old
Book, Its Contents torn out, And stript of its Lettering and
Gilding, Lies here, Food for Worms. But the Work shall not be
wholly lost: For it will, as he believ'd, appear once more, In a
new & more perfect Edition, Corrected and Amended By the
Author.')
|7.31.09 @ 12:11PM|#
The best beer is Corona or any German Pilsner. All you beer snobs can bite by ass.
If I'm going to drink a Mexican pilsener it'll be Modelo Especial.
Or Dos Equis, or Bohemia or Tecate.
Anything but Corona. Might as well be drinking Bud. I might be
wrong, but i think the problem with a lot of North and Central
American beers is the use of corn. I just find them to sweet with a
shitty aftertaste.
Negra Modelo is a great Dark Beer, by the way.
|7.31.09 @ 12:12PM|#
my guess it would be Lowenbrau, which when drank in Munich
is the elixer of life
The first beer I ever had was a Lowenbrau.
As for the prole/snob debate, I follow the advice of my
father:
Life's too short to drink shitty beer.
|7.31.09 @ 12:13PM|#
"If I'm going to drink a Mexican pilsener it'll be Modelo
Especial. Or Dos Equis, or Bohemia or Tecate."
I don't always drink always drink beer. But when I do, I prefer Dos
Equis.
And German and Czech Pilsners are some of the best beer in the
world. Anyone who doesn't admit that, is not a beer snob.
threeofclubs|7.31.09 @ 12:15PM|#
i have read that hitler hardly drank alcohol.
I think stolen french wine was their most popular drink.
Mad Max|7.31.09 @ 12:15PM|#
By the way, excellent idea to associate beer with political
reconciliation and racial healing.
What is the world's most famous beer-drinking nation? Is that
nation not famous for its history of peacefulness and racial
reconciliation?
|7.31.09 @ 12:16PM|#
I remember the first time I went to Munich and drank the beer there. It changed my entire perspective on beer drinking and life. The Hofbrau house is a tourist trap. But the wonderful Lowenbrau beer they have there can be enjoyed all over the city. There is another beer hall in the old town of Munich called the St. Augustiner, which is much less touristy than the Hofbrau House. And it has just as good a beer and great food. If they had a place like that where I lived, I would be there most nights of the week and probably die of liver failure before I turned 50.
& me too|7.31.09 @ 12:20PM|#
I predict that by nightfall, every beer that every libertarian has ever drunk will have been named here. Me? I just landed a sweet shipment of Genny Cream Ale! Suck on that, elitists!
|7.31.09 @ 12:21PM|#
Carolyn Smagalski writes on Foxnews that some have suggested that Gates should have chosen Stone Brewing's Arrogant Bastard Ale.
Steven |7.31.09 @ 12:21PM|#
I just came here to say that Fat Tire, made by New Belgium, is the most overrated beer in the world.
|7.31.09 @ 12:22PM|#
Hands down the best wheat beer on the planet is
Erdinger.
I go with Paulaner Hefe-weizen. Although the In-Heat Wheat is in
the running. I'll keep an eye out for the Erdinger.
I like Pro L's idea of sitting down with a bottle of Tequila and
some shot glasses, and daring the other guys at the table to puss
out.
Can you imagine the expression on Michelle's face if barack came
cruising into the First Boudoir all tequilaed up?
Mad Max|7.31.09 @ 12:23PM|#
Hitler may have abstained from alcohol, but he first drew public
attention through his participation in a 1923 *putch* (attempted
coup) in Bavaria. That's what put him in prison and gave him time
to write *Mein Kampf.*
What do you think the *putch* was called? The Beer Hall Putch,
that's what. Want to guess why? Because it was staged in a beer
hall.
|7.31.09 @ 12:24PM|#
What about Hofbrau beer? Wouldn't that be the official beer of
the Nazis?
I know that Hitler didn't drink, but plenty of other Nazis did.
|7.31.09 @ 12:24PM|#
R C Dean,
I don't know about the availability in your state, but I've been
getting 5-liter Paulander Hefeweisen mini-kegs around here.
MNG|7.31.09 @ 12:25PM|#
Often if I don't give a shit about getting drunk or enjoying myself I will just select some mass-drink such as Bud-lite, Coors-lite (yuk), MGD, or what have you. "Having a beer" with some people is like "having coffee" with people, a bullshit social thing that has nothing to do with the beauty of either drink.
|7.31.09 @ 12:25PM|#
John, My beer tastes run to German and Czech Pilsners too. And i
find the Mex brews I named do a good job of that style.
I'm sure that's what most of the big American brewers were aiming
for, but I'm afraid the use of rice and corn just don't make for a
good finish.
Maybe that's just me though.
Incidentally I've always understood hitler didn't smoke, drank
alcohol or eat meat. I'm always leary of peole like that. :)
Confession: my "utility" or "lawnmower" beer is Natty Lite (Neutral
Lite?). :(
It's a Lite but it beats every other one to my taste. Especially
any Euro lite (Becks lite is just fucking awful).
|7.31.09 @ 12:26PM|#
Add capitalization and fill in the missing leters in my last post as the spirit moves thee. :)
Xeones|7.31.09 @ 12:27PM|#
Me? I just landed a sweet shipment of Genny Cream Ale! Suck
on that, elitists!
Snark all you want, Genesee Cream Ale will always have a place in
my heart (and in my fridge, and in my liver). Especially as long as
Farm Fresh keeps stocking it for less than $6.
ev|7.31.09 @ 12:27PM|#
Best beer ever: Rothaus. It's brewed in southwest Germany
(somewhere) where I lived for a time. I can't even express how bad
I want to order a case of it. When I get some money it'll be the
first thing I do.
It's...dark but not NOT light. It's flavorful but not syrupy. It's
my favorite thing in the world, and that should tell you how fucked
my life is.
|7.31.09 @ 12:29PM|#
Bud Lite is what you drink if you have no other option. He lives at the freakin white house, he has options. All these cheap burgers and pisswater beer illustrate an aspect of Obama's personality that I don't like: he's far too cautious when it comes to the possibility of pissing off Bubba Six Pack.
Xeones|7.31.09 @ 12:29PM|#
I like Pro L's idea of sitting down with a bottle of Tequila
and some shot glasses, and daring the other guys at the table to
puss out.
Can you imagine the expression on Michelle's face if barack came
cruising into the First Boudoir all tequilaed up?
Topical
Warty|7.31.09 @ 12:31PM|#
I like Pro L's idea of sitting down with a bottle of Tequila
and some shot glasses, and daring the other guys at the table to
puss out.
Can you imagine the expression on Michelle's face if barack came
cruising into the First Boudoir all tequilaed up?
Topicaler
Steve Horwitz|7.31.09 @ 12:31PM|#
Q: Why is American beer like making love in a canoe?
A: Because it's fucking close to water.
|7.31.09 @ 12:33PM|#
I'm kinda surprised that Biden didn't sit there with a Strawberry Daquiri with a little umbrella. Just seems like the thing a clueless douche would do, you know?
|7.31.09 @ 12:33PM|#
Steve,
That's pre-microbeer revolution. I don't think that can be said as
a general rule anymore, especially with Bud becoming Belgian.
Unless it's a general shot at lagers.
Xeones|7.31.09 @ 12:34PM|#
Shut the fuck up, Warty.
All these cheap burgers and pisswater beer illustrate an aspect
of Obama's personality that I don't like: he's far too cautious
when it comes to the possibility of pissing off Bubba Six
Pack.
Friends, we play around with elitism, but look ye upon the real
deal.
|7.31.09 @ 12:34PM|#
"...Jamaica's Red Stripe... tastes pretty much the same as the
major American lagers."
Um, not really. It tastes more like German mass-produced lagers
like Heineken or Beck's. Try one sometime.
Also, Fat Tire isn't overrated if it's served from a tap,
especially at the actual brewery (although New Belgium makes some
far better beers). Bottled Fat Tire is a waste of money, especially
outside of Colorado.
My pick of the week is Clipper City Brewery's "Holy Sheet" Über
Abbey Ale. If "Belgian Strong Dark Ale" doesn't sound good to you,
Obama has a five-pack of Bud Light you might be interested in.
|7.31.09 @ 12:35PM|#
X, nice comic:}
Tequila never made me wanna fight as it does with some people, but
if I'm tequila drunk, and you have somethin real stupid you wanna
do? Hellfire yes! I'm in!
J.P.|7.31.09 @ 12:36PM|#
the best part is that budweiser is like gold in many places
overseas. when i lived in japan, it was all the rage in my town. we
americans used to sit there, quite perplexed while drinking our
asahi "supah du-ry." of course, i'm sure the japs looked us like we
were crazy for drinking their domestic beer.
i'd personally take a bud or miller light over any micro-brew. if
bud tastes like piss (which i can agree with), the micro-brews
taste like feces.
|7.31.09 @ 12:37PM|#
Confession: my "utility" or "lawnmower" beer is Natty Lite
(Neutral Lite?). :(
It's a Lite but it beats every other one to my taste. Especially
any Euro lite (Becks lite is just fucking awful).
I completely agree. Natty Lite is the best tasting lite beer on the
market. Modelo Light is pretty good too.
|7.31.09 @ 12:37PM|#
Vodka says "Communist."
You know what would've been funny? If Obama had brought out some
coke and started snorting it. "Oh, sorry, dude--want some?"
Beery Beer McStien|7.31.09 @ 12:39PM|#
Surly Brewing Makes fantastic beers:
Furious, Bender, Darkness or my choice for this summit:
Cynic.
www.surlybrewing.com
|7.31.09 @ 12:39PM|#
bigbigslacker, i've been skinnydipping in the ocean only one
time in my life, and barley wine played a key role.
After the dark stuff ran out, we switched to MGD, which tasted
EXACTLY like water that had had pennies soaking in it for a couple
days. The next morning was pretty rough.
I used to have homebrew on tap at home. Two 5 gallon soda kegs
available all day every day. When you have barley wine on tap, that
makes for some fun times. Now I'm craving that warm feeling you get
right after downing a pint. Forget the wife, I want to come home to
a glass of barley wine. (she doesn't read this forum - or much of
anything in English)
For the non-brewers - barley wine has about double the malted
barley as a normal very heavy beer, and has to be fermented with
wine yeast since beer yeast goes inactive at high alcohols. And it
good....
|7.31.09 @ 12:39PM|#
If having taste means you're an elitist, fine, I'd rather be that than the person who would morally condemn someone for merely saying the word "arugula."
PantsedandDrunk|7.31.09 @ 12:40PM|#
Achewood needs a topic search, then it will blow away xkcd for
apt comic references.
It's way funnier.
Also, I enjoy Paulaner from time to time, but to me it has a
strange aftertatste
|7.31.09 @ 12:43PM|#
I think we can all agree--libertarians, liberals, conservatives, fascists, communists, etc.--that Obama has diminished himself by his beer order. I expect this will be remembered in history as the incident that brought down his administration.
Brian Lockwood|7.31.09 @ 12:43PM|#
"A regular Sam Adams lager (or one of the company's ales) would
have been a good hometown choice for Gates, but I've never
understood the urge to water down beer."
Sam Light has something like 170 calories. It is a light beer only
when compared to regular Sam Adams which is around 250
calories.
MNG|7.31.09 @ 12:43PM|#
"Bud Lite is what you drink if you have no other option"
Or you just don't care. It's amazing to me that his handlers didn't
suggest something different. Maybe they were worried about playing
into the whole "elitist" meme...
Xeones|7.31.09 @ 12:44PM|#
Tony, Tony, Tony. This place just wouldn't be the same without
your ridiculous dualism.
Pantsed, Achewood has a dialogue search that is at least as
useful.
Xeones|7.31.09 @ 12:45PM|#
Light beer is a way to say "I am unhappy with
myself."
AWESOME. MNG, mind if i steal that quote forever?
MNG|7.31.09 @ 12:46PM|#
I'm always confused by who would drink "beer" at all, if liquor
is available, unless you have to go work or a family function
immediately after-wards.
Hey, i like blow jobs but dry humping is even better!
|7.31.09 @ 12:47PM|#
You know, why not buy a good beer and pour some water in it, if you simply must reduce the calories?
Mike Laursen|7.31.09 @ 12:48PM|#
The mugs are the key to understanding the true story. It allowed Obama to say that he was drinking Bud.
|7.31.09 @ 12:49PM|#
Hey, that's right, Mike, when did we start trusting Obama? He
lied, man.
So, then, what was he really drinking?
T|7.31.09 @ 12:49PM|#
If I was the president, I'd have a keg of Asahi Black in my house. And a keg of Bass. But I'm not, so I'm drinking a lot of Shiner Black.
highnumber|7.31.09 @ 12:54PM|#
I agree that, as a Chicagoan, he should have had an Old Style.
(It's fully krausened once again!)
Clearly he is trying to distance himself from Chicago.
|7.31.09 @ 12:54PM|#
I could live without beer(haven't had a drink in about a year and a half) if I could keep on hand a pound or two of that 40 dollar commercial columbian that was plentiful long ago. Maybe a bit of Thunderfuck for special occasions.
moman|7.31.09 @ 12:55PM|#
California's own Arrogant Bastard Ale would have been the best choice for that wank fest.
Mike Laursen|7.31.09 @ 12:56PM|#
So, then, what was he really drinking?
Tsingtao.
Hey, if I'm going to start a rumor that he faked his beer, I might
as well make sure the rumor paints him as a Chinese lackey. Maybe,
as a treat for Lonewacko, we can also throw in a rumor that Biden
was drinking Negra Modelo.
|7.31.09 @ 12:57PM|#
Jesus, people. I suggested Arrogant Bastard an hour and many,
many posts ago.
Quit stealing my brainwaves!
|7.31.09 @ 12:59PM|#
MNG,
I drink beer for the same reason I drink wine or scotch. To
appreciate variety and complexity and stuff. That's a completely
different activity than getting drunk, which for me usually
consists of filling a big glass half with 100 proof vodka and half
with OJ or diet coke.
T|7.31.09 @ 1:00PM|#
He doesn't drink.
He appears to operate sober the way many of us do drunk, so it all
works out. I'd have to be hammered to make some of the statements
he's made.
|7.31.09 @ 1:02PM|#
Bud light, though, is useless to me. By the time I have enough to get even slightly buzzed I already have a headache and I'm too bloated to move.
|7.31.09 @ 1:02PM|#
and then Barak goes and drinks a mass produced bottle of
urine.
But it's really great urine, Mrs. Preske.
|7.31.09 @ 1:03PM|#
Vodka and Diet Coke?
I used to think you were just deluded, but now I know you are
dangerously insane.
robc|7.31.09 @ 1:03PM|#
Hands down the best wheat beer on the planet is
Erdinger.
Weinhenstephaner Hefeweissbier.
Or my homebrew hefe.
Not that there is anything wrong with Erdinger.
|7.31.09 @ 1:05PM|#
Oh but I live in oklahoma where bud light is 3 point. Talk about pisswater. The yokels will still look at you funny if you drink anything else though. Never understood that. Guess it's patriotic to be a lightweight. For good measure after a 6 pack it helps to beat up your wife.
robc|7.31.09 @ 1:05PM|#
SugarFree,
If you're going for an American wheat, Ommegang Witte is
fantastic.
jargon issue: "American Wheat" is a style not a description.
Ommegang Witte is a belgian wit, even though it is made in NY.
|7.31.09 @ 1:05PM|#
Golfer
2 oz. vodka
6 oz. orange juice
Twist of lemon
Twist of lime
Splash of club soda
(7UP or Sprite may be substituted for the lemon, lime, and club
soda by the lazy.)
|7.31.09 @ 1:06PM|#
Had a pint of Fuller ESB to mark the occasion. That's a delicious pint, but you have to stop at one.
T|7.31.09 @ 1:06PM|#
Bud light, though, is useless to
me.
Much better this way, I think. A-B's specialty brewing group has
turned out some decent stuff on occasion, but Bud Light is
appalling.
However, I yield to no-one in my admiration of Anheuser-Busch's
process and quality control. I'm amazes that they can turn out so
much beer, and have it all be consistent. A shitty product, mind
you, but an impressively consistent one.
|7.31.09 @ 1:06PM|#
Suge, I had a neighbor once that spent his evenings with a half-gallon of black velvet and a case of Tab.
robc|7.31.09 @ 1:07PM|#
Maker's Mark and Coke
Bourbon and coke mix? I may have to try that some day, you know, if
I want to get kicked out of my home state. :)
Curly|7.31.09 @ 1:07PM|#
The Beer Hall Putch,
It's PUTSCH.
You putsch your beer down and wait for the pretzels.
robc|7.31.09 @ 1:09PM|#
SugarFree,
Schneider Weisse was one of the specialty beers (wik free
glassware) at Flanagan's last night. It and Old Engine Oil.
Have a nice Schneider wheat glass now. Huzzah!
Mike Laursen|7.31.09 @ 1:10PM|#
I want to change my answer. I'm just going to say that nobody can prove that Obama wasn't drinking Kenyan Tusker out of that mug. Lonewacko can provide the supporting links.
|7.31.09 @ 1:12PM|#
brotherben,
I had a hardcore alcoholic boss once that I was made to drive home
after he got popped for DUI the sixth times. He would exclusively
drink pure grain and Coke. He'd get a pint of Pure Grain and a
single can of Coke. He'd sip back and forth until they were gone at
the same time. I worked for him for a year and it was the only food
I saw him consume.
robc|7.31.09 @ 1:16PM|#
Just received an email from maker's mark telling me the
distillery will be shut down from Aug 10 to Sept 9.
Information I didnt need, but I thought I would pass it along.
|7.31.09 @ 1:16PM|#
robc,
Nice. I've seen those, but haven't got one from my local pint glass
place. Have you ever seen one of their
Aventinus glasses? Want.
(Yes, everyone, I know I could just buy it, but I live for the
hunt.)
|7.31.09 @ 1:17PM|#
Suge, yeah, this guy was definitely an alcoholic. His food of choice was Hostess ding-dings and raw onions. The onions he ate like an apple. He chain smoked Eve cigarettes. Death overtook him when he was in his early 50s IIRC.
|7.31.09 @ 1:20PM|#
More great news from Alabama.
The state has decided not to allow the sale of a particular wine
because it has nude nymphs on the label. (I tried to link to a news
story but my puter is acting all tardo and stuff)
robc|7.31.09 @ 1:29PM|#
SF,
Im familiar with the Aventinus glass but dont have one.
Havent tried Noah's Mill. Havent even seen it.
The best Ive ever had is the Pappy 23-year, but I cant afford
it.
|7.31.09 @ 1:29PM|#
"What about Hofbrau beer? Wouldn't that be the official beer of
the Nazis?
I know that Hitler didn't drink, but plenty of other Nazis
did."
In the Hofbrau house they serve Lowenbrau. And Erdlinger is an
excellent wheat beer. Honestly you can't go wrong with any of the
German Wheats. And it is not that hard to make a damn fine wheat
beer yourself. I made a batch of wheat beer (my first attempt at
beer making) and find it to be almost identical to Pauliner Hefa.
Not quite as good but close.
|7.31.09 @ 1:37PM|#
robc,
Havent tried Noah's Mill. Havent even seen it.
Our Liquor Barns have it. You might try there if you are still
convenient to one.
CatoTheElder|7.31.09 @ 1:37PM|#
The article properly criticizes the extraordinarily bad beer
palates of our political leaders and academic elites.
However, it fails to note the utter ignorance of White House staff
in how to serve beer. Serving a Belgian-style wheat beer in a mug
is tantamount to serving Cabernet Sauvignon in a fruit jar. I can
confidently say there is not a Belgian bar that would serve wheat
beer in a mug. Wit beer is always served in a glass. Mugs are for
Bavarian lagers and watered-down American rice brews.
http://www.globalbeer.com/body_pages/pages-beer/Wittekerke/Wittekerke.html
|7.31.09 @ 1:37PM|#
I'm not going to read all your idiotic beer postings, but the shit is Dogfish Head's Raison D'etre. I have spoken.
Stagman|7.31.09 @ 1:41PM|#
I just came here to say that Fat Tire, made by New Belgium,
is the most overrated beer in the world.
Hear, hear! Totally overrated. As far as I can tell it's developed
it reputation via recently graduated Boulder frat boys who drank
nothing but Natty Light for beer pong during college and are
surprised to discover that not all beer makes you want to wretch on
first taste. By the way, I've had Fat Tire from the tap in
Colorado. It's a breakfast beer at best.
Cliché Bandit|7.31.09 @ 1:43PM|#
I tried to resist commenting but couldn't. I am showing
restraint in not posting WOT regarding beer. BUT i must absolutly
say the best wheat beer in the US that I have tried is Dry Dock
Brewery's Bananna Boat (No there is no bananna in it only good old
German Hefe yeast). Hands down, out of hundreds I have tried. I
will make a prediction: This beer will win at LEAST a silver this
year at the GABF.
In Vino Veritas
|7.31.09 @ 1:44PM|#
Woke up in a mean mood, I see.
You see right, bitch. I need some Sierra Nevada Torpedo IPA.
|7.31.09 @ 1:48PM|#
Great Lakes Christmas Ale = outstanding
Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold = very good "regular" beer
PantsFan|7.31.09 @ 1:55PM|#
speaking of Dortmunders,
Dortmunder Actien Brauerei is also very good. Of course it is, it's
German. But the initials in German are colloquially reffered to as
"Deutsche Arbeiters Bier", or German workers beer.
Art-P.O.G.|7.31.09 @ 1:56PM|#
I don't know anything about beer, but I once had an excellent lager in the basement of the Rathaus in the town outside my first duty station in Germany. So, on recollection, the beer connoisseurs (I have trouble spelling that word) have a point.
ktc2|7.31.09 @ 1:56PM|#
The best beer I've found here in the US is Corsendonk Abbey Pale Ale. It's hard to find but damn is it good.
|7.31.09 @ 1:59PM|#
Corsendonk is excellent. That it comes in a large bottle with a champagne cork just makes it better. I was always able to find it in CT.
|7.31.09 @ 2:02PM|#
Ah, fuck, missed this thread when it was first posted. Three
quick comments...
First,
here is a great take on the issue from Lew Bryson. His bottom
line? Instead of worrying about the type of beer they're drinking,
beer geeks should just be excited they're drinking beer.
Second, assuming Obama actually likes Bud Light, I'll give him
kudos for sticking to his guns. Bud Light is what it is, and I
don't knock people who like it. He could've gone with Amstel Light,
which is Bud Light for people who think they're too sophisticated
to drink Bud Light, and THEN I'd rip him a new one.
Third, if I were Obama I would've gone with Avery's Collaboration
Not Litigation Ale. Appropriate, don't you think?
|7.31.09 @ 2:12PM|#
"You see right, bitch. I need some Sierra Nevada Torpedo
IPA."
If I spent my time drinking the overhopped equivilent of bully
beef, I would be in a mean mood to.
|7.31.09 @ 2:12PM|#
Wheat beers are for fags and girls. ;-)
Steam beers, be they from Germany or CA, are under-rated.
Corsendonk is excellent.
My father imported it for a while. Great stuff.
|7.31.09 @ 2:14PM|#
Brotherben,
IPA is India Pale Ale. It was developed in England. They had to
ship ale to India and ordinary ale wouldn't make the trip. One of
the reasons they put hops in beer is as a perservative. So, they
took ordinary pale ale and hopped the hell out of it so it would
make the trip to India. Thus was born India Pale Ale.
For some reason, in the last 10 years some people have decided that
the more bitter a beer is the better it is. Hops make beer bitter.
So thus the popularity of IPS, which is really the equivilent of
eating salted pork or bacala when a good pork loin or fresh white
fish is available. I just don't get it.
Tim Cavanaugh|7.31.09 @ 2:16PM|#
Instead of having two crappy ones, why not just one good
one?
This works in theory, but in my experience option two always turns
out to be three good ones. Then six more. And shots. And, well, I
ought to have some wine with the meal. Liqueurs? Fancy! One of
each! And is that a little bit of iodine left in that bottle?
Which raises the question: When do they cut you off at a White
House beer party?
|7.31.09 @ 2:19PM|#
Which raises the question: When do they cut you off at a
White House beer party?
When Monica Lewinsky starts lookin doable?
|7.31.09 @ 2:20PM|#
"Which raises the question: When do they cut you off at a White
House beer party?"
I think getting cut off at a White House party or state dinner
would be the cullimination of a career and the greatest badge of
cool one could have. I have never met anyone who got flagged at
such an event, but I would have to bow in respect if I ever
did.
hmm|7.31.09 @ 2:20PM|#
The one that showed up with a 5 gallon corny of homebrew(with tank and hoses) a trashcan half full of ice and a stack of cups would have one. Since they all drank commercial beer they all lose. Thank god Biden doesn't drink or our enemies would be paying Battleship with our nuclear subs and other clearance information.
|7.31.09 @ 2:20PM|#
Steam beers, be they from Germany or CA, are
under-rated.
Too bad you can't find Dampfbier (literally "Steam Beer"
in German; a Bavarian beer brewed with Pilsner malt and Weizen
yeast) in the U.S. Last year I thought I would finally get to try
one (brewed by Schell's) but they accidentally brought the wrong
keg to the Great Taste of the Midwest. Bastards!
JB|7.31.09 @ 2:20PM|#
Everyone involved should have been served Arrogant Bastard
Ale.
This.
I agree that, as a Chicagoan, he should have had an Old Style.
(It's fully krausened once again!)
Clearly he is trying to distance himself from Chicago.
That would have been a good choice. Unreal how much better that
stuff is now that's it's fully krausened. It's not great by any
means, but very drinkable cold.
As for alcohol, I recommend Wild Turkey & coke. Very good
combo.
One of the better beers I have had recently - New Holland's Mad
Hatter:
http://newhollandbrew.com/corp/beer/mainstays
Art-P.O.G.|7.31.09 @ 2:21PM|#
Damn...that's my goal in life now: to get kicked out of the White House in a drunken stupor.
hmm|7.31.09 @ 2:22PM|#
Which raises the question: When do they cut you off at a
White House beer party?
When Teddy kills someone or Biden starts reciting state secrets. Or
when the cops show up to shut you down.
|7.31.09 @ 2:23PM|#
John, just because you don't like bitter doesn't mean bitter isn't great. I love ultra-hopped IPAs. I also like 88% dark chocolate, raw cranberries, and radicchio. Sue me.
|7.31.09 @ 2:23PM|#
John, thanks. I don't know what it says about my taste buds but as affordable beer goes, I like Yeungling's(sp) Black and Tan. It is a good representation of how I like a beer to taste. I have also had some fine fine fruit beers in Portland Or. One was a loganberry beer that was jam-up. I forget the maker. Seems like Pyramid does some fruit beers I've liked in years past.
|7.31.09 @ 2:24PM|#
"John, just because you don't like bitter doesn't mean bitter
isn't great. I love ultra-hopped IPAs. I also like 88% dark
chocolate, raw cranberries, and radicchio. Sue me."
Point taken. I love salty. I eat olives by the poind, belly lox
salmon, bacala, and beef jerkey. Beef Jerkey and gatoraide is
pretty much as good as it gets on the road.
|7.31.09 @ 2:25PM|#
Yeunling makes decent beer. There is tons of good beer in Portland. I find that Portland is what Seattle thinks it is. I would move there in a minute.
T|7.31.09 @ 2:26PM|#
I have also had some fine fine fruit beers in Portland
Or.
Belgian Framboise Lambics are the bomb if you like fruit beers. I
could live off Lindeman's if I didn't have to work for a
living.
kinnath|7.31.09 @ 2:28PM|#
Since we have moved up the ladder to hard licqor, I would go with Bushsmill's Single Malt. Of course, I wouldn't turn down a Balvenie or a Laphroaig either.
|7.31.09 @ 2:29PM|#
Too bad you can't find Dampfbier (literally "Steam Beer"
in German; a Bavarian beer brewed with Pilsner malt and Weizen
yeast) in the U.S. Last year I thought I would finally get
to try one (brewed by Schell's) but they accidentally brought the
wrong keg to the Great Taste of the Midwest. Bastards!
They used to sell it at the campus store in Denmark. Good Times.
The guy who ran it used to do a beer run in a transit van down to
Germany every fortnight. Every previous manager had gone bust in
under 18 months. This guy stocked the whole thing with beer and the
odd box of cereal.
Warty|7.31.09 @ 2:30PM|#
I have never met anyone who got flagged at such an event,
but I would have to bow in respect if I ever did.
Quick, who has Christopher Hitchens' phone number?
|7.31.09 @ 2:30PM|#
I'm a troglodite when it comes to scotch. Years ago I developed a love for Walker Black Label with seven-up.
|7.31.09 @ 2:32PM|#
There was also a kind of smoked beer that tasted a bit like bacon. Can't remember the name but you can get it in the US too.
|7.31.09 @ 2:38PM|#
"I have never met anyone who got flagged at such an event, but I
would have to bow in respect if I ever did.
Quick, who has Christopher Hitchens' phone number?"
I hadn't thought of him. I bet he has been run out of one if anyone
has. He is such a nasty fuck. But nonetheless, if he did get
flagged at such an event, I would have to give him his due.
I like blended scotch. Took me years to finally give it a fair
shot. My family is totaly American bourbon drinkers who told me
from a very young age that Scotch tasted like wiskey that had been
buried in an old tennis shoe under a hen house for five years. But
once I got over my prejudices I grew to like it.
MonkeeHeadinSouth|7.31.09 @ 2:38PM|#
"what is an IPA?"
There can be only one
/www.marstonsbeercompany.co.uk/our_brands/marstons/oldempire.asp
Sam Adams (not light) is good shit
but despite the Big O's crap choice in beer
that beer summit was a feckin great idea
the world needs more sensible shit like this
kinnath|7.31.09 @ 2:41PM|#
I like blended scotch.
Blended scotch is like jug wine. You need to move up the ladder to
single malts -- you should either love it or hate it.
MonkeeHeadinSouth|7.31.09 @ 2:42PM|#
"I like blended scotch"
You will be the first up against the wall when i become supreme
leader of the islamic Kaliphate of earth
any think but pure malt is un-islamic
I'd say any not heavily spiced and peaty is un-islamic but I'll
make an exception for the odd Glenmorangie
T|7.31.09 @ 2:43PM|#
Sam Adams (not light) is good shit
Sam Adams is fucky nasty. Every single Sam Adams I've had in my
life tastes like the bartender forgot to rinse all the soap out the
glass. How Jim Koch built a company on that swill baffles me.
Oh, wait, you can never go broke depending on the bad taste of the
American public. Just ask the Gallo brothers.
|7.31.09 @ 2:46PM|#
robc,
Yeah, I cut my bourbon and whiskey with Coke. My straight bourbon
days are over, I fear.
SIV|7.31.09 @ 2:46PM|#
Regular Budweiser is bad enough.
Fuckin' beer snob.Budweiser is an excellent beer.
|7.31.09 @ 2:47PM|#
I'da gone with Fat Tire, a marvelous Belgian-style ale from Colorado. Or, since I'm a native Chicagoan, a bottle of 312 wheat beer from the Goose Island brewery in the Winday Citay.
|7.31.09 @ 2:54PM|#
SIV,
Dude, don't believe everything you read:
This is the famous Budweiser beer. We know of no brand produced by any other brewer which costs so much to brew and age. Our exclusive Beechwood Aging produces a taste, a smoothness, and a drinkability you will find in no other beer at any price.
Though I will confess that Bud was my standard beer during college, except when I dipped into the Beast or some other cheap beer. The apex of my cheap beer-seeking occurred when Stroh's ran a $5.00 rebate on cases, which I could get for about $8.00. $3.00/case--that endrunkenfied millions of poor college students and millions more of our working class, I'm sure.
|7.31.09 @ 2:56PM|#
I am told you can go to Scotland and the smaller distilaries there will for a price give you a course in how to make scotch. I have always thought that if I ever won the lottary, I would move to a nice big country house somewhere, have a large pack of hounds and spend my days perfecting the making of bourbon, scotch, beer and wine. That, riding a good hunter and shooting would make a pretty full old age.
|7.31.09 @ 3:03PM|#
There was also a kind of smoked beer that tasted a bit like
bacon. Can't remember the name but you can get it in the US
too.
Schlenkerla. Personally I recommend the Ur-Bock over the Märzen
(both are very smoky, but the Ur-Bock has a stronger malt backbone
to balance it out). Really, though, if you like smoked beers you
can't go wrong with anything from Schlenkerla.
kinnath|7.31.09 @ 3:03PM|#
I am told you can go to Scotland and the smaller distilaries
there will for a price give you a course in how to make
scotch.
You don't need to go that far. Fermentation is easy and legal in
the US. Distillation is easy, but not so legal.
threeofclubs|7.31.09 @ 3:04PM|#
Some of the posters are making me worried.
For the germans it was only a short step from their beer purity
laws (Reinheitsgebot) to racial purity laws.
|7.31.09 @ 3:05PM|#
"Distillation is easy, but not so legal."
I know. But surely for the right price you could get the necessary
permits and pay the proper taxes and do it legally and create your
own micro distilled "scotchlike substance".
kinnath|7.31.09 @ 3:06PM|#
I saw show on some cable channel about making scotch. They take water as it runs out of the peat fields -- it looks like liquid mud -- and add the malt before fermentation. It is the peat-water that makes scotch, so you'd have a hard time recreating that anywhere else.
kinnath|7.31.09 @ 3:08PM|#
I know. But surely for the right price you could get the
necessary permits and pay the proper taxes and do it legally and
create your own micro distilled "scotchlike substance".
If you want to start a business, then sure. But there no exemption
for home distillation similar to home brewing.
By the way, you can accidentally make a pretty nice brandy by
leaving a bucket of wine in the garage when it's 20 below outside.
Chip away the ice and you can double the ABV -- or so I've
heard.
|7.31.09 @ 3:09PM|#
"I saw show on some cable channel about making scotch. They take
water as it runs out of the peat fields -- it looks like liquid mud
-- and add the malt before fermentation. It is the peat-water that
makes scotch, so you'd have a hard time recreating that anywhere
else."
I saw that same show. You are right. But you could still make
wiskey using their techniques of aging. I would be fun to
experiment with. Like a big chemestry experiment you get to drink
in five years.
kinnath|7.31.09 @ 3:10PM|#
There are peat bogs in the area around St. Maries
Idaho.
There you go John . . . .
|7.31.09 @ 3:13PM|#
Yeah but if I moved to a large country home in Idaho with a herd of horses, a large pack of dogs and a large arsenal of weapons, I would definitely end up on some kind of government list.
kinnath|7.31.09 @ 3:16PM|#
. . . . I would definitely end up on some kind of government
list.
Too late, you post at H&R.
|7.31.09 @ 3:25PM|#
It is the peat-water that makes scotch, so you'd have a hard
time recreating that anywhere else.
While the water indeed often comes from peaty streams, I believe a
lot of the peatiness comes not from the water but from peat-smoked
malt. Actually, I should say that I know that peat-smoked malt is
used; I just don't know for sure how much smoke comes from the malt
vs. the water. What I can tell you is that I've brewed beers with
peat-smoked malt and it's got quite the kick. I'm sure you could
employ that in making your own American "Scotch." Now, procuring
barrels, that may be more difficult...
hmm|7.31.09 @ 3:26PM|#
I'm a troglodite when it comes to scotch. Years ago I
developed a love for Walker Black Label with seven-up.
If you like JW find some Cardhu for a single malt. Not easy to find
in the states, but it is cheap and is a great single malt. (it's
the majority of the JW blend) However, if you put 7-up in it I will
be forced to hunt you. Beer snobs bad, liquor snobs correct.
I saw show on some cable channel about making scotch. They take
water as it runs out of the peat fields -- it looks like liquid mud
-- and add the malt before fermentation.
I don't know what show it was, but what you thought was water was
probably the wort or wash. The peat burning is one of the things
that adds flavor. tannins and flavor from wood also contribute
along with what ever is used in the wort. The water makes a
difference, but it is often the alkalinity that causes the
difference and for certain things to floculate out of the
wash.
It's legal to distill in many states if it is for the purpose of
fuel. Otherwise it's a no no.
NeonCat|7.31.09 @ 3:28PM|#
If you are in the Kansas City area, Boulevard has some really
good beers. Boulevard Zond is a really nice summer brew. In
Atlanta, Sweetwater 420 Pale Ale is admired by many and not just
because of the marketing.
Generally, though, I get some Shiner. I really wish Shiner Blond
was available around here.
hmm|7.31.09 @ 3:29PM|#
. . . . I would definitely end up on some kind of government
list.
Too late, you post at H&R.
I had a LEO administrator on another board/forum that has a lot of
LEO on it ban me for a Reason link. The reason given when I asked
in an email? Reason is an anti-government site that advocates
overthrow of the government. Rocket scientists I tell you.
kinnath|7.31.09 @ 3:32PM|#
I don't know what show it was, but what you thought was
water was probably the wort or wash.
It was a long time ago, but I believe that I saw "brown" water
runing directly out of a peat field into the wort.
Robert|7.31.09 @ 3:34PM|#
Budweiser doesn't strive to be anybody's favorite beer. You
think it's the favorite even of any of the people who brew it? And
I'm sure they wouldn't be ashamed to admit another was their
favorite. What Bud & Miller aim for is to be inoffensive,
broadly acceptable, which is what made it the
politician's symbolic choice. If you own a small bar and can stock
only so many beers, you want to have at least one that anybody in
the crowd will drink, even if it's nobody's favorite. And as seen
in this thread, the ones that are the favorite of some are thought
of as awful by others. Meanwhile, while everyone denigrates
Budweiser, they'll all drink it on the spur of the moment in
preference to some other beers, especially if many of the other
choices are ones they've never had.
I really like Lobko, dark or light.
Cliché Bandit|7.31.09 @ 3:37PM|#
Speaking of whiskey (I LOVE scotch and consider it as important as wine and beer to my liquor cabinet...come to think of it I only don't like Gin, and I am even warming up to that after a trip to Vinopolis in London.) Stranahan's is now available in liquor stores. At least out here in CO. CO's first whiskey (legal) distillery since prohibition. I use their barrel staves in some of my darker brews. AWESOME stuff. A little sweet right now but give it 8 more years.
hmm|7.31.09 @ 3:37PM|#
Budweiser doesn't strive to be anybody's favorite beer. You
think it's the favorite even of any of the people who brew
it?
Those that brew it and work at AB here are pretty adamant about
it.
AB is a marketing company and actually describes itself that way
internally.
hmm|7.31.09 @ 3:39PM|#
Cliché Bandit | July 31, 2009, 3:37pm | #
I waited for the cliche. Then I waited some more. Then I waited a
little more, but alas. No cliche.
T|7.31.09 @ 3:46PM|#
If you own a small bar and can stock only so many beers, you
want to have at least one that anybody in the crowd will drink,
even if it's nobody's favorite.
Yup. And you know it'll taste the same as every other Bud on planet
Earth. It's more or less completely inoffensive.
Duffman|7.31.09 @ 3:52PM|#
"Hops make beer bitter"
John, although hops do make beer bitter if boiled in the wort
(pre-fermentation sugar water), IPAs have the majority of their
hops added at the end of the boil and after fermentation
(dry-hopping), which adds no bitterness, just aroma.
Hops are definitely an acquired taste, but just like a complex wine
or scotch, once you get used to it, it's hard to go back to the
regular stuff.
|7.31.09 @ 4:02PM|#
I normally don't like flavored beers (other than beer-flavored,
that is) but the local Fresh Market used to carry
Rogue Chipotle Ale. I miss it, just a hint of
chipotle, one of the bust form of chili out there, IMO.
Rogue's Chocolate Stout is good too, as is
Young's.
I'm sure you could employ that in making your own American "Scotch."
When I lived in Canada, the LCBO used to carry Highland whiskywhich
IIANM is Canadian made scotch, but since it's not made in Scotland
they can't call it that. Never tried it though, they also had a
blended scotch that they imported in barrels and was quite worth
the price. With the real stuf that cheap I saw no point in drinking
an imitation.
Also either Maudite or Fin du Monde from Montreal
is made using Scotch whisky malt. Good stuff, well, both are but I
especially like the Scotch based one but I haven't seen it stocked
anywhere I go lately.
hmm|7.31.09 @ 4:05PM|#
You get what some people perceive as bitter from dry hopping.
The antiseptic taste is sometimes seen by some as bitter. The
flavor added by hops depends on the boil time. The oils will
evaporate the longer the hops boil. Generally hops early less
bitter, hops late in the wort will be more bitter or hoppy
depending on the hop.
IPAs are generally high on the bitter unit scale. Generally over
40.
|7.31.09 @ 4:06PM|#
endrunkenfied
OK, that's the best fucking word I've seen all year.
Everyone needs to try to say it after about five Stroh's.
|7.31.09 @ 4:09PM|#
Hops are definitely an acquired taste, but just like a
complex wine or scotch, once you get used to it, it's hard to go
back to the regular stuff.
Eh, I don't know about that. I think hops are what initially get
many into craft beer, but I've also seen a lot of people tire of
hop bombs after a while. One pattern I've observed in a lot of beer
geeks is starting out with hop bombs, progressing to funky
Belgians, then to American sours, and finally to German lagers and
British ales that are much more subtle in their flavors.
Personally, I think beer is like music... I may prefer certain
styles over others, but in any category there's SOMETHING I'll
like. (Exceptions that prove the rule: American wheats/Hefes when
it comes to beer and pop country when it comes to music.)
|7.31.09 @ 4:09PM|#
"If Obama was a real Chicagoan he'd have went with the Old
Style!!"
OLd Style is for Cubs fans. Obama (in yet another example of his
poor decision making skills) is a White Sox fan. Therefore a sissy
beer like Bud Light is right up his ally.
hmm|7.31.09 @ 4:15PM|#
Belgians-->stouts-->more Belgians-->uh one IPA somewhere in there-->British and Scottish ales. Make more wine and mead than anything though. Since I don't drink much I have to make what others will drink or what I can store in 5 gal kegs.
kinnath|7.31.09 @ 4:20PM|#
Make more wine and mead than anything though.
Lots of mead (traditional meads, melomels, pyments, and cysers).
Started making wines last fall. Have done a couple of ciders. No
interest in beer at all.
|7.31.09 @ 4:22PM|#
Schlenkerla. Personally I recommend the Ur-Bock over the
Märzen (both are very smoky, but the Ur-Bock has a stronger malt
backbone to balance it out). Really, though, if you like smoked
beers you can't go wrong with anything from Schlenkerla.
Good stuff, Schlenkerla it was. Think I'll have a St Peter's IPA
this evening. Just something easy; still got a touch of the 'flu,
after all.
Jason|7.31.09 @ 4:26PM|#
I wonder if the White House bar stocks a real Berliner
Weisse...
Obama could have been more honest and gone with this Australian
brew: Piss Beer.
robc|7.31.09 @ 4:26PM|#
ClubMedSux,
they accidentally brought the wrong keg to the Great Taste of
the Midwest.
You there next weekend? Where is the reason meetup?
Cliché Bandit|7.31.09 @ 4:27PM|#
hmm | July 31, 2009, 3:39pm | #
Cliché Bandit | July 31, 2009, 3:37pm | #
I waited for the cliche. Then I waited some more. Then I waited a little more, but alas. No cliche.
DAMNIT!!!!
One for the road
and now this i am caught up
Waste not want not
Charles|7.31.09 @ 4:29PM|#
Has not one of your assholes not mentioned a solid stout? Left Hand makes a pretty good milk stout that's American and tastes like magic.
robc|7.31.09 @ 4:30PM|#
Has not one of your assholes
I only have one and it hasnt mentioned anything.
Cliché Bandit|7.31.09 @ 4:32PM|#
My asshole is my brother...he likes stouts. Young's English if I
remember (not the double chocolate).
Blood is thicker than water
|7.31.09 @ 4:32PM|#
...this Australian brew: Piss Beer.
...
Damn, I was expecting to go to the Foster's site.
MattXIV|7.31.09 @ 4:38PM|#
One cheap but interesting beer I recently had was Huber. I'm not sure if was intentional or if the 12 pack I bought was a from a fluke batch, but it tasted kind of like slightly undercooked fresh bread in a good way (not a hint or a note of fresh bread - it was the main flavor of the beer) and was suprisingly drinkable. I can't recommend Huber Bock though; that tastes pretty much like you'd expect $8 for a 12-pack beer to taste.
|7.31.09 @ 4:38PM|#
Charles
See my 4:02pm. I mention Rogue's Chocolate Stout
(American) and Young's Double Chocolate Stout
(English).
robc|7.31.09 @ 4:40PM|#
I was enjoying a thread that was low on stout mentions. Normally these kind of threads (on other sites) are bout 50% stouts.
|7.31.09 @ 4:45PM|#
And it doesn't show up on Google! You'd think someone would've coined endrunkenfied before now. Or endrunkenfication.
robc|7.31.09 @ 4:50PM|#
Going to be enjoying some Goose Island Nut Brown tonight. What
kind of marketing moron told them to change the name from Goose
Island Hexnut Brown?
Hexnut was a great name. Now it is generic.
Charles|7.31.09 @ 4:51PM|#
robc, that's because stouts are so delicious. Also, meal-like. If Obama had timed it right, he could have served four big stouts and called it both a beer summit and a state dinner.
robc|7.31.09 @ 4:55PM|#
eh, stouts dont do it for me. Not a fan of "roast". I dont drink
coffee either.
It and rauchbiers are about the only 2 styles I cant drink. Unlike
other styles that I DONT drink (american wheats, crappy american
macro-rice/corn-lagers), I at least appreciate what they are trying
to do.
|7.31.09 @ 4:58PM|#
I very much enjoy Left Hand Milk Stout. My asshole, not so
much.
Oh, and robc, I will indeed be heading up there Saturday morning.
Drop me a beermail or an email... The first vanilla-aged Dark
Lord's on me!
|7.31.09 @ 5:13PM|#
Pro Libertate
of course, towing the lion while endrunkenfied is not
recommended.
|7.31.09 @ 5:20PM|#
I don't know, but if I even found a dynasty, the Endrunkenfied Lion will be on its crest.
|8.1.09 @ 12:19AM|#
So this how you get over 240+ posts, eh? Talk about beer. Jeez
what a bunch of drunks. Oh, for liquor, I like Jaegermeister.
And if anyone can get me a keg of Michelsbrau from Babenhausen,
they can fuck my sister.
Kevin Carson|8.1.09 @ 3:01AM|#
It's pretty obvious why Obama selected Bud. I had a bet with
myself that that would be his choice. He probably had a committee
of people working to select a mass-market domestic beer and avoid
any chance of a Grey Poupon-gate repeat.
Just once, I'd like to see a Democrat with the cojones to say
"Look, I like what I like, and it's my business, and I won't insult
your intelligence by pretending to like something just to pander to
you. The Republicans who try to turn brown mustard, microbrews and
sailboarding into culture war issues think you're stupid."
robc|8.1.09 @ 7:29AM|#
Kevin,
I agree with your reasoning, but it doesnt explain Bud. Why pick a
mass-market Belgo-Brazilian beer? He could have gone with a
multi-generational family-owned mass-market lager like Yuengling.
Would have even helped with the PA and FL vote in 2012.
|8.1.09 @ 4:00PM|#
If I was invited to some non-event bit of beer drinking theater
at the White House, I would have to choose Buckler. Of the
"non-alcoholic" (Meaning very low levels of alcohol) beers, it is
among the best.
I guess that makes me uncool to Jacob Sullum. Gosh, what a shame
that is.
|8.1.09 @ 5:01PM|#
If Bud or Miller or Coors or Corona or Molson or some other
"inoffensive" Pilsner is the only beer available, I drink red
wine.
JR
highnumber|8.1.09 @ 10:47PM|#
OLd Style is for Cubs fans. Obama (in yet another example of
his poor decision making skills) is a White Sox fan. Therefore a
sissy beer like Bud Light is right up his ally.
(Insert "sic" in there as needed.)
Old Style is not a Cubs beer. In fact, Cubs icon Harry Caray read
copy for Budweiser ("Cub fan, Bud man"), and it was the famous red
roofed Budweiser house outside Wrigley that was just repainted. If
each team were to have its own beer, Cubs would be Bud, Sox would
be Miller.
Old Style is served at both ballparks. It is a beer associated with
Chicago, not a team.
|8.2.09 @ 2:03AM|#
I'm digging all the Arrogant Bastard comments. Too bad Double Bastard isn't currently in season.
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