I went to a big 10 school, and there were almost more bars than students. (Only partially underestimating the number of bars) and there was a plethora of ‘cheap beer’ that was drinkable to be had. Heck, I went into a beer store and there was a whole huge actual keg of Miller Genuine Draft. I could see people wondering if they could grab it and make it to the door before being dragged to the ground.
But one store had ponies and other small (large) containers of a lot of interesting brews. And then the industrial drinkers ruined it for everyone with a couple of alcohol assisted riots. Crazy… They got draconian on anyone buying anything remotely resembling a keg, or even more than 2 cases of beer. I imagine people saved some money back them.
I declined the Big 10, sorry Wolverines, and went to the arctic tundra. #2 in D1 college hockey my freshman year! Thankfully, early in my college career I was dating the president of a sorority, and all the frats thought I belonged to a frat, so I got into a lot of parties for free and drank a lot of free keg beer That and walking a mile to Jim’s Foodmart on early Saturday mornings collecting Michigan 10 cent CRV bottles to raise money for Saturday beer and steak
Michigan republicans tried to kill the bottle bill and were stopped after people realized that it was Michigan’s most wide spread social welfare program. Thousands (and thousands) or people actually were able to survive off of the money they received by collecting bottles. Not sure if that’s actually true, but the bottle bill survived. I learned to never return bottles on a weekend, or Mondays as there was usually someone with shopping carts full of bottles and cans trying to return them to offset that nights celebrations. Some frats were actually combing the area around campus for returnables and the people that collected in those areas complained about the competition. It was discovered that people actually were contributing to the issue by deliberately tossing their returnables in those areas for the collectors to retrieve. It made returnables an odd statement, that many people avoided thinking about.
I don’t think it’s helped all that much, now many years alter. I still found empties in my yard. And their bill not covering water bottles and of all things spiked cider containers was a missed opportunity. Who in Michigan politics had such a strong connection to the then immature spiked cider industry. Hmm…
I thought it odd that California seems to do returnables by weight? (I have wondered what would happen if someone put an unopened can of something in a bottle return machine. (This calls for some research I think!)
Goff’s, Schmidt’s (both long gone), Meijer’s, Tom’s, just some of the stores I remember at the time. Now there seem to be so many outlets. I visited campus last year, and was amazed at how much had changed, and yet, eerily, how much has stayed the same. Old haunts gone, and new chains inhabiting other remembered locations. Progress… They have a Whole Foods, TWO Meijer’s, and a ginormous Costco, yet the malls are both dead, and half of downtown seems to be high priced ‘student condominiums’ (not kidding).
Glad it wasn’t just me that enjoyed it, I tend to find strong beers sometimes have the flavour masked by the booze, not his one!! Funny we get the pint size in the UK only!! (in a US can, imported directly!)
Right? Took the first sip and couldn’t believe it was 9%. Took another and another, it was simply a really good beer without the taste of booze. This is one of the two or three best beers I’ve had in the last year.
I personally don’t rate a beer if it’s below a 4. I appreciate that others do as it helps guide selection in new cities, but I don’t like dragging a rating down on a local brewer who’s trying new things. So for me, either high rating or none at all.
very rarely. 3.75 is a “good” beer I’d have again, 3.5 is an ok beer, lower than that I wouldn’t chose it again. 4 or higher for me is an amazing beer. Looks like Atomic Torpedo is the only one I’ve scored ?>= 4 this year
@kitenski is a tough grader!! I can only imagine what it takes to get a 5!!
3.75 - 4.25 are all “very good” beers for me……3.25 - 3.75 are “good” beers and below 3 are “meh”
I have a few 4.5’s and a couple of 5’s…but the 5’s are largely saved for beers that have special meaning and / or places (i.e. an Old Style at Wrigley Field ). So ironically, my 5’s are often for some pretty run of the mill beers.
That and walking a mile to Jim’s Foodmart on early Saturday mornings collecting Michigan 10 cent CRV bottles to raise money for Saturday beer and steak 
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