Herman Joseph's resurrected!

[fretlessman71]

I was just given a bottle of the NEW Herman Joseph's, brewed by AC Golden Brewing Co. (3 guesses who owns the brewery). It's only available in Denver at limited locations, and brewed in very small batches. A bartender gave me a bottle to take home and try, and it's actually quite good. Amazing what happens when they don't use rice in the beer! I don't know if I'd buy a 6er of it, but it's a good step in the right direction for them. Wonder if they'll brew any more beers...

[S.F.B.]

I remember Herman Joseph's. It was brewed many years ago by a brewery in Golden, I do believe. Never tried it. I was a bit young when it came out. It was released as a premium beer. Better than the regular offering from the brewery.

[MeridianFC]

Amazing what happens when they don't use rice in the beer! .

I don't think Coors ever used rice, I thought that was strictly an AB thing.

[jesskidden]

I don't think Coors ever used rice

Coors *used* to use rice, at least.

"For rice we use a short-grained variety grown in the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valley of California. We find this rice to be superior to all other varieties for brewing purposes, and, of course, we pay a considerable premium for it." W. K. Coors, President (circa 1976- from The Tasters Guide to Beer)

Also, the recipe for the early ale version of Killian's was (according to the 5th GABF handbook, 1983) "Two-row Moravian III and special caramel malts, rice, refined starch, Cascade and Hallertau whole hops".

It does seem to me that most current Coors promotional material only mentions corn, rather than rice.

Don't recall what the ingredient claims for the original "Herman Joseph's" were, but from what I've read the current beer shares only the name and is in other respects a totally different product.

I thought that was strictly an AB thing.

A number of other US brewers used to use rice as a adjunct, often (due in part, probably, to A-B touting it as "more expensive") in their "super-premium" beers. Off hand, Heileman Special Export, Hamm's Preferred Stock and Matt's Premium were "rice-adjunct" beers. Rolling Rock used to use both rice and corn- still does as an A-B product IIRC.

[beerking]

In 1987, when I toured the plant in Golden, we were told by a Vanna White-esque tour guide that "rice gives beer its "drinkability." My immediate thought, even back then, was "Here's to 'undrinkable' beer!"