Your Comments, Criticisms and Contributions - May 2003
Hi, my name is Shaina Sublett and I'm a student at West Virginia University. I am currently writing a research paper on beer advertisements and I was wondering if you could help direct me in finding some information. I was wondering if there were any laws or restrictions concerning alcohol companies advertising possible health benefits of moderate consumption of their products. I actually cited your website in my paper for information about beer's potential health benefits. If you could write me back as soon as possible with some information or maybe a website I could get the information I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.
- Shaina Sublett
In the United States, it is illegal to connect beverage alcohol with nutritional and health benefits. A few years back, perhaps a decade by now, the Yakima Brewing Company (Yakima, Washington) went up against the feds in a case to protect their right to post a nutritional information list on their labels, similar top what you see on prepared foods. They lost.
Could I possibly get a list of your locations with addresses and phone numbers?
Preferably the ones in Florida. Thank you.
- Mitzi Jordling
You want the World of Beer stores. This is an unaffiliated website.
Thanks for the reference to your website in the latest Malt Advocate, I didn't know about your site and now I have it "bookmarked." Can you give me the definitive word on green bottles for beer - does the beer get "light struck" and give the beer the signature skunky aroma or do some breweries strive for this style (i.e. Heineken, Grolsch etc.)? Perhaps pilsner and lagers lend themselves to the skunky aroma? I've noticed various degrees of "skunk" in different beers bottled in green bottles so there seems to be more to it than just the bottle. However, I had Konig Pils in a brown bottle recently and it had no skunk at all (it was quite good by the way). Also, while we're on the subject, what about clear bottles? Old Speckled Hen has hit this market recently but in clear bottles, not a good selling point but a pretty tasty beer. Thanks.
- John Duncan
Regarding skunkiness in beer, light is the enemy here. Any beer exposed to a light source for an extended period of time is at risk, although the risk increases considerably when the glass is thin (even if it is brown glass) or green or clear. Worst hit are going to be pale lagers, as the light penetrates these beers more easily. The darker the beer, the less likely it will become skunky, although I should note here that all beers are at risk. No brewery strives for a skunky taste, but some believe that the selling ability of a green or clear glass bottle outweighs the dangers they pose to the beer.
Great website by the way, and although I'm not a beer drinker per se, I did catch your Lambic Beer article in Saveur and thought it was really well done. So kudos on the James Beard nomination.
With respect to beer, my understanding has always been that a Black and Tan is a *layered* drink with the Guinness (or stout) floating on top with a distinct line separating the stout from the ale.
My father, who is from a British background, insists that the stout is supposed to be fully mixed with the ale and gets upset if not served to him this way (we're in Ottawa).
I was all set to prove him wrong by referring to the Guinness website, but there is no mention of black and tan there. Finally doing some web research, I saw comments from a guy who mentions having tended bar in Ireland and that in fact the layered black and tan is an American affectation and that in Ireland and the UK they will mix the beers fully in the glass.
Could you please shed some light on this?
- Johanna
Sorry to tell you, Johanna, but your dad is right. The layered look is purely a North American thing, as is the oddity in which stout is blended with lager.
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