Making peace over beer: What should President Obama serve?
There's some debate over what beer should be served in the White House. President Obama has invited Henry Louis Gates Jr. and the Cambridge police officer Crowley to meet over beers and hopefully come to some resolution over the controversial arrest situation. The White House indicated that they would serve each individual they're favorite beer. A congressman from MA has protested, instead recommending that they serve Sam Adams. Here's one article on the subject from CNN.com. So SE folks, what's your opinion on the potential brew-ha-ha? What beers should be offered at the White House?
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39 Comments:
Martinis
JerzeeTomato at 12:54AM on 07/30/09
@Jerzee--shaken or stirred? Olive or onion? Dirty? Or the "basic" as referred to by our country club members who wanted no vermouth, and no ice, just well chilled gin with an olive.
dhorst at 1:05AM on 07/30/09
Joe Biden could provide some of that Delaware favorite "Old Foot in the Mouth " . Barney Frank could get some of his fav for Gates " Hissy Fit Lite" and the cop deserves some of that old "Red , White and Blue" .
jfitz at 4:02AM on 07/30/09
Joe Biden could provide some of that Delaware favorite "Old Foot in the Mouth " . Barney Frank could get some of his fav for Gates " Hissy Fit Lite" and the cop deserves some of that old "Red , White and Blue" .
jfitz at 4:02AM on 07/30/09
Sixpoint Craft Ales' Hop Obama!
Except it's no longer being brewed...or is it??? ;)
charm city cupcake at 5:34AM on 07/30/09
I think its ridiculous that this even has to be settle. Obama should have kept his mouth shut.
katiedid at 7:44AM on 07/30/09
Old English 800. Many bad decisions have been made after drinking this. Known in many areas as the Mad Dog 20/20 of beers.Not a drink for the weak of heart, just for those who want to get really messed up, and since this is already messed up, nothing to lose.
Meat guy at 8:16AM on 07/30/09
Really? How about they serve NO BEER until the economic crisis is over. I might respect that decision.
juliebugsmama at 8:43AM on 07/30/09
Whatever beer he serves, he should serve up a big side dish of "keep your nose out of stuff you don't know the whole story about" and have a giant helping for himself.
deetroitMI at 10:00AM on 07/30/09
I heard on the radio that Obama will be having Bud Light. I'm not surprised the made the president choose some crap industrial proletarian shit.
SqueezeBottle at 10:09AM on 07/30/09
sigh
Bud light -> "he has no taste in beer"
good craft beer -> "he's an elitist"
poor guy can't have a beer without being criticized.
hmw0029 at 10:17AM on 07/30/09
Yeungling - discovered this in the South - can't get it here, sigh! After a few cold Yeungling everyone will forgive everyone!
bareneed at 10:24AM on 07/30/09
Beer hands down. Snacks to serve with the beer, sliders or hot wings.
pjracz10 at 10:53AM on 07/30/09
When I have people over to my house and want to be a good host, I choose a few different styles of beer and wine and liquor to have available that I think will let virtually everyone choose something they'd enjoy. I don't worry about having every possible option available and I try not to presume what someone will or won't want. I'd say that the President should do similarly. Have a few types of beer available and then don't worry about it. I also think that everyone should stop looking to glean any information or larger commentary from someone's choice of beverage.
If it were me and I could only offer one beer to my guests, I'd choose a lager like Sam Adam's. In Charlottesville, VA where I live right now, I'd serve Starr Hill Amber Ale because it's delicious and locally made.
ccbweb at 11:03AM on 07/30/09
I would suggest an International Selection,
especially since Prince Obama is a Free-Trade Advocate
hungrychristel at 11:09AM on 07/30/09
@bareneed - they have Yuengling in the south? I haven't seen it outside of the PA-area since I moved west :(
joyyy at 11:21AM on 07/30/09
I like my martinis dirty and shaken just like.....
JerzeeTomato at 11:29AM on 07/30/09
Pabst Blue Ribbon...the all-American beer.
dmcavanagh at 11:38AM on 07/30/09
@bareneed & joyyy: they opened a brewery in florida a few years ago, which distributes to georgia, alabama, and tennesee. they still have the 2 breweries in PA as well. unfortunately, you can't get it here in ohio, but i import cases whenever i go back to the 'burgh. i'm still hoping they'll expand out here... in any case, i think that's the perfect choice-after all, it's the oldest brewery in america! mmm...lager.
gastronomeg at 12:03PM on 07/30/09
@gastro re: Two Breweries
No way! So cool.
You should be proud.
As a Canadian Neigbour I'm curious to give'er a taste! :D
hungrychristel at 12:07PM on 07/30/09
Any American-owned brewery that brews its own beer, which was the congressman's point. Budweiser is now brewed by InBev, that giant international conglomerate with headquarters in Belgium. Pabst doesn't brew its own beer anymore; it contracts out its brewing to others. Sam Adams (Boston Beer Company) used to contract out 100% but now brews much of its own beer. Still, there are now hundreds of small breweries around the US that brew 100% of their own beer and should get a chance to have their beer served at the White House.
Lorenzo at 12:26PM on 07/30/09
I saw an article somewhere - I'm sorry, I can't remember where so I can't post a link - that there is a decades-long tradition of only serving American beer in the White House.
RegrettableFoodie at 12:32PM on 07/30/09
@gastromeg - thanks for the info!! We were perplexed as to why people in other states did not know of Yeungling - last year, we had some room in the car and brought back a case to Canada - we offered it at a family do and it was gone in a few minutes! This year we traded our big old Lincoln for a Ford Fusion - with much less trunk space - a cousin who came on the trip with us, brought a HUGE case and about three make-up bags and a large plastic case that contained 7 - count 'em - 7 hairbrushes!! No room for Yeungling this year, and my relatives will be heartbroken.
bareneed at 12:41PM on 07/30/09
Obama can't win for nothing. No matter what he does, someone has something to say - no matter how insignificant the issue.
If he hadn't said anything, the media, his supporters and the Black community would have slammed him as a coward on race.
I am very glad he said something because he helped to squash this whole issue between Gates and Crowley. Without his intervention, this situation would surely have gone to court or a lawsuit.
Now he's having them over for a beer and everyone is using it to reinforce their ridiculous criticism of him as "elitist", "Prince Obama", or Un-American (that's why there are complaints about the beer not being American).
Now, back to your question: I don't care.
QueenAlli at 1:25PM on 07/30/09
@QueenAlli - its only a bit of fun for pete's sake! I love President Obama and I am not even American - this thread was in no way meant to disrespect him, it was just a cute way to get a beer topic going.
bareneed at 1:35PM on 07/30/09
@QueenAlli -
OH NO!
Don't get the wrong idea about my Prince Obama remark!
Im a fan I am! He's the best thing that could ever have happened to my US neigbours in my opinion.
I couldn't agree more about the media's criticism. Mr. Obama has the biggest mess to clean up after. I give him props for that N/M everything else!
...the prince remark is towards prince "charming" as I totally have the hots for him.
hungrychristel at 1:39PM on 07/30/09
oh I have an idea...hire a brewmaster (employment! ok just one, sorry) and make White House All-American Beer. Serve the beer to WH guests ;-)
hmw0029 at 3:27PM on 07/30/09
We've had Yeungling in South Carolina for several years now. It's good but I'm really liking Fat Tire these days.
Is there a more American beer than PBR? I believe it won a blue ribbon at Chicago Worlds Fair in 1896.
Poultrygeist at 3:51PM on 07/30/09
Gordon Biersch....Summer Ale and with the beer some of GB's famous and delicious garlic fries served at the restaurant.
jsd517 at 5:37PM on 07/30/09
Gordon Biersch Pilsner...served with the garlic fries they make at the restaurant...
jsd517 at 5:46PM on 07/30/09
Reed's Ginger Beer. :)
marchpane at 6:12PM on 07/30/09
@marchpane - yeah - reeds ginger brew.... with vodka.
pooch at 6:41PM on 07/30/09
Seriously guys, this is not a political discussion...it's a thinly veiled discussion about which American beer is the best. Lighten up!
(Said while drinking a fresh pint of Sixpoint Sweet Action, natch.)
charm city cupcake at 7:31PM on 07/30/09
Dogfish IPA 60 minutes. Just had one-smootheee.
janaatwg at 7:43PM on 07/30/09
The Dogfish would be respectable...and it comes from Joe Biden's home state, so it could be justified.
@ccbweb -- Have you had any quality control issues with Starr Hill lately? I also live in C'ville and usually love their beers, but the last couple of six packs we've gotten at the grocery store have not lived up to my expectations! Bought some amber that tasted like a homemade dopplebock and some pale ale that tasted like pilsner...not sure what is going on! Maybe my tastebuds need to be recalibrated?
jenberger at 9:01PM on 07/30/09
To set the record straight, they are drinking Red, Light and Blue. Professor Gates is having a Red Stripe, POTUS is having a Bud LIght (gotta show you're a man of the people, even though all the A-B brands are now owned by a Brazilian/Belgian conglomerate) and the cop is having a Blue Moon (which is a Wit, a style I dearly love especially during these hot days of summer. A wheat Ale spiced with orange peel and coriander, YUMTastic! But BM is a poor example of the style. Seek out examples from Ommegang, Avery, Unibroue and Allagash for well made North American Wits) this is an example of the media beating a well dead horse.
@juliebugsmama, really, you think that having a POTUS that avoids alcohol is a positive? I'm very pleased that the man can have a lovely beverage without being making it a religious issue. Plus I doubt the current POTUS will ever choke on a pretzel and give himself a black eye. Prohibition is a proven failure. Leave your anti-alcohol rants in the past.
beersnob at 6:11AM on 07/31/09
Fro the record, it didnt squash anything. Nice spin doctoring there whitehouse.
katiedid at 7:50AM on 07/31/09
My suggestions would have been Dogfish Head 60 minute IPA (which, at 6% alcohol, is actually one of their lighter beers), Sam Adams Summer Ale, or Brooklyn Brewery Pennant Ale.
mr guy at 10:20AM on 07/31/09
A citation for drinking booze on government property.
PeteV at 12:33PM on 08/03/09