[contour5]

In the early 70s, we thought Coors was something special. It was unavailable in Wa, so we'd pool our money and somebody would make the long drive to Montana to fill a car with 10 or 20 cases of the precious nectar. It would invariably arrive back at the Matthews beach parking lot warm as bathwater, but we didn't mind; we were drinking the good stuff!

[kbatku]

Coors was 5.2 and with Washington beer all 3.2, Coors was some serious intoxication material. Remember the round push - down tabs, err...holes? But who can forget Billy Beer? We got a bunch on closeout for about a buck a sixer - now THAT was some foul stuff.

[RichP]

Seen on an obscure Idaho summit.

This beer can is on the summit of 4060. I saw they sell for 10- 15 bucks on Ebay.

[Malachai Constant]

Ah Buckhorn nasty stuff from the 70s also Schmit, and Rheinlander. In college we were on the Blitz ski team which only participated in beer slaloms. But the granddaddy of all headache beers was Rainier Ale aka green death 6% and sticky. Later to become a NW institution. You did not have to go all the way to Montana to get Curs anyone from Wazzu could tell you it was available in Moscow, ID.

[Damian]

I'd been loosing faith in humanity until I saw this thread. Buckhorn was the runoff from the runoff. I drank plenty of it at WSU in the 70's. I wonder if today's expensive craft beers provide as much pleasure.

[Brian Curtis]

[Malachai Constant]

No not Mickeys although it was nasty also. Green Death was around until 2016 apparently usually in 40 Oz bombers a favorite bum beer along with Old English.

[Damian]

I remember Green Death well. But 2016? Wow. Speaks to the marketing power of nostalgia. Even as it relates to barfing.

[Jake Robinson]

Rainier Ale came in 6-packs of 16oz cans before it was discontinued in 2016. It was really cheap (and strong) but probably one of the nastiest beers I've ever tried. A friend described it as tasting like "a can of regular Rainier with a shot of cheap vodka in it" which is pretty accurate to my memory...

[treeswarper]

A friend of mine said he could name the animal or fish or foul that was on a can of Schmidt AKA animal beer by the taste. We would start out with a good beer and then switch over to animal beer. Empty animal beer cans were often found around areas of cedar and firewood thefts. Now it is Busch Light. Guess the thieves are on a diet.

[glenoid]

We couldn’t afford to buy a “Bucko” in those days. We preferred generic “Beer”, beer. (Did find a full Rainier beer can on the flanks of St. Helens before she blew. Unfortunately when I opened the can with my ice axe on the summit, the beer blew up!)

[BigBrunyon]

At 6.0% your gettin' into the ice beer scene. Natty Ice, et al. Ya see guys investing in a few 30 bombs at the grocery stores just after 5 PM most days. Mickeys is ice beer but it's better than some of its competitors. Probably cause the green bottle!! Makes it taste crisper and classy almost like enjoyin a nice classic Europe style beer. North of 8.2 you're into HIGH GRAV territory. Talkin 24 oz cans where the ABV% is in bigger font than anything else. But if you're goin HIGH GRAV you need to be flauntin' 9.2 or above to appear competitive. Don't want to appear weak at an upper tier high gravity party.

[Bedivere]

[neek]

[Malachai Constant]

There is a 80% difference between ABV and ABW as alcohol is considerably less dense than water. 3.2 beer is ABW or about 4 ABV. Green Death was 6% ABW or 7.2 ABV.