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The Knave of Beers
Jun. 11th, 2006 04:06 pmWhen I was watching the World Cup earlier, they had a commercial claiming that Budweiser was the official beer. I didn't pay a whole lot of attention to it - I figured Bud had bought the US bragging rights, I couldn't imagine Germans drinking that stuff.
Lo and behold, it turns out that Budweiser is the actual official beer, and the Germans are pissed. http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/sports/14776941.htm You'd think people would be more cautious, considering what happened the last time those people got wound up.
Personally, I like Budweiser, within limits. If it's a hot day, and I'm sweating like a ploughhorse, Bud is what I want. It's a crisp, astringent beer, watery, yet with a sharp, biting taste, and nothing's better when you're hot and thirsty.
I sometimes drink it over ice, which would probably mark me anywhere I went in the world as American. They make it right down the street from me too - I can see the brewery from my bedroom window. Every few weeks, they reach a certain point in the brewing cycle, and the entire neighborhood smells like the feedroom of a stable on a hot day :)
Like Hershey's sour chocolate, it's an American standard, and can probably be expected to jar a palate accustomed to European beers. Why on earth anyone would think it was a good idea to make that the exclusive beer for a Continental stadium eludes me. People aren't coming to have their horizons widened - they're coming to have a good time, and want their comfort foods while they watch. I can imagine the horror if, say Grolsch Dark, sediment and all, suddenly became the exclusive beer of NASCAR.
In general, I can't see what companies hope to gain from exclusivity agreements. It's an obvious winner for the venue - they get tons of money. It's difficult for me to grasp the mindset that taking away a consumer's choices will somehow build goodwill towards your company. Pepsi does this at the Indiana State Fair, and it certainly hasn't resulted in my buying their product outside of the Fair (or inside of it, either - there're Coke machines in the Horse barns :) ).
*****
I'm sure the Paraguayan captain is in disgrace. Earlier this week, he was being obnoxiously macho and South American, and carrying on about how how his squad would drub the English. He accidentally knocked the ball into his own goal about three minutes into the match, and things just didn't get any better for them the rest of the game, despite the referee's best efforts.
*****
I'm pleased that the Iranians were roundly booed as they took the field today. The only ones who seem to like them are the Nazis.
Lo and behold, it turns out that Budweiser is the actual official beer, and the Germans are pissed. http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/sports/14776941.htm You'd think people would be more cautious, considering what happened the last time those people got wound up.
Personally, I like Budweiser, within limits. If it's a hot day, and I'm sweating like a ploughhorse, Bud is what I want. It's a crisp, astringent beer, watery, yet with a sharp, biting taste, and nothing's better when you're hot and thirsty.
I sometimes drink it over ice, which would probably mark me anywhere I went in the world as American. They make it right down the street from me too - I can see the brewery from my bedroom window. Every few weeks, they reach a certain point in the brewing cycle, and the entire neighborhood smells like the feedroom of a stable on a hot day :)
Like Hershey's sour chocolate, it's an American standard, and can probably be expected to jar a palate accustomed to European beers. Why on earth anyone would think it was a good idea to make that the exclusive beer for a Continental stadium eludes me. People aren't coming to have their horizons widened - they're coming to have a good time, and want their comfort foods while they watch. I can imagine the horror if, say Grolsch Dark, sediment and all, suddenly became the exclusive beer of NASCAR.
In general, I can't see what companies hope to gain from exclusivity agreements. It's an obvious winner for the venue - they get tons of money. It's difficult for me to grasp the mindset that taking away a consumer's choices will somehow build goodwill towards your company. Pepsi does this at the Indiana State Fair, and it certainly hasn't resulted in my buying their product outside of the Fair (or inside of it, either - there're Coke machines in the Horse barns :) ).
*****
I'm sure the Paraguayan captain is in disgrace. Earlier this week, he was being obnoxiously macho and South American, and carrying on about how how his squad would drub the English. He accidentally knocked the ball into his own goal about three minutes into the match, and things just didn't get any better for them the rest of the game, despite the referee's best efforts.
*****
I'm pleased that the Iranians were roundly booed as they took the field today. The only ones who seem to like them are the Nazis.
