Hamm’s Appreciation Thread (2024)

I have not had the pleasure. I looked at the brewery web site and Lager is not listed. It was last rated by a BA in 2022 and last reviewed in 2019. The web site says Upper Hand is a division of Bell’s, so then a part of NB? My go to lager from Upper Hand is Deer Camp Amber. I pick up a case each fall.

 

We were camping up in Northern Michigan once and none of the craft beers were doing it for me (surprisingly few) and a 12 pack of Hamm’s was all I needed. I reconnected with it about 6 years ago. I dig all the old recipe AAL ‘s.

 

This plus "It's good enough for what it is" is part of my elevator pitch to anyone who I've recommended Hamm's to, on top of boring them with some context/history of the brewery if they'll let me talk long enough.

 

I found a four pack of Deer Brand 16 ounces over the holidays and to be honest it really hit the spot more than some of the other (craft) beers I had....not sure if it's all malt but it wouldn't surprise me.....just had more depth than a lot of AAL types...much prefer to artificial tasting Premo. Not that I hate Premium but Deer Brand is definitely better in my opinion.

 

August Schell, a decade ago, was one of the most vocal proponents of adjunct usage for "traditional" US AAL beers, such as this reply by Jace Marti, brewmaster, of the family that's owned the brewery since the mid-19th century. Here, in response to the then-Brewers Association rule which did not allow a brewery with a AAL flagship to be considered "Craft". (I'm sure you recall that ).

What are "Premo" and "Premium" (same beer?)? Local nicknames for Grain Belt, I guess? (Just looked at the current can design on the brand's website https://www.grainbelt.com/ Yeah, I can see why that might be the case. )

Doesn't Schell use 2 different yeast strains for their 2 AAL flagships and isn't the Grain Belt's yeast known for giving the beer "grape" notes? Supposedly,
Deer Brand = a Carlsberg-strain and Grain Belt = a Tuborg-strain.

 

FWIW -- I wasn't suggesting Deer Brand was all malt -- just the opposite (opposite of all malt being adjunct?).

The Schell's all malt that was distributed by MdV was a completely different beer than DB. I'll have to check notes, but they may have brought it back as their Anniversary Pilsner, but I don't think the same 80s recipe is brewed anymore.

 

Recently saw "Dumb Money and that, coupled with this thread - and DaveToTheB's post - has made my "seek" out list. Not probable I'll find in VT but will seek time that I leave the state.

 

No I didn't take it that you were suggesting it may be all-malt...I was suggesting it or at least saying it kind of tastes that way.

 

Yeah sorry...Premo=Premium....interesting notes on the yeast strains...Premium to me just has a weird artificial flavor....I'll drink it but it's different...not sure if it tasted that way in the olden days or not......wish they still made Grain Belt Golden...

 

Yeah, the one below, left:


Chas. Finkel claimed he sent Ted Marti to Westphalia and Bavaria, who "took home recipes" for the two beers. MdV said the Pilsner was a "Classic highly hopped pilsener, (with) great balance of malted barley and Hallertau hops ...made in accordance with the Bavarian Purity Law, the Reinheitsgebot".

MdV OTOH also claimed it was "hand made since 1864".

 

Of course it is going to have a low score. There are lots of BAs (the majority of BAs) who have exactly the same attitude you have towards AAL beers.

Cheers!

 

I met Finkel once -- I made sure I still had possession of my wallet as I walked away.

 

Is a Honda Accord a lousy car because it doesn't drive as nice as a Mercedes S class?

Sure, most craft beers which cost double, triple or more what Hamm's goes for are likely going to be more pleasing to most craft beer lovers.

Hamm's is a good beer for what it is. Just because it doesn't appeal to your taste doesn't mean it's a bad beer.

 

Nope, I think this beer is listed as "68" because BAs do not rate this beer to style; they instead rate it with their prejudices to the AAL beer style.

John, you consistently belittle the AAL beer style so I understand why you feel this way.

Cheers!