So I have been thinking a lot of beer lately. I was put onto a very interesting article by a friend. In the article, Edward McClelland explains what the purchase of Budweiser by InBev means to American brewing. Specifically, he investigates what beers remain truly American today. He notes that a beer I have always considered to be quintessentially American, PBR, contracts it's brewing out to Miller, who is now owned by a South African conglomerate. In fact, PBR closed their Milwaukee brewery in 1996, and now only holds office space in Chicago. It is technically the same PBR recipe that won the Blue Ribbon in 1893, but it is disheartening to think of this classically American brew not really being brewed by Americans.
McClelland goes on to discuss what breweries remain true blue, and stumbles upon Yuengling (colloquially referred to as "Glingers"). I am lucky enough to live in the few states that Yuengling distributes it's tasty lager, so I have been happily consuming Glingers for years now. McClelland is not lucky enough to live in a "Green state", so he has never had the pleasure of an ice cold Glinger at a backyard bar-b-que with friends. Well Edward, this one's for you!
Today's Beer
Yungling Porter
Taste the sweet taste of America! Brewed since 1829 "expressly for tavern and family trade", the porter has some great label art. Look at that majestic eagle getting his drink on!
The masters of D.G. Yuengling and Son have had time to perfect this beer, and I assure you, they have. The strong scent of malt fills my office as I write, and it's dark color gets me excited for Fall. After drinking three quarters of it, the taste lingers on the back of your tongue, reminding you of what a deliberately crafted beer can give you. When crafted well, a beer should taste great before, during, and after drinking it. Porters such as this are heavy and sweet, with a bitterness obtained from roasting malted barley to a deep brown hue. This beer reminds me of dark chocolate; sweetness and bitterness intertwine creating something that tastes great and is good for your heart. At least, that's what I tell myself...
3 comments:
Welcome back, friend. I have yet to try the Glinger Porter, although I have been curious at times. I know you have said their Black and Tan is bad, so I have been hesitant to purchase anything other than Glinger Classic, but this might make me think otherwise.
Hmmm I'm not sure where you're from but I've been drinking Yuengling in Pittsburgh since the early 90s, way before they got big and started exporting all over the place (and also way before you could buy a dark beer in Pittsburgh at most bars, other than Guinness, Becks Dark, and Yuengling Porter) and I've _never_ heard it called a Glinger.
Sean
P.S. On the other hand I've occasionally heard it called a "Yinzerling" :-)
I've heard people from New York to Orlando call them Glingers.
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