August 21st, 2010
The condensation on the bottle looks more flavorful than the contents.
The Brewski Report Reviews Coors Brewing’s Light Lager.
File Date: 8.21.10
File Name: Wife Discriminates: Makes Husband Do The Heavy Lifting.
The Beer: Coors Light
Type: Light Lager
Serving: Bottle
Stats: 4.2% ABV
Brewer: Coors Brewing Co. / MillerCoors
Web Site: www.coorslight.com
Country of Origin: CO, USA
Brewer Info: Adolph Coors Company was founded in 1873. Our principal subsidiary is Coors Brewing Company, the nation’s third-largest brewer. Throughout our history, Coors has provided consumers with high-quality malt-beverage products using the finest ingredients available. Coors Light is the the largest selling beer in the country. Coors maintains a long-standing commitment to equal opportunity in employment, promotion and purchasing. The company’s policy is to “recruit, hire, train and promote into all job levels employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, covered-veterans status, sexual orientation or national origin.” The Coors Golden brewery is the world’s larges on a single site. Free brewery tours are offered daily, except Sundays and holidays.
Inside this room, all of my dreams become realities, and some of my realities become dreams. - Willy Wonka
Brewer Brand Hype: Coors Light, the World’s Most Refreshing Beer, is the fourth best-selling beer in the U.S. Introduced in 1978, Coors Light has been a favorite in delivering the ultimate in cold refreshment for more than 25 years. Coors Light’s unique frost-brewing process locks in a taste as cold as the Rockies. The simple, silver-toned can caught people’s attention and the brew was nicknamed the “Silver Bullet” as sales climbed. Recent Coors Light innovations include the Cold Activated Bottle, Super Cold Draft, the Vented Wide Mouth Can with Frost Brew Liner and a Cold Activated Can.
Label: Nothing worth noting.
The Brewski Review: I was moving junk from my basement to the garage attic today in an effort to make more room in the basement for more junk. Circular isn’t it? We’re not big consumers which is a good thing. My wife and I don’t think we have much stuff but we tend not to throw much away. While performing this mundane task several times from our air conditioned house to a garage attic that was well over 100 degrees, I thought it was high time I pull open the fridge and treat myself to a cold beverage. Juice boxes. No. Water. No. Coors Light. Okay, I’ll try one. And, might I say, what a dissapointment it was. There wasn’t much ‘beer’ flavor but if you wanted to drink a lot of beer, this choice may rank up at the top. Very watery. Very blah. I can only think that Coors Brewery has been distracted lately and their attention has been turned away from brewing beer. Take a look at the ‘Brewer Info’ above: why would a company integrate their equal opportunity employment policy into their marketing strategy? PR issues? Do they have a discrimination lawsuits on the docket or what? Hopefully this was just a poor pick of venues to eagerly promote their HR policy. My feeling is that Coors should remove the wording. I wouldn’t think this is advancing Coors Light’s marketshare. But, I could be all wrong on this one. Perhaps Coors drinkers are very litigious individuals.
Drinkability: A guest left some at my house. It was free. Wouldn’t buy any myself.
Appearance: Pale golden color.
The Buds: Minimal taste. Watery. Session beer.
TBR Cap Rating: 2.5 caps out of 5.
Perhaps Atticus Finch is on the case.....
Tags: 100 Degrees, 4.2% ABV, Adolph Coors, Atticus Finch, Basement, CO, Consumers, Coors, Coors Brewing Co., Coors Light, Domestic, Employment Policy, Fridge, Garage, Garage Attic, Hot, Junk, Lawyer, Legal, Light Lager, Litigious, MillerCoors, Moving, Public Relations, To Kill A Mockingbird, Wife
Posted in Coors Brewing Co. | No Comments »
August 20th, 2010
Sam Adams launched a new pint glass to further enjoy their beer. This is great marketing. Convincing the beer buying public (or at least the Sam Adamsphiles) that they truely can’t enjoy or taste the full flavor unless they purchase a special glass? Genius! All the beer snobs will want to buy one post haste to show that they are dialed in. Does it really work? Unfortunately, I’m not one who really cares. The glass I use works just fine for me to determine if I like the beer or not.
Hullabaloo Marketing or Science Backed Drinkware Innovation?
Tags: -Philes, Beer Buying Public, Beer Snobs, Dialed In, Drinkware, Full Flavor, Marketing, Marketing 101, Money, Pint Glass, Sam Adamsphiles, Special Glass
Posted in Marketing 101 | No Comments »
August 20th, 2010
Here are a few vintage bud advertisements that make you wish for simpler times. I was just a glimmer in my mother’s eye when these ads saw their debut, but it still makes me yearn for a time before cell phones, cable news, wi-fi, rap music, bad 80’s hairstyles and celebrities who aren’t. Ahhhh!
Aren't you glad? Springtime is a happy time. And the best place to be is close to a bud. Cold, refreshing Budweiser....the King of Beers.
KNOW HIM! He's the easiest man in town to meet. Just visit your friendly tavern and ask for Budweiser....King of Beers.
I penned a post on 7.29.10 for Killians Irish Red that notes what my bartender would look like if I owned my own place. This smartly dressed man is what I pictured. Not a punk with a nose/ear/belly ring in a graphic tee shirt advertising his favorite band. Oh yeah, I dig that vintage light behind him as well.
Does anyone remember paying $0.25 for a beer? This would be a great vintage sign to have. Although, the only place my wife would allow me to hang it would probably be the garage or basement.
Tags: Anheuser-Busch, Bartender, Beer Advertisement, Beer Mug, Beer on Ice, Budweiser, Cold, Cold Beer, Glass of Beer, King of Beers, Man, Man with Can of Beer, Red, Server, Signs, Springtime, Tavern, Vintage, White, Woman, Woman Drinking a Beer
Posted in Anheuser-Busch, Marketing 101, Vintage Ads | No Comments »
August 14th, 2010
Vintage Foster's Lager Ad circa 1959.
Tags: Australia, Beer Ad, Beer Advertisement, Beer Bottle, Foster's, Foster's Group Ltd, Foster's Lager, Hops, Malt, Man, Vintage, Vintage Beer Girl, Woman
Posted in Vintage Ads | No Comments »
August 9th, 2010
I can't help but love Corona's beach Life marketing schtick.
The Brewski Report Reviews Corona Light
File Date: 8.9.10
File Name: This Suite is Sweet.
The Beer: Corona Light
Type: Light lager
Serving: Bottle
Stats: 4.10% ABV
Brewer: Grupo Modelo S.A.B. de C.V.
Web Site: www.grupomodelo.com
Country of Origin: Mexico
Brewer Info: First brewed in Mexico by Austrian immigrants. It was first sold on draft in 1926, but was first produced in 1925. Negra Modelo comes in an unusually shaped, wide brown bottle with a trademark Gold Label. Grupo Modelo has marketshare of 56% in Mexico. Grupo Modelo has exclusive rights in Mexico for the import and distribution of beer produced by Anheuser-Busch. Until the 60’s Grupo Modelo used red poppy flowers in its advertising, where almost any image it used had poppy flowers somewhere in the image.
Brewer Brand Hype: Corona Light, with only 99 calories and 5 grams of carbohydrates, is golden light in color with a crisp and refreshing taste. Its pleasant fruit-honey malt aroma and distinctive hop flavor make it a favorite among calorie and carb-conscious consumers and those interested in a light, thirst quenching beer. Corona Light goes great with any food choice.
Label: Corona Light
The Brewski Review: I was invited to attend an MLB game tonight with some of the executives of our company. As I noted in a previous post, I’m not a huge sports fan so I’ve declined this offer in the past. The idea of getting out of work early is greatly appreciated. But, the 3 hr ride in a car and returning home at 2am only to get back up and be at work by 7am didn’t sound as appealing to me as it may have others. What makes this trip different? The President of our company decided to stay in a hotel instead of traveling back the same evening. This decision, coupled with the fact that we would be in one of the best air conditioned corporate suites stationed right behind home base on a hot 95 degree day definitely makes the idea a little more alluring than it had in the past. Load up! I’m on board! The best way to see the game is when you have an abundance of free food and drinks, comfy chairs, access to a private restroom, closed circuit TV’s and oh yeah, did I mention air conditioning on a hot 95 degree day? The game was pretty anemic except for the amenities which included free alcoholic beverages. They stocked the suite with 5 bottles of chilled wine and a fridge full of water, soda and beer. I was hoping for a real variety here but was slightly surprised that they only had three brands: Sam Adams Boston Lager, Corona Light and O’Douls. I chose the Corona Light since I’ve never had one of these before. After adulterating the beer by jamming a wedge of lime down the neck I walked outside in the searing heat and downed it as quickly as it leaked out my sweat glands. The taste was a little less that what you would expect from a light beer. It Somewhat reminded me of drinking colored water. Most definitely a session beer to be drank in ‘mass quantities’ (as Mr. Conehead would say). Maybe when I go next year they’ll have other brands available. Or, perhaps I’ll just ask the attendant for something else and have it charged to the suite. Apparently anything goes….As we were leaving, the CFO of our parent company asked anyone if they wanted to take one of the comfy leather chairs home with them. I would have been down with that had I not had to carry it 2 city blocks to our public parking spot. Then again, maybe he was joking.
Drinkability: Nah. if offered a choice, would chose something else.
Appearance: Pale golden color.
The Buds: Crisp and cold but uneventful.
TBR Cap Rating: 2.75 out of 5 caps.
Yes. All the beach picture look alike. But that doesn't make it any less appealing.
Tags: 2.75 Rating, 4.10% ABV, 95 Degree Day, Air Conditioning, Baseball, Bottle, Car Ride, CFO, Corona, Corona Light, Free Drinks, Free Food, Game, Grupo Modelo, Import, Light Lager, Lime, Lime Wedge, Mexico, MLB, Mr. Conehead, O'Douls, President, Sam Adams Boston Lager, Searing Heat, Session Beer, Sports Fan, Stadium Suite, Tavel, The Coneheads, Wine
Posted in Grupo Modelo | 3 Comments »
July 30th, 2010
Sam Adams' Boston Lager displayed in high tech drinkware.
The Brewski Report Reviews Sam Adams’ Boston Lager and a Good Way To Eliminate Chipmunks
File Date: 7.30.10
File Name: The Chipmunk And The Cat
The Beer: Boston Lager
Type: Vienna Lager
Serving: Draft
Stats: 4.75% ABV
Brewer: Boston Beer Co. (Samuel Adams)
Web Site: www.samueladams.com
Country of Origin: MA, USA
Brewer Info: Jim Koch founded The Boston Beer Company in 1984 because he believed that Americans deserved better beer. Today, we’re a team of about 350 people, and we all share a common passion for bringing great Samuel Adams® beers to beer lovers everywhere. We’ve worked hard for the many successes we’ve enjoyed over the years. The Boston Beer Company has been cited as one of the best companies to work for by Boston Magazine, one of the Best Entry-Level Jobs by The Princeton Review, and our beers have won more awards than any beer in history.
Brewer Brand Hype: When Jim left his job to start a brewery, people told him he was crazy. After tasting that first batch of Samual Adams Boston Lager in his kitchen, he knew he had something that just might prove the doubters wrong. It wasn’t like any beer out there. Full flavored with hops and malt yet balanced and complex. And a beer revolution began. The incredible thing is after all these years, its still the same amazing beer and nothing else out there is quite like it.
Label: Pulled this one from the tap.
The Brewski Review: **Disclaimer: Animal lovers should NOT read this post.** That said, I’ve set a rat trap to kill the chipmunks burrowing around my house. Wisdom gained from my father. He told me this a while ago but I never really followed through until the chipmunks started burrowing through the corner of my wood porch decking. Arrrrg! The guantlet was thrown. I didn’t even bother to bait the traps, just place them in their travel path. Pow! Pow! Pow! Three in a row at one hole. Some time went by and the hole came up dry so I moved onto another. Pow! Pow! Another two. At this point, I thought about getting little chipmunk stickers with X’s through them so I could apply them to my front door - much like the WWII fighter pilots did on their planes when they had a confirmed enemy kill. My high was great until one day the trap came up missing. What the…?! In the back of my mind I made a mental note: go to store later to buy another varmit exterminator. Before that happened, my wife came home from her morning walk and said our trap was out in the street with a dead chipmunk. DANG! That must have been one bad*ss furry rodent. I figured he got his back legs trapped and he pulled himself and the trap about 60′ to the road with his front legs. I’m not sure if this was possible but that was the only explaination I could muster. Anyway, I head out to the road to retrieve the contraption and come to find out it was run over. Everything, including the chipmunk, was crushed. DRAT! About a week later my wife was chatting with the neighbor across the street and she told my wife that she watched a cat walking across the street with the chipmunk (and trap) in it’s mouth and get run over by a car. A devilish grin crossed my face when I heard this story. It was probably the same neighborhood cat that was using our flower beds as it’s litterbox. Talk about irony. Anyway, it turned out to be one very bad day for the chipmunk and the cat. But, on the bright side, my day was looking up. I would like to say I celebrated with a beer but that wasn’t the case. Had I, Sam Adams’ Boston Lager wouldn’t be that beer. Although a decent beer, it was a little hoppy for my tastes. I would drink it again if offered to me for free. I doubt I’d purchase any. Oh yeah, the moral of the story? There is no such think in life as a free lunch.
"We have met the enemy and they are ours." - U.S. naval captain Oliver Hazard Perry (1785–1819) wrote these famous words in a letter to U.S. army general William Henry Harrison (1773–1841) after defeating the British navy at the Battle of Lake Erie on September 10, 1813.
Drinkability: Okay. Would drink it again.
Appearance: Pale to medium amber.
The Buds: Kind of Hoppy for my tastes
TBR Cap Rating: 3.75 out of 5 caps.
Tags: 3.75 Rating, 4.75% ABV, Animal Lovers, Boston Beer Co, Boston lager, Burrow Holes, Burrowing, Car, Cat, Chatting, Chipmunk, Devilish Grin, Domestic, Erradicate, Exterminate, Flowerbed Litterbox, Hoppy, Irony, Kill, Moral of the Story, Morning Exercise, Neighbor Lady, No Free Lunch, Porch, Rat Traps, Rodents, Sam Adams, Sam Adams Boston Lager, Varmit, Vienna Lager, Wife, WWII Fighter Pilots
Posted in Sam Adams | 1 Comment »
July 30th, 2010
Bell's Brewery Oberon Ale
The Brewski Report Reviews Bell’s Oberon Ale.
File Date: 7.30.10
File Name: Scent Of Sunny On Sale Now!
The Beer: Oberon Ale
Type: American Pale Wheat Ale
Serving: Draft
Stats: 5.8% ABV
Brewer: Bell’s Brewery Inc.
Web Site: www.bellsbeer.com
Country of Origin: MI, USA
Brewer Info: Bell’s Brewery, Inc. formerly Kalamazoo Brewing Company, founded by Larry Bell as a home-brewing supply shop in 1983, sold its first beer in 1985. Originally brewing in a 15-gallon soup kettle, the company has grown remarkably. Bell’s Brewery has grown from a tiny operation renting part of a former plumbing supply warehouse to a bustling, regional craft brewery. Although the “microbrewery” revolution began on the West Coast in the 1970s, the Midwest saw this brewing development much later. Bell’s Brewery stands as the oldest craft-brewer east of Boulder, Colorado. Originally self-distributed, Larry and crew brewed, bottled and delivered all of the beer to market for the company’s first four years. By 1989, Bell’s was shipping over 500 barrels annually and assigned its first wholesaler to further establish itself across the State of Michigan. After struggling several years to produce and sell robust, full-bodied ales against a tide of a mass-market domestic beer, Bell’s began to see the demand for craft beer grow dramatically. Bell’s soon ventured outside Michigan, continuing its solid growth and developing a reputation across the Midwest for the unique style and flavor of its Bell’s brands.
Brewer Brand Hype: An American wheat ale brewed with Saaz hops. Spicy and fruity, Oberon is the color and scent of a sunny afternoon.
Label: A short draft beer served at the bar. No labels.
The Brewski Review: I don’t really have much to say about Oberon Ale and it appears the brewer doesn’t either. Take a look at the Brewer Brand Hype noted above. ‘color and scent of a sunny afternoon’? Who wrote this uniquely undescriptive marketing tagline? Bell’s Brewery must have bartered some of their product with a local ad firm because they most certainly couldn’t have paid for this touchy, feely assembly of words. If this verbiage is printed somewhere on the label and I was fortunate enough to read it before purchasing, the limited sensitivity of my manliness would have prevented me from purchasing this beverage. The bottle would have slipped through my hand and exploded on the store floor while I stood, slackjawed and immobile at the mere thought of something so unnaturally beer-like. Who is the intended market for this brand: nuns and sweet old grandmothers between the ages of 60 and 80? Seriously, was there any vision here into gaining market share with this brand advertising? I’m just really at a loss on this. What does a sunny afternoon smell like? To me, the scent of a sunny afternoon smells like fresh cut grass in the spring, thick, muggy and humid air in the summer, a burning pile of leaves in the fall and crisp, burning notrils on a subzero and sunny winter day. What does the scent of a sunny day smell like to you? Most likely not like this beer. Oberon to drink was decent and drinkable but I guess I expected more than Bell’s was capable of delivering. Ultimately, I wouldn’t consider Oberon Ale a quintessential summertime beer if that’s what the ’scent of a sunny afternoon’ is supposed to convey.
Drinkability: Sure. Maybe.
Appearance: Clear and medium to dark golden color.
The Buds: Good. But I expected more.
TBR Cap Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
Why couldn't the caption be 'Beer for the Blue Skies and Warm Days of Summer'? This picture is pretty darn inviting.
Tags: 3.5 Rating, 5.8% ABV, Advertising, American Pale Wheat Ale, Bell's, Bell's Brewery, Burning Leaves, Domestic, Draft, Fall, Grandmothers, Manliness, Market Share, Marketing, MI, Muggy, Nuns, Oberon, Oberon Ale, Scent, Spring, Subzero, Summertime, Sunny, Tagline, Winter
Posted in Bell's Brewery | No Comments »
July 29th, 2010
The Big Red One.
The Brewski Report Reviews Killians Irish Red
File Date: 7.29.2010
File Name: Sports Mans Bar Is The Ticket
The Beer: Killians Irish Red
Type: American Amber/Red Lager
Serving: Draft
Stats: 4.9% ABV
Brewer: Coors Brewery/MillerCoors
Web Site: www.georgekillians.com
Country of Origin: CO, USA
Brewer Info: [Lett's Brewery] was a Franciscan abbey, and then an iron works - which is where it got the Mill Park name. Then my great-grandfather took it over and established the Lett family brewery in 1864. “Let’s Drink Lett’s” was a well-known advertising slogan of its day. When Mill Park Brewery finally closed in 1956, it was the last remaining independent brewery in Ireland. Why the horse on the George Killian’s label? My family has always raised horses. Before automobiles, my family used horse and dray to deliver beer. My grandfather would drive his team around the county to slake the thirst of the stout men who worked the famed barley fields of Wexford. He said horses were better than cars, because a horse could always find it’s way back from the pubs to the brewery even if its driver no longer could. George Killian’s Irish Red is very much like the popular Ruby Ale originally brewed by my great-grandfather. Unlike Ruby Ale, George Killian’s Irish Red is brewed with lager yeast, which gives it a more crisp, clean finish. (Lett’s Brewery closed in 1956 and the name George Killian was purchased by the Pelforth Brewery in France. In 1989, Coors purchased the rights to the name ‘Killians Irish Red’ from the French brewery.)
Brewer Brand Hype: There’s an art to roasting barley: the darker the roast, the darker the beer. George Killian’s Irish Red owes it’s rich red color and flavor to the extra time and expertise it takes to make perfectly slow-roasted carmalized malt. Unlike some, we use nothing artificial to color our beer. Its exquisite ruby red hue is the true color of the malt. Surprisingly smooth. Distinctively malty. Clean. A little creamy. Flavorful, but not at all heavy. This is how drinkers characterize George Killians Irish Red.
Label: Got nothin’.
The Brewski Review: I was drinking this draft the other night in a ’sports’ bar. If I’ve never mentioned it before I’ll tell you that I’ve always wanted to own my own bar. But mine would be different. I’m not a sports fanatic so I started to think that it would be great to open a ’sportsmans’ or outdoorsmans bar. I’m talking about fly and ice fishing, black powder, bow and long rifle hunting, boating, trapping, big game, guided hunts, camping, hiking, traveling to exotic locations and the people who tamed them. I picture a low light atmosphere, old b&w photos on the walls, an exotic game menu, a bartender with a tie and jacket behind the bar and a few hottie waitresses who know what a .308 is and how to field dress a deer. I’d make the bar look like it’s been part of that location for 125 years. That would be different, cool and classy. Anyway, that’s what’ I would do. Like the idea? If you do it send me picture of your joint and I’ll post them. I could see serving a tasty beer like Killians in my place. I was actually expecting something a little heavier but it was surprised. Since Coors only purchased the rights to use the name Killians, I wonder how different Coors version is to the original Lett family recipe?
Drinkability: Surprisinly good.
Appearance: Reddish amber color.
The Buds: Not as heavy as I expected.
TBR Cap Rating: 4.0 caps out of 5.
Tags: 4.9% ABV, American Amber, B&W Photos, Beer Joint, Big Game, Black Powder, Boating, Bow Hunting, Camping, Classy, CO, Coors Brewery, Domestic, Draft, Exotic Game, Fanatic, Fly Fishing, George Killian, Hiking, Ice Fishing, Killians Irish Red, Long Rifle, Outdoorsmans, Red Lager, Sports Bar, Sportsman, Trapping
Posted in Coors Brewing Co. | 10 Comments »
July 28th, 2010
The Food Looks As Good As The Beer Tastes.
The Brewski Report Reviews Michelob’s Amber Bock
File Date: 7.28.2010
File Name: Designated Driver Sleeps In His Own Bed.
The Beer: Amber Bock
Type: Bock
Serving: Draft
Stats: 5.2% ABV
Brewer: Michelob/Anheuser-Busch
Web Site: www.anheuser-busch.com
Country of Origin: MO, USA
Brewer Info: Anheuser-Busch traces its origins back to the Bavarian brewery, which was established in 1852. Eberhard Anheuser acquired the Bavarian brewery in 1860 and renamed it E. Anheuser & Co. In 1864, his son-in-law, Adolphus Busch, joined the company that would later become Anheuser-Busch. While the company’s early years were demanding, Adolphus Busch proved up to the challenge. His keen vision, bold initiative, marketing savvy and passionate commitment to quality were his legacy to those who followed, and the high standards he established have been adhered to by each succeeding generation. Today, Anheuser-Busch produces the two best-selling beers in the world, Budweiser and Bud Light, and operates 12 breweries in the United States.
Brewer Brand Hype: Michelob AmberBock is an American-style bock beer with a rich, malty and smooth taste that is hearty and full-bodied, yet finishes cleanly. Anheuser-Busch introduced this premium-plus beer nationally in 1995. Best served with grilled, barbecued and German-style food. This dark mahogany lager has a rich nutty aroma. With a gentle hint of caramel malt sweetness, this American-style bock has a deep malty body that pours a tall head. Brewed using 100 percent malt-including dark-roasted black and caramel malts and all-imported hops
Label: Draft beer - no label.
The Brewski Review: I stopped into a small bar to have some dinner after work. It reminded me of my college drinking days: a bunch of regulars sitting up at the bar. I did spend time drinking at the local college bars, but I also liked to visit small bars where the misfits hung out: bikers, college kids, townies, old folks, music afficianados, etc. You had it all. The bands were great and the beer was cheap (rest assured we didn’t drink anything like Michelob - that was an old man’s beer.). Buy it by the bucket or pitcher. Pour it into plastic cups. Don’t touch anything in the restroom. If you were lucky you weren’t the nightly designated driver so you could whoop it up. It was always a challenge though not to be the driver. Usually we all met at someone’s house. After we had one or two we’d go outside to the cars. Everyone would walk to someone else’s car and then we’d argue. I probably had more than my fair share of driving assignments but that was alright. If you didn’t drive there was always a risk of not having a ride home. The driver may hook up or decide he’s had enough and just leave. So, when I did drive, I may not have been able to drink as much as I wanted. But, at least I knew where I’d be sleeping that night.
Drinkability: Sure. Would drink it again.
Appearance: Dark amber in color. Minimal head.
The Buds: Mild and malty tasting.
TBR Cap Rating: 4.0 caps out of 5.
Tags: 4.0 Rating, 5.2% ABV, Amber Bock, Anheuser-Busch, Bar, Bar Food, Beer Bucket, Bikers, Budweiser, College, College Bars, Designated Driver, Domestic, Draft, Drinking, Friends, Michelob, Misfits, MO, Music, Old Man's Beer, Pitchers, Plastic Cups, Sleeping, Townies
Posted in Anheuser-Busch | 2 Comments »
