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2007-06-26 Home Front Economy

Foster's Lager To Be Brewed In US -- By Miller

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Posted by Anonymoose 2007-06-26 14:18|| || Front Page|| [3 views ] Top

#1 Carlton United Breweries' acquisition of Foster's was the kiss of death. Aside from reducing the alcohol content by a full point there must have been a rather obvious recipe shift. Foster's used to be one of the most reliable lagers available around the world. Its pinpoint carbonation was exemplary. Now, it is little different from the Miller that shall be brewing it. Tuborg made the same dreadful mistake of having Miller brew Tuborg Gold in America and it tainted their name for decades. Only now is real Danish Tuborg reappearing on American shelves. Legend has it that in blind tastings, no one could tell the difference between American brewed Tuborg Gold and Miller. I foresee a similar fate for Foster's.

A similar off-shoring has occured with Japanese beers marketed in America. Sapporo, Asahi and other premium labels are now brewed in Canada. Trans-oceanic shipping of tons of glass no longer is profitable.

Fortunately for all of us Yanks, American micro-breweries have begun churning out some of the finest suds in the world. Right here in Silicon Valley is Bob Stoddard who holds both national and global medals for his brews. I have fun bringing over artisan cheeses and meats for him to sample while we slurp his latest nectar and talk beer.

Posted by Zenster">Zenster 2007-06-26 14:37|| 2007-06-26 14:37|| Front Page Top

#2 This is why I brew my own beer and don't bother buying crap off the shelf.

Beer .... so much more than just a breakfast drink.

Posted by DarthVader">DarthVader 2007-06-26 14:47|| 2007-06-26 14:47|| Front Page Top

#3 Let 'em do what they want with Foster's as long as they don't mess with Newcastle

Posted by BigEd 2007-06-26 14:49|| 2007-06-26 14:49|| Front Page Top

#4 I remember buying a 6-pack of Murphy's Irish Amber for St. Paddy's day once. When I went to open a bottle I noticed the statement: "Product of the Netherlands"

Is nothing sacred any more?

Posted by xbalanke 2007-06-26 15:01|| 2007-06-26 15:01|| Front Page Top

#5 Lunch time here on the Left Coast...hmmmmmmm what to have...what to have.....

Posted by Rex Mundi 2007-06-26 15:05|| 2007-06-26 15:05|| Front Page Top

#6 Me, too Darth.

Posted by Deacon Blues">Deacon Blues 2007-06-26 15:57|| 2007-06-26 15:57|| Front Page Top

#7 We need to have a Rantburg brewfest!

Posted by DarthVader">DarthVader 2007-06-26 16:06|| 2007-06-26 16:06|| Front Page Top

#8 #4 x - Was it ever?

Posted by Barbara Skolaut">Barbara Skolaut 2007-06-26 16:44|| http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/]">[http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/] 2007-06-26 16:44|| Front Page Top

#9 Most do it yourself home beer makers are cheaply built and small. I would like a beer machine that would fit in a clothes washing machine housing, where you would add say 15-25 gallons of bottled water, off the shelf sugars, and a bottle of the appropriate syrup and a package of dry yeast.

Then with four clamps on the top lid to seal it, turn on the machine, and it begins to give you either beer or malt liquor in a couple of weeks. Then the beer is chilled and passed through an extra cold cooling pipe to the draft tap. The gases would be vented like for a clothes dryer.

If you really wanted to get elaborate, the warm beer could be poured into clean empty bottles on the side of the machine, adding a little extra sugar to give it a good pressure when opened, then capped with a hand capper (which used to be common during prohibition). Let it sit for a little while, then refrigerate.

Then, when the beer is gone, have a tasteless detergent in clean water cleaning cycle, followed by a pure water rinse or two.

It wouldn't take very long for la machine to pay for itself, despite the cost of the syrup and brewer's yeast.

The federal law limits home beer production to 100 gallons per year for individuals, and 200 gallons a year for more than one adult. But the only people who ever get prosecuted for making their own liquor are those that make a lot and sell it.

Posted by Anonymoose 2007-06-26 17:15|| 2007-06-26 17:15|| Front Page Top

#10 If the Aussies won't drink Foster's, why should I?

Posted by eLarson 2007-06-26 17:26|| http://larsonian.blogspot.com]">[http://larsonian.blogspot.com] 2007-06-26 17:26|| Front Page Top

#11 You don't use massive amounts of sugar for brewing. Most of the sugars will come from the grains. If you add more than 20% sugar to your brew, it will really taste nasty (alcohol does not tasted too good. Taste everclear for proof). Corn sugars work the best since they give a nice mellow grain taste. Cane sugar is fine, but only adds to the alcohol content. Flaked rice works well for boosting alcohol content too.

Most beer supplies are fairly cheap (considering, you will drop $150+ for initial startup) and you can brew good beer in a plastic trash bag. Fancy equipment only makes things more convenient. After costs, your beer will still come out cheaper than the shelf bought beer and taste a hell of a lot better.

Posted by DarthVader">DarthVader 2007-06-26 18:04|| 2007-06-26 18:04|| Front Page Top

#12 As usual, Anonymoose breaks the story well in advance. I was just talking with a family member of one of Silicon Valley's largest beer, wine and liquor distributors. He was amazed that I knew about Foster's being brewed by Miller as it had just been announced as of today. Hats off to you, Anonymoose and Rantburg as well!

Posted by Zenster">Zenster 2007-06-26 19:54|| 2007-06-26 19:54|| Front Page Top

#13 try Stone's Arrogant Bastard. All rumors that I posed for the label are FALSE

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2007-06-26 21:01|| 2007-06-26 21:01|| Front Page Top

#14 Annymoose, try using a 40 gallon glass-lined water heater as the primary fermentation vessell. Then use CO2 tanks and a pressure regulator to carbonate the beer and run a line into a refirgerator with a 5 or 10 gallon container with a spicket on the side of the refrigerator. Cold beer on tap.

Posted by Deacon Blues">Deacon Blues 2007-06-26 21:15|| 2007-06-26 21:15|| Front Page Top

#15 Other than my own homebrew and microbrewed stuff, I stay away from beer. Most of the major national brands are the babyfood of beer, and many of the imports do not travel well.

The mass produced light lagers (Bud/Miller/Coors etc.) that dominate the market today only comprised about 5% of all beer drunk in the U.S. prior to Prohibition and were largely considered girly beers, but various economic and social factors since its repeal have created a nation of people who think that Bud/Miller/Coors Light is the way beer is supposed to taste.

I always found Foster's in the U.S. to be adequate at best, I'd drink it if it was offered, but never purchase it on purpose. Let's see how Miller can take it down a notch.

Posted by no mo uro 2007-06-26 21:17|| 2007-06-26 21:17|| Front Page Top

#16 Deacon - plans for the waterheater form?

It might well be worth installing a 3 heater in the basement.

Posted by 3dc 2007-06-26 22:09|| 2007-06-26 22:09|| Front Page Top

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