"At last. I have invented the perfect beer with my secret frost-brewed process. Or was it the solar panels?"
This morning, I actually heard a Sierra Nevada beer commercial lauding their new solar-paneled breweries-as if that makes a better beer!
But then, I recalled all the other ridiculous ads by major breweries-forgive me if I can't match the brewery with the ad. But can someone explain to me (maybe Lance) why I should care if a beer is cold-filtered, frost-brewed, heat filtered or what have you?
Then there is the classic (Coors) ad where the mountains on the label turn blue when the beer is cold enough-for all you beer drinkers without a sense of touch. Gimme a break!
Here's a big part of the secret, folks; water, hops, barley and yeast like they do in Germany with the old Reinheitsgebot (purity law of Bavaria). Apparently, there is also a development the Germans came up with called "under-fermentation" vs "over-fermentation" or vis-versa. Maybe the secret is the water. Maybe they have better water in Germany, or Holland or the Czech Republic than they do in the US. Or better hops or better barley or better yeast. Hell if I know.
But don't tell me I should buy a beer because it is cold-filtered-whatever that means- or the brewery has solar panels.
The solar panels will not have an impact on the taste of the beer, but anything that helps to save energy is a good thing. (And Sierra Nevada follows the Reinheitsgebot - I've taken their tour.)
ReplyDeleteAs for "cold-filtered" and all that, it's completely meaningless. My personal favorite is "frost brewed." What the hell is that supposed to mean? When you brew something, you bring it to a boil. How do you have frost on something that's boiling?
Basically, it shows that those advertisers don't care and feel as though their customers don't put a whole lot of thought into what they buy. They probably did some marketing research that concluded that people like words like "frost" and "chill" and stuff like that.
I love how the primary selling point of these beers is that their beers are cold! Hey, did you know that I can get my homebrews really cold too? I can even freeze them!
Sierra Nevada may follow the Reinheitsgebot, but it is not close to german beer.
ReplyDeleteSierra Nevada is smart to use solar panels, but they don't make the beer better. In fact, no matter what they use, nothing will make their beer better. A lousy beer.
ReplyDeleteOf course it isn't, but it's not trying to even be like German beer. Comparing a pale ale to a Helles or Pilsner is like comparing a Cabernet Sauvignon to a Riesling.
ReplyDeleteOK Lance. Give me an American beer you would compare to a German helles or pils.
ReplyDeleteAn American Helles or Pils that's as good as its German counterpart? I can name some good ones, but I can't name any that are on the same level.
ReplyDeleteThe thing is, even if the Kitzmann brewery was right next door to me, I'd still want something like a Sierra Nevada every once and a while. I like a variety of different beers, and I make a different style every time I brew a new batch.
Do you really think the ad was saying that solar energy made the beer better? Or that it just made Sierra Nevada a "greener" company, which appeals to their customers with environmental concerns. You seem to be projecting a bit here in order to make anything environmentally friendly sound crazy.
ReplyDeleteFindalis, Sierra Nevada is, by almost any measure, a fantastically successful and highly-revered (not to mention award-winning) microbrew. I'm not sure what you think makes it "lousy." I personally think it's tasty as hell. What upsets you about it? What are some beers in its genre that you prefer?
Beer like art is subject to personal preference and taste. Some people even like Budweiser.
ReplyDeleteWell, thanks for that informative answer to my very direct questions.
ReplyDeleteI just learned about Vortex bottles. Those will make your beer taste REALLY good! I'm gonna buy a whole case!
ReplyDeleteThere are some beers Lance in which no bottle, vortex or not, will ever make them taste good.
ReplyDeleteIf the beer taste like crap,nothing will help the taste.
Findalis, I was being sarcastic.
ReplyDeleteAdd "inability to recognize satire" to Findalis' myriad deficiencies of wit.
ReplyDeleteIf one company makes excellent beer using solar panels to provide the power, while another company makes equally excellent beer using electricity from a coal-fired power plant, I might well be inclined to buy my beer from the company using the solar panels.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the manufacturing costs for the company using solar panels might actually be lower. In Nevada, turning the sunlight into electricity instead of letting it heat up the roof might even lower air conditioning costs, a double win!
However, I don't drink beer, so I wouldn't be a factor in their marketing calculations.
Actually, if I am not mistaken, Sierra Nevada is actually from Colorado or California, not Nevada. (I'm too lazy to go to "Fact Check".)
ReplyDeleteSierra Nevada is in Chico, CA. I've taken their brewery tour. Their restaurant is pretty good, and they have pint glasses at a good price.
ReplyDeleteSummers in Chico are hot and sunny.
ReplyDelete