Does anyone listen to the radio? I try to avoid it like the plague. Why? I’m tired of hearing the same old songs. Now that everybody else is tired of hearing the same old songs, there’s a new brilliant idea that has come up: remake the same old songs with different people. Let’s hear their deconstructionist interpretation of an already overdone (and sometimes crappy) song. What’s worse is that the new artist (in the majority of cases) makes an old, good song terrible. I heard a Moody Blues remake the other day that made me puke…metaphorically, of course. But it’s become intolerable. Even worse, teens hear this “new” song and are completely ignorant of the original artist.
I see some analogous things happening in the beer world. Luckily, this is not strictly true for everything. I’m not an iconoclast by any means when it comes to beer. However, I do like something new or a new spin on an old style. If I had a brewery, I think that I’d mix between making good versions of traditional styles, spins on old styles, and real boundary pushers. Some breweries, like AB, are making laughable “craft” beers, but they’re of no account to me. Taking an inferior and cheap recipe and ruining people’s idea of a world classic should be a criminal offense. Leinenkugel’s 1888 Bock…need I say more?
The real crime is that some people, let’s call them the teens from the example above, are completely ignorant of the original artist (so to speak) or at least a really good cover-band. But a person who has had the real deal can always tell a fake. It’s akin to putting a cubic zirconium in front of a diamond dealer. The jig is up before it begins.
This is really a call to arms for my fellow beer drinkers and brewers. Let’s spread awareness that these remade, rehashed, regurgitated beers are simply ersatz examples of the classic styles that we’ve come to know and love. Let’s tell them that Rolling Rock is not a Pale Ale. No matter how extra it is, it pales in comparison. Share a good beer with a friend, and together we can end the bad remakes once and for all.
What other bad versions of a good style can you think of?
Bud’s american ale we discussed a few months ago comes to mind.
i imagine the big brewers were a bit shocked to see the rapid growth of the craft industry. A big brewery is all about big bucks whereas a craft brewery is about good beer. Wrong motivations hardly get anyone ahead (both in sales an flavor).
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As a musician and a member of former bands I completely agree with all these bands that are covering songs now and days. There is a big difference between covering a song live and recording it. I have always hated when bands record covers and that becomes their first or second hit. I just can’t help but think about how they can’t make a name for themselves and have to use other peoples tunes.
Okay enough of that, back onto beer. I see Menocino as a brewery that just makes cheap versions of beers. I haven’t had a good beer by them. I kind of feel bad saying that because they are a lot smaller than the InBev/AB and Miller’s of this world world. But what I really hate is Miller’s campaign with the whole 3 hops at 3 different times in brewing. They act like no one does that. The very first beer I learned to brew (American IPA) called for 3 different hops at 3 different times. It’s not a new thing.
I am actually surprised thought that InBev/AB seem to be one of the only major breweries that is trying to hit the craft brew market. They put out the American Ale and Shock Top and then buy up or buy into craft breweries like Redhook.
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I feel the same way, mike, and I am sure the other mike does too, about the musical remakes that is. I am all for seeing a band put their own spin on a live cover, but don’t try to make a buck on it on an album.
That’s a good thought about Mendocino too.
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All true, but many times a forgotten ‘classic’ is rediscovered by people when someone new comes along and puts their own spin on it – for better or for worse.
Hey, if someone who drinks Bud all of the time tries an American Ale, then maybe they’ll be tempted to try other beers that they may have never considered otherwise. I don’t see it as an altogether bad thing because the ‘teens’ are likely not going to be exposed to the ‘classics’ unless unless they have an older mentor to show them the way.
So, I think in a way the macro brewers are actually undermining their own efforts because by exposing ‘new’ styles to the otherwise uninformed, those same people my seek out the real-deal and never look back!
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Henry Weinhards. Absolute mediocrity, bordering on Bud’s American Ale. Henry’s beers tend to have more body, but overall, they are still mediocre beers.
As it regards music, 99% of the time, I will prefer the original artist’s rendition, even if I heard the cover first. Case in point: “Right or Wrong” by Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys. Heard the song first recorded by George Strait (in the 80′s?), but when I was getting into old western swing, I stumbled across the tune by Bob Wills. Bob Wills is still the king.
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Nice interaction guys. I did mention a “good cover band” above. I’m not against remakes, just bad ones. I’m in the same boat as you are on the Weinhards, Tex. I don’t disagree that American Ale could be the marijuana on the way to the cocaine of the good beers. It’s simply disheartening that it’s not good in the first place.
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Speaking of cover bands…I used to love going to the Springfield Brewing Co. to drink some micro beer and watch that local 80′s cover band. Does this ring a bell at all Mike?
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I can see how Bud’s American Ale could eventually lead light-lager drinkers to embrace beers with fuller body and much better taste. In my attempts beer-vangelize, I try to employ various different beers from hefeweizen to lambic to pale ale. It depends on the person and their tastes.
One surprise I had was with my mother, a fairly dedicate Coors Light drinker. (I’ve been working on my parents for years. I have much success with my father, but not so with my mother.) While visiting us here in Washington, we took them to Scuttlebutt’s (a favorite place for food and beer). Mom tried their hefeweizen, and their blonde ale, but didn’t really appreciate either of them. Furtunately, Scuttlebutt’s doesn’t carry Coors Light.
But, my mother did try their Triple 7, a sort of “tip of the hat” to a certainbig airplane manufactured nearby. I was really surprised, because it weighs in at nearly 9% ABV! Go mom! Too bad for her it’s only a seasonal.
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It’s nice that she’s at least trying beer. Harass ‘em until they change, at least that is my silly philosophy.
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About the beervangelism things. That’s one thing I really stress when getting someone to try a new beer…listen to them first.
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Actually, there is very little to remember about that. I think I only went to the brew co. one time while I lived there. I blame Kraft Foods for making my work 3rd shift.
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