Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site opus.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!harpo!seismo!hao!cires!nbires!opus!rcd From: rcd@opus.UUCP (Dick Dunn) Newsgroups: net.wines Subject: Re: A (slight) defense of major American beers Message-ID: <407@opus.UUCP> Date: Thu, 26-Apr-84 03:17:43 EST Article-I.D.: opus.407 Posted: Thu Apr 26 03:17:43 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 28-Apr-84 08:27:32 EST References: <384@opus.UUCP> <124@fisher.UUCP> <170@hercules.UUCP> Organization: NBI, Boulder Lines: 32 My views on a few more points: >...First, the lighter a beer is, the cheaper it is to make. True in some respects - ingredients, at least, are cheaper. However, ales ferment faster, so you can produce more with the same fermenter capacity. Actually, the cost of ingredients can easily be swamped by the costs of packaging, transportation, advertising, etc. >...I even read somewhere, Fred Eckhardt's Treatise on >Lager Beer, I think, that the brewing industry refers to what they make as >"malt beverage" not "beer" in their own trade journal. In fact, Fred actually says this - but a quick look at a copy of Brewer's Digest I have (about a year old) shows the word "beer" freely used. I couldn't find "malt beverage". Fred has done wondrous things in promoting beer, and homebrewing in particular, but there are parts of his "Treatise" which badly need revision. >...many people, myself include, have >started making their own. When I brew my own, I get what I like, and I know >exactly what's gone into it... Here, Archie is right on target - SOME US brewers will put damn near anything the FDA will allow into their beer. There are 50-odd things that can be added; somebody read the list into the Congressional Record. The list includes fragrances, things to make a head and then things to control the head, colors, clarifying agents, etc. But other US brewers are careful to tell you exactly what goes in - Anchor is one - and they're good about it. This includes both small and large breweries. Still, do it yourself if you want it done right (or want to know why it's wrong, anyway:-) Homebrewing really works. -- ...Cerebus for dictator! Dick Dunn {hao,ucbvax,allegra}!nbires!rcd (303) 444-5710 x3086