Stella!

[jamesq]

It's interesting how different reputations can be in different areas. In North America, Stella Artois is the pretentious beer you buy when you're trying to impress someone with your refined beer-buying ability*. In Europe it's the white trash beer. Apparently if you walk up to a barkeep in the UK and ask for a "wifebeater", you'll get a pint of Stella.

I learned it on Fark, so take it with a grain of salt.

*Is anyone really impressed if you buy a Stella (or some obscure cocktail, or expensive Scotch or wine)? My hypothesis is that people who feign interest at all are responding to the fact that an attempt at impressing has occurred, rather then what the attempt consisted of.

--- late edit ---

I suppose the source of the nickname could be "Streetcar Named Desire" - "Stella" = "Wifebeater". But that kind of logic could make you blanche.

Comments

[pandorasbox.livejournal.com]

I hate Stella and totally see the wife beater reference. I am a Hoegaarden myself

[jamesq]

Now there's a name that can be easily turned into a double entendre in English.

One of my roomies buys Hoegaarden occasionally.

For me, it depends on my mood. BTW, when you order the 80p beer in London, be aware that it's been a long time since it cost 80p.

[pandorasbox.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, we are all ready figuring all that in. I am looking forward to warm beer. I really like warm beer, it tastes better

[jamesq]

I noticed that some of the pubs had two draft taps for Guinness - one regular temperature and one cold. I guess the kids don't like tradition.

[pandorasbox.livejournal.com]

They can have their cold beer. More warm beer for me

[jamesq]

Which is precisely why I think the guy who came up with their North American ad campaign deserves whatever huge-ass raise he got. They've pretty much convinced us over here it's worth an extra $1 a glass.

Next up, ads in Europe will convince the Germans that Budweiser is what the rich people drink!

[ladyerwyn.livejournal.com]

I've never heard of that beer, but I'm not an expert. I don't like beer and I haven't drank a real beer in years. I usually drink Mikes Hard Lemonaide. It's an alcoholic fruity drink. That or rum and coke.

In the U.S. Busch and Pabst Blue Ribbon are the cheap beers. I think their might be a cheaper one called magnum, or something like that.

[sagaciouslu.livejournal.com]

Yup. Stella's what my mates drink at pub when they're too pissed to taste anything. They're usually two-fisting the stuff by last call...

[catalytic.livejournal.com]

As soon as I saw the stella ads, and ever time since, the primary thought that goes through my mind is "If they have to make it that pretentious it must taste like ASS." My favorite one was the ad where the guy ignores the prediction the old woman shows him, thereby giving up on meeting the love of his life, just so he can have a stella. Then he gets hit on by the hideous barmaid. The whole ad says to me "drink our beer and you'll become so stupid you'll pass up the love of your life and settle for something much, much worse." It really encapsulated the whole feel I have for the entire stella ad campaign.

[jamesq]

I actually thought that ad was sort of cute. I interpreted the message as "you get the beer and you get a girl who's actually your type". i.e. not a Prima Donna, but someone his own age, his own class, his own level. Someone who he actually has something in common with.

It didn't make me want to drink their beer though.

[canadianknight.livejournal.com]

First Stella ad I saw was something to do with a soldier being rescued by his buddies, and then not giving them a Stella, or something along those lines.

I found it *offensive*, and vowed never to drink the stuff. But yeah, after I got past the offensiveness, I thought... jeezuz they are presenting this stuff as pretentious shite! Must be lousy! (Sorry to say we have it in my store ... heh.)

[ishansonofbrand.livejournal.com]

I have been curious to try Stella to be honest. The problem is that any beer I drink needs to very flavourful, and I am more of a fan of stouts, bitters, browns, ambers, and most thing ale like. I don't care for Lagers, nor mas brewed stuff. I don't think Stella would be a good beer for me, or even a good beer for cooking with.

A nice Russian Imperial Stout. That is good stuff!

[canadianknight.livejournal.com]

Is anyone impressed with people that buy expensive Scotch or wine?

As someone who works in the liquor biz, I'd have to say... no.

In a lot of cases, I find that people have more money than sense. (Not ALL cases, but most...)

Now, are more expensive scotches and wines BETTER? In some cases, yes. :) But not always. It IS always a matter of personal taste, and how developed one's palette is.