miker@sri-unix (06/29/82)
Killian's Red is licensed to Coors by an actual Irish brewery which has been out of operation for some time, and is actually owned jointly by an Irish and a Spanish concern. There supposedly is really a George Killian, although he is not the picturesque fellow in the television ads. Killian's is the only beer produced by a large American company, as far as I know, which comes in a recappable bottle. The bottle also has a nice shoulder, so it is quite good for home brewers. However, it is smaller than a regular bottle (about 10.5 oz.), which means that the beer is not really as cheap as it appears. Considering the other garbage that Coors puts out, the beer is not too bad, although I find it a bit soapy. Politically active types should be aware that Coors is boycotted by the AFL-CIO for requiring employees to submit to strip searches and lie detector tests, hiring illegal aliens at sub-standard wages, and similar nefarious activities. Any good home brewing book should have good stout recipes. There is a good and inexpensive book by Byron Burch which is widely available in this area (S.F. Bay area), and has some good stout recipes (similar to Murphy's). I have also seen an English book which gives instructions for duplicating beers and stouts which are commercially available in Britain. Your local brewers' supply store should be able to help. Good news for Guinness lovers: if you live in one of the four or five places in the U.S. where Guinness is available on draft (or draught), you won't have to wait so long for your pint. Guinness has a higher barrel pressure than most beers, and they have always had trouble with the taps allowing too much carbon dioxide out and giving you a glass which is about two thirds head, requiring a highly skilled barperson in order to get a good pint. Also, there is a higher chance of spoilage. Guinness has now come out with a new design of tap which is supposed to cure these problems. The cost to the bar owner is about $75.