Fox News reported on July 14, "Anheuser-Busch, the maker of Budweiser and Bud Light, has agreed to a takeover by a giant Belgian brewer, a union that creates a global beer leader and brings to an end one of the most iconic names in American business." The Belgium company is InBev SA.
Normally, when an American icon is sold to a foreign power, I would delve deeply into the story. Perhaps I would rant on the loss of another part of our culture. An institution that had been born and bred and brought to profitability thanks to the sweat and toil of thousands of hardworking American citizens.
No delving, deep or otherwise, was necessary to comment on this sale. I'm delighted that Anheuser-Busch is now the problem, I mean property, of Belgium. The great U.S. of A. no longer has to endure the blame for producing Bud and Bud Light. Blame Belgium!
I mean, have you ever tasted Bud or Bud Light? And then tasted a full-bodied brew? One that has actual flavor? Bud and Bud Light fall into the lager category. Lagers were first brewed 500 years ago in central Europe. Bud, Bud Light, and every other American lager that I've tasted that are produced by large macrobreweries, as opposed to those produced by microbreweries, are watered-down, tasteless disgraces to the term 'lager.'
At some point, a decision must have been made to aim for what was perceived as the lowest common denominator amongst American beer drinkers: only include the briefest hint of beer taste, and serve it icy cold. Some beer marketeers must have decided that strong tastes and aromas might offend some demographic; or, if drinkers took the time to sip and savor their brews, fewer barrels would be sold. Also, profits could be increased by limiting the amount of hops, malted barley, and yeast used in the brewing process.
When lagers, ales, bocks, porters, stouts, et cetera are served very cold, their natural flavors, their 'personality,' remain somewhat hidden. I'm not suggesting that they be served warm, but from personal experience (especially with ales), I have found that their flavor is brought to a peak by taking a bottle out of the refrigerator, and letting it stand at room temperature for 8-10 minutes before opening. This is vital! The proper pouring technique is to tip your stein or glass at about a 45 degree angle, and s-l-o-w-l-y pour the brew down the side of the glass. Pouring it straight down creates an impressive head but causes irreparable harm to the carbonation and you'll end up with a flat, soulless drink.
I seem to have wandered a bit from my initial position concerning the sale of an American icon to overseas interests. That meandering may be due to my having imbibed, I mean RESEARCHED, a couple of Fat Tire Amber Ales, produced by New Belgium Brewing of Fort Collins, Colorado. Did I mention that Edward, my father, may he rest in peace, trained at Fort Collins (then known as Camp Collins) in 1942 as a member of the 10th Mountain Division (U.S. Army ski troops) before being shipped to Italy? There he was, a working class first generation American kid from the south side of Chicago who probable couldn't even spell 'ski,' so of course the Army put him in the 10th Mountain Division (he was very proud to have served in the 10th, by the way). Oops, there I go again. But speaking of Colorado breweries, won't some darned foreigners please buy Coors Brewery. Their despicable drizzle in a bottle is little more that tap water with a drop of food coloring.
Well, I hear that it's "Last Call," so I'll wrap this up with a suggestion. If you want to try a flavorful brew made in America, look for those produced by small, local microbreweries, a/k/a craft breweries. Use the search engine of your choice and type in, 'microbreweries' and then your zip code. I guarantee that you'll be more pleased with those choices than with what you may have settled for in the past. Cheers!
P.S. Young's Brewery in London produces a wonderful selection of brews that should be available in larger liquor stores. My personal all-time favorite, Old Nick (a barleywine-style ale) was made there but has been discontinued. I was deeply depressed until one of this blog's frequent commentators recommended an American brew entitled 'Arrogant Bastard Ale' produced by Stone Brewing Company in Escondido, California. This ale is a virtual twin to my departed friend Old Nick: a powerful sipping brew that is meant to be savored slowly. I highly recommend it, and feel that the following quote proves its author meets the Arrogant Bastard standard:
"I drink to make other people interesting."
-- George Jean Nathan (drama critic)
Friday, August 1, 2008
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9 comments:
Real men drink Tanian Ale. Kragg juice, bud and bud light are for children and women...
Or so I've heard on good authority.
Children drinking grape juice get stronger stuff than Bud and Bud Light. Most women are too smart to waste their calories on B and BL.
I only wish that Tanian Ale and Kragg Juice were available in this solar system. Those fortunate individuals dwelling within the novel world described in the upcoming book Fifthwind (see the links 'A Writer's Journey' and 'Fifthwind' on my blog's home page) get all the good stuff.
Hey I want Brawndo!!! The Thirst Mutilator!!! Plants Crave It!!! You Don't See Plants Growing Out of The Toliets!?!? What is this world comming to Out Sourcing are Alcohol!?!?
There were times, in my bachelor days, when I did see life forms growing in my toilet. But only after six months of non-cleaning. You got to gimme a break, though. I tried cleaning it once a month, but the effort left me feeling flushed.
LOL on feeling flushed!!!!
Thank you, Friday!
Dear Thinker,
Now, please tell us all how you really feel about the great American corporate pass time of mass producing alleged lager and selling it to the American public using such clever selling images such as lizards, frogs, etc. I am pretty sure that Bud had to pull the TV add where Augie Busch the Fourth (I think that is right but you can correct me if I am wrong) describes how those huge draft horses became part of his family and Bud's tradition. Not any more!! He is laughing all the way to the bank with INBEVs billions while drinking a bottle of St. Paulie Girl. (you can check the spelling on that one too). One thing about Coors is that you can chug down a cold can or two for the thirst quench and not have to worry about the aesithetics of the quality or taste. I could not do that with Bud or Bud Light. Hate them most sincerely. The only thing that bothers me is the fact that another piece of our economy is being sold off to a foreign venture. Lucent, Bud Brewing, Chrysler (for a while anyway), most of our textile industry, most of our furniture industry, most of our electronic industry, (remember Zenith? Motorola TVs,) I don't think a single brand of TV is made in the USA.
At least beer is being made at a number of microbrews across the USA. We may not have jobs but we do have good tasting microbrew beer!
First, I seek to understand your comment, "One thing about Coors is that you can chug down a cold can or two for the thirst quench and not have to worry about the aesithetics of the quality or taste. I could not do that with Bud or Bud Light. Hate them most sincerely." Do you mean that you like the taste of Coors? Or that it doesn't matter that Coors has no quality or taste since chugging a cold can will quench your thirst?
I look forward to the day when the continuing resurgence of microbreweries results in both the multiplication of beer choices and the increased sensitivity of the beer drinker's palate. Yes, I said "resurgence." According to one article I read, Wisconsin alone once had thousands of small breweries. Most were small and served only their local communities. Imagine the competition, pride, and flavor spectrum there must have been!
The 'good old days' are most often more old than good. But in the case of beer, I say, 'Sherman, set the wayback machine to pre-prohibition USA!'
I can tolerate the taste of Coors but I don't go out of my way to drink it. Prohibition killed off most of the breweries in the USA. Prohibition just failed to kill off the desire for brewed beverages. It is said that the ancient Egyptians even had a form of a beer like brew.
We are in the good old days now. Enjoy a round of finely brewed plant-like material today!!
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