The Beer Snob Strikes Back or Beer Buddha Rants about Beer Snobbery Again

Totally stole this from some dude online.

During my last visit to my favorite bar Avenue Pub a couple weeks ago I was at the downstairs bar and overheard some dude making fun of someone ordering a Miller Light.  Yeah I'm sure sometimes I poke fun at the BMC guys or make fun of ladies who order beer that "tastes closest to Bud Light"(just order a Bud Light then) but I also have no problem drinking their product either and I'm careful what I say.  In fact I have a 12 pack of Miller High Life in my fridge right now.  I also have my wife, who is going on a trip to Texas next week, picking me up a case of Lone Star tall boys and looking for some Pearl in cans as well.

It drives me insane when I hear people state, "I don't touch BMC stuff it sucks!" or "This bar isn't a real bar if it carries macro swill." Blah, blah, blah.  Get over yourself.

Don't get me wrong I enjoy seeing that craft beer is steadily gaining in sales.  It's fantastic but I can't stand when I'm looked at funny when I order a Miller High Life or PBR from the bar.  I LIKE Miller High Life so what?  I can buy a 12 pack of Miller High Life for $8.  That is about the same price as 1 six pack of craft beer.  Sometimes I want something I can drink a lot of  for cheap.  It's like McDonalds or Rallys(Rally's is awesome. Checkers to all you Yankee readers.)  Sometimes I don't want a fancy burger that costs me $15.  I just want a double bacon cheeseburger, large fries and goddamn litre of cola.  And no I don't want it Dimpa sized for a quarter.(If you don't get the last 2 sentences you have some movie watching to do.)

And think about this for a second.  If you are bashing macro beers at a bar you could be bashing some dudes favorite beer who just might have been thinking about trying that new local, craft beer that just came out.  You just made yourself look like the pretentious douche you are and may have just turned off a potential new craft beer consumer.  So thanks a lot beer snob.  You sir a douche and are actually hurting the craft beer movement.  So think before you open your big douchey mouth again.

Rant Over

Cheers!


The Beer Buddha

Beer Review: Lone Star Beer

Ah, the lager. One of the must under-appreciated beer styles amongst the beer geeks. Immediately the beer geek will associate lagers with the big boys Bud, Miller and Coors. The smarter beer geek will understand that German lagers are some of the best available but alas that's not what I'm talking about.

I am in fact reviewing an American Macro Lager. I can feel the collective shudder of beer geeks everywhere. But if you know me and you are a regular reader you know there is no shame in my game. I will always try to find the good in a beer no matter who makes it. I don't care if you are a brewing behemoth pumping out lagers every second or if you're a small brewer pumping out less than 3000 barrels per year. Granted just cause I'm trying to find the good in a beer doesn't mean I always will hence the Game Day beers.

Anyways, I have a weird fascination with the regional macro beer companies like Hamms, Narragansett and even locally Dixie. I really can't explain it but it's my goal to try as many of these breweries as I can. I know that Hamms and Narragansett are making huge comebacks but they aren't available here in New Orleans. Anyone want to send me some???

On a recent trip to Texas a friend of mine picked up a sixer of Lone Star 16oz cans. I've been drinking them ice cold and straight from the cans and I must say they aren't bad. They are great for the hot summer. My recommendation though would be to buy the cans(less chance of skunking and oxidization)and get them real cold. Anyways, here is my review:

Brewery: Pabst Brewing Company/G.Heileman Brewing Co.

Beer: Lone Star Beer

Style: American Macro

Appearance: I have no idea. I drank it straight from the can as it should be.

Smell: Very sweet malty aroma with hints of grain and breadiness.

Taste: Similar to aroma with malty sweetness with hints if grain/cereal taste. Hop presence is minimal to non existent except for the slight bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Thin body with high carbonation.

Drinkability: Not a bad beer at all. Lets be honest they aren't trying to be the next hop bomb or coffee stout. It is what it is. A simple American lager. I recommend getting these in cans and serving them extremely cold. Great beer for after mowing the lawn or while you're grilling.

Score: 3 out of 5 Buddhas

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

DIrty Little Secrets

Ok, so I have to confess something here on this blog.  I have a dirty little secret.  I occasionally enjoy American-style lagers.  There I said it.  Let's see how long it takes for people to stop reading The Beer Buddha.  That's ok though because from the very beginning my goal was to take the snobbery out of beer.

There are many times(especially when I'm low on cash)you'll see me drinking a PBR or some other cheap macro lager and I'm honestly not embarrassed.  There is always a time and place for every beer.  Sometimes when you're out grilling or have the ribs on the BBQ(there is a difference between grilling and BBQ)it's so hot outside you want a beer that is light, crisp, clean and refreshing.  Sorry to all you beer snobs but a double IPA just isn't gonna cut it for me.  And come on if you're throwing a party with 50+ of your closest friends you want something tasty yet relatively cheap right?  An $18 6 pack just isn't going to work.  This is where the America-style lager comes in to play.  You know what I'm talking about: Budweiser, Miller, Coors, PBR, etc.  The following is my top 5 list of best American-style lagers available on the market:

1) PBR- Yeah I know all the hipsters love it but it really isn't that bad.  It has a nice maltiness to it with a slight grassiness from the very little hops added.  Very crisp, clean and refreshing beer.

2) Miller High Life- Again this one is a crisp, clean and refreshing brew with sweet maltiness and actually almost zero hop taste present.  I would avoid the 6 packs and try cans or 12 packs since this bottle comes in the clear bottle.

3) Pacifico- Not only do these guys have a cool surfer vibe marketing campaign going on but Pacifico in my book is the best Mexican offering available.  And yes I know this isn't an American beer.  Remember I said American-style lager.  Seriously though try it.

4) Red Stripe- HOORAY BEER!  I love these guys marketing as well but the beer is great too.  This Jamaican classic has a nice sweet maltiness with a slight citrus hop flavor.   And how can you not love the little stubby bottles they come in. 

5) Lone Star- Started by Adolphus Busch(yes, that Adolphus Busch) and some San Antonio business men Lone Star has been around and kicking since 1884.  I prefer this one out of the can but like all the others on this list it is a crisp, clean and refreshing brew.  Oh and a buddy of mine picked up a 6 pack of 16oz cans for me in Texas for $5.59.  Not bad.

Hope you enjoyed the list and if you have any beers to add please feel free to let me know via the comment section!

Cheers!


The Beer Buddha