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OUR GERMAN HEROES! [Kathryn Jean Lopez]

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- German brewer Spaten donated 600 cases of its namesake lager to the U.S. Navy Sept. 3, to thank U.S. Sailors and Marines who deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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Yeah! [img]graemlins/thewave.gif[/img] Way to go! :D :D [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Vunderful!!! I have a few Spatens in my fridge as we speak. I highly recommend the Oktoberfest.

Oh, and my research indicates Spaten are vegan biers.

Maybe they just want to get them drunk so that they can't fight any more. Hmmmm. [img]tongue.gif[/img] Anyway, thanks for the goodwill. Yeah, the Octboerfest is wonderful!! Love the bratwursts. [img]graemlins/eating.gif[/img]

Hey wait.... didn't a certain someone here mention that the troops aren't allowed to drink beer while on tour ?

I believe that was Felix, johnny. Goes against General Order or something like that... ;)

It's unlike that Norfolk, VA, is considered "on tour."

Johnny, you are correct. Even though everyone can tell the article was snipped, the setting is the main stay.
This beer was donated to the flotilla that returned to HOME PORT (NNS) (Norfolk Naval Station)AFTER their tour of duty in Iraq. Not while they were still on tour! Makes a big difference.
From the article that can be found in the military news arena, there is a total of 2400 cases to be handed out. Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen will receive their share once they have returned to home station. But the odds are very overwhelming, since the Army has over 80% of the total force on the ground, how do you disperse 600 cases?
Beer Math 101 = There are over 100K folks on the ground, 2400 -600 = 1800.
1800 x 24 = 43,200 = somebody ain't getting beer!
My vote goes to 3ID out of GA. They were the first on the ground in Iraq, and have just returned home recently.

Felix

Excuse me for being cynical, but I think that this 'act of generosity' has more to do with public image and falling US sales than an act of grace.

Not so much "Our German Heroes" as:
"Our worried German Exporters"

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Would you have been more approving of "My German Heores"? or perhaps "The US Service Mens German Heroes"?

No matter how you slice it or how cynical you want to be. The American Service Person (on average) Does not insult the person giving free alcohol.
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And neither would i, hell no. :D

I thought all beers/ales were vegan? Made from malt, hops, etc? Even the yeast used to ferment is a plant (fungus). :confused:

Any care to enlighten me?

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Would you have been more approving of "My German Heores"? or perhaps "The US Service Mens German Heroes"?

No matter how you slice it or how cynical you want to be. The American Service Person (on average) Does not insult the person giving free alcohol.
</font> </font>[/QUOTE]Neither would I - and that was not an insult. Businesses have to report to their shareholders and are therefore not in the habit of giving away products without expecting something in return. In this case, I think that they are trying to reverse an apparent loss as a result of a general boycott of German and French products.

The very title of this article, "OUR GERMAN HEROES!", proves that this was a good business move. This german company could have spent millions on an advertising campaign that distanced itself from the views of it's own government and still not achieved the same excellent results that they got from a few cases of beer. Actions speak louder than words, eh?

[ 10-10-2003, 03:24 AM: Message edited by: Skunk ]

Skunk

Dont look a gift horse in the mouth ;)

Pfft, maybe where YOU shop. The REALLY good stuff is made from the blood of slain puppy dogs.

;)

Well, duh. Hey, if the only reason corporations try to look like good corporations and caring corporations is that it brings real profits in return, then (a) capitalism is working Exactly as it's supposed to and (b) the corporation is being a good guy and still living up to its fiduciary duty to its stockholders.

Pfft, maybe where YOU shop. The REALLY good stuff is made from the blood of slain puppy dogs.

;) </font>[/QUOTE][img]graemlins/whackya.gif[/img] [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Actually, many beers use animal extracts, primarily from fish, as an anti-foaming agent. Oddly, some of the cheapest crappiest beers (the American pee-water varieties such as Bud) don't use it -- it's not a cost-cutting thing. Anyway, if you are truly interested, let me know and I'll do a search for you. I found a good listing just by googling "vegan Beers."

Be forewarned, though. My biggest failure as a vegetarian was pointing this out to Wellard, who I believe saw it as "the straw that broke the Camel's back" and gave up vegetarianism. :( :( :(

[ 10-10-2003, 10:55 AM: Message edited by: Timber Loftis ]

Fish has been used in the production of Guinness for two hundred years - the manufacturers claim that it is therefore a traditional part of the recipe and brewing process and that replacing it would adversely affect the taste and quality.