Heineken changes its bottle

Discussion in 'Beer News' started by CircusBoy, Sep 20, 2012.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. CircusBoy

    CircusBoy Initiate (0) Mar 10, 2008 Ohio

  2. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,071) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I like how they also bought into Heineken's PR about the recipe being the "same" since 1873 (didn't they used to claim "1886"?). In the early '90's Heineken was reformulated as an all-malt lager, dropping their use of corn which, in the US at least, was frequently mocked in ads from Boston Beer Co. Before that, in the late 1940's, long time US importer, Leo Van Munching was quoted as claiming that Heineken was the first brewer to use rice as an adjunct "...to increase the foam".

    And, of course, since that first shipment of Heineken reached the US on the docks of Hoboken, NJ on April 11, 1933, that recipe was obviously different than today's, since beer was still limited to 3.2% abw or less. (Also, newspaper reports at the time noted that the first shipment of Bass Ale arrived the same day).

    (Snarky "old man" comment about the reporters in the WSJ clip- "Are those guys even old enough to drink?")
     
  3. steveh

    steveh Grand Pooh-Bah (4,030) Oct 8, 2003 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Hah! C'mon -- the one guy's name is Rolfe, that ought to count for something! :grinning:
     
  4. otispdriftwood

    otispdriftwood Initiate (0) Dec 9, 2011 Colorado

    I started to watch the video but when they said or I read the bottle change was being done to try to increase market share, my first thoughts were B.S! Either they are saving money or trying to make Heineken bottles look like Beck's bottles or any reason but trying to increase market share. If they really wanted to increase market share, they would drop the price for a limited time.
     
  5. Domingo

    Domingo Grand Pooh-Bah (4,206) Apr 23, 2005 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I was hoping that we'd see the brown bottles like they have in Amsterdam. When it isn't skunked, Heineken isn't so bad.
     
  6. PaulQuinn

    PaulQuinn Initiate (0) May 27, 2011 Canada (BC)

    Here in Brazil Heineken bottles look like the new bottle for a few years at least. They are obviously standardizing their bottles to save some money.
     
  7. ggroller

    ggroller Initiate (0) Sep 26, 2004 Pennsylvania

    Ah, come on man. Heineken is a solid beer.
     
    misterid likes this.
  8. Duffman929

    Duffman929 Initiate (0) Nov 27, 2010 Illinois
    Trader

    I couldn't even troll comment on this because OP used the best line!
     
  9. RKPStogie

    RKPStogie Initiate (0) Nov 4, 2011 Minnesota

    Lipstick on a pig...
     
  10. mjryan

    mjryan Maven (1,485) Dec 22, 2007 Minnesota

    When not skunked as fuck, Heineken ain't a half bad beer.
     
  11. UCLABrewN84

    UCLABrewN84 Initiate (0) Mar 18, 2010 California

    To rescue flagging sales? Hmm.
     
  12. Skoallrebel

    Skoallrebel Initiate (0) Sep 6, 2012

    couldnt they change the bottle brown so it stops tasting like a skunk!
     
  13. jtmartino

    jtmartino Initiate (0) Dec 11, 2010 California

    I've never had it not skunked. I thought it was supposed to taste like that.
     
    Mullinger1980 likes this.
  14. tectactoe

    tectactoe Initiate (0) Mar 20, 2012 Michigan
    Trader

  15. Bitterbill

    Bitterbill Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,772) Sep 14, 2002 Wyoming
    Pooh-Bah Society

    That's why I occasionally buy it in cans.
     
    Reneejane and mjryan like this.
  16. 05Harley

    05Harley Initiate (0) Feb 8, 2008 New Hampshire

    When I first read the post I hoped they were changing the bottle color to brown to address the all to common skunked experience. Making it taller and sleaker for sales increase, WTF.
     
    Sunhunters likes this.
  17. steveh

    steveh Grand Pooh-Bah (4,030) Oct 8, 2003 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Not at all. Try it in cans or on tap and you'll see there is no light-struck ugliness and it's a pretty decent light lager -- if that's what you have a taste for at the time.
     
  18. jtmartino

    jtmartino Initiate (0) Dec 11, 2010 California

    I have, and it still tasted like skunky pisswater. I also had it in Europe numerous times, and thought it sucked over there too.

    I've never actually had one that didn't taste skunky. Probably one of my least favorite beers in existence.
     
  19. steveh

    steveh Grand Pooh-Bah (4,030) Oct 8, 2003 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I have the feeling that you, like many others, don't understand what "skunk" actually is. Many light lagers will have a mild hint of DMS, which comes across as a cooked vegetable character -- but that is not skunk and usually isn't as pungent. Others can have a grassy or spicy note from hops -- but that is not skunk and far from being as pungent.

    Skunking comes from light effecting the beer, hard to light-strike beer in a can or keg. Brown bottles can block the light well, but even they can run foul with too much exposure.

    I've had Heineken that wasn't skunked and very fresh. It has a good malt profile and no skunkiness at all, and I stand by my last statement (as do many others).

    It's not barley wine, IPA or imperial stout, but it's not pretending to be either.
     
    Reneejane, drtth and jesskidden like this.
  20. jtmartino

    jtmartino Initiate (0) Dec 11, 2010 California

    I understand full well what skunk is. In the most technical sense, it's when UV light degraedes isohumulones into undesirable compounds (thiols) which contribute the skunky taste to the beer. Beer skunking can happen in as little as 30 minutes of exposure to light.

    My use of the word "skunked" was partially in jest, though somewhat inaccurate. I am well aware that light is the only thing that "skunks" beer, and the canned and kegged Heineken I had probably wasn't technically "skunked."

    That aside, I still think every Heineken I've ever had has tasted terrible. Even the canned and kegged versions. It is likely that my response is psychosomatic from so many years of trying skunked bottles, the green label is an instant turnoff.

    I love good light lagers. I have had many beers of that style that have tasted excellent. Heineken is not one of them.
     
    SatlyMalty likes this.
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.