Conquer Club

polarbeast23 wrote:Their consistency involves making a low quality beer. They shoot for the lowest common denominator. Don't get me wrong... you are right. They made advancements in consistency and shipping technology, but really, I don't subscribe to the notion that this is a good thing.

support your LOCAL brewery. You should be against big beer business as your signature indicates. AB has traditionally hurt the local beer industry, no?

Absolutely.
The only argument I make in favor of BMC (Bud Miller Coors) is their consistency on a massive scale.
As a brewer, I find it fascinating; but my praise for them ends there.

One of the biggest problems microbreweries in the U.S. has is in distributing.
Once a brewery gets above the 15k barrels per year mark, they are considered a "regional" brewery. In order to get your beer out of town for more people to enjoy, you need to get it distributed through a third party. That third party is AB (through their distributors).
AB has a monopoly on the distributors in the U.S.
Just ask Red Hook Brewery, Rogue, Dogfish Head, or the other microbreweries that have expanded to distribute their beers across the U.S. They all make excellent beers and wanted to expand. They HAD to go through AB or it just plain wasn't going to happen.

The irony of all this, however, is that the microbrew industry has seen an explosion in the U.S. in the past 15 years or so. So much so that now you see BMC coming out with such "non-traditional" beers as bock, stout, and fruit beers.

I believe anyone who enjoys beer should support their local brewery.
I always tell people who may be drinking a Corona, Bud Lite, Miller Lite, or whatever, that its fine if you like that style of beer; but try a light pilsner brewed at your local brewery.
I guarantee 2 things:
1) Your local brewery will have an American style lager or pilsner on tap, for the express purpose of getting the general population interested in craft brewing;
and.....
2) That locally brewed lager or pilsner will be MUCH better than any Bud, Miller, or Coors....

HapSmo19 wrote:For the record: My favorite beer is a microbrew but at about $9 per six pack it gets a bit spendy when a guy wants to throwback 30 or so every couple days. And I usually end up apologizing to everyone I know the day after I drink a case or more of micros......

I have an easy solution:

Brew your own beer !

Just an interesting note: AB donates to Anti-Gun lobbies, maybe the new owners will be pro-gun?

DaGip wrote:Just an interesting note: AB donates to Anti-Gun lobbies, maybe the new owners will be pro-gun?

Ouch. In that case, they shouldn't let the door hit em' in the ass on the way out.

Iz Man wrote:I have an easy solution: Brew your own beer !

What's the lead-time on 500 gallons?

DaGip wrote:Just an interesting note: AB donates to Anti-Gun lobbies, maybe the new owners will be pro-gun?

From Belgium? I doubt it.

My 2-cents on "warm beer".

Your average American "Joe Sixpack" keeps his Bud Light in his refrigerator at 37-40 degrees Fahrenheit (roughly 3 Celsius). He usually drinks it immediately and straight from the can or bottle as Americans don't understand the benefit of beer in a glass. If he does get beer in a glass at a bar or restaurant, the mug is usually frosted from being kept in a freezer.

Joe Sixpack then travels to England/Germany on his first trip outside US Borders and is served Real Ale at proper cellar temperature of around 50f (10c). It is served to him in a room temperature glass. Joe actually TASTES his beer for the first time in his life and his first impression is like that of a 6 year old tasting Daddy''s beer for the first time. New, unfamliar flavors! This must be BAD!

Basically Americans drink their beer at near freezing temperatures which further hides what little flavor American lagers have. When you are used to 38...50 is "warm beer"...even though it really isn't.

Backglass wrote:My 2-cents on "warm beer".

Your average American "Joe Sixpack" keeps his Bud Light in his refrigerator at 37-40 degrees Fahrenheit (roughly 3 Celsius). He usually drinks it immediately and straight from the can or bottle as Americans don't understand the benefit of beer in a glass. If he does get beer in a glass at a bar or restaurant, the mug is usually frosted from being kept in a freezer.

Joe Sixpack then travels to England/Germany on his first trip outside US Borders and is served Real Ale at proper cellar temperature of around 50f (10c). It is served to him in a room temperature glass. Joe actually TASTES his beer for the first time in his life and his first impression is like that of a 6 year old tasting Daddy''s beer for the first time. New, unfamliar flavors! This must be BAD!

Basically Americans drink their beer at near freezing temperatures which further hides what little flavor American lagers have. When you are used to 38...50 is "warm beer"...even though it really isn't.

I don't like my beer cold, I keep it down in the basement where it is cooler, and drink it straight from the box.

DaGip wrote:I don't like my beer cold, I keep it down in the basement where it is cooler, and drink it straight from the box.

Then you're un-American! /joke

DaGip wrote:I don't like my beer cold, I keep it down in the basement where it is cooler, and drink it straight from the box.

I think we would all agree that you are anything but "average".

Any lager beer should be chilled.
Paartly becuase, as the Hobgoblin ad above suggests, because being cold takes much of the flavour away.
When i had Budvar on draught in its home town, it was cold on a hot day and very refreshing.
Bitters, on the other hand, should not be chilled. However the myth that Brits (let alone any other Europeans) drink "warm" beer is utter nonsense.

DaGip wrote:I don't like my beer cold, I keep it down in the basement where it is cooler, and drink it straight from the box.

Really, it depends on the beer. Budweiser, which is shit to begin with, would be absolutely undrinkable warm. Better quality beer at room temperature (cask) is perfectly fine.