Episode 21: The 2018 Pickled Eggs & Cold Beer Holiday Spectacular: Schlitz Malt Liquor with Brendan Roche, Bill Edwards, Mike Mason, and Justin Smith

I. Introduction

"Did you see any Aliens?"

"No....?"

"Well that was a huge waste of time!"

Brendan: “Do you want a beer?”

Eric: “No, I’d like something special.”

Brendan: “How about a Bull?”

Eric: “A Bull?”

Brendan: “Schlitz Malt Liquor, for when you want something a little more special than a beer.”

Bill: [A giant bull crashes into Toilet-Kitchen Studio, killing everyone.]

Everyone: Fin.

Eric: Hey guys, today on Pickled Eggs & Cold Beer we’re talking about Schlitz Malt Liquor.

Today's theme is Fats Waller and His Rhythm’s 1936 “Swingin’ Them Jingle Bells.” 

II. Our Distinguished Guests

III. Rubric, Reviews, and Talking Points

BeerAdvocate: 2.63 of 5 

RateBeer: 1.44 of 5

Untappd: 2.12 of 5

ABV: 5.9%

Ingredients: Citing Barnivore, "Pabst products are brewed using a blend of malted barley and special corn syrup—(Not high fructose corn syrup.) hops, filtered water, and cultured yeast. Our syrup is made of carbohydrates and some simple sugars like dextrose and maltose."

Cost: $ 

Appearance: Good color.  Golden, translucent, largely transparent, a fair amount of head that recedes gradually but steadily, nice Brussels Lace. 

Aroma: Mild, malty, sweet, not wholly unpleasant. Smilin' Mike Mason asserted it had a bitterness similar to a low-end lager. 

Flavor: Leans-sweet, bitter industrial back-end, somewhat inoffensive. 

  

Authenticity, Marketing, and Other Factors:  The strange shift from the original marketing strategy (aimed in particular to white, upper- and middle-class women) to more masculine consumers, and eventually focused on African-American audiences is fascinating to observe as one reviews old print and audio-visual media.  The end effect is an inarguably successful campaign that reached peak intensity in the 1970s and 1980s, resulting in the steady decline of marketing for Schlitz Malt Liquor OML in recent decades.  The ads, however, at their peak were pretty spectacular.  

Heavy adjuncting means headache territory is nigh-on.  Be wary.

Overall: Bill gave the OML (Original Malt Liquor) a 2.1, Brendan a rating of 2, Clayman a rating of 2.2, Smilin' Mike Mason a 2.5, and Eric a review of 2. Overall? We gave Schlitz Malt Liquor a rating of 2.16 of 5. 

IV. Sponsors

This episode was sponsored by two wonderful local businesses:

Leben Farms of Abingdon, Virginia

Leben Farms is a community supported-agriculture (CSA) program that offers locally grown fresh vegetables in weekly boxes to its members in Southwest Virginia and East Tennessee.  Using organic and regenerative practices to grow nutrient dense food, community-supported agriculture is a food production and distribution system that directly connects farmers and consumers. In short: people buy "shares" of a farm's harvest in advance and then receive a portion of the crops as they're harvested.

Check them out on Facebook or Instagram.

Also...

Glade Pharmacy in Glade Spring, Virginia

33472 Lee Hwy, Glade Spring, VA 24340

Locally owned and managed, Glade Pharmacy provides the highest quality pharmaceutical service in the Emory/Glade Spring area.

V. Plugs

Abingdon Cinemall

Abingdon, Virginia

Central Drive-In

Norton, Virginia

A Christmas Story (1983)

Comic Book Legal Defense Fund

Die Hard (1988)

Emmett Otter's Jug-Band Christmas (1977)

Hardywood Park Craft Brewery

Richmond, Virginia

Hillbilly Epicurean

by Justin Smith

How the Grinch Who Stole Christmas! (1966)

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

LaCumbre Brewing Company

Santa Fe, New Mexico

A Muppet Family Christmas (1987)

Park Place Drive-In

Marion, Virginia

Union Avenue Books

Downtown Knoxville, Tennessee

Scrooged (1988)

Wolf Hills Brewing

Abingdon, Virginia

VI. Selected Readings and Viewings

Clara M. Bradizza, R. Lorraine Collins, Paula C. Vincent, Diana L. Falco. 2006. "It does the job: Young adults discuss their malt liquor consumption." Addictive Behaviors. 31: 1559 – 1577.

Alfred E. Lewis and Martin Weil. September 1, 1981. "Schlitz Upset By Bull's Use In Drug Bust." Washington Post. 

Frank Kelly Rich. n.d. "Ten Greatest Alcohol Icons of All Time." Modern Drunkard. 

Ronald Theriot. January 5, 2014. "The Malt Liquor Project: Schlitz Malt Liquor." Louisiana Beer Reviews. 

Kihm Winship. April 29, 2012. "Malt Liquor: A History." Faithful Readers. 

VII. Selected Advertisements

c.1969

c.1974

c. 1970s or 1980s

c. 1970s or 1980s

c.1970s or 1980s

c.1979

c.1980

c. 1981

c. 1980

c.1981

c. 1980s

c.1982

c.1988

c.1989

c. 1995

c. 1996

Episode 20: Narragansett Lager, Fresh Catch, and Del's Shandy with Squire Brendan Roche

I. Introduction

Shandy Claws.

Today’s beer is regarded as the oldest in New England, once the unrivaled master of that region, holding a 65% share of the market in the 1950s. 

This was not to last, however.  Mismanagement by a series of new owners led to a steady decline in quality and customer loyalty and eventually, in 1981, exile.

In 2005 the brewery making today’s quaff had a net revenue of nothing.  Zero.  Zip.  Zilch.  Hell, they made only $50,000 in sales total nationwide.  On the edge of extinction, it was rescued by passionate investors whose love not only brought it back to New England after its long sojourn as a contract beer in Fort Wayne, Indiana, but returned it to the hands of Red Sox fans, reintroducing it to the green majesty of Fenway Park.  Within nine years not only was it profitable, but was pulling in $12 million a year in the black.

Today on Pickled Eggs & Cold Beer we’re drinking the beer Quint crushes in 1975’s Jaws, a beer that still sells for about $6 a six-pack, a beer that claims to be the Official Beer of the Clam, a beer that we’re convinced has inspired at least half of existing Family Guy episodes. 

Hi Neighbor – today we’re talking about Narragansett Beer.

Today's theme is Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra's 1921 "Song of India"

II. Our Guest, Appalachia's Own Red Sox Fan, Brendan Roche

B-Roche, with his Pa and Wee One

III. Rubric, Reviews, and Talking Points: Narragansett Lager

BeerAdvocate: 3.36 of 5

RateBeer: 2.47 of 5

Untappd: 3.09 of 5

ABV: 5%

Ingredients: We couldn't find a complete and detailed breakdown.

Cost: $ - around $6 a six-pack.

Appearance: Very golden, translucent without being being entirely transparent (though nearly so).

Aroma: Almost no odor in the glass, but the can is much more aromatic (well, according to Clayman and Eric; Brendan disagreed)

Flavor: Classic, inoffensive lager, not sweet, a little bitter on the back-end.  Critical - this is a can beer, and we agreed it is much better out of the can (though perhaps that is a difference in terms of acquired taste preferences).  A mild metallic flavor.  Brendan noted that the first drink was harsh, but after that you settle into it.

Mouthfeel: A fair amount of carbonation (look for it to be burpy).

Authenticity, Marketing, and Other Factors: Authentic and getting more so, a masterpiece of angel investing.  And guys, you can't do better than this marketing.  Fantastic, beautiful, artistic, complex.  Hell yes, guys.

Overall: Brendan gave it a 3 of 5, Clayman a 2.9 of 5, and Eric a 2.75 of 5.  Grand total? 2.88 of 5!

IV. Rubric, Reviews, and Talking Points: Narragansett Fresh Catch

BeerAdvocate: 3.59 of 5

RateBeer: 2.97 of 5

Untappd: 3.44 of 5

ABV: 4.2%

Ingredients: Citra hops, but otherwise we couldn't find a complete and detailed breakdown.

Cost: $ - around $6 a six-pack.

Appearance:  Translucent, yellow-gold, transparent.

Aroma: A bit of a citrus odor - not as strong as many citra-hopped IPAs, but noticeable and pleasant.

Flavor: Citra hop flavors over an inoffensive blonde ale base.  A little lighter.

Mouthfeel: Clean, dry, light.

Authenticity, Marketing, and Other Factors: See above (Narragansett Lager).  Also we love that damn big, red lobster (and the fun purple lobster variant).

Overall: Squire Roche gives it a 2.75 of 5, Clayman a 2.75 of 5, and Eric a 3 of 5.  Averaged out? 2.83 of 5. 

V. Rubric, Reviews, and Talking Points: Narragansett Presents Del's Shandy

* Here's a link to the homepage of Del's Lemonade for reference.  Enjoy.

BeerAdvocate: 3.38 of 5

RateBeer: 2.91 of 5

Untappd: 3.47 of 5

ABV: 4.7%

Ingredients: We couldn't find a complete and detailed breakdown, but one supposes beer and Del's lemonade.

Cost: $ - around $6 a six-pack.

Appearance: Translucent but not transparent yellow (we had imperfect glassware for this one)

Aroma:  Distinct lemony flavor, especially after first pour/open.

Flavor: Eric wants to drink this in an inner tube on the New River on a hot summer day as soon as possible - and possibly pair it with vanilla ice cream.  Like the first taste of a Lemonhead before it becomes overwhelming.

Mouthfeel: Clean, crisp, pleasant.

Authenticity, Marketing, and Other Factors:  See above (Narragansett Lager)

Overall: B-Roche gave this one a 2.8, Clayman a 2.9, and Eric nudged it to a 3 of 5.  Averaged we gave it this shandy a 2.9 of 5. 

VI. Sponsors

This episode was sponsored by two wonderful local businesses:

Leben Farms of Abingdon, Virginia

Leben Farms is a community supported-agriculture (CSA) program that offers locally grown fresh vegetables in weekly boxes to its members in Southwest Virginia and East Tennessee.  Using organic and regenerative practices to grow nutrient dense food, community-supported agriculture is a food production and distribution system that directly connects farmers and consumers. In short: people buy "shares" of a farm's harvest in advance and then receive a portion of the crops as they're harvested.

Check them out on Facebook or Instagram.

Also...

Glade Pharmacy in Glade Spring, Virginia

33472 Lee Hwy, Glade Spring, VA 24340

Locally owned and managed, Glade Pharmacy provides the highest quality pharmaceutical service in the Emory/Glade Spring area.

VII. Plugs

The Blackjacket Symphony 

The Boston Red Sox

Boston, Massachusetts

Clambake
[Note: Elvis is not Annette Funicello]

Salt of the Earth

Abingdon, Virginia

Section 10 Podcast

Barstool Sports

The William King Museum of Art
Abingdon, Virginia

Wolf Hills Brewing

Abingdon, Virginia

VIII. Selected Readings and Viewings

Andrew Bary. September 22, 2017. "How Passion Investors Helped Revive Narragansett Beer." Barron's: Penta.

Erik Christensen. August 13, 2014. "10 Things You Didn't Know About Narragansett."  Thrillist.

Gail Ciampa. April 3, 2016. "Hi Neighbor! Narragansett returns to R.I. with craft brewery in Pawtucket." Providence Journal.

Kristina Monllos.  June 30, 2015.  "How Narragansett Beer Rebuilt Its Brand with a Meager $100,000 Media Budget." Adweek. 

Paul Lukas.  June 13, 2013. "Beer and Bivalves: How Narragansett Became 'The Official Beer of the Clam." New York Magazine. 

Ronald Theriot. August 31, 2011. "Louisiana Beer Reviews: Narragansett Lager." Louisiana Beer Reviews.

IX. Rafa Ortiz Rides Inflatable Pool Toy Off 70-Foot Waterfall

X. Quint v. Hooper: Jaws and Narragansett

Episode 19: Kokanee with Callie Hietala - Gone Squatchin'

I. Introduction

It's probiotic.

The Alutiiq nation names him as neginla eh while the Bella Coola call him boqs.

The Chinook people refer to him as skookum while the Cree call him wetiko.

The Inuit know him as urayuli, the Lummi nation tell stories about the ts'emekwes, and the Tlingit? Why they thrill their children with whispers of the kushtaka.

Most of us, however, know him by the name given to him by the nations that speak the Halkomelem language, native Americans of British Columbia and northern Washington state.  The name they give him is sasq’ets, a word Anglicized in the 20^th Century into the now ubiquitous sasquatch. 

Today, on Pickled Eggs & Cold Beer, we’re talking about the beer most associated with the sasquatch, a beer brewed from the same cold glacial waters that slake the thirst of the hairy man himself, that stealer of clams and fish, knocker of wood, and haunter of old logging camps. 

Today, cool kids, we’re talking about Kokanee beer.

Today's theme is Bessie Smith's 1929 "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out." 

II. Our Guest, Callie "Mouthfeel" Hietala

Old pocket carrots.

III. Rubric

BeerAdvocate: 2.54 of 5

RateBeer: 2.13 of 5

Untappd: 2.8 of 5

ABV: 5.0%

Ingredients: We haven't found a clear list of these - the water is local to Creston (mountain spring water, presumably from glacial runoff), and Kokanee press asserts it is made using three types of malt and a blend of three different Pacific North American hops.  We didn't find anything that would make it clear whether it was an adjunct or not.

Cost: We were gifted this beer (thanks Dad!) from some folks traveling through Canada, so we didn't have to pay for it.  That said, after a little research we found out that it tends to list at between nine and ten (US) dollars.  Not bad - we're calling this $$.

IV. Our Reviews and Talking Points

*There seems to be some significant variation between beers - this wasn't a problem but it warranted note.

Appearance: Lightly carbonated, not too much head (in two of our three - Callie's seemed more carbonated); translucent and transparent, yellow-gold.

Aroma: Clayman insists it smells like a 1997-1998 Schaeffer or Meisterbrau - Eric felt that it was nearly without smell.

Flavor: Simple, inoffensive; Callie regarded it as creamy

Mouthfeel: Mildly creamy, light, fairly dry

Authenticity, Marketing, and Other Factors:  While Kokanee is part of one of the giant multinational systems it seemingly has remained connected to its roots, still brewed exclusively in Creston, British Columbia

Overall: Callie gives Kokanee a 3 of 5, Clayman echoes her rating with another 3, and Eric nudges it up slightly with a 3.25.  Overall?  We gave it a 3.1 of 5. 

V. Sponsors

This episode was sponsored by two wonderful local businesses:

Leben Farms of Abingdon, Virginia

Leben Farms is a community supported-agriculture (CSA) program that offers locally grown fresh vegetables in weekly boxes to its members in Southwest Virginia and East Tennessee.  Using organic and regenerative practices to grow nutrient dense food, community-supported agriculture is a food production and distribution system that directly connects farmers and consumers. In short: people buy "shares" of a farm's harvest in advance and then receive a portion of the crops as they're harvested.

Check them out on Facebook or Instagram.

Also...

Glade Pharmacy in Glade Spring, Virginia

33472 Lee Hwy, Glade Spring, VA 24340

Locally owned and managed, Glade Pharmacy provides the highest quality pharmaceutical service in the Emory/Glade Spring area.

VI. Plugs

Elderbrew

Bristol, Tennessee

Fischer's Pickled Eggs

Louisville, Kentucky

Model City Tap House

Kingsport, Tennessee

Mountain Monsters

Shania Twain

William King Museum of Art

Abingdon, Virginia

Wolf Hills Brewing
Abingdon, Virginia

Wolf Hills Community School
Abingdon, Virginia

VII. Further Reading and Viewing

Jeff Beer. June 18, 2012. "Kokanee films world’s longest beer commercial." Canadian Business.

Lorne Eckersley. October 26, 2017. "UPDATED: Columbia Brewery bottling plant in Creston will be closing down." Creston Valley Advance.

Bob Weber. August 16, 2015. "Kokanee Beer joins up with science for glacier research and new beer." CBC.

Craig Woolheater.  October 27, 2005.  "Kokanee Beer and Sasquatch: A Long Standing Tradition." Cryptomundo. 

VIII. Selected Advertisements 

c. 1984

c. 1989

IX. It's The Movie Out Here Trailer 

*Note that this movie was marketed as Frostbite! in the US - you can find it right now on Amazon Prime

X. Fishing for Kokanee with Kokanee

Check out this short video from Spilt Milt Productions - to quote their YouTube page:

Spilt Milt Production is a video production company dedicated to recruiting, educating, and entertaining anglers. Our focus is primarily on fishing the Pacific Northwest with a special emphasis on education and kayak angling. 

XI. Clayman's Dad 

*As described in this episode