415. Leinenkugel’s Red Lager and Miller High Life

Today’s drinking was all about being seen at all of the proper events. We started out by attending GearFest, mostly because we were interested in checking out the beer garden. Bikes, beer, and outdoors-y stuff? Sounds good. We didn’t expect or anticipate the hoards of high school kids, though. Alas, alas. From that point we headed on over to “No You Shut Up” art show at the Cannery Corner Gallery. After all, the promise of a forty is a promise not to be taken lightly. Forty ounce dreams and watered-down wishes.

Our first beer of the evening was Leinenkugel’s Red Lager, which is also coincidentally our first beer from the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company in Chippewa Falls, WI. Served in a plastic cup, it was better than I anticipated. By which I mean I actually enjoyed it. I did not, however, take notes. After all, my interest was in being seen out and about on the town—I was too busy hob-nobbing and being smooth. Which means I wasn’t really doing much of anything. Well, besides drinking this beer.

ABV: 4.9%
IBU: 20

Calories: 166

Malts: Three Pale, Carapils, Caramel

Hops: Cluster & Mt. Hood

Next up was the “No You Shut Up” show. Word on the street had it that 40s were to be the drink du jour this evening. Let’s just say that word was bond tonight. I got handed a smooth sweet sippin’ 40 of the High Life. You know, the champagne of beers? Elli wasn’t sure she wanted to take on a 40 all her own, so she opted for PBR in a can. Either way, solid selections. This is, not surprisingly, our first beer from Miller Brewing Company, located in Milwaukee, WI. We’re doubling down on Wisconsin tonight. Throw in the PBR, and it makes a trifecta from the land o’ cheese. And the High Life itself? You all already know how smooth that went down. Ah yeah. Three words. Champagne. Of. Beers.

From the Miller High Life website: “Combine a classic, award-winning American-style lager with a crisp, smooth flavor, then top it off with a price that won't leave a bad taste in your mouth, and it makes good sense why they call Miller High Life the Champagne of Beers. This is simply good beer at a fair price. Nothing more, and certainly nothing less. And while folks could probably find a few other beers out there, they’re going to drain a lot of hard-earned jack from their bank accounts figuring out what you already know: it doesn’t cost a lot to live the High Life, it just takes some good old fashion common sense because the High Life’s always been a mighty fine life to live.”

ABV: 5.0%

I thought to add Paul Laurence Dunbar’s “Lager Beer” to this post (after all, we are drinking lager beer in Dayton), but I didn’t think anyone would really appreciate it in the proper manner.

(10/1/2010)