Welcome back to Food and Beer for another semester of victual information. My most beloved feature, the “Beer of the Week,” is in the Avenue, so look for it there.
In the meantime, check out this slick stop-motion ad from the Blue Moon Brewing Company, creators of the previously reviewed Harvest Moon.
Blue Moon "Creation" TV Ad:
For those unfamiliar with what makes a beer, this ad takes us through everything but the yeast. First, and most importantly, we have the passion to brew, which I think is represented by the moon. Second, we have barley, which is the grain we see turning into a pencil. If you steep barley in some hot water, in about an hour you have enough sugar to ferment into alcohol. As the pencil draws the framework of the picture, barley creates the body of the beer.
Next, spices and other grains are used to impart some slight tastes and nuances to the beer. In the commercial, it looks like wheat, oats, orange zest, and coriander are used to paint the picture and make the beer what it is. Finally, hops (that green thing he sprinkles on the side of the glass) give the beer its edge, imparting aroma and bitterness to the beverage, and a darker, more complex hue to the painting.
Maybe it's a little cheesy, but if you ever wanted a thirty second crash course in what makes up a beer, this is about the best you can do.
Cheers!
For the techs and video geeks, here is a behind-the-scenes featurette on the making of the commercial.
Questions, comments, suggestions? Send me an email at stehli.r@gmail.com.
