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Why Is American Beer So Bland?
The Atlantic ^ | August 4, 2015 | Joe Pinsker

Posted on 08/04/2015 10:46:30 AM PDT by C19fan

Today’s discerning beer drinkers might be convinced that America’s watery, bland lagers are a recent corporate invention. But the existence of American beers that are, as one industry executive once put it, “less challenging,” has a much longer history. In fact, Thomas Jefferson, himself an accomplished homebrewer, complained that some of his country’s beers were “meagre and often vapid” nearly 200 years ago.

(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...


TOPICS: Food; History
KEYWORDS: beer
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To: Lee'sGhost
"We are in the golden age of microbrews and this guy is complaining? "

The microbreweries of today, for the most part deserve complaint and derision.

Ales, Ales, Ales.

A kindergarden class can make an ale.

While you might occasionally run across a well-crafted ale, it's usually too bitter and exceeds anything in the histry of beer.

It's those darn Cascade hops. They're cheap, but taste like turpentine.

And they give you a head ache.

Yes, there are bitter lagers.

Try Pilsner Urquell or Primator Maibock.

At least they are made with noble hops (Saaz).

That said, I have discovered a new brewery locally (Davis, CA) that brews 100% in compliance with the German Beer law that's been on the books for several hundred years (hops, barley malt, water). And they do it very very well.

Sudwerk.

So yeah, there is a rare find in this explosion of sh!t with fancy labels and fancy names.

101 posted on 08/04/2015 12:54:30 PM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18 - Be The Leaderless Resistance)
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To: gymbeau

American beer was like sex on the beach.

Like making love in a canoe!


102 posted on 08/04/2015 12:56:04 PM PDT by Snowyman
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To: AppyPappy

Drink enough Genny and the next day the world is your toilet.

Show of hands...who among us knows what the “Genny Screamers” are


103 posted on 08/04/2015 12:56:30 PM PDT by Norm Lenhart
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To: Norm Lenhart

Well...this IS Pittsburgh!


104 posted on 08/04/2015 1:02:30 PM PDT by prisoner6 (Unmutual and Disharmonious)
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To: C19fan
It's been so long since I drank a mass-produced American beer that I almost forgot they still existed.

There are hundreds upon hundreds of smaller American breweries putting out beers that compare with anything that Europe is putting out.

Just like California (and other wine-producing states) made it possible to never have to drink a wine from France again and yet still be overwhelmed with quality choices, so the craft brewery revolution has made it unnecessary to seek imports in the beer aisle.

Right now, I'm discovering all the fine offerings from the Founders Brewery...


105 posted on 08/04/2015 1:02:56 PM PDT by SamAdams76
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To: DBrow; All
"Brewing something like Bud or Miller is not easy to do."

Precisely correct.

The American Light Lager (not lite) is the most difficult of all beers to produce.

It's the pinnacle of brewery science.

106 posted on 08/04/2015 1:03:54 PM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18 - Be The Leaderless Resistance)
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To: C19fan

Life is too short to drink anything but Spaten Optimator. They’ve had 700 years to get it right. And man, it is right!


107 posted on 08/04/2015 1:04:15 PM PDT by TexasRepublic (Socialism is the gospel of envy and the religion of thieves)
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To: prisoner6

You have my deepest sympathy ;)


108 posted on 08/04/2015 1:04:25 PM PDT by Norm Lenhart
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To: Norm Lenhart

if you like Tecate, try their better beers made by the same company:

Dos Equis Amber

Dos Equis Lager

Sol (light beer)

These are Mexican beers made in the German tradition of making lager beers. They are sold in my area in mixed 12 packs. They also throw in a seasonal Bock beer in the late fall.


109 posted on 08/04/2015 1:05:15 PM PDT by woodbutcher1963
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To: woodbutcher1963

Tried’em. I like Tecate better. It actually reminds me of Genesee. I seem to be a low end beer guy. (or was as I don’t drink anymore) The others are fine though. Modelo isn’t bad either.


110 posted on 08/04/2015 1:10:37 PM PDT by Norm Lenhart
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To: Mariner

Nothing to it. See post 80 ;)


111 posted on 08/04/2015 1:11:10 PM PDT by Norm Lenhart
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To: Safetgiver

“Frankly, my favorite ever was Schlitz......ABSOLUTELY!!! Since 1964.”

As a kid in the 70s, I ordered a pitcher of Schlitz Dark that I had never heard of with a pizza. It was great! Sweet too. I’ve never been able to find it anywhere since. Probably don’t even make it anymore.


112 posted on 08/04/2015 1:14:50 PM PDT by WKUHilltopper (And yet...we continue to tolerate this crap...)
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To: dennisw
Yeungling black and tan or lager

I haven't drunk much of anything else since Yuengling showed up in my town a couple of years ago. Much better than anything from the big megabreweries, and much cheaper than the exotic microbrews.

113 posted on 08/04/2015 1:15:04 PM PDT by Eric Pode of Croydon (Life's a bitch. Don't elect one.)
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To: woodbutcher1963; All

Anyone have knowledge of an ale named, Marston’s Pedigree?


114 posted on 08/04/2015 1:15:42 PM PDT by GOYAKLA
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To: Norm Lenhart

HA! I thought rivers only caught fire in Cleveland.

Iron City used to be brewed with water from the Allegheny (until they fell millions of dollars behind on their water bill). They have since moved into the old Rolling Rock brewery out in Latrobe. The same water that was used to brew RR.


115 posted on 08/04/2015 1:19:26 PM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
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To: woodbutcher1963

Sol is a very light lite beer. Very neutral flavor.
Not a hint of hops or bite in it at all.

Still, amazingly good if ice-cold on a hot day.


116 posted on 08/04/2015 1:21:30 PM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
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To: Mariner

Must be a CA thing. Here in NC you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a microbrew...everything from pilsners to the stoutest stouts.

Of course, this is the right coast. ;-)


117 posted on 08/04/2015 1:25:12 PM PDT by Lee'sGhost ("Just look at the flowers, Lizzie. Just look at the flowers.")
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To: Yo-Yo

Soda Pop for adults.


118 posted on 08/04/2015 1:32:03 PM PDT by AceMineral (One day men will beg for chains.)
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To: dsrtsage

Pabst Smear!

The doctor will see you now.

I try to drink a different beer every week. I like them dark and heavy, but since it is about 190 degrees here in TX I tried out some lighter brews.

My new favorite in that field is Han’s Pils from Real Ale. Similar to Pilsener Urquell.

Has anybody out there heard of Clown Shoes? Their Chocolate Sombrero is yummy.

Locally we have Buffalo Bayou Brewing company. Also, when St. Arnold’s moved to their new facility some dudes not only bought the old equipment but simply moved into their old place, which is in a light industrial business park, so now we have Karbach (sp?), who did not impressme at first but is growing on me like a fungus.

Has the author left his house in the last decade? His entire premise is kinda doosh-y.


119 posted on 08/04/2015 1:35:56 PM PDT by T-Bone Texan ('Zionists crept into my home and stole my shoe' - Headline)
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To: C19fan
Weak American lagers just need the proper presentation:

And, no, I don't know where she is, dammit!

120 posted on 08/04/2015 1:40:07 PM PDT by W. (Sex is like air; it is not important unless you are not getting any.)
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