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The Long, Slow, Torturous Death of Zima (No more Zima "beer)
Slate ^ | November 26, 2008 | Brendan I. Koerner

Posted on 11/29/2008 6:07:51 AM PST by PJ-Comix

There are a million ways to slight a rival's manhood, but to suggest that he enjoys Zima is one of the worst. Zima was the original "malternative"—a family of alcoholic beverages that eventually came to include such abominations as Smirnoff Ice and Bacardi Silver—and it has long been considered the very opposite of macho: a drink that fragile coeds swill while giving each other pedicures.

That stereotype has persisted despite the fact that Zima's brief heyday came nearly 15 years ago. The brand was then hailed as a marketing coup, an ingenious way to sell beer—or rather, a clear, beerlike solution—to consumers who eschewed traditional suds. But virtually overnight, Zima was done in by its medicinal taste and girly-man rep: After selling an astounding 1.3 million barrels in 1994, the year it went national, Zima's sales fell to just 403,000 barrels in 1996.

Many drinkers assume that Zima vanished shortly thereafter and has since existed solely as a punch line. But Zima actually survived for more than another decade, until MillerCoors pulled the plug on Oct. 10. Rarely has such a famously maligned product enjoyed such a lengthy run—a testament to its brewers' Madonna-like knack for reinvention. The Zima that died a quiet death last month bore little resemblance to the malternative that swept the nation during President Clinton's first term.

(Excerpt) Read more at slate.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: alcohol; beer; coeds; zima
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To: KosmicKitty; Old Teufel Hunden

I’m VERY allergic to something in beer. Every time I’ve tried to drink it, I start throwing up after a few sips. Type doesn’t matter, cheap or expensive, the same thing happens.

I used to like Zima. Nice for picnics & weekend afternoons when you didn’t want wine or hard liquor. Much nicer than wine coolers that are just too sweet!!

Sigh, I’m probably the only person on the planet who drank it, but I liked it.

Speaking of new products, I didn't get it, I've had a friend who could not eat at least wheat products, whatever that allergic reaction is called, but now, Budweiser has a Sorghum beer! I wonder if you might have a different reaction to that? Ah, the beer is Gluten free and surely, when it was issued a story may have been posted here on it.

Here is an image, why use all this space to show it? Sorghum beer anyone try it yet?

I don't really criticize Zima, a different strokes type of thing, I know what having a "delicate constitution" can mean as well, though I didn't really drink it.

61 posted on 11/29/2008 7:04:43 AM PST by RGPII
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To: RGPII

Yuengling is available in Florida.


62 posted on 11/29/2008 7:05:04 AM PST by PJ-Comix (The Tide Turned Just a Half Year After Pearl Harbor)
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To: LoneRangerMassachusetts

I remember thinking Old Style from LaCrosse, WI was akin to Ballantines. We renamed it Dog Style...


63 posted on 11/29/2008 7:07:24 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: Dr. Bogus Pachysandra

Smoky and the Bandit, were in fact.. smuggling Coors beer!

I remember well when Schlitz was the king.. I used to sell (and drink) the hell out of that stuff.

Zima, on the other hand... I liked for a little while. About 2 weeks... but, I was pretty much out of my beer-drinking phase by then. Just a bourbon guy now. :-)


64 posted on 11/29/2008 7:07:34 AM PST by SomeCallMeTim ( When you find yourself going through Hell, keep going!)
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To: PJ-Comix

Yuengling is available in Florida

Yuengling seems to be available back east the way Coors use to be the Western Beer. I think Yuengling is a real good beer relatively speaking, it feels historic to drink! I don't really do taste tests much anymore or guzzle a high amount if I ever really did.

65 posted on 11/29/2008 7:08:40 AM PST by RGPII
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To: odin2008

There is only ONE Lum’s left in the country. It is on Davie Rd. near Broward Community College in the Ft. Lauderdale area.


66 posted on 11/29/2008 7:09:01 AM PST by PJ-Comix (The Tide Turned Just a Half Year After Pearl Harbor)
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To: OKSooner

Interesting story.

And just think, when President Obama signs card check legislation this plant can once again become a union shop.


67 posted on 11/29/2008 7:14:14 AM PST by jtal
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To: RGPII

I’m from Southwestern Pa so we have lots of Yuengling here. It’s made in Pottsville Pa. It is true that it’s America’s oldest Brewer. It dates back to 1829. Their main brew is a lager also, but they have an ale called Lord Chesterfields. Interestingly, they are one of the few brewers to make a Black n Tan.


68 posted on 11/29/2008 7:16:25 AM PST by Old Teufel Hunden (I)
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To: KosmicKitty

I loved the Zima orange. Went down like crush, hit the brain like 151.


69 posted on 11/29/2008 7:16:40 AM PST by AirForceMom (God Bless the USA)
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To: PJ-Comix
My girlfriend loved it.

We used to drink it at her mother's house. We had her 70 year old mother convinced that it was "mineral water".

But after she called it mineral water at the country club she was not amused.

70 posted on 11/29/2008 7:17:35 AM PST by Slump Tester (What if I'm pregnant Teddy? Errr-ahh -Calm down Mary Jo, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it)
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To: tbpiper
Ergo, lime & Corona

I ordered a "Corona con lima" in Cozumel some years back. The bartender gave me that stoopid gringo look when he delivered the beer. Looking around, I realized the locals were drinking Sol, a local brew. Actually a pretty good beer, and it doesn't need salt and lime.

71 posted on 11/29/2008 7:17:56 AM PST by Don Carlos (You can touch a nun once or twice, but don't get in the habit.)
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To: PJ-Comix
“Maybe it’s just me but I never figured out the popularity of Bud.”

It's not just you. I would rather drink directly from the Detroit river that to drink Buttwasher beer!

Many that have never tried it refuse to believe it, but, Old Milwaukee Light is by far the best light lager made. In fact they just won the gold in the 2008 world beer cup.

I belong to a private club where any beer you want is the same price and my choice, and of many others, is OML.

72 posted on 11/29/2008 7:18:39 AM PST by Beagle8U (FreeRepublic -- One stop shopping ....... Its the Conservative Super WalMart for news .)
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To: incredulous joe

That ain’t so, Joe! I personally shun the ‘common’ brands in favor of full-flavored (and pretty damned potent) genuine Belgian ales. Mind you, those concoctions will get you talking to people who aren’t rally there much faster than you think in a very short amount of time. But they taste a helluva lot better.


73 posted on 11/29/2008 7:19:07 AM PST by 60Gunner (ALL bleeding stops... eventually.)
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To: PalmettoMason

Sure, you can pay more, but there is no finer beer being produced today than Miller High Life. I know of no other beer with its ingredients and heritage.


74 posted on 11/29/2008 7:19:20 AM PST by WilliamReading
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To: Old Teufel Hunden

Maybe Yuengling tastes better in Pennsylvania than it does in Florida. Let’s hope so.


75 posted on 11/29/2008 7:20:22 AM PST by WilliamReading
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To: stan_sipple

Back in the day...
I’d go into the liquor store and say, “Gimme a bottle of panty remover.”


76 posted on 11/29/2008 7:21:31 AM PST by GunsAndBibles (God save Calif. - 'cause it's gonna take a miracle.)
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To: PJ-Comix

We used to have a place called Lum’s
***************************************************

Oh Lord, I just had a flash back to Friday nights and Lums and drinking all those beers no one had ever heard of while some guy with a guitar sat on a stool and sang. Long ago before marriage and a (now grown) son.


77 posted on 11/29/2008 7:22:09 AM PST by Taichi (Certe, toto, sentio nos in kansate non iam adesse)
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To: WilliamReading

Miller Beer is GAY


78 posted on 11/29/2008 7:24:17 AM PST by GunsAndBibles (God save Calif. - 'cause it's gonna take a miracle.)
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To: PJ-Comix

I tried it one time and it was truly horrible. I couldn’t even get one can down. Good riddance.


79 posted on 11/29/2008 7:26:14 AM PST by RichardW
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To: LoneRangerMassachusetts

The beer that got foisted on us in Vietnam was Carling Black Label. Sometimes it was the only brand available. In steel cans to survive trans Pacific shipment, so everyone carried a churchkey.

Even the Vietnamese warned us not to drink “Ba-Muoi-Ba” (`33’) beer. Said it contained formaldihyde and if you’re still not convinced then go visit the brewery.

But.... San Miguel beer from the Philippines - that was nectar to us.


80 posted on 11/29/2008 7:27:32 AM PST by elcid1970 ("O Muslim! My cartridges are lubricated with pig grease!")
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