Beer Me!

Joe Pastoor’s fine article [“Beer Town!,” July] omitted one aspect of the new Grain Belt Beer: the taste. The original Grain Belt was the first beer I ever tasted. The enchanting, spicy bouquet from one bottle poured into a glass could fill the entire kitchen at home; a few pitchers could fill an entire tavern hall, intoxicating drinkers before they took their first sip. Ted Marti is an amazing brewer. He has kept his tiny family brewery open against all odds, but he is now faced with a dilemma. If he continues brewing the Grain Belt recipe that he inherited from Minnesota Brewing, he can hope to maintain the loyal customers who have become accustomed to the rather unremarkable taste of its St. Paul incarnation. But does he have enough customers to support this beer? I propose that Braumeister Marti brew a Grain Belt according to the original recipe. But what the market does not need is another “expensive microbrew-packaged” beer. Simply paste “Urtyp” on the original-recipe beer cases and see which beer the public likes. What we need is a beer like the original Grain Belt: simple package, great beer. Like the old Grain Belt ad said, “You be the judge. Try a case.”
Bjor Kenner
St. Paul