Comments on: Does light (lite) beer have to suck? http://appellationbeer.com/blog/does-light-lite-beer-have-to-suck/ Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:38:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Swordboarder http://appellationbeer.com/blog/does-light-lite-beer-have-to-suck/comment-page-1/#comment-81960 Swordboarder Fri, 14 Dec 2007 19:59:57 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/does-light-lite-beer-have-to-suck/#comment-81960 No, they were the ones metaled in 2003 and 2004. 2004 World Beer Cup European-Style Low-Alcohol Lager/German-Style Leicht(bier), Gold: Coastal Light Lager, Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Paso Robles, CA 2004 GABF American-Style "Light" Amber Lager Bronze: Coastal Light Pale, Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Paso Robles, CA 2003 GABF American-Style "Light" Amber Lager Silver: Walker's Mild, Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Paso Robles, CA No, they were the ones metaled in 2003 and 2004.

2004 World Beer Cup
European-Style Low-Alcohol Lager/German-Style Leicht(bier),
Gold: Coastal Light Lager, Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Paso Robles, CA

2004 GABF
American-Style “Light” Amber Lager
Bronze: Coastal Light Pale, Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Paso Robles, CA

2003 GABF
American-Style “Light” Amber Lager
Silver: Walker’s Mild, Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Paso Robles, CA

]]> By: Stan Hieronymus http://appellationbeer.com/blog/does-light-lite-beer-have-to-suck/comment-page-1/#comment-81946 Stan Hieronymus Fri, 14 Dec 2007 18:25:16 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/does-light-lite-beer-have-to-suck/#comment-81946 Dave - Those are the two that medaled in "Other Low Strength Ale or Lager" in October? I talked to one of the judges from the final round and he said the only reservation he had is that the beers tasted stronger. Hardly a knock. Dave – Those are the two that medaled in “Other Low Strength Ale or Lager” in October?

I talked to one of the judges from the final round and he said the only reservation he had is that the beers tasted stronger. Hardly a knock.

]]> By: Swordboarder http://appellationbeer.com/blog/does-light-lite-beer-have-to-suck/comment-page-1/#comment-81940 Swordboarder Fri, 14 Dec 2007 18:04:45 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/does-light-lite-beer-have-to-suck/#comment-81940 Coastal Light Pale Ale and Coastal Light Lager were light craft beers made for Trader Joes. Full in flavor, light in body. Won medals at GABF. Trader Joes dumped them because they didn't sell. Coastal Light Pale Ale and Coastal Light Lager were light craft beers made for Trader Joes. Full in flavor, light in body. Won medals at GABF. Trader Joes dumped them because they didn’t sell.

]]> By: Lew Bryson http://appellationbeer.com/blog/does-light-lite-beer-have-to-suck/comment-page-1/#comment-81933 Lew Bryson Fri, 14 Dec 2007 17:09:46 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/does-light-lite-beer-have-to-suck/#comment-81933 All this is true, folks, but...would I be completely wrong if I guessed that every one of us had our doubts about what Miller -- the creator of Chill and Clear -- will actually execute on these ideas? I know I do. Miller had a half-decent line of beers in Miller Reserve, and they just couldn't wait to do Miller Reserve Light: which was Lite with costume jewelry on. These were the guys who bent Löwenbräu over and made it squeal like a pig. A-B's trying, and Coors gets credit for Sandlot and for sticking with Blue Moon for years. Miller has to prove itself. All this is true, folks, but…would I be completely wrong if I guessed that every one of us had our doubts about what Miller — the creator of Chill and Clear — will actually execute on these ideas? I know I do. Miller had a half-decent line of beers in Miller Reserve, and they just couldn’t wait to do Miller Reserve Light: which was Lite with costume jewelry on. These were the guys who bent Löwenbräu over and made it squeal like a pig. A-B’s trying, and Coors gets credit for Sandlot and for sticking with Blue Moon for years. Miller has to prove itself.

]]> By: Stephen Beaumont http://appellationbeer.com/blog/does-light-lite-beer-have-to-suck/comment-page-1/#comment-81930 Stephen Beaumont Fri, 14 Dec 2007 17:00:40 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/does-light-lite-beer-have-to-suck/#comment-81930 And Alan, Perry Mason at Scotch Irish Brewing used to make a highly quaffable, 3.5% standard bitter called Dogsbody. Unfortunately, it never took off as a brand. In fact, Ontario has seen more than its share of lower (ie: sub-4%) alcohol beers, from Molson Select to a pair of 2% alcohol, microbrewed beers from the early 1990's, the brand names of which I have long forgotten. Not one of them lasted because people in this country think they're being cheated if their regular or, heaven forbid!, premium-priced beer has less than 4% alcohol in it. And Alan, Perry Mason at Scotch Irish Brewing used to make a highly quaffable, 3.5% standard bitter called Dogsbody. Unfortunately, it never took off as a brand.

In fact, Ontario has seen more than its share of lower (ie: sub-4%) alcohol beers, from Molson Select to a pair of 2% alcohol, microbrewed beers from the early 1990′s, the brand names of which I have long forgotten. Not one of them lasted because people in this country think they’re being cheated if their regular or, heaven forbid!, premium-priced beer has less than 4% alcohol in it.

]]> By: Eric Delia http://appellationbeer.com/blog/does-light-lite-beer-have-to-suck/comment-page-1/#comment-81928 Eric Delia Fri, 14 Dec 2007 16:53:54 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/does-light-lite-beer-have-to-suck/#comment-81928 I feel I'm reserving judgment, too... but with a cautious eye in this particular instance. "Light" beer need not suck to be considered light, but the interpretation of what exactly "Light" or "Lite" is has been debated (even referring to color). Lower abv is fine by me, and I agree with Alan that North America could use more widely-available bitters (or milds, anything with a lower abv and plenty of taste). I'm just not sure Miller Lite is the answer.* *Note: a dubious expression of uncertainty that retains a slight chance of being completely disproven in the near future. I feel I’m reserving judgment, too… but with a cautious eye in this particular instance. “Light” beer need not suck to be considered light, but the interpretation of what exactly “Light” or “Lite” is has been debated (even referring to color). Lower abv is fine by me, and I agree with Alan that North America could use more widely-available bitters (or milds, anything with a lower abv and plenty of taste). I’m just not sure Miller Lite is the answer.*

*Note: a dubious expression of uncertainty that retains a slight chance of being completely disproven in the near future.

]]> By: Stephen Beaumont http://appellationbeer.com/blog/does-light-lite-beer-have-to-suck/comment-page-1/#comment-81927 Stephen Beaumont Fri, 14 Dec 2007 16:51:11 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/does-light-lite-beer-have-to-suck/#comment-81927 SABMiller already makes a "light" beer that's actually very, very good: Pilsner Urquell, at a modest 4.4% alcohol by volume. SABMiller already makes a “light” beer that’s actually very, very good: Pilsner Urquell, at a modest 4.4% alcohol by volume.

]]> By: Alan http://appellationbeer.com/blog/does-light-lite-beer-have-to-suck/comment-page-1/#comment-81924 Alan Fri, 14 Dec 2007 16:40:15 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/does-light-lite-beer-have-to-suck/#comment-81924 Light need not suck at all. We need a commerically available 3.2% ordinary bitter badly. That is one of the most refreshing styles out there but no one makes it in NAm as far as I can tell. When I homebrewed, I also made a clone of a Carribean brew which was all malt 1.2% ginger beer. That was dandy stuff. Why do all the spiced beers have to be in the high dubbels range of strength? Light need not suck at all. We need a commerically available 3.2% ordinary bitter badly. That is one of the most refreshing styles out there but no one makes it in NAm as far as I can tell. When I homebrewed, I also made a clone of a Carribean brew which was all malt 1.2% ginger beer. That was dandy stuff. Why do all the spiced beers have to be in the high dubbels range of strength?

]]> By: Stan Hieronymus http://appellationbeer.com/blog/does-light-lite-beer-have-to-suck/comment-page-1/#comment-81920 Stan Hieronymus Fri, 14 Dec 2007 16:38:15 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/does-light-lite-beer-have-to-suck/#comment-81920 Thanks, Jack. I didn't mean to be picking on you, because I know you know better. Thanks, Jack. I didn’t mean to be picking on you, because I know you know better.

]]> By: Jack Curtin http://appellationbeer.com/blog/does-light-lite-beer-have-to-suck/comment-page-1/#comment-81919 Jack Curtin Fri, 14 Dec 2007 16:32:12 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/does-light-lite-beer-have-to-suck/#comment-81919 Actually, I was commenting more on the marketing concept than suggesting a beer has to suck 'cause it's light. When I was down at the Dixie 100th anniversary shindig in New Orleans recently, for example, I was really taken with the Jazz Light, a very drinkable, flavorful beer. Having given the concept more thought and talked to a few people, read a few things, I'm becoming convinced this is an attempt to upscale current light beer drinkers rather than an attempt to appeal to craft beer drinkers. Get their current customers paying a bit more & feeling cooler, and hold onto market share overall. In the big picture, if the calorie watchers can be convinced to enjoy beer with a bit more flavor, that's a Real Good Thing. Where it may be a Real Bad Thing is at the retail level, with supermarkets and corner groceries taking the easy route and giving more shelf space to a familiar name while thinking they're expanding to meet the demand for craft beers. Actually, I was commenting more on the marketing concept than suggesting a beer has to suck ’cause it’s light. When I was down at the Dixie 100th anniversary shindig in New Orleans recently, for example, I was really taken with the Jazz Light, a very drinkable, flavorful beer.

Having given the concept more thought and talked to a few people, read a few things, I’m becoming convinced this is an attempt to upscale current light beer drinkers rather than an attempt to appeal to craft beer drinkers. Get their current customers paying a bit more & feeling cooler, and hold onto market share overall. In the big picture, if the calorie watchers can be convinced to enjoy beer with a bit more flavor, that’s a Real Good Thing.

Where it may be a Real Bad Thing is at the retail level, with supermarkets and corner groceries taking the easy route and giving more shelf space to a familiar name while thinking they’re expanding to meet the demand for craft beers.

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