people love them because they NEVER get warm...But, really... seven ounces? Why? That's not enough to stink up your breath, for pete's sake. Do folks who like 7 ounce beers also drink one ounce martinis? Or eat one egg omelets? Or 6 ounce t-bones?
Generally speaking, adults like adult sized portions. I believe I'll have another pint of Bass Ale.
I don't think you understand. You buy the beer by the CASE in the Rathskeller. It's as much a part of Penn State as Joe Paterno and grilled sticky buns at the Diner.
1970's
The 1970's marked the arrival of two Skeller bartenders, Bo and Rabbit. They still show up faithfully for all of the home Penn State football games. From the time Rolling Rock ponies were sold at the Skeller until 1972, it was customary to order them two at a time. Then on a football weekend, a customer, after numerous trips to the bar asked owner Dean Smith if he could just buy a case instead. Dean sold him a case for $4, and so began the tradition of Rock cases at the Skeller. It is always interesting to ask long time customers of the Skeller, what they used to pay for cases. Also during this decade, two unknowing future Skeller owners gained employment, Fast Eddie and Duke.
1980's
In 1980, John Patrick O'Connell, a.k.a. "Johnny O", bought the Rathskeller from Dean Smith. Not only did John perfect the "Case Study" during his tenure, he also set an unbeatable record which earned its way into The Guinness Book of World Records. On November 9, 1983, John decided to throw an anniversary party to celebrate fifty years of Skeller tradition. "Come on down early," John said, "we'll try to set a case drinking record." Little did he know his customers would pack the bar by noon. At 2:00am, the case sales had reached 903, beating the existing record, held by a bar in Germany, by over 200 cases. And so, the case races began. In 1986, ownership changed once again. The Skeller was purchased by Duke Gastiger and "Fast" Eddie Hill, both former "Skeller Rats". In 1988, Duke and Eddie bought the Old Main Restaurant above the Skeller and renamed it Spats Cafe & Speakeasy. The Skeller kitchen was dismantled and lunches were prepared in the Spats kitchen.
1990's
In the 1990's, "Case Day" broke the record three times. The record reached 943 in 1991, 1003 in 1993 and in 1996 reached the 1053 mark, which stills stands. In 1993, Fast Edddie sold his interest to Duke, and is now the owner of the Mount Nittany Inn atop Centre Hall Mountain. In 1994, sadness hit the Skeller once again with the passing of former owner "Johnny O", who is now included with Doggie in our goodnight wishes upon the locking of the door. In 1996, the Skeller became completely computerized. The old fashion cash registers were replaced by touch screen monitors. Drastic efforts have been made to clean up the Skeller without disturbing any of the original artifacts. After all, the greatest part of the Rathskeller is being able to return to an unchanged tradition which spans the better part of a century.
There's a few reasons why those 7 ounce beers are popular on capuses (besides Penn State).
They also get sold in cases, and are very "binge friendly", some kids like to pop one in between every class, or a quick snack type of drink.
After your out of college a few years, you don't bother with them.
Its also part of the same reason those little liquor bottles are such a hit with kids and the younger crowd.
I don't know the reason why Rolling Rock is stopping with selling them, pony beers are pretty big with alot of frats and stuff.
people love them because they NEVER get warm... And speaking from personal experience, even in such cases, one's rate-of-consumption rises, not falls. What a bonus.