Monday, August 11, 2008

Great Journalism

Like many of my peers, I've moved on since the time when cost was the primary consideration while purchasing beer, so I hadn't realized that the choices in the economy class of the beer industry have been shrinking. The linked summary is interesting for that reason alone.

Of course, everyone reading this blog knows I'm actually linking to the article for the nostalgia it inspires. Should it concern me how strongly a beer name evokes a particular time and place? I have a visceral response just to the names: Matt's (the piece makes a gratuitous swipe at beer balls, too!), Genesee Cream Ale, Old Milwaukee, Natty Boh (I distinctly remember when the Tune switched from Natty Boh to Busch), and PBR, which has prospered by becoming the swill of choice among hipsters, and by buying up other swill.

The review covers brews from east to west; I've had many of the beers listed after the first page, but none deliver that kick to the synapses that the eastern beers provoke. I can almost taste the.. well, never mind.

I hope you all enjoy the trip down memory lane.

6 comments:

jjv said...

The greatest, post, ever.

Anonymous said...

A brilliant piece of journalism (by Salon). While I have not sampled most of the beers, I have an appreciation for the cause -- and forwarded the article to many who will appreciate it and enjoy a good beer buzz down memory lane. Thanks CRH.

Btw, I am still waiting for a case of Fat Tire Amber Ale to mysteriously turn up on my doorstep.

EMM said...

Oh the lovely summer nights, my dad grilling and my sister and I sneaking from behind the house to take a sip or two of "Genny", our hometown brew. I'm glad my taste in beer improved over the years.

Fat Tire is awesome...it was my second favorite thing about skiing this past winter in Vail. A trip to Texas in February was made that much better because of the FT, and mesquite BBQ. Mmmm. Beer.

Anonymous said...

Oh, the memories and headaches this article brings back. BTW, while golfing in Wisconsin this past weekend, our host had quite a number of Fat Tires which I tirelessly (pun intended) proceeded to clean him out of.

Dave P.

Dave S. said...

To paraphrase a college slogan about a Chinese restaurant that served enormous and powerful cocktails, "Enjoy the trip down memory lane because you won't remember the trip back!"

Like CRH, I too can taste the visceral response, although portions of my youth were misspent with Canadian beer rather than Genny Cream (sorry EMM!).

Re Matt's, in addition to the ubiquitous beer balls I remember (vaguely) the 7 oz. bottles and of course the spigot trucks.

And whatever happened to Tuborg Gold, the Golden Beer of Danish Kings? Ooooh, I don't feel so well now.

Anonymous said...

They missed my parents' favorite---the sip by permission my reason for disliking beer until forced by peer (Sam W.) pressure at Hamilton to drink Matt's---Black Label.

The mere mention of a Matt's beer ball brings back memories of crashing through the foliage of the glen whispering loudly "where are you???"

I was surprised to see Shiner Bock on the list. That's my current favorite, not available in NJ but brought up to me by SC relatives.
- Marty