Friday, October 12, 2012

Beer and Politics



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Grab a Heinie, or head for the mountains?  What your Beer Says about Your Politics
Those who drink Sam Adams, the patriot of beers, are more likely to vote Republican. They're also more likely to vote than those who drink, say, Natural Light.
Heineken fans are more likely to be Democrats than any other beer drinkers. But they aren't a particularly strong voting block. Heineken drinkers turn out at the polls to vote at relatively low levels. (National Journal)
We'll all need something stronger than beer by the time this election is over...

90 comments:

Constitutional Insurgent said...

Growing up near Portland, OR......you were just about given a nipple on a Henry Weinhard's bottle.

Sadly, National Journal didn't explain if that was a good representation of my politics. Since the chart is only Democrat v. Republican....I suppose it's as close as it can be.

jez said...

What an appropriate use for the bubble plot!
I guess I'm a micro-brew kind of a fella.

Hugh Farnham said...

Make mine a Samuel Adams while I watch a British magistrate tarred and feathered on the commons.

A revolution not worth drinking to is a revolution not worth having.

Constitutional Insurgent said...

"A revolution not worth drinking to is a revolution not worth having."

That is the quote of the day!

Fredd said...

That chart has got to be the dumbest and most worthless analysis I have ever seen. These guys have WAY too much time on their hands.

Silverfiddle said...

Lighten up, Fredd. It's Friday!

Z said...

"..stronger than beer by the time this election is over..?" How about IV DRUGS? :-)

this is a fun post, SF...we need it1

Joe Conservative said...

Where's Guinness on that chart?

Anonymous said...

Something much stronger than beer will be needed.

Les Carpenter said...

I've already selected my single malt scotch for now until the election.... Cheers!

Unknown said...

Sarah Palin and other republicans (such as GW Bush) like to pander the average American by calling them names such as "Joe Six Pack". Do you watch politics and also drink a lot of beer? I tend to think that the beer swigging portion of American is more likely watching wrestling or football and not watching a debate. Only political dweebs watch the debates. Every normal Joe Six Pack I know is already asleep or watching something else.
NY CPA License

Always On Watch said...

Damn. I'm allergic to beer.

But champagne? I can drink as much as I want as long as I can still walk. Heh.

-FJ the Dangerous and Extreme MAGA Jew said...

Democrats don't pander? Then what was the "Beer Summit" all about?

Check out the man with his "sleeves rolled up"...

Oh, wait, I suppose I'd better run home now so as to better "cling to my guns."..

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

Don't fruit the beer

Given that the far-left Teapublican Party is backing the founding father of gay marriage for President, it's probably fitting that they're linked to Sam Adams beer substitute, a fruity beverage with more flavors than a bag of Skittles.

We're talking about a "beer" marketed to men who shop for curtains.

Bartender, one Newcastle Brown. Keep 'em coming.

-FJ the Dangerous and Extreme MAGA Jew said...

While we're on the subject of drunks...

-FJ the Dangerous and Extreme MAGA Jew said...

btw - Beamish, you are far too obsessed with spiders.

Ducky's here said...

I don't drink any of that crap.

In the fridge as we speak:

Bengali Tiger IPA - Sixpoint Brewery

Clementine White Ale - Clown Shoes Brewery

Founder's Breakfast Stout - Founders Brewery

Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti - Great Divide Brewery

-FJ the Dangerous and Extreme MAGA Jew said...

...any Microbrew - Extremely Democratic.

Sounds like it works, to me.

Ducky's here said...

... yeah, I noticed they lumped the microbrews. That's me.

Founders Breakfast Stout rules!

Ducky's here said...

Steve, mellow down easy, bro.

You need a nice Imperial Stout.
Maybe Silverfiddle will invite you over for a Yeti.

-FJ the Dangerous and Extreme MAGA Jew said...

Bass Ale and Guinness Drafts for me...

Ducky's here said...

@Farmer --- Where's Guinness on that chart?

----
High turnout Dem.
Stouts kinda put you on the left, Farmer. Sorry about that.

-FJ the Dangerous and Extreme MAGA Jew said...

...its ALL in the bubbles. :)

Emerson, "Conduct of Life: (On Beauty)

BEAUTY

Was never form and never face
So sweet to SEYD as only grace
Which did not slumber like a stone
But hovered gleaming and was gone.
Beauty chased he everywhere,
In flame, in storm, in clouds of air.
He smote the lake to feed his eye
With the beryl beam of the broken wave;
He flung in pebbles well to hear
The moment's music which they gave.
Oft pealed for him a lofty tone
From nodding pole and belting zone.
He heard a voice none else could hear
From centred and from errant sphere.
The quaking earth did quake in rhyme,
Seas ebbed and flowed in epic chime.
In dens of passion, and pits of wo,
He saw strong Eros struggling through,
To sun the dark and solve the curse,
And beam to the bounds of the universe.
While thus to love he gave his days
In loyal worship, scorning praise,
How spread their lures for him, in vain,
Thieving Ambition and paltering Gain!
He thought it happier to be dead,
To die for Beauty, than live for bread.

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

FJ,

What is that seminar? Lean Six Sigma meets Louis Beam?

-FJ the Dangerous and Extreme MAGA Jew said...

Stouts kinda put you on the left, Farmer. Sorry about that.

I lean so far right, I often appear to be on the Left.

...But hey, I won't be drinking alone, then! :)

-FJ the Dangerous and Extreme MAGA Jew said...

Something like that beamish... just trying to avoid the fate of the Thugee's. ;)

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

..I'm certainly going to consider a plea for donations to or votes for the GOP as a unsolicited homosexual advance for a LONG time to come.

-FJ the Dangerous and Extreme MAGA Jew said...

Sounds like a plan, beamish.

Unknown said...

I'm a Sam Adams kind of guy, but I am bias in that sense. :)

KP said...

Whiskey or Bourbon from a shot glass with beer chaser. Preferably Pacifico from recycled bottle so the glass is slightly worn around the top. Da kine.

SF, will have twenty hours in the saddle this week on the big island of Hawaii. About 90 degrees, the trades are blowing 25mph and it is very high humidity. Ironman world championships tomorrow, Saturday. Aloha, braddah.

J.O.B. said...

I prefer Miller Lite partnered with Maker's Mark on the rocks.

OD357 said...

Embiggen? Silver have a Shiner Bock on me.

Silverfiddle said...

Have fun KP!

Ducky and I are simpatico on this one. I am strictly a microbrew man.

Les Carpenter said...

Stepping over another pile of canine doo...

Anonymous said...

Man, Republicans sure do like their crappy beer.

Breckenridge Vanilla Porter mixed with Youngh's Double Chocolate Stout. It's like drinking an oreo cookie.

Finntann said...

I don't know, at first I thought to dispute the placement of microbrews firmly in the Democratic camp.

I brew, I know about six other people who brew, and they are all Republicans.

Then I got to thinking... perhaps those who buy microbrews are liberal and those that brew them are conservative. It's the only explanation I can come up with.

But if I'm buying... I was recently turned on to the Big Sky Brewery, particularly Moose Drool Brown Ale & Slow Elk Oatmeal Stout.

Locally, I'd have to go with the Bristol Brewery's Laughing Lab Scottish Ale or their Compass IPA.

And with that thought in mind...

Cheers!

Finntann said...

Beer = Water, Yeast, Barley, & Hops

If there are vanilla overtones in my beer they better come from the yeast and the chocolate better be from the malt.

Technically, Jack, what your drinking isn't beer. Breck uses vanilla beans and Wells & Young uses chocolate...heretics and blasphemers all! Aside from the fact that the concept of why one would want to drink an Oreo cookie is beyond my comprehension.

My apologies to you Oatmeal Stout afficionados, but that isn't beer either.

Yes, I am a beer nazi... the Reinheitsgebotten have been notified, the stormtroopers are on their way.

Finntann said...

Let the Beer wars begin!

Silverfiddle said...

I'm a fan of Breckenridge's Agave Wheat myself. It goes good with Hornitos tequila, reposada, of course.

But having said that, with a tip of the cowboy had to the Deutsches Rheinheitsgebot...

"Hopfen und malz Gott erhalt's

Lady Gunslinger said...

I think that Uncle Joe had too much bourbon last night, or is he always that disrespectful!

Bottom lines is that we have a bunch of drunks and dope snorting snide blathering idiots running this country.

Kid said...

I drink Heineken, but instead of lower left quadrant, I'm upper right.

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

Bottom lines is that we have a bunch of drunks and dope snorting snide blathering idiots running this country.

And the Republican Party wants to replace them with far left sexually deviant health care socialists.

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

LOL Steve.

I kept waiting for Ryan to cal Biden a "homophobe."

Most Rev. Gregori said...

"We'll all need something stronger than beer by the time this election is over..."

make mine a Vodka on the rocks, several of them.

Ducky's here said...

Despite Finntann's unfortunate dismissal of oatmeal stouts, Breckenridge makes a pretty good one.

Nice balanced taste with a little coffee in the finish.

KP said...

@Finntann, one of the guys I am traveling in Kona with is from Montana and he gives thumbs up to the Big Sky Brewery. He is very familiar with them.

Trekkie4Ever said...

Oh gosh, I don't drink alcoholic beverages, but two shots of espresso in my coffee would probably give me the same effect,lol!

Finntann said...

Ducky, I didn't dismiss oatmeal stouts, I simply said they weren't beer, they are however quite good.

The Slow Elk mentioned above is an oatmeal stout, and I actually have some of Breck's in my fridge.

I don't dislike the crafted beers of today, I'm just more of a purist.

While I understand the mass production and marketing aspect, if you ask me as a craft brewer, Breck cheats by using vanilla beans. Vanilla, or more precisely vanillin overtones in beer was originally produced by wild yeast contamination or imparted from the cask, not from vanilla beans. We had vanillin flavored beers long before we ever discovered vanilla.

From a drinking perspective this just fine, although the vanilla bean does impart other flavors which are not necessarily complementary, such as acetaldehyde which is considered a fault and is referred to as 'green beer', a flavor reminiscent of cut grass or green leaves.

From a brewing and competition perspective it's the equivalent of using citric acid and lemon flavoring to make your lemonade.

Cheers!

Mustang said...

Does the chart include ingesting beer intravenously? Shouldn’t that matter?

Notwithstanding this scientific chart, I do see a glaring problem. Back when Obama had his beer summit, he announced that Yuengling beer was his favorite brew (I assume before he began brewing his own “White House” brew). So if that’s true, then there are only three possibilities: first, Obama is a high turnout Republican voter, second, the chart is seriously screwed up, or three, Obama is lying about his preference for Yuengling Beer.

I’d like to propose a Congressional committee to look into this … taxpayers can afford it.

Ducky's here said...

As I have been trying to inform my right wing brethren, the answer is (1.

Jersey McJones said...

I'm a liberal and I prefer Bud.

JMJ

FreeThinke said...

Thanks for the Emerson, FJ.

It did not pass unnoticed.

Beauty is, indeed, more a state of mind -- a keenness of perception -- a talent for finding wonder, delight and significance in everyday phenomena which others never notice -- than a mere physical attribute.

Thornton Wilder captured it in Our Town.

It's found in a sensitivity to our surroundings -- a capacity to discern, to appreciate, to empathize -- and to love -- what is real.

And that capacity varies greatly among individuals and cultures.

I for instance have no particular taste or love for beer, therefore all the fine distinctions among its many varieties are lost on me, but at the same time I am glad others, apparently, can see and feel what I fails to reach me.

"Chacun a son gout."

[A NOTE to the NITPICKERS: If I knew where to locate the "circonflex," I'd put it over the "o" in gout where it belongs. ;-]

~ FT

FreeThinke said...

I died for Beauty, but was scarce
Adjusted in the tomb,
When one who died for Truth was lain
In an adjoining room.

He questioned softly why I failed?
"For Beauty," I replied.
"And I for Truth -- the two are one;
We brethren are," he said.

And so, as kinsmen met at night,
We talked between the rooms,
Until the moss had reached our lips,
And covered up our names.


~ Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

Thersites said...

One sipped from the Pierian, the other the Hippocrene Spring.

Now if we could just keep the Lycean's out of the water!

btw- Loved Emily!

Thersites said...

btw - Stevie, are you, perhaps, of Lycean descent?

FreeThinke said...

I think that is more likely to be of LYCANTHROPIC descent, Thersites.

}:-)>

Thersites said...

They do appear to be cannibals, that's fo' sho, FT!

Teresa said...

"We'll all need something stronger than beer by the time this election is over..."

Make mine a rum and coke.

Silverfiddle said...

I'd like to ask everyone again to please avoid the doggie doo. I clean it up as fast as I can. And please avoid it and do not talk about it or repeat its vulgarities, even when it involves comical misspellings.

Thanks

Les Carpenter said...

I see you escaped the dog pound yet again Stevie.

Sorry Silver, couldn't resist.

Rational Nation USA said...

Feeling a little intimidated by the Queen of Freedom of Speech SF?
Don’t be afraid to admit that you are uncomfortable about that Pesky Progressive dictating what you should and shouldn't do.
If you like walking on eggshells to please her, that's ok, it's your blog and your call. Undoubtedly she knocked you off balance . But I'm a bit let down I always thought that you were in authority here, but evidently those handful of people on the left are.

Silverfiddle said...

Redneck: Do you see her comments anywhere?

Ducky's here said...

@Finntann - Yes, I am a beer nazi... the Reinheitsgebotten have been notified, the stormtroopers are on their way.

------
The hops Nazis will have to pry my Founders Breakfast Stout out of my cold dead hands.

viburnum said...

FT: "...therefore all the fine distinctions among its many varieties are lost on me."

I'm with you FT. Give me a good dry red over anybody's brew.

Thersites said...

Dry red? Blech.

The only thing worse than a beer snob is a wine snob. ;)

viburnum said...

@Dry red? Blech.

Preferably dry enough to have dust on the inside of the bottle. :-)

Thersites said...

One of the best parts of a wine tasting is the first spit (since they start w/the "dry's") ;)

Finntann said...

Might I suggest a Vampire Merlot?

It may be somewhat of a campy novelty that appears in liquor stores around Halloween, but it is a really decent wine.

Make sure you get the real Romanian terroir , not the Paso Robles stuff, both are sold under the same label so you have to read the bottle.

MathewK said...

I hope every patriot and sensible person in your country is itching to get to the ballot box. Your country and your children need every last one of them.

Rational Nation USA said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Rational Nation USA said...

As far as “Beer and Politics” I'll say one thing for about this Obama bunch, they tell their lies so much and so often that they forget what they themselves said the day before. And another ting, Romney really, really needs to stop saying “obama is a nice guy” he better stop that crap. Romney has to say that obama doesn’t really care about the poor and middle class, and that he is only using them for political gain.
And he has to hit them hard with the Benghazi lack of security, and keep repeating that even Charlene Lamb of the State Dept. Hillary’s watch dog, saw the whole attack in REAL TIME and knew that more help was requested at the Embassy in Benghazi. She even stated so at the hearings last Wednesday. And she and the rest of them at the State Department knew immediately that the "protest" story was a lie and that it was an attack.

FreeThinke said...

At formal dinner parties I usually serve BASTARDO. It never fails to act as a stimulant to livelier conversation.

~ FT

viburnum said...

@FT D'Oliveiras ???

FreeThinke said...

Viburnum,

The label reads:

IL BASTARDO

Sangiovese

Rosso di Toscana

Indicazione Geografica Tipica

Producd at the Il bastardo Winery

East of Firenze

"Rich Fat and Luscious"


Not sweet certainly, but probably nowhere near dry enough to suit your palate.

Not being a drinking man I don't know anymore about wine than I do about beer, but the name on the bottle just cracked me up the first time I saw it next to the more sedate looking brands, so I just HAD to buy it.

One things for sure: I beats Mogen David, Extra Heavy Malaga served over cracked ice with a twist of lime. };-)>




Les Carpenter said...

A nice dry French Burgundy or Dry California Cabernet any day of the week with dinner. For heart health of course!

FreeThinke said...

Try Bastardo, Les!

You'll love it. I can guarante.

~ FT

jez said...

I recently gave sherry a try (unfashionable for a very long time, therefore I would naturally be drawn to it), and for that drink it seems the drier the better (fino), not the sweet cream stuff my parents drank.

FreeThinke said...

Politicizing Sherry are we this morning, as yet another possible weapon of rebellion against "outmoded" tradition?

'Twould be be better by far to like or dislike something strictly on its own merits (how it honestly appeals to you, personally), rather than merely allow your tastes to be formed and guided primarily by what others deem "fashionable" or "appropriate," I should think.

~ FT

jez said...

Would that be a bad thing? After all we're both commenting on a post which explicitly politicizes beer! Anyway, I only wanted to recommend fino for those who have been, like I was, put off by cream. I've no idea about the traditional credentials of either.

Do you like sherry?

The unfashionable bit was a intended as a throwaway reference to the British tradition to perversely champion the underdog, but I do sometimes like to give unfashionable things a chance. It's quite rare that I find something I like, but when I do the pleasure is intensified by the effort of discovery.

My favourite tipple is single malt scotch. Plenty of discoveries waiting to be made there, there are hundreds of distilleries! The Irish do some nice blends too. To be honest, and I really don't want to make any enemies with this remark, I don't see how anyone can tolerate bourbon when scotch is available.

Thersites said...

He who tastes, knows. He who tastes not, knows not.

- Sufi parable

Silverfiddle said...

@ Jez: My favourite tipple is single malt scotch.

Oh yeah, baby!

My favorite middle of the road is Glenmorangie. I loved the Madeira finish, but they don't make it anymore, so just get the basic one. God bless the 16 men of Tain!

For the full-on smokey, peaty blast, I love Highland Park. A few tumblers and I can hear the bagpipes blarin' in me ear-os!

Finntann said...

Ah, the immortal question: Sherry or Port?

I prefer a nice semi-dry Tawny Port.

If you like Scotch or Irish Whisky, I might suggest a product recently returned to the legal market... Poitín.

Production was banned by the British (the bahstads, sorry Jez) in 1661 and only legalized again in 1997.

There are only two legally licensed distillaries: Knockeen Hills and Bunratty.

It is very difficult to find (at least out here), although I was gifted a bottle of the Knockeen Hills Green (120 proof), there is also Gold (140 proof) and Black (180 proof).

Similar to Vodka, it is a single-pot quadruple distilled spirit.

Give it a try if you want your guests asking "what the hell is that?"

Cheers!

Finntann said...

Almost missed your comment about Bourbon Jez.

Cheap Bourbon, like cheap scotch is an abomination.

If your experience is along the lines of Jim Beam or Wild Turkey you need to try one of the premium bourbons like Hudson or Pappy Van Winkle's... given your location you may find Woodford Reserve or Bulleit easier to find. I know Bulleit is available in the UK.

Speaking of Bulleit, they also bottle a really good 95% Rye Whisky, although the Rye is only available in the US.

Cheers!

FreeThinke said...

Do I like Sherry?

Yes, indeed, but more as a flavoring agent in Shrimp and Crab Bisque or Lobster Newburg.

I also make "Sherry Jelly," a terrific old southern dessert I serve at Christmas involving quantities of orange juice, lemon juice, a quantity of sugar, Harvey's Bristol Creme Sherry, unflavored gelatin dissolved in a quantity of boiling water poured into a lightly oiled fancy mold, chilled until set, then turned out, garnished with sweetened whipped cream, and served with homemade ginger snaps or thin slices of fruitcake.

I don't "drink," but occasionally late on a chilly fall or winter afternoon, I might enjoy sipping some Harvey's Bristol Creme with a few friends in front of the fire.

Even less frequently only on very special occasions I enjoy a glass either of Pouilly Fuissé or Pinot Noir depending on the mood, if both are imported from France -- but only one glass per meal.

Aside from using inexpensive Burgundy I keep in a decanter to make Boeuf Bourgignon, which I do infrequently, that is the extent of my interest in "Spiritous Liquors."

~ FT

Finntann said...

Your Sherry Jelly sounds kind of like the very bowl of Smoking Bishop the Dickens spoke of, also served at Christmas with Gelatin added.

Bishop, kind of a christmas tradition at my house, is a mulled port with oranges and lemons, and spices.

You stud the oranges and lemons with cloves and roast them for half and hour before adding them to about a quart of water and boiling with cinnamon, mace, allspice, ginger, and anise. Add two bottles of ruby port and keep just below a simmer (below 173 degrees or the alcohol will boil off) for about an hour. Serve hot in a hot punch bowl, one with a sterno burner to keep it hot. The one we have is a german Feuerzangenbowl.

Cheers!

Ducky's here said...

I still don't understand the militancy around the beer purity aficionados.

The purity laws were only meant to assure quality ingredients and assure certain grains weren't diverted from bread making, no?

Doesn't exclude quality stouts and porters.

Finntann said...

Militancy? I can assure you it is mostly tongue in cheek.

I can assure you, I have no desire to ban beers made from rice (Bud) or Corn (Miller), or both (Coors) from the marketplace. I wouldn't even consider preventing them from being called beer, despite my personal opinion that they are more of a beer soda than anything else, I do think they have their place.

In fact, if I'm outside playing volleyball, golf, or working under the hot sun and choose to imbibe, it will probably be one of the aforementioned beer sodas.

Cheers!


FreeThinke said...

"We'll all need something stronger than beer by the time this election is over..."

Yes, indeed. I hope everyone has an adequate supply of HEMLOCK on hand should Obother and his army of henchpersons manage to prevail.

}:-)>


~ FT

FreeThinke said...

Your Bishop, Finntann, sounds like a real winner.

Interesting that gelatin would be added to a bowl of cheer meant to be served hot!

In the old southern dessert I described -- a light, rather delicate affair -- the alcohol content, Alas! gets burned off, but the taste is wonderful -- especially with the addition of the homemade ginger snaps.

~ FT

FreeThinke said...

Disliking any of the various liquors hard or soft is permissible in a free society, Jez. BANNING them, however, is not.

As I said, I don't "drink"in the sense that most people mean. I'm not fond of booze, but as a courtesy to my friends I keep a supply of Gin, Vodka, Scotch, Rye, Bourbon and Tequila on hand along with dry and sweet Vermouth, Angostura Bitters, Grenadine, Roses' Lime Juice and a quantity of lemons, limes, oranges and maraschino cherries in the refrigerator.

It's a good thing liquor doesn't go bad, because in this house bottles of the hard stuff have been known to sit around for years on end opened-but-largely untouched for months at a time in the confines of the cellarette.

~ FT