German Fans Frothing Over World Cup Without Home Brew

Expatica ^ | 22 April 2004 | Expatica

[Weimdog]

MUNICH - It's proving hard for German fans to swallow - the 2006 football World Cup looks likely to go ahead without German beer.

Now shocked politicians are seeking talks with tournament organizers after it emerged that a US brewer has the exclusive right to sell its beer in and around World Cup stadiums.

A World Cup in Germany without traditional German beer is almost as inconceivable for Germans as the country's football team failing to qualify for the tournament - or losing to England on penalties.

But the Germans may have scored an own goal in allowing football's world organizing body FIFA to secure an exclusive contract with the US brewer Anheuser-Busch, brewers of Budweiser, as one of the tournament's official sponsors.

In Bavaria, where beer is regarded as part of the state's cultural heritage, senior government officials have met to discuss the serious prospect of the World Cup kicking off in Munich's new Allianz stadium without any of its traditional wheat beers on sale.

The local Green party has called on state premier Edmund Stoiber to make the lack of German World Cup beer a top-level issue.

"We will very shortly be approaching the World Cup organizing committee to see what possibilities there still are," said a culture ministry spokeswoman.

Both Munich and Nuremberg, another Bavarian World Cup venue, are now planning "fan villages" outside stadium precincts so supporters can buy German beer instead of American Budweiser.

Gerhard Ohneis, head of the Augustiner brewery, told Munich's Merkur newspaper: "It's annoying if there is not going to be any Munich beer in the Munich stadium."

A spokesman for Paulaner brewery said a possibility might be to enable Bavarian beer to be sold in "neutral glasses".

Bavarian Social Democrat parliamentary group leader Franz Maget said: "The cities will make sure that World Cup visitors are supplied with respectable products."

Nuremberg has an additional problem - it won't be able to sell its traditional Nuremberg sausages at World Cup games. "McDonald's has the exclusive on sausage supplies," Maget said.

And if that were not enough, German carmakers will also be left on the sidelines, with players, VIPS and officials being shuttled to and from games by South Korean sponsor Hyundai.

[kidd]

German Fans Frothing Over World Cup Without Home Brew

Well, at least we know whats important to them.

Invading hordes of cold-blooded murdering Islamofacists - no
No beer at a soccer match - YES!!!

[Jokelahoma]

Actually, I'd say we're moving more to an old English model, since most local brewpubs and micros specialize in ales rather than lagers. Still, it's great to have so many very good regional brews to choose from. Colorado is loaded with regionals, almost all of which will beat the major brewery's products, hands down.

[TXBSAFH]

You got to have your priorities. But look at it this way if they get drunk enough they are just liable to knock over Frogland (France) on weekend just for old times sake.

[bmwcyle]

Can you spell defense contractor now?

[Kaslin]

The Nuremberg sausages are the best in the world

[1rudeboy]

Too bad the Bavarians can't simply enforce the Reinheistgebot. That would sink Budweiser for sure.

[Jokelahoma]

Oh come on. Budweiser has a few grains of malted barley in there. They use a hop flower. "A", as in singular, per barrel. They use yeast, they use water... certainly the Germans could overlook the fact that Bud has almost enough rice to qualify as really bad sake, couldn't they?

[PRND21]

McDonald's and Bud...Why must we be represented by such crappy products?
How embarassing.

[TXBSAFH]

Bad sake, that is cruel. To the sake.

[Tailback]

I was at Ansbach myself 89-91, thank God for the microbrew revolution in Oregon. I can go to any local bar here in Salem and get a Oregon brewed beer to rival any I drank in Germany. I don't blame the Bavarians, Budweiser is only useful for cooking bratwurst in.

I bet none of the hardcore beer drinkers on FR know that the East German army rioted in their barracks during the crisis surrounding the opening of the Berlin wall. Their commanders locked them on post and forbid them from drinking beer. It's entirely possible that the German love for beer helped in the winning of the cold war by the USA!

[Tailback]

I'm not really a beer fan anymore, and fear German beer would be just awful. There's only one way to find out, though

Don't drink German export beer and think it's representative of German beer. The term "Export" allows it to get around the German law that's been around for hundreds of years stating that beer can only contain malt, water, and hops. In other words, most American "macro" brews can't be called BEER in Germany, it has to be labeled as "Export" because it doesn't meet the requirements to be called true BEER.

[society-by-contract]

I can't wait to get home to my KEG OF HOMEBREW! A hoppy pale ale boardering on a Barleywine.

[society-by-contract]

(In Colorado, for example, there are several excellent small breweries....)

New Belgium Brewing Company being first in my book.

[r9etb]

Yeah, New Belgium makes some pretty good beer.

I'm partial to the hometown brews -- Bristol Brewing has a number of excellent beers.

Phantom Canyon Brewing Co. (a restaurant) makes some really wonderful stuff, too.

[Billthedrill]

Budweiser has its uses, Beer Butt Chicken being one of them. Drink it? I really don't think so. The only guy I'd give a case of Bud as a comestible to is Saddam, and then only to encourage suicide. The Germans have done nothing to deserve such a fate.

Now, if you want to show 'em some real beer, my favorite of the moment is Arrogant Bastard Ale, the ale with the attitude. Dang fine beer, and you'd better not say otherwise...

[Jokelahoma]

If you're in the Springs, try the brews at Il Vicino Pizza, downtown. Great IPA.

[r9etb]

You know, I've never been there... I'll have to give it a try.

[LibWhacker]

There are sooooo many good microbreweries right now, it seems like we're living in a golden age of great beer. And a lot of those brews are making it to store shelves.

I notice you said you are in San Diego. There are a couple of Beverages & More outlets in San Diego. They usually have a nice selection of hand-crafted beers/ales/lagers. I'm partial to amber ale myself and I can always find several excellent examples of that style at Bev&Mo, and often I've never even heard of them before. Seems like they always have something new and very good on the shelves for me to try. But don't expect to find a great beer for less than $7 or so for a six pack. So whatever style beer you prefer, go there, read the little reviews on the shelves and start loading up your cart with high-end samples. You're sure to find something you like.

Also, according to this list, there are also a bunch of world class microbreweries in the San Diego area. I know if I lived there, I'd beat feet over to the Ballast Point Brewery and order up a pitcher of that Calico Amber Ale tonight! It looks real good with all those awards hanging on it. :-)

[pdunkin]

Warren said
"American breweries have caught up?
Which ones? I would try some if I knew which ones."

Any beer by the following Maine micro's:
Geary's (especially their Hampshire Special Ale)
Gritty's
Shipyard
Sea Dog Brewing (Cabin Fever Ale is my favorite)
Atlantic Brewing Co.
Andrew's Brewing
etc, etc....

and, as the old joke goes...
What does Budweiser and sex in a canoe have in common?
They're both f*&%ing close to water.