I Can't Taste my Beer?

[steveh]

So as I sat (actually, I stood most of the time) watching football play-offs yesterday, alternating between Capital's Winter Skal and Spaten Oktoberfest and yelling at missed tackles by the Packers, I finally caught the Miller Lite commercial some of my friends have told me about.

In the ad, a beer drinker at a bar takes a drink from his nameless beer and suddenly realizes that he can't taste his beer. This sets off a string of epiphanies by hapless beer drinkers across the commercial's imaginary city - all of them suddenly realizing that they can no longer taste their beers of choice. All of them but the Miller Lite drinkers, that is. The Lite drinkers look on incredulously as the other beer drinkers run screaming into the streets proclaiming that they can no longer taste their beer.

I shook my head and rolled my eyes at the hook of this ad, that is that Miller Lite has more flavor than any other lite beer. I looked down at the deep amber color of my Skal, inhaled the wonderful malt nose, took in a mouthful of fine toasted malt flavor with some nice alcohol warming and couldn't help but wonder if I couldn't make the Miller Lite drinkers run screaming into the streets after letting them try a sample of one my beers.

S.

[Richard English]

Quote "...I looked down at the deep amber color of my Skal,..."

Is this a US beer? I do recall a British chemical fizz lager of that name a while ago but can't imagine your description being applicable to that!

[Jeff]

What I thought was very ironic about the commercial was that almostt all the beer in the ad were in proper pilsner glasses. Then at tht end when they show Miller Lite (Pilsner) it is in a regular pint glass.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Jeff
Then at tht end when they show Miller Lite (Pilsner) it is in a regular pint glass.

I don't recall what glasses the generic beer was in (there were some poorly labeled bottles shown), but the Lite wasn't really in a pint or a Pilsner glass. It's some new glass Miller is using in their ads to look classy. The shape is sort of a cross between a Pilsner, an Irish style Imperial Pint, and a Weizenbier glass.

Richard, Capital's Winter Skal is a micro from here in the 'States, Middleton, Wisconsin to be exact. The Skal is their Winter seasonal and is a Lager best described as a cross between an Oktoberfest and a Bock, quite flavorful.

http://www.capital-brewery.com/seasonal.htm

S.

[steveh]

I just checked Millerbeer.com and you can view the three new commercials being aired on U.S. TV. The ad with the Pilsner glasses you saw, Jeff, was the ad they've titled "Air Beer," where all the glasses are filled with nothing.

In "Epidemic," where everyone discovers they can't taste their beer, all of the generic beer is in bottles.

AFA that glass, it's funny, but you can't buy it from the Miller on-line store. Only mugs, pilsners, and the U.S. style pint - you'd think they would be pushing their new fancy glass for all of those "unique" Lite drinkers.

S.

[Jeff]

Oh so close to being correct on which commercial it was. How is one supposed to keep up on all the terribly funny beer commercials out there?:)

[fretlessman71]

I've gotta say.... I don't like Miller and their products, but this is a FAR better ad campaign than the "mud-wrasslin' babes" series. And even if they're wrong about how THEIR product tastes, they're right about everyone else's in that category. If only they were hawking a REAL beer worthy of the creativity of their advertising department! The domino people, the Air beer (a take-off on the Sam Adams Light commercial that shows a bartender rinsing out a glass with another company's light beer, I'm sure), the "Epidemic"... all brilliant! Thanks for stepping away from the sex and focusing on the taste, guys!

Now, if you could only get the brewers to do that... :D

[Brownbeard]

I liked the mud wrestling babes. Gratuitous boobs are great!

[fretlessman71]

That's what MTV is for, though, isn't it? ;)

[steveh]

Originally posted by Jeff
Oh so close to being correct on which commercial it was. How is one supposed to keep up on all the terribly funny beer commercials out there?

The only reason I knew was because the ads are viewable on line. The only thing about the commercial that stuck in my mind was the Lite drinkers looking incredulous that someone would drink flavorless beer! That and that they were actually pouring the beer into a glass - Lite drinkers never do that! ;)

Besides, you're right - the message in all three commercials is ludicrous. "Don't be a lemming - drink Miller Lite!" Yeah, sure.

S.

[jsmurphy]

I find it extremely funny that they waste millions of dollars in an ad campaign to convince their target audience that their beer is flavorful, like they even care about flavor.

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by Richard English
Quote "...I looked down at the deep amber color of my Skal,..."

Is this a US beer? I do recall a British chemical fizz lager of that name a while ago but can't imagine your description being applicable to that!


Richard, I think that you may be referring to Skol Lager. It was one of those brews that was brewed under contract all over the world. I do not think that it is still being made. At least I hope not!

[chazwicke]

Oh and happy 100th Jeff!

[Richard English]

Quote "...Richard, I think that you may be referring to Skol Lager..."

Possibly. I know it was something that came from a garish font, was urine-yellow in colour and tended to be drunk by young lads who held their glasses by the body with the handle pointing ouwards.

[paul84043]

I had the pleasure of watching a couple of people taste "real" beer on New Years for the first time...very entertaining...
A friend brought a new girlfriend with him and they started out with some light yellow mega-whatever...I can't even remember what it was. I reminded him that I had several party pigs of homebrew in the garage and he dumped his beer out nearly full, grabbed a glass out of the cupboard, and sprinted out the door...
We wiped out one pig of a Fat tire clone that I am extremely happy with and will definitely make again, and most of a Pig full of my Guiness clone. The best was when he asked his GF to try a barleywine....it was hilarious...
She liked it and was just amazed that it was beer.

I ate some bad chicken and spent most of the next day wishing that I would die, but New Years Eve was lots of fun....

[fretlessman71]

So THAT'S where you've been! I was wondering why chaz and I were catching you on posts! The 800's seemed unattainable for awhile.... :D

very much hope you're feeling better.

[BluesHarp]

...then there is the "human domino" commercial where a chain of people knock each over throughout an entire city until some Gilligan looking guy (apparently TV has decided that bad '70's haircuts are back in style) steps out of the way and breaks the chain...of course he is drinikng Miller Lite. The song "Freedom of Choice" is playing over the action. So drinking Lite is going against the grain??? Nice try. I nearly spilled my Immort Ale.

Hey Steveh...what are you having for this weekend's game ?


Hey! just passed 200!!...A New Holland Dragon's Milk for me!!:D

[hopjack13]

Originally posted by jsmurphy
I find it extremely funny that they waste millions of dollars in an ad campaign to convince their target audience that their beer is flavorful, like they even care about flavor.

lmao, you got that right! you can't miss something you never had!
and congrats on 200 blue!

[steveh]

Originally posted by BluesHarp
Hey Steveh...what are you having for this weekend's game ?

I always make sure that I have a good Wisconsin micro for luck as I'm watching the game. Last week the Capital Winter Skal served well (which I was drinking when I saw the ad that prompted this whole thread). This week, dunno. More Skal? Sprecher? Lake Front, New Glarus..?

Congrats on 200 Harp! Any trips to the Flatlands soon?

S.

[BluesHarp]

Steveh...

Not sure when I will make it down - I've got playoff games to watch (hopefully for a while yet!), my cousin's wife's 30'th B-day the last weekend in Jan., best friend's 40'th B-day on Super Bowl Sunday, a trip to MN (the Evil Purple Empire) first weekend in Feb. for a wedding, might be going to New Orleans on vacation in March or April...have to plan a road trip one of these days though...one trip to "The Firkin" was not nearly enough; especially considering they were out of Dreadnaught when I was there!

I will need to arrange for my cousin Joe and his wife to accompany us; he is another true beer lover - he is presently on a letter writing campaign attempting to get several breweries, including Stone and Victory, to distribute in our area; he has gotten replies from most of the breweries; and they actually seem to be taking his request seriously.

He has convinced one west coast brewery (I can't divulge who) to make an exception to their "no beer shipping" policy and ship us a mixed case of their beers.

I will certainly let you know when we come down...I would enjoy meeting you and sharing some pints!

Blues

[steveh]

Originally posted by BluesHarp
A New Holland Dragon's Milk for me!!:D

Footnote: I found some of this at the local good paint store yesterday: Wa - wa - wow! Watch for a review at Tasting Notes soon!

S.

[steveh]

Originally posted by BluesHarp
I will certainly let you know when we come down...I would enjoy meeting you and sharing some pints!

Shoot me a PM when you make some plans, we can pub crawl Libertyville! ;)

S.

[chazwicke]

[i]Originally posted by BluesHarp [

Hey! just passed 200!!...A New Holland Dragon's Milk for me!!:D [/B]

I was on vacation travel so sorry for the belated congrats on your 200th!!

[chazwicke]

[i]Originally posted by paul84043 [
I ate some bad chicken and spent most of the next day wishing that I would die, but New Years Eve was lots of fun.... [/B]

Are you sure it was the chicken? :D

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
So THAT'S where you've been! I was wondering why chaz and I were catching you on posts! The 800's seemed unattainable for awhile.... :D

very much hope you're feeling better.


HAPPY 800th Fret!! You got there first!

[Doug123]

I just find the commercials funny to watch. Not funny on how Miller intended, but funny that Miller would say that THEIR beer is the one with taste.

I also wonder who Miller is ultimately targeting with their "we have taste!" ad campaign. If you drink Miller, do you really care about flavor? What their ad campaign should say: "You can slam a lot of our beers quickly because they have no distinctive taste to offend!" Yee ha...

New Holland makes some fine beers. If you get the chance, they just opened up a new place (while keeping their original place too, I believe) in Holland, Michigan.

[studentofbeer]

im curious if any of the large craft breweries have ever engaged in large-scale television advertising. of course sam adams does, but what about something like sierra nevada or anchor? could it be possible for a craft brewer to break into the real big time with a concerted marketing campaign?

[Stodbrew]

As far as I know, Sierra Nevada nor Anchor, has ever done any T.V. advertising. They don't even really do much, if any print advertising. I don't think they need to. I find it amazing that SN has grown as much as they have, mostly due to word of mouth over the last 20+ years. Last time I was there, I was talking to one of their brewers, and they were getting ready to install a bunch more fermentors to take them over the 1 million bbl. mark. Incredible!

[fretlessman71]

Funny how there are several people here on the board (or did I misunderstand yet again?) that feel like Sierra Nevada is just boring beer anymore, and wouldn't even consider their pale ale or their porter when they go to the store. Yet without advertising, they sell enough beer SOMEWHERE to have a need to create 1,000,000 barrels of beer in a year (or is that at one time? I have no idea how much of what anyone makes).

If the BMC group would spend less on advertising and more on creating better beer, could you just IMAGINE.....? :)

[studentofbeer]

i hope you didnt think i was implying SN is boring beer. I still love the stuff!

and it's damn impressive that they are moving up to 1 billion capacity on like you said, just word of mouth.

all i was trying to say is, is it possible for any of the big craft brewers to move into the super mainstream by making use of advertising? instead of saying if only BMC spent less on advertising, why shouldn't good brewers spend more?

im not an expert in advertising or brewing, but it seems like advertising, sponsorships etc. worked for Sam Adams and the Boston Beer Co. (though you could argue that with such huge growth quality in some of their products declined). Not all brewers want a national stage and it would be hard to compete with BMC in terms of advertising dollars, but there must be ways to beat them at their own game and bring craft brew even farther into the mainstream. (maybe its debatable if people even want that to happen though).

[Stodbrew]

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is pretty much my stock beer. It's always in my fridge. The fact that they have been around for so long, have undergone numerous expansions, and have never compromised the quality or flavor of their products, is only one of the many reasons they are one of my favorite breweries.

The 1 million bbls. is per year. I'm not sure they've made it to that mark yet, but they will.:)

[fretlessman71]

Originally posted by studentofbeer
i hope you didnt think i was implying SN is boring beer. I still love the stuff!


Oh no... I understood you perfectly. There are others here on the boards that need to be re-educated, that's all! :)

Interesting that Sam Adams isn't as good as they were before they started having Jim Koch talk about how he "craft-brews" his beer... and I certainly remember their cream stout and their pale ale as being tastier back in the day as well! I wonder if SN knows that could happen to them if they take the same tack. Think about it... with advertising comes demand, and with demand sometimes comes unwanted, unplanned for compromises.... my gut feeling is that SN knows exactly what it's doing, and figures that slow steady growth over several years will keep them a mainstay for several more years!

[hopjack13]

amazing, sierra navada is truely a pioneer in the beer revolution.
in the early 80's the two owners (well only one now) talked their parents in to putting up second mortgages on their houses so they could start a brewery. i think it only came to a total of $100,000 .they still have some of the original equipment on display at the brewery. look at where SN is today, and like you all said, with almost no advertising. stone is expanding too. it wont be too long and they'll be up there with SN too. just goes to show, people are starting to find out what real beer is all about. before prohibition there were roughly 4000 brewerys in america, by the 1970's there were less then 50 i think, now were over 1500 and counting. hopefully soon we'll be closer to where we were!

[chazwicke]

Actually I believe the number of breweries has declined a bit from its high point in the 90s. There was a shakeout.

SNPA is a beer for everyone in my opinion. Extremely drinkable. I recommend it neo-beer-phites and non good beer drinkers all the time. it is a great stepping stone beer and way better than Sam Adams. I can tell you when thier Celebration hits our area each year word of mouth spreads the news like wildfire.
Oh, and most of the casinos in Vegas have SNPA too.

[BluesHarp]

Originally posted by hopjack13
stone is expanding too. it wont be too long and they'll be up there with SN too.

One of my cousins is on a mission to get some of the more highly regarded micrbreweries to expand their distribution areas to Wisconsin...Victory, Alesmith, and Stone among them.
Victory and Alesmith both mentioned they are seriously considering expansion, but this was part of the reply from Stone:

"First off, right now we do not have any immediate plans to distribute to your fine state, but that’s not to say we’ll never get around to it. Actually in 2004 we don’t have plans to add any new states at all, we’re trying to keep the existing 18 states happy right now! "

Doesn't sound like SN will have to worry about them for some time, based on those comments.

[fretlessman71]

I would hope that SN would regard Stone, Alesmith, and the like as bretheren, not the competition! (Like SN has much to worry about... :) )

[skahtboi]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
Funny how there are several people here on the board (or did I misunderstand yet again?) that feel like Sierra Nevada is just boring beer anymore, and wouldn't even consider their pale ale or their porter when they go to the store.

I don't think anyone here would imply that about SN!!! I have both their Porter and the Pale Ale in the beverage fridge myself right now! Although, I must admit that my favorite "daily" American Pale Ale now is made by Flying Dog Brewery out of Colorado.

[fretlessman71]

Gotta admit... Flying Dog does a great job! I made a beer bread out of that very PA once that my wife STILL talks about. And she doesn't care for beer at ALL.

You know, I've been thinking... there's got to be a category for microbreweries that do the simple things well... for example, SN carries a PA, a stout, porter, wheat, and a summer lager. They're not flavored, overly done this way or that, too heavy or too strong, they're just REALLY GOOD. Sam Adams used to be like this; Flying Dog I think gets the nod. Does anyone have any idea what I'm talking about here?

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
Gotta admit... Flying Dog does a great job! I made a beer bread out of that very PA once that my wife STILL talks about. And she doesn't care for beer at ALL.

You know, I've been thinking... there's got to be a category for microbreweries that do the simple things well... for example, SN carries a PA, a stout, porter, wheat, and a summer lager. They're not flavored, overly done this way or that, too heavy or too strong, they're just REALLY GOOD. Sam Adams used to be like this; Flying Dog I think gets the nod. Does anyone have any idea what I'm talking about here?

I do and I agree there are some breweries out there like that. I just got in from dinner and found some Celebration still on tap. Was yummy!

[fretlessman71]

Great! So all we need is a good name for this category....

[hopjack13]

Doesn't sound like SN will have to worry about them for some time, based on those comments.
i think stone is worried more about covering the existing distrabution area ....ie...keeping up with demand!, but make no mistake they're growing like wildfire

[chazwicke]

Evening Hopjack, Where ya been?

[fretlessman71]

All right, all right, already! I'm going on a walk with my wife, and you can have the 1000 posts mark for the two of you.... have fun!

[chazwicke]

I'm heading up to bed soon. So I guess its up to Hopjack. Enjoy the walk.

[hopjack13]

goat hill tavern , i had afew pint with fidcastro. he gave me a bottle of westmalle double striaght from belgium! a hell of a guy! thnx fid!:D
boy you and fret really shot by me on posts, well i hope you make it to 1000 first, your my beer hero...you get to go beer everywhere!

[chazwicke]

I'm having trouble keeping up with you guys. Was that the first time you and Fid met up?

[hopjack13]

yeaj we had plans to meet up a few times before but never made the connection . he said he was going to be in the area so i said let have a few! worked out real well, fids good people.
you still here fret? come on now ! who's gunna hit 1000? im gunna stay till some one does!

[chazwicke]

I think Fret's gonna do it!

[hopjack13]

keep farming fret your almost there!

[fretlessman71]

I'm going to stop at 999 out of spite. :D

[chazwicke]

Right Fret?

[hopjack13]

he's only three ahead of you chaz! go for it!

[fretlessman71]

This way I can make good on my pledge that I wasn't going to sit here and make odd useless posts on the quest for that fourth digit.

[chazwicke]

I'm trying!

[fretlessman71]

So, if you haven't read my last three posts or so, scroll up and have a look... and enjoy your 1000th post in advance! Many, many congratulations!

Catch y'all on the flip side... :D

[hopjack13]

try harder fret only has two to go!

[chazwicke]

I want him to have the honor.

[chazwicke]

Go for it Fret!

[hopjack13]

chaz???

[skahtboi]

One of you two has to say something....

[chazwicke]

If he does not go for it then its up to you HopJack. I'm heading to bed.

[hopjack13]

hey that was my first one word post! if someone doesn't hit 1000 here i will!...uh in about 20 more:confused:

[hopjack13]

NOOOOOOOOOOO!! i got $50 bucks on you man!!!

[skahtboi]

Wanna wait for me to catch up???? :D

[BluesHarp]

Originally posted by hopjack13
i think stone is worried more about covering the existing distrabution area ....ie...keeping up with demand!, but make no mistake they're growing like wildfire

the good news is, my cousin has a cousin (?) who lives in that area, and is willing to send us beer!

All's well that ends well!!!! :D

[hopjack13]

how the hell can you guys stop at 999? after all that to get there! i shouldn't have droped out, you guy are disappointing me here!

[hopjack13]

does this mean were not going to trade blue??

[skahtboi]

Chaz....I see you monitoring the threads still. Come one...one more post....:rolleyes:

[hopjack13]

i got my money on skahtboi!

[BluesHarp]

Originally posted by hopjack13
does this mean were not going to trade blue??

Check your PM's bro...I'm on a roll!!!

[skahtboi]

Originally posted by hopjack13
i got my money on skahtboi!

Gawsh....I sure hope it isn't very much!

[hopjack13]

why not ...i lost $50 on chaz! :mad:

[chazwicke]

I could'nt do it. Fret rightfully got there first! He was two ahead of me. But now that he has cracked the ceiling we can go back to normal!

[chazwicke]

By the way, did you really have $50 on it?

[chazwicke]

CONGRATS to Fret and Hopjack! They have been to the top of the mountain and have seen the other side! Also Congrats to Steveh he is close on thier tails having crossed 900 and doing it legitimately.

[fretlessman71]

Just for the record, chaz, we're sharing 1000 honors. It's in my post in the "race to 1000 posts" thread....