bud light and ramen noodles

[hops99]

After spending some time with an old college friend over the weekend, I started wondering why so many people's food tastes evolve when they get older, but their beer tastes don't.

Case in point: Back in '91-'93 (prime college years), a bunch of guys and myself rented a house, partied our asses off, drank Bud Light, and ate $.50 boxed macaroni and cheese, ramen noodles, wonder bread, etc.

12 years later (I see the old group once or twice a year), their food tastes have grown up - no mac and cheese, ramen noodles, or chef boyardee anymore. But....they're still drinking Bud Light (despite my repeated efforts to convert them). What gives?

I guess the obvious answer (to me) would be the fact that advertising for the old college foods are geared towards kids, while Bud Light is geared towards any sheep-like male aged 16-75. I realize that many branded food and beverage commodities start to develop loyalty in high school and college as well (hence the "targeted demographic" for 90% of advertising these days). But, I'd still think that with so many craft beer options available today, more people would make the leap to quality.

[Beaver]

I've been the complete opposite. My beer tastes have changed drastically, while my food tastes have stayed the same (sandwiches and cereal).

[unkle bik]

Bud Light - the beer for those with no beer drinking imagination. The McDonald's of beer.

[sallad]

i wonder what it would taste like to boil your ramen noodles in bud light...?

[unkle bik]

Improve the taste of Bud Light for sure.
Pork or chicken?

[jmassey]

I know what you mean. All of my friends from college still drink Butt Light, Butt, PBR, really any domestic cheap beer. Some of them splurge and buy Sam Adams, which I do enjoy (not as much as my homebrew :D), and they also enjoy the stuff I make and give them.

I think a lot of it has to do with what you can afford and what you are used to. Once I got out of college, I made enough that I could start buying Guinness, Sam Adams, Samuel Smiths, and make my own.

Oh, and about ramen, it's just good. No matter how unhealthy it is, I can't help eating it. It's like Stuart Mackenzie says in "So I Married an Axe Murderer" about Colonel Sanders and KFC: "He puts an addictive chemical in it that makes you crave it fortnightly!"

[Beaver]

Welcome to the boards jmassey!

[steveh]

Welcome jmassey, how's the Globe? one of my best friends lives in Athens!

S.

[Sunriver]

Well, I might be of a little insight on this.

I am probley the youngest homebrewer you know, I am 21 and I have been drinking craft beer for a while.

I never was a big fan of magizines or TV. As such i was never subjuected to the amount of advertisements as alot of my friends.

My Girlfriend on the other hand was.

Her favorite Beer is MGD
while mine switches around all the time. It is currently Fat tire.

I have had her taste all sorts of craft beer and oddly she finds the taste to overwhelming. I tend to agree in some aspects with her as even I am a little bested by imperial stout and Barleywine. (Doesn't stop me from trying it :)

I agree that Brand recognition is a large part of sales but I think another important factor is changing tastes. At a younger age, porters and stouts can be intimidating to the uninitiated.

My thought is that most people dont bother to see if there is anything else better out there.

[Sunriver]

BTW I do love ramen noodles and hot dogs

[hops99]

Nothing wrong with a good hot dog once in a while. Although, I think I'm a hot dog snob, too! Only Nathan's or Vienna Beef Dogs for me...

[Jose]

Bud light is soo Awful. So is Bud. I try to promote people trying new beers and definetly staying away from most of the USA domestic beers.

On the other hand, I live off of Mac n' Cheese cause I'm a poor college student. I am about to graguate so that means I'm at an all time low in my savings account.

[adbachtell]

Have you (The Collective) ever eaten Ramen noodles raw??? (sober or intoxicated)

[skahtboi]

Originally posted by adbachtell
Have you (The Collective) ever eaten Ramen noodles raw??? (sober or intoxicated)

No. But my cat has!

[Caffinehog]

I had a roommate that ate ramen raw when he was hungry and short on time.

To make the first post ironic, I once ate ramen noodles while drinking a Dreadnaught.

[Salpta]

I eat Ramen noodles raw. They're nice and crunchy. Good nervous food.

Who got me started were the grade school kids i used to tutor after school. For a snack they'd whip out thier dried raman, poor the packet over the top and go to town.

Try it. You'll like it. :D

[fretlessman71]

Those pour, pour kids.... ;)