Episode 28: Singha Beer with Christopher Kolakowski

I. Introduction

"He body-painted a bunch of dudes for an Oscar Mayer commercial." 

Thailand is a country dominated by macrobrews – strict beer and brewing laws mean that craft and home brewing are nearly absent from the nation (at least legally).  Not only that, it remains a nation in which locally brewed beers remain the dominant type.  Today’s beer is the flagship of one of the two breweries that utterly dominate the small, southeast Asian nation, a beer that assiduously (and purposefully) follows the German purity laws, a beer that since the late 1980s has become a global export, found now in nearly every country of North America, Europe, and Asia, as well as Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia. 

Today we’re reviewing the beer most often ordered (and mispronounced) in untold nations’ Thai restaurants.  Today, on Pickled Eggs & Cold Beer, we’re talking about Singha Beer.

Today's episode features Syd Valentine’s Patent Leather Kids 1929 “Rock and Gravel”.

II. Our Guest, the Astute and Genteel Chris Kolakowski

III. Rubrics, Reviews, and Talking Points

BeerAdvocate: 3.04 of 5

RateBeer: 2.25 of 5

Untappd: 3.02 of 5

ABV: 5%

Ingredients: Malted Irish, French, and Australian barley; Hallertau, Perle, and Saaz hops from Germany and "Czechoslovakia" (?); and German yeast

Cost: $ to $$ in the States - an import made of such high quality ingredients, worth a nudge in the price.

Appearance: Pale golden, translucent, mostly transparent, a nice head that recedes fairly quickly.  Holds its bubbles fairly well, 

Aroma: Malty on the opening, retains some mild smells after opening.  

Flavor: Good sipping beer, a nice lager that leans malty, avoiding too many sweet notes, retains its flavor, probably would be perfect for spicy food.  Clayman noted a mild, pleasant hoppy bitterness.  

Mouthfeel: Crisp, pleasant, mildly dry. 

Authenticity, Marketing, and Other Factors:  Brewed essentially as it always was, though Singha now has three breweries (all in Thailand) - in Samsen (Bangkok), Kohn Kaen, and Bang Len.  Still brewed with the Thai royal seal, still beautiful in its labeling and advertising.  Bottled around the world by Carlsburg, though, which is interesting.  Still independent, still family-owned, yet globally owned.  Hot damn, guys, hot damn.  And, as Kolakowski points out, their logistics chain is impressive - the quality hasn't deteriorated despite being shipped from the other end of the planet. 

Overall: Kolakowski gave it a 4.25, Clayman a 3.1, and Eric a 3.75.  Overall? A very respectable 3.7!

IV. Our Sponsors

Today we have two magical sponsors:

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

The MacArthur Memorial 

Norfolk, Virginia

Wolf Hills Brewing

Abingdon, Virginia

VI. Selected Readings and Viewings

Laurence Civil. August 20, 2014.  "My Beer, My Country."  Look East. 

Hannah Ellison.  April 3, 2017.  "Singha Beer to Bring Thai New Year to Life in London."  Campaign.

Thomas Fuller.  January 10, 2014.  "Thai Beer Loses Esteem After Heiress's Remarks."  New York Times, via CNBC.  

Arno Maierbrugger.  February 14, 2013.  "Singha Starts Rollout in Asia and Europe."  Investigative. 

Suzanne Nam.  February 11, 2018.  "Top Thai Beer Brands."  TripSaavy.  

Staff. ND. "Singha or Chang Beer? Which Thai Beer is Better?" Tasty Thai. 

Staff. October 22, 2013. "Singha Beer Gets an Exclusive Show on History." Marketing.  

Ronald Theriot. October 5, 2011. "Louisiana Lager."  Louisiana Beer Reviews. via YouTube. 

Episode 23: Hofbräu Original with Hank McCarthy

I. Introduction

"Cancel."

Alois Hingerl was the hardest working porter in the Munich railway station.  He worked with great fervor and passion, so much so that he worked himself to death, having only two vices – a love of snuff and beer. He lived such a noble life that Saint Peter made him an angel and sent him on a mission of mercy, to provide wise and sage advice to the leaders of his mother city. 

Alas, Himmel has neither tobacco nor beer, and Alois, now dubbed Aloisius by the divine powers, found himself craving a snort and a nip.  He detoured, as most of us would, to the home of his favorite tipple, the Hofbräuhaus, intending to pour back on mass and then continue along his mission.  Alas for the politicians of Bavaria, Aloisius was so sorely moved by the beer that he never left the Haus and remains there, an angelic, blue-collar zythophile, overseeing the beating heart of everything good about his homeland.

Today we’re talking about the beer that tempted Aloisius away from his divine mission, arguably the beer most identified with the land most identified with beer, a beer that is opening beer gardens and restaurants around the world while clinging to its local identity. 

Today, on Pickled Eggs & Cold Beer, we’re talking about Hofbräu Original. 

Alfons Bauer’s 1966 “In Munchen Steht Ein Hofbräuhaus.” 

II. Our Guest, the Genteel Henry "Hank" McCarthy

"This is on the radio?"

III. Rubrics, Reviews, and Talking Points

BeerAdvocate: 3.8 of 5

RateBeer: 3.04 of 5

Untappd: 3.54 of 5

ABV: 5.1% 

Ingredients: Conforms to German beer purity laws; Herkules, Perle, Magnum, and Select hops, light barley malt and Munich malt, water, and yeast (bottom-fermenting) 

Cost: $$

Appearance: Golden yellow, a little hazy, translucent, largely transparent.

Aroma: Malty, pleasant, hops are there but very mild.  A little sweet but not cloying at all.  Clayman described the first sip from the bottle as reminding him of "warm corn tortillas" in an entirely positive way. 

Flavor: We all generally agree it is good - a solid choice, particularly as a session beer.  Hank notes that it is damn close the flavor on tap and on site.  

Mouthfeel: Smooth, mild carbonation, seems ideal for pairing.

Authenticity, Marketing, and Other Factors:  Most of the marketing we saw was aimed at European audiences - hardly surprising, of course, and so we weren't particularly moved by it in any sort of nostalgic way - what is a matter of great cultural importance though is the Hofbräu name itself, the ancient roots of the beastie.  Is the beer authentic?  That is a good question - it is marketed as "Original" but a glance at the hops used makes us wonder if it warrants this title.  Also, given the spread of the brand, especially into restaurants and beer garden sectors internationally, we're curious if the aloof and place-specific identity of Hofbräu remains intact or becomes diluted - hopefully the former.  

Overall: Hank gave Hofbräu a 4; Clayman awarded it a 3.85; and Eric gave it a 3.75.  Overall?  Our rating was a 3.87.

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

The Bamboo House

Charlottesville, Virginia

Mas to Millers' Review of the Bamboo House 

(we agree on some things, but not everything - great imagery here though)

The Scratch and Sniff Guide to Beer 

by Justin Kennedy

Wolf Hills Brewing

Abingdon, Virginia

VI. Selected Readings and Viewings

Rhond Aspiak. March 8, 2014. "Editor's Report from Munich's Hofbrauhaus in Munich - The Beer Hall Where Hitler Founded the Nazi Party." Winnipeg Jewish Review. 

Nansen & Piccard. "Seven things which you did not know about the Hofbräuhaus." Simply Munich. 

Conrad Seidl. "Hofbräu." From The Oxford Companion to Beer. @ Craft Beer & Brewing.

Ronald Theriot. June 26, 2011. "Hofbrau Original." Louisiana Beer Reviews. 

Corinne Vail. "5 Things You Didn’t Know about the Hofbrauhaus in Munich." Reflections Enroute. 

2017. "Hofbräuhaus: Beer brewing tradition." DW English.

VII. Selected Advertisements

c. 2017

c. 2018

c. 2018

c. 2018

Episode 22: Yuengling with the Luxuriant Bryan Ailey

I. Introduction

Mouthfeel? That's the name of your sex tape, isn't it?

In 1829 London, England established the first modern professional police force, Andrew Jackson was sworn in as the President of the United States, and  Greek War of Independence ends with the signing of the London Protocol.  That same year saw the birth of clothier Levi Strauss, Apache leader Geronimo, and American President Chester A. Arthur.  John Jay, first Chief Justice of the United States, died in 1829, as would James Smithson, the British scientist whose vast fortune would lay the groundwork for the establishment of the Smithsonian Institutes in the young American Republic.

Fifty-three years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence and thirty-two years before the first shots of the American Civil War, 1829 is also the year that David G. Yuengling first established the what was then called the Eagle Brewery in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, an institution that has, for six generations, remained in the hands of his family and, equally, remained the touchstone of beers in eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware. Each generation buys the brewery from the previous, and this generation’s owners, a quartet of sisters, has followed suit.

Today’s beer is a strange and wonderful beastie, the fourth largest beer distributor in the United States – though it serves only fourteen states – and the largest family-owned brewery in the United States.

Today, on Pickled Eggs & Cold Beer, we’re talking about Yuengling.

Today's music is Bessie Smith’s 1925 “At the Christmas Ball.” 

II. Our Bearded Guest, Bryan Ailey

From left to right, in order of increasing excellence - Eric Drummond S

mith, Jason "Cheeseball" Clayman, and Bryan Ailey

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

The Mitt Romney of beer. 

BeerAdvocate: 3.41 of 5

RateBeer: 2.79 of 5

Untappd: 3.48 of 5

ABV: 4.5%

Ingredients: This is an adjunct made with corn grits, water, roasted "caramel" hops, cluster and cascade hops

Cost: $

Appearance: Amber, fairly transparent and translucent, light head.

Aroma: Very little nose to this one. 

Flavor: A little sweet, a fairly high quality adjunct lager.  Get it in the can - the bottle is green guys, and that means skunky. 

Mouthfeel: Nice, smooth.  

Authenticity, Marketing, and Other Factors: The new designs are nice, but nothing to write home about.  We like the eagle design, a throwback to the original name of the brewery, but still it isn't one of our favorites.  Television advertising is relatively absent from our local networks in Southern Appalachia, but the examples we found online are fine, but nothing to write home about.  

There are questions about authenticity - hops are from out of region these days, adjunct seems to be a major element of the recipe, and the grains are non-local as well.  How much do Yuengling recipes reflect older traditions? We just aren't sure.  

Yuengling's most recent owner is politically contentious - an active opponent of unions and unionization (busting the house union in his own shop) and an active, and probably more importantly for their bottom line, outspoken supporter of Trump and contemporary conservative groups, he alienated a lot of young left-leaners.  We're curious about whether the Sisters Yuengling who co-own and run the company now will keep a more dampened tenor in their public discussions of politics.

Overall: Bryan gave this one a 3.2 of 5, Clayman a 3, and Eric a 3.25, for an average of 3.15. To quote Mr. Ailey, "This is a beer you can take to a party and no one will get upset or make fun of you, and no one will be overly excited. It's just fine."

IV. Rubric, Reviews, and Talking Points: Yuengling Black & Tan

Marginal approval.

BeerAdvocate: 3.24 of 5

RateBeer: 2.96 of 5

Untappd: 3.48 of 5

ABV: 5.2% 

Ingredients: Unclear - the official literature notes that the Premium, which constitutes 40% of the Black & Tan, use two- and six-row barley malts; presumably the porter element (the remaining 60%) includes a high percentage of roasted malts; the question of adjuncting and how much remains, as well as what hops are used. 

Cost: $

Appearance: Very dark, neither transparent nor translucent. Not a lot of carbonation.  Holding it up to the light the edges seem rather reddish.  Weak legs. 

Aroma: Not much aroma, a little malty. A very mild smokiness, maybe a very, very light piney-note.

Flavor: Not very porter-y, very different from a traditional black and tan (Guinness topper on a Harp base, typically).  

Mouthfeel: Again, little carbonation.  

Authenticity, Marketing, and Other Factors: See above. 

Overall: Ailey really likes this one - a 3.87 (I know) of 5's worth.  Clayman and Eric are a little more hesitant to roll out the red carpet - we respectfully give it a 3.2 and 3.3 of 5.  Overall? A very respectable 3.46 of 5. 

V. Rubric, Reviews, and Talking Points: Yuengling Golden Pilsner

BeerAdvocate: 3.34 of 5

RateBeer: 3.6 of 5

Untappd: 3.48 of 5 

ABV: 4.7%

Ingredients: Corn adjunct, water, malt, and Saaz and Hallertau hops.  

Cost: $

Appearance: Very transparent, very translucent, golden yellow.

Aroma: Malty in a not great way.  Ailey describes it as reminiscent of a dirty diaper. Clayman describes it as the carpet of a cheap hotel on a wet night; comparable to his least favorite beer so far, Bud Light.  Eric compares it to mealy fruit.

Flavor: Immediate reaction of all us - this is not a good beer.  Starts out with notes like an inexpensive lager, a little floral fruitiness or vegetable-ishness at the back.  A skunky flavor without a skunky odor, which is weird. 

Bad.  Cat-piss. Old-sauerkraut. 

Mouthfeel: Sticks to your mouth, residuey. 

Authenticity, Marketing, and Other Factors:  See above. 

Overall: We don't recommend this one very much - Ailey gave it a 2.2, Eric a 2, and Clayman sank it with a 1.3 of 5.  Overall it came in at a 1.83 - not great. 

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 Curse of Oak Island

Doughboys

Hollywood Handbook

How Did This Get Made?

Screw It, We're Just Going to Talk About Spider-Man

Wolf Hills Brewing Company

Abingdon, Virginia

VIII. Selected Readings and Viewings

Tom Acitelli. March 20, 2017. "When Yuengling Went the Traditional Route." All About Beer Magazine.

Tom Acitelli. November 3, 2016. "Yuengling's Trump endorsement shows why beer, politics don't mix well." Morning Call. 

Lew Bryson. January 25, 2016. "Yuengling: So Much Better Than it Was."  All About Beer Magazine.

Robert Dixter , Jason Zucker and Colleen Brennan. November 25, 2017. "Yuengling is the oldest brewery in America and it's owned by one family." Circa. 

Ryan Dougherty.  Fall 2009.  [supplemented by Sean McAtee in Spring 2010] "Yuengling: An American Tradition."  The Pennsylvania Center for the Book.  

Mike Gorman. July 1, 2016. "Underground Brewing: Yuengling's James River Steam Brewery."  All About Beer Magazine.

Adam Lapetina. February 3, 2014. "13 Things You Didn't Know About Yuengling." Thrillist.

Ronald Theriot. September 20, 2016. "Yuengling Original Black & Tan (revisited)." Louisiana Beer Review. On YouTube. 

Ronald Theriot. October 15, 2016. "Yuengling Double-Down." Louisiana Beer Review. On YouTube. 

Ronald Theriot. September 16, 2018. "Yuengling Golden Pilsner." Louisiana Beer Review. On YouTube. 

David Wright. October 24, 2009.  "American Snapshot: Yuengling: America's Oldest Brewery." ABC News. 

IX. Selected Advertisements

Cerami Creative's Case Study Page on their work with Yuengling

c. late 1990s, early 2000s?

c. 2006

c. 2008

c. 2018

X. Obama. 

Looking at this more closely, we think this is Guinness. So: 

Here is one where we know he is drinking Yuengling.  Bam.

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