More proof of tasteless American beers

[Tingkai]

The Globe and Mail did a blind taste test of Coors Light to see if there is a difference between the piss brewed in the US and the stuff made in Canada.

Apparently there is. Two of three beer experts correctly identified the Canadian brewed beer.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20040802/RCOORS02/TPBusiness/Canadian

Some of the comments are classic:

"I didn't think No. 1 [the Canadian brew] was appropriate for the U.S. market. I thought there was a little too much flavour there."

"Do we have to drink more Coors?"

"Technically, it's a challenge to brew a beer with no flavour."

"This is beer for people who don't like beer."

[GhengisFarb™]

I do believe Coors actually TRIES to have a bland beer.

[Daz]

Once i tried Corona Light - man, I drank tap water with more flavour....

Its girlie beer...

[CerberusIV]

Re: More proof of tasteless American beers

Originally posted by Tingkai
The Globe and Mail did a blind taste test of Coors Light to see if there is a difference between the piss brewed in the US and the stuff made in Canada.

Apparently there is. Two of three beer experts correctly identified the Canadian brewed beer.

That implies one out of three didn't. Hardly conclusive. (or does that just say a lot about "experts")

[Cruddy]

Experts - an ex is a has been, and a spurt is a drip under pressure.

[Ming]

Gee... a light beer has no taste... and this comes as a surprise why?

[Solly]

DO Americans actually drink any bitter?

[Last Conformist]

Judging by the amounts of vodka we sell them, one'd hope they didn't drink anything else at all.

[Shi Huangdi]

The strength of US beershas never lied in the mass marketed stuff. But if you look at international beer comeptitions, you'll find the USA takes nearly all the top places. That's because our microbrews are the best in the world.

[Dinner]

Ignorant. You take a well known trash beer and then try to claim it represents all beers.

For proof of America's beer dominance simply look at the numerous international beer fests where the US just about always takes more medals then everyone else. The last two or three World Cup of Beer annual events has seen American brewers taking 60%-75% of all the medals awarded. I doubt Canada even registers a blip.

[Last Conformist]

Having never drunk anything from those 'Mercan microbreweries, I can't comment on their quality, but, if true, why do your typical American nonetheless gulp down trash beer in sufficient quantities to make them major brands? Are they stupid? Masochistic?

[Solly]

But if you look at international beer comeptitions, you'll find the USA takes nearly all the top places. That's because our microbrews are the best in the world.

I've never heard of these "microbrews" (whatever they are) apart from on Apolyton..

Are they a darker colour in appearance? Just wondering as these may be similar to our bitters. Some of ours are mass produced (John Smith's, Worthington's, Boddington's), some semi-mass produced (Abbot Ale), and some really small breweries (tend to be called "guest ales" in pubs) which are usually pretty good (hundreds of them).

[Dinner]

I believe we've discussed this in other threads. The basics have to do with the antiqueted American laws governing the distribution of Alcoholic beverages. These laws were written in the early 1930's when prohibition was repealed and the Federal government got out of regulating liquor business (other then setting the legal drinking age). Each state was then allowed to set up their own laws concerning the sale and distribution of alcohol and not surprisingly a great many states choose to set up systems where large local distributers were given virtual distribution monopolies. These monopolies are not to keen on distributing competeting brands.

This leads most to microbreweries to have a very limited distribution area near their home breweries instead of the nation wide coverage which is controlled multinational corporations with ties to the distribution monopolies. Several states which produce large amounts of beer and wine (California and Washington come to mind) and states like New York which consume large amounts of liquor have sued several times to break these monopolies arguing that they are unfairly constricting interstate commerce. So far the results have been inconclusive and the distribution monopolies continue to give huge donations to state and federal politicians who promise to leave the monopolies unregulated. I'll let you decid if all that money is coloring the actions of the politicians.

[Imran Siddiqui]

"microbrews" (whatever they are)

Um, you know, small breweries which don't have mass production. And if you hadn't heard of them before you need to come back to the US and look harder.

Just had 2 very nice microbrewed beers this weekend while I was in Gatlinburg, TN.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Park Avenue
I've never heard of these "microbrews" (whatever they are) apart from on Apolyton..

Are they a darker colour in appearance? Just wondering as these may be similar to our bitters. Some of ours are mass produced (John Smith's, Worthington's, Boddington's), some semi-mass produced (Abbot Ale), and some really small breweries (tend to be called "guest ales" in pubs) which are usually pretty good (hundreds of them).

The term micro brewery simply covers all breweries which have a small total yearly output. Each of these breweries often has a whole line of beers coving the whole spectrium of styles and types. Pale Ale, Bitters, Dark Stouts, Wheat Beers, Oatmeal Beers, French style Saisons, Belgian White Beers, Abby style Ales, India PAle Ales, and many more are produced.

There are literally tens of thousands of these small breweries spreed out all over the country (though places like California, Oregon, Illinois, and New York have more then their fair share) and they all produce different beers. The odds are good that you will find a beer you like in just about any style you look for.