Beer Slumming
We are truly blessed in Portland. We have over two dozen craft breweries that call our city home. At a moment’s notice, we can enjoy beer from the likes of Roots Organic, HUB, Hair of the Dog, the Old Lompoc, and many, many others. But even the most obnoxious beer snob is caught drinking a PBR from time to time. When you’re camping, out fishing, or just trying to stay cool on a day like today, sometimes a cheaply made American lager is just what the doctor ordered.
I’ve never been much of a Pabst fan. I can drink it when I have to, but it’s rarely my first choice, even when beer slumming. On tap it has a strange aspirin-y taste that kinda gnarlifies it. Out of the can it’s slightly, uh, oily. If I’m going cheap, I prefer cans of Orangeboom, found at Trader Joe’s – although a recent price increase has almost made them not worth the bother. There’s always “Old German”, an east coast cheapie that can be found at Belmont Station. It’s inexpensive, and completely suitable for your beer slumming needs. If you’re not in the neighborhood, there’s always Miller High Life – “the champagne of beers” (just don’t try to make a mimosa out of it). I was also a big fan of Blitz, until the brand was discontinued after the Weinhard sale. And one can never forget the cheap bubbly wonders of Oly and Hamm’s, readily available at your local mini-mart.
So, what’s your favorite?
Does Widmer Hefeweizen count?
Oh, I’m a High Life man.
Sessions.
I second the Old German, it is a bit maltier and smoother than High Life. On par with session, except instead of the rip off 11 oz can the old German gets rowdy with a full 16! It can also be found at New Seasons for under $5.
Jedge242 – Widmer Hef does indeed count (note to brewers – Hefs are LAGERS, not ALES) if for nothing more than their role in dumbing down craft brewing. However, methinks their flagship, uh, brand is a bit too pricey to be considered slumming.
roamsedge – you and me both, my friend.
fulldisclosure – Sessions is a fine, quaffable lager. But, in my opinion, it’s actually got too much good stuff in it to be considered a slum beer.
tenstringesquire – Thought you might say that. Have you ever had Grain Belt Premium?
Never had a Grain Belt Premium, but I am willing to try! Do they sell ’em in PDX?
Not sure. I’ve only had Grain Belt in a Minnesota "themed" bar in Seattle. I hear it’s about 2 bucks cheaper if you’re actually in MN.
I admit to being a beer snob, and often consider Widmer & sometimes Full Sail as slumming.
tenstringesquire – Hefs are lagers? Not only does wiki disagree with you,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheat_beer, so does Palmer – http://www.howtobrew.com/section4/chapter19-3.html
gxm – I stand both humbled and corrected. Thanks for the lesson. I assumed since the Germans have been brewing Hefs since time immemorial, they were lagers. You know what they say about assumptions…
That said – I stand by my statement that Widmer Hefeweizen is swill.
I just recently started brewing (greatly increasing my snobbery) and was surprised to learn that Lagers are actually harder to brew than Ales.
Ales are more forgiving of flavors, quicker to ferment & age, and work at room temperatures. Which is good, becuase most of my fave beers are ales. That said, I plan on brewing some lagers this winter :)