Goodbye, Michelob Original Lager.

ABI carbonates all of their domestic beers to 2.5 vols if I recall. For reference a lager would be typically 2.5 to 2.6 vols, a Hefe maybe up to 2.9. Some Belgians exceed 3.0 vols and it is rare to go too much above 3.0. Cask ale aka "Real Ale" is not much more than 2.0 vols if that. These are general targets (from recollection) and some beers vary (check the Style Guidelines for their universal beer law if you are interested).

So at 2.5 vols the beers are really not all that carbonated.

However, it is typical to down these macros at temperatures near freezing and that cold beer holds quite a bit of gas. This is one reason you won't get a wild pour from a very cold can. The gas stays in the beer, it does not form bubbles and escape.

Now, all that gas staying in the liquid, it also stays in your gut when you drink it. Your nice body temperature large intestine, filled with CO2.
It's called being bloated. And Really Cold Beer is going to make you a bit bloated. Nauseos even. This is actually a common issue with the large chain restaurants. Macro drinkers expect super cold beer because that is what is marketed to death, but the restaurant wants you to drink more than one before you get bloated. Super cold beer is really not conducive to selling beer in fact. Go figure.
Cheers

 

Bubbles!?!

 

Here's a better picture

This was bottled in March, so I don't think it's discontinued. The label no longer says original lager, so maybe an SKU change? It does not have a lot of taste, despite the imported Hallertau & Strissel Spalt claimed on the front label. Nice bitterness and clean lagering. Still sporting a thin ring of head after 15 minutes in the glass. If you like it, hope you can still find it.

 

I could agree with that, and I'm not doubting the flavor could be unique based on Honkey's recipe, but I can't get behind the paleness.

 

One of my favorite things about that label is that the ingredients listed on the label are different from what Adolphus Busch said was used in Michelob (material from AB from 1896 to at least 1916 shows that Michelob was a 100% Saaz beer) but when reaching out to ABI, the response I got claims they use the same original recipe... I wonder why they bothered to lie?

“It's great to hear that you are wanting to brew a beer close to Michelob but unfortunately, the information you are requesting is proprietary. We do, however, still use the same quality ingredients and recipe today as we started brewing Michelob with in 1896.”

 

Eh, to each their own. I think this is probably the prettiest beer I’ve ever brewed. One of the things that made a big impression on me when I was at brewing school was the German professors adamancy that proper Pilsners are as pale as possible and that it’s a point of pride to be able to make them so pale without the use of adjuncts. I think this would make my German teachers proud.

 

Dreher - recht hat er!

 

Exactly, and you had mentioned previously that you liked that color, so good on yah. But I like my Pilsner with a little more gold, not so much straw.

That said, I'd love to taste the recipe you concocted based on the historical notes. I'd love to see more of that sort of experimentation.

 

Snowed here the day before. Snowing here right now -- fair warning. Can't wait for Memorial Day.

 

Indeed, two of my favorite Pilsners, Stiegl Pils and Trumer Pils, are both very pale in color. The hops really shine through - I really enjoy those Saphir hops which have become popular over there.

 

I was thinking about Trumer, but I haven't been able to find it in a while and haven't reviewed it since 2007. Funny thing, I described the color as "pale gold."

I always remember it being more gold than pale -- definitely not the pale I see in a Budweiser or Miller.

From my 2010 review of SN Summerfest:
Appearance -- White, sudsy, thick, clingy top -- clear, gold body. This beer defines the color gold.

 

I found a picture!


It’s more pale than PU or Weihenstephaner, maybe a tad more pale than Budweiser Budvar. Stiegl Pils is yet more pale. Still though, I’ve tended to find most German Pilsners to be lighter in color than Helles.

Jever is another example too of one that I remember is really light-colored.

 

Europe? The Cali-brewed may be different... though I don't know. Still more gold than straw, and maybe that answers my note from 2007.

Most definitely, but Bohemian Pils should be deeper than German -- which I always considered Trumer a "German" in style. Urquell is amazingly deep in color.

Same here, for the majority.

Why? The head is holding up well. If you're pointing out the clingy bubbles, German Pilsners have big carbonation and look like that very often. I'd think the glass was dirty if it didn't have the bubbles.

 

I was living at the time in a small apartment in Vienna without a dishwasher. Perhaps I could’ve done a better hand-washing job though...

@steveh yes, it was from the brewery in Austria. I don’t think they sell the half-liters in the US.

 

The non-beer glass threw me off from recognizing the half-liter, but I based my observation on the architecture.

 

Wow. Don't think I've had a regular Michelob in about 14 years or so now when I was in my early 20s. Back then, I always thought it was certainly a step above budweiser, bud light, etc., sure. That was when my beer knowledge was in its infancy and my experience with drinking craft beers was quite limited. I never ever felt the need or want to ever go back to Michelob though with more and more craft beers available for me to drink. Even when I've been out at a bar, etc. and wanted a cheap beer, Michelob never seemed available and I'd go with some other cheap macro lager that the bar had available at the time. Also, at some point about 11 years ago now, I realized that I didn't ever want to give A-B any of my money, as they engaged in shady underhanded tactics to undermine the craft beer industry. Since I love craft beer, why the hell would I ever want to give A-B any of my money when they were trying to undermine my access to craft beer? And so I haven't given them a dime of my money since. About 12 1/2 years ago I got the chance to try several the Michelob "craft" beers. I thought they were just decent, but by then I was experienced enough of a craft beer consumer to know that the Michelob "craft" offerings were not at all something I wanted/needed to go out of my to spend my money on since there were hundreds of far superior beers available made by actual craft breweries.

Eric

 

You were stating such a strong, principled stand...

(Sorry; just ribbing you a bit! )