Dinner with an Aussie...and beer

[Lord Blackadder]

Sort of a mini rant/story:

I was at a somehwat expensive restuarant the other night and ordered a Sam Adams. To my suprise, it was listed as an import beer! Imported from where....Boston? I live in Ohio for cripes sake!

One of my companions at dinner was Australian (from Sydney), and the incident got us started on foreign vs domestic beers, and how some "imports" people snobbishly drink in the States are considered crap in their home country. He still can't get over the fact that people in the States drink Foster's. "You can always tell who the tourists are in Australia because they drink Foster's". He's a bit of a beer snob, which is why I tricked him into drinking Colt 45 once (but that's another story).

Tangential to this is the amount of fun we had taking this Australian gentleman to the Outback Steakhouse (an Australian-themed chain restaurant) about a month ago. He was apalled with the place (it is a pretty bad approximation of Australia and as far as he could tell there was nothing particulary Australian about the food), but played along and did a great Steve Irwin (crocodile hunter) impression when ordering. "G'day mate, I'll 'ave a Bloomin' Onion and a Big Bloke 22oz Fosters, Crikey!". The stunned staff didn't know what to say....we had a pretty good laugh at their expense. But at least you can get a Sam Adams there and it only costs as much as the other domestic beers... :rolleyes:

[devilot]

When my bf went to Europe, he paid well over $10 US dollars for one MGD. :eek:

[jayscheuerle]

He went to EUROPE and bought crap beer?

That's like going to a high-priced escort service and making out with the cleaning lady..

He DESERVED to pay that much. Shame on him!! :D

[Lord Blackadder]

When my bf went to Europe, he paid well over $10 US dollars for one MGD. :eek:

Well, that settles it. I'll take a loan, buy up a ton of Milwaukee's Best and take it to Europe, where I'll sell it at a 200% markup. My fortune is made.

[Abstract]

Nobody drinks Fosters in Australia. I have never even seen it served at a pub.

I once paid around $9 CDN (around $6 USD at the time), or around £3.50 for a bottle of Molson Canadian because it was Canada day and this was the only way I was going to get myself a Canadian beer that day. Every Canadian was at The Maple Leaf (near Covent Garden) that day. Crazy party.

Oh, and Heineken and Stella suck. Only people outside the area think it's great.

I'd like to think I know better than to pay for a Heineken just because it's from Belgium or The Netherlands or wherever. :(

[devilot]

He went to EUROPE and bought crap beer?

That's like going to a high-priced escort service and making out with the cleaning lady..

He DESERVED to pay that much. Shame on him!! :D
Hey now, after a long day, wouldn't you prefer to sip on a familiar beer? :p

[kalisphoenix]

Good times. I'm curious as to the reputation of Yuengling, since that's my favorite 8)

[jayscheuerle]

Hey now, after a long day, wouldn't you prefer to sip on a familiar beer? :p

Sure, because my familiar beers would be...

Duchess du Bourgogne
Schneider Aventinus
Paulaner Dunkelweiss
Victory Golden Monkey
Samichlaus
Kostrizer
Magic Hat #9

... and only Samichlaus would get you near $10 (for a small glass). A pint (at 14-15% alcohol) would WIPE ME OUT!!

[jayscheuerle]

Good times. I'm curious as to the reputation of Yuengling, since that's my favorite 8)

Does Yuengy even travel outside of Pennsylvania?

[Chundles]

The Outback Steakhouse is a joke, WTF is a Blooming Onion? Never heard of it in my life?

WE don't drink Fosters, and anyone who goes to Europe and orders American beer should have their head read.

[devilot]

Kostrizer
I could have sworn it's Kostritzer. I like that one, but not from the bottle. Only had it once, though-- hard to find here.
...and anyone who goes to Europe and orders American beer should have their head read.
Funny, the last time I checked, most people don't call other people crazy just for having a different opinion; if someone prefers Pepsi to Coke, doesn't make them crazy.

[jayscheuerle]

I could have sworn it's Kostritzer. I like that one, but not from the bottle. Only had it once, though-- hard to find here.

Right you are with the spelling! D'oh!

Great German bar in Philly "Ludwigs" has most of those on tap...

[devilot]

Right you are with the spelling! D'oh!

Great German bar in Philly "Ludwigs" has most of those on tap...
*eyes you jealously* The only place I know of here to get that on tap-- is this tiny German restaurant called the Tyrolean Inn (and Restaurant) a good 30 minutes up in the mountains from a tiny and perilous highway (highway 9-- the Santa Cruz branch, if anyone around here is curious). The last time I went (over a year ago) I could only have one er... is that a pint? Um one glass of it because some drunken bastard had killed the rest of the keg! DAH! So I hunted around for half a year and found it in bottle form from Beverages and More but it just wasn't the same. :(

[gwuMACaddict]

Does Yuengy even travel outside of Pennsylvania?

yes, didn't use to though- started about 7 years ago, would see it in maryland, etc.

very popular beer in the bars of dc

[Lord Blackadder]

The Outback Steakhouse is a joke, WTF is a Blooming Onion? Never heard of it in my life?

WE don't drink Fosters, and anyone who goes to Europe and orders American beer should have their head read.

It's an appetizer...a kind of fried onion with dip...nothing special, but it's supposed to be a cute pun on an allegedy common expression from OZ (i.e. it's a "Bloomin'" onion...it blooms...see what we did there?)....It's stupid. :rolleyes:

http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:nrsTdn53GDEJ:http://www.outback.co.kr/product/_images/food_sub01_01.gif

I'll admit I spend most of my time drinking cheapo beer, but I'm adventurous when it comes to trying new brews. But I've met too many people who think that Heineken or Fosters are "upmarket" import beers....uh....yeah.

Yuengling is generally good stuff, but not sold in Ohio. :( I was up in NY recently and it was available there. :)

[bigandy]

Hey now, after a long day, wouldn't you prefer to sip on a familiar beer? :p


wooooooow, how american :p

or, why not, after a long trip over here, try something new and exciting!??!

[gwuMACaddict]

wooooooow, how american :p

or, why not, after a long trip over here, try something new and exciting!??!


eh? :confused: how is wanting something familiar "american"?

[iDM]

I know alot of people have VERY strong feelings for beer all around the world, so i hope i do not offend anyone by saying this but what the hell is wrong with drinking a beer that you like because of its taste. Does it really matter if it comes from country X and no one in country x likes it? What if it still tastes good? Who cares i think people should drink the beer they like, whether it's Beast light (Milwaukee’s Best), Fosters, Heineken, or MGD! I feel like it's almost a cliché for people to say "on you know no one in Australia drinks Fosters so stop trying to be like a local" Well sh** dude maybe it tastes like heaven to me? I understand no one drinks Heiny's in Amsterdam or the Netherlands, but hey when I have the extra cash I spring for it. Not because I've been to the Netherlands, or that is made there, or that i wanna act like i know my imports, its cause i like the taste of it with my meal! Its one thing to argue about the taste of beers but it's another thing to argue about whether its the cool thing or not to drink a certain kind.

Edit: If someone does however get a drink because they want to be perceived as being a local ok then sure they can be made fun of.

[devilot]

eh? :confused: how is wanting something familiar "american"?
I agree. I think that most living organisms are drawn to the familiar-- including non-human types, and humans from all over.

Anyhow, stop bashing me. My bf chose that beer... and even if he was here on MR stop bashing anyway. Did I say he didn't try other beers? Did I say that he isn't open to new and different things? No, I simply mentioned one incident.

::edit:: iDM, I thoroughly agree. That's what I mentioned in an above post; it's about different taste preferences, I don't think anyone can really quantify that one beer is better than another as a fact, merely opinion.

[Peterkro]

I know alot of people have VERY strong feelings for beer all around the world, so i hope i do not offend anyone by saying this but what the hell is wrong with drinking a beer that you like because of its taste. Does it really matter if it comes from country X and no one in country x likes it? What if it still tastes good? Who cares i think people should drink the beer they like, whether it's Beast light (Milwaukee’s Best), Fosters, Heineken, or MGD! I feel like it's almost a cliché for people to say "on you know no one in Australia drinks Fosters so stop trying to be like a local" Well sh** dude maybe it tastes like heaven to me? I understand no one drinks Heiny's in Amsterdam or the Netherlands, but hey when I have the extra cash I spring for it. Not because I've been to the Netherlands, or that is made there, or that i wanna act like i know my imports, its cause i like the taste of it with my meal! Its one thing to argue about the taste of beers but it's another thing to argue about whether its the cool thing or not to drink a certain kind.

Edit: If someone does however get a drink because they want to be perceived as being a local ok then sure they can be made fun of.
Ever been behind someone in the supermarket who buys Coke and crisps only,I guess its cause they like the taste but it still is wierd to me.I can think of easier ways to commit suicide.

[iDM]

Ever been behind someone in the supermarket who buys Coke and crisps only,I guess its cause they like the taste but it still is wierd to me.I can think of easier ways to commit suicide.

I think that might have gone over my head......is it because of the health issues with Coke and Chips, i think i'm missing your point. If you mean that it is annoying to see someone doing the cliche thing then yea i guess i can see your point, however i am kinda missing how buying Coke and "Crisps" can really be associated with beer selections from various countries as being a cliche

[Peterkro]

What I meant was lots of people don't think about what they're buying and just get the crap with the biggest advertising budget.Same with beer (in my opinion)Fosters,Miller, Hienekin etc are all crap beers but are advertised to the sheep as cool so they buy them.I agree lots of beer from US microbreweries is great the big names are rubbish that applies to Europe Oz and NZ as well.

[Lord Blackadder]

Ok guys and gals lets calm down a wee bit, eh?

I personally enjoy drinking most beers I come in contact with (although I can't stand Heineken for some reason). If I was in Europe I'd probably try something local but I wouldn't mind an MGD either (I'm too cheap to pay $10+ for it though ;) ).

The reason I don't drink Fosters is because it tastes like crap. I do happen to like Stella Artois though - it isn't anything special, but I'm not trying to pretend it is either.

Heck, I once did a whole day's mountain biking and came back starving and thirsty to a friend's barbecue. I pounded a 40 of Olde English 800, ate my burned burger and to this day it is the tastiest beer and best burger I've ever had. I think the heat might have had something to do with it... :D

[iDM]

Ok guys and gals lets calm down a wee bit, eh?

I personally enjoy drinking most beers I come in contact with (although I can't stand Heineken for some reason). If I was in Europe I'd probably try something local but I wouldn't mind an MGD either (I'm too cheap to pay $10+ for it though ;) ).

The reason I don't drink Fosters is because it tastes like crap. I do happen to like Stella Artois though - it isn't anything special, but I'm not trying to pretend it is either.

Heck, I once did a whole day's mountain biking and came back starving and thirsty to a friend's barbecue. I pounded a 40 of Olde English 800, ate my burned burger and to this day it is the tastiest beer and best burger I've ever had. I think the heat might have had something to do with it... :D

We use to drink Old E 40s my freshmen year of college.

[savar]

Good times. I'm curious as to the reputation of Yuengling, since that's my favorite 8)

I've never seen it anywhere outside PA, but that is a great beer. When I lived in Philly I would always make visitors buy at least one.

If you're ever in Georgia, I recommend Terrapin Rye. Its a microbrew from Athens, GA, and I haven't seen it much in Atlanta, but its my all-time favorite.