Beers of the Big 10
by Graham Filler on Feb 22, 2009 11:41 PM CST
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PrintBecause of the religious and conservative lifestyle I maintained for a period of my life, I didn't have my first drink until age 22. It was a watered down Jack and Coke. Sad, I know. My beer drinking at Miami (OH) began about 1 month later, when my ex-girlfriend introduced me to Natural Light. Unimpressed and disgusted, I had no idea that Natty/Nati/Natti Light was so deeply ingrained in Miami's culture. Although an official title didn't exist, there was no question which beer ruled cheap drinking on the Oxford campus.
So after a wild Friday night this weekend in East Lansing where I was reminded of Sparty's love of Busch Light, I figured I would take a look at the most popular cheap beers in the Big 10, with a nod towards some interesting regional flavors.
Penn State: Although I have never partied at State College, I would be intiated into the campus drinking scene with a delicious Natural Light or a Yuengling (huh?). According to Kevin HD of BSD, this awkwardly named Pennsylvania specialty has expanded all over the East Coast, but is still known as "the lager" in PA.
Wisconsin: The whole damn state drinks like fish, but the undergrad campus builds its collective beer gut with Miller Lite or Miller High Life. The only night I went out in Madison, I slept in a van all night because my friends were drinking late, late into the night, and I had a tennis match in the morning. Figures. Also mentioned by the Wisconsin SBN blogger: something called Spotted Cow.
Michigan: Calmest party campus in the Big 10 next to Northwestern, but the Wolverine's still enjoy their Bells and Natural Light.
Iowa: The Hawkeye's love their Busch Light in bunches.
Michigan State: Ditto. The first night I went out with some Spartan friends, one of their buddies got hopped up on Oxycontin and Busch and proceeded to destroy a bike, attack my car, and cry a lot. That Busch Light goes down a bit too easy, it seems. East Lansing houses the wildest Big 10 campus along with...
Indiana: Whole lot of Miller Lite, some classy Icehouse, probably something else which I will learn later. An old school "Sink the Bismark" drinking game was brought to my attention also - Love the name, good English influence.
Purdue: Miller High Life rules this campus and I believe a Neon Cactus was mentioned. Now if someone could explain the difference between Miller Lite and High Life, I would greatly appreciate that.
Illinois: The Illini burst onto this list with a mention of Keystone Light.
We're missing Ohio State, Minnesota, and Northwestern, so I would appreciate some help there. What's the moral of this story? I don't think there is one, but I'm definitely thirsty.
Like young birds: Cheap cheap cheap cheap...
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I suppose there should have been some football slant to the article, but beer is so intertwined with football that it really goes without saying
UPDATE: Natti Light takes the Big 10 lead in drinkability, er, affordability
From Elevenwarriors.com, an excellent Buckeye Blog: Looks like the Scarlet and Gray undergrads will be hammering the Natty Light (solid), with the occasional Pabst Blue Ribbon to celebrate another victory over Michigan. High class, as always.
by Graham Filler on Feb 23, 2009 12:49 PM CST up reply actions
Yeungling
Proof that a cheap beer can taste good. Well, maybe not “good”… it’s a tad muty, but at least it’s not undrinkaNATTYble.
Also, I saw it was available in Tennessee.
Yuengling is definitely the "best" of the bunch here
just based on taste. Bells isn’t to bad, either.
As for Busch Lite, I think the reason everyone drinks it here at MSU is 2-fold. 1) it basically tastes like water, and 2) you can get a 30-pack of it for as cheap, or cheaper, than you can get a 24-pack of other “cheap” beers. Natty Lite and Keystone Lite are comparable in price, but have that skanky taste (especially Keystone Lite).
At Penn State, my first beer was a Natty Lite. I had no idea why people would drink beer if it tasted like that. Then I got introduced to Yuengling, and never turned back. My best way of describing a Yuengling is that it like a cheap Sam Adams. It doesn’t taste quite as good, but it costs about the same as Miller/Bud. Only downside to Yuengling is that it isn’t the best beer to use in drinking games cuz it will fill you up a lot faster. I used to struggle during “Power Hours” and long nights of Beer Pong, Quarters, etc. Once I started using the various “Lite” beers (Miller/Bud/Busch/Natty) I barely ever feel the sluggish effects of a full, drunken stomach.
I just wish they sold Yuengling off of the Atlantic Coast. You can buy it down in S. Carolina and Florida, but can’t get it in Ohio, W. Virginia, or Michigan. Whenever I go home to PA I make sure to fill my car up with ~10 cases or so to bring back with me to Michigan.
by The JuggerNitt on Feb 23, 2009 12:53 PM CST reply actions
Minnesota
Milwaukee’s Best and Keystone are the choice cheap beers until people discover the amazingness that is Premium Grain Belt at which point Beast is never touched again.
by JRose on Feb 23, 2009 12:58 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
Ah Grain Belt
That and Hamms got my Dad through many a night. Couldn’t get either in Iowa when I was there, but I see they’re making a comeback.
by chitownhawkeye on Feb 23, 2009 6:22 PM CST up reply actions
Just as a candy deprived child
under the thumb of a megalomanical parental authority will secretly dream of dream of sugar plumb fairies and one day will throw off the chains of oppression so comes to the light another brother drwn in by the siren song of the sweet nectar (although none of this crap you’ve mentioned really ever touches my lips – I’m trying to make things flow here).
When you choose to further loosen the grips of your conservative lifestyle and crave the touch of a woman, I hope you choose more wisely than the equivalent of a Miller High Life or a Bush Light.
I would much prefer the enjoyment of a single Fat Tire or Flying Dog than 20 Natural Lights. Quality over quantity.
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