Just lately a good friend of mine hosted a “redneck” BBQ and we have been speaking about what beers we should always drink for the total redneck expertise. Usually we’d take pleasure in some superb IPAs from Stone or Deschutes, however being a redneck social gathering we needed to get down and social gathering like a redneck!
Rednecks through the years have gotten some fairly unhealthy press – they’re typically seen as nation folks, who are usually working class, opinionated, and never the brightest cookie within the field. Stereotypes typically see them sitting on their porch with a shotgun in a single hand and a beer within the different while watching the older of us strumming their banjos!
Now, earlier than we dive too deep into the world of rednecks, let’s get one factor straight: being a redneck just isn’t a foul factor. Actually, many individuals proudly determine as rednecks and put on the title as a badge of honor. It’s all about embracing your roots and dwelling a easy, down-to-earth way of life. Rednecks are blue-collar, hard-working, first rate folks who consider within the greatness of the great ol’ US of A. What’s incorrect with that?
The identical may very well be mentioned in regards to the redneck beers we’re going to take a look at. They might not have at all times been held within the highest respect, and certainly have typically been referred to as bland, tasteless, or, even worse, goddam terrible!
However they’re all-American, first rate, trustworthy brews that do the job. They won’t have the nuances of a Pliny the Elder or Alchemist’s Heady Topper however a redneck beer received’t be wherever close to as rattling costly and received’t allow you to down if you need to get loaded.
Apologies if any of your favourite beers seem on this listing. I’m not saying it’s a foul beer, only a beer that may match into the redneck way of life. And similar to the rednecks themselves, this submit might not be as politically right correctly, however it’s all completed tongue-in-cheek, and no hurt is supposed. So let’s have a little bit of enjoyable – seize a chilly one from the fridge and sit again along with your shotgun in a single hand and a beer within the different whereas we go on a wild tour of actually redneck brews!
What Is a Redneck?
To begin with, let’s begin with a fundamental definition. A redneck is often described as a rural, working-class white one that typically lives within the southern United States. They’re identified for his or her love of looking, fishing, and different outside actions, in addition to their affinity for pickup vans, nation music, and beer.
The Brittanica Dictionary defines a redneck as:
” a white one that lives in a small city or within the nation, particularly within the southern U.S., who usually has a working-class job, and who’s seen by others as being uneducated and having opinions and attitudes which might be offensive”
The Webster’s Dictionary goes even additional and suggests redneck is an adjective used to explain the habits of somebody whose conduct and opinions are politically conservative, racist, and religiously fundamentalist!
Not sounding good, is it? Actually, the time period redneck is seen by many as a downright offensive one.
Redneck has been used for the reason that 1830s to refer, usually in a derogatory vogue, to poor or unsophisticated whites, usually these inhabiting the southern United States.
President Invoice Clinton as soon as described Donald Trump’s supporters as rednecks in a derisory manner however then has additionally described himself as “your normal redneck” having grown up in backwoods Arkansas.
Though the time period is usually used to explain “poor white trash,” or individuals domestically often called “crackers,” “dirt-eaters,” and “red-necks,” lately many people have been proud to recall their “redneck” roots, not simply President Clinton.
Being a redneck just isn’t all about driving a pickup truck with a Accomplice flag proudly displayed within the again window. Rednecks are identified for his or her distinctive humorousness, which frequently includes playful teasing and good-natured pranks. And let’s not neglect about their legendary cooking abilities. Nothing beats a superb old style Southern BBQ or a home made batch of moonshine.
And at these legendary BBQs or tailgating events, Rednecks are gonna want beer to drink, and loads of it!
What Defines a Crimson Neck Beer?
Maybe most significantly, a redneck beer needs to be low cost. Not simply price range value however cheaper than low cost – a few of the beers on this listing are even cheaper than a can of soda.
Simply as necessary a consider what makes a beer “redneck” is that it have to be American – we don’t need any of that international muck! There could also be just a few notable exceptions to this rule, specifically the Mexican beers, however hell, most of them are brewed right here within the USA these days anyhow.
Relating to redneck beer, there are some things that set it other than different kinds of beer. For one factor, redneck beer tends to be on the lighter aspect, each when it comes to taste and alcohol content material. Redneck beer drinkers typically worth affordability and straightforward drinkability over complicated flavors or excessive alcohol content material.
One other hallmark of redneck beer tradition is the social side. Redneck beer drinkers typically collect collectively at yard barbecues, tailgate events, and dive bars to share a chilly one and shoot the breeze. For a lot of redneck beer drinkers, the beer is simply as a lot in regards to the social expertise as it’s in regards to the style.
In fact, there are additionally those that take their redneck beer very severely. There are redneck beer festivals and competitions everywhere in the nation, the place lovers collect to pattern completely different manufacturers and debate the deserves of every. Some redneck beer aficionados even brew their very own beer, experimenting with completely different components and strategies to create the right brew.
Our 10 Favourite Redneck Beers
For individuals who choose a down-home, no-frills brew, there’s nothing fairly like a redneck beer. Listed below are ten of the preferred manufacturers, every with its personal distinctive taste and historical past.
Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR)
When redneck beers, they don’t get way more redneck than Pabst. Brewed within the US of A since 1844, initially in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the distinctive blue and silver can of Pabst Blue Ribbon has been a fixture at yard barbecues and dive bars for many years.
Affectionately often called PBR, it’s a staple of redneck beer tradition and has even seen nation artists comparable to Johnny Russel function the beer of their tracks. (1973 “Rednecks, White Socks and Blue Ribbon Beer”.)
PBR is a light-bodied lager with a crisp, clear style that’s good for sipping on a scorching day. Through the years, Pabst has been topic to many mergers and acquisitions which have almost seen the beer die out. However sarcastically it was the American hipster motion that almost all just lately saved this beer from extinction.
Nevertheless, Pabst remains to be seen because the working man’s beer, it’s simply that exact working man is now extra prone to be making bespoke iPhone circumstances out of human hair in a loft someplace in Brooklyn.
Pure Mild
Pure Mild from Anheuser-Busch, or Natty Mild because it’s extra generally identified, is one other well-liked selection amongst redneck beer drinkers. It’s identified for its low value level and straightforward drinkability, making it a favourite amongst school college students and budget-conscious drinkers. Natty Mild has a lightweight, barely candy taste with a clean end.
Natty Mild is likely to be the most typical beer you can find on campuses throughout America however it additionally holds the title for the primary beer in area. Sure, you learn that proper – in 2011, two loopy redneck Fb followers of Natty Mild, Danny and Wealthy, got here up with the epic concept of sending a can of Natty Mild into area. The remaining is historical past, as they are saying!
Pure Mild does have a giant brother, Pure Ice, however when you’ve got by no means heard of this beer, suppose your self fortunate. Natty Ice is a thick, syrupy, adjunct-filled beer that it’s essential drink ice chilly, like most different 6% ABV slammers, simply to get it to go down. With low cost beers, the adage typically says the much less style the higher, and this beer may positively do with rather less.
Busch
Usually seen because the economic system model of the Anheuser-Busch merchandise, the unique Busch beer is usually known as “Busch Heavy”, and you’d typically discover it at school events sat in a cooler with Natty Naddies (stronger ABV model of Nat Ice), Metal Reserve and Bud Ice.
Busch has a number of corn sweetness from the cheaper adjuncts used within the brewing course of, however maybe probably the most noticeable taste is a faint skunk style – and no, it doesn’t style just like the skunkiness was added on function.
Busch is a light-bodied lager that’s brewed with a mix of barley malt, cereal grains, and hops. It’s additionally one of the crucial reasonably priced choices in the marketplace. There may be additionally a just-as-affordable variation, Busch Mild, to your extra health-conscious rednecks.
Keystone Mild
Keystone Mild is a budget-friendly beer that appears to have been round for the reason that starting of time. We’ve all heard these tales of a very unhealthy “Keystone” evening after school events or pupil barbecues.
It’s a lightweight beer with a clean, crisp style that’s good for consuming on a scorching day. Keystone Mild is brewed with a mix of barley malt, corn, and hops, giving it a barely candy taste with a touch of bitterness. That’s what the advertising blurb says anyhow, however in reality, the unique Keystone was thought by many to be the worst beer ever brewed on American soil (sorry, Keystone followers, if there are any on the market..).
Paradoxically, Keystone first debuted in 1989 in Chico, California dwelling of Sierra Nevada and its scrumptious beers. Whereas it’s actually no SN Pale Ale, the unique Keystone stood out from the remainder of the “crap pack” of low cost beers for all of the incorrect causes with its typically stale or bitter style and a touch of brown bananas and nearly recent armpit style. And the bitter face man within the TV commercials did little or no to assist, simply freaking most individuals, even rednecks, out.
Fortuitously, Keystone Mild is a marked enchancment that strips away all of the rotten fruit and flesh to depart an everyday, boring mild beer.
Coors Mild
Coors is a model that at all times appears to have been related to the American redneck tradition. Coors was even the model that the “bandit” smuggled throughout southern state traces within the 1977 movie “Smokey and the Bandit”. Such was the demand for Coors earlier than it was permitted to be distributed nationwide that rednecks would typically fill their vans up with circumstances of Coors from Colorado and the Western states to take again all the way down to the South.
Though many beer lovers choose the style of Coors Banquet, Coors Mild is the beer you usually tend to see on the cabinets of a grocery store or within the cooler at your subsequent hoedown.
Coors Mild is a basic redneck beer that’s been round for the reason that Nineteen Seventies. It’s a light-bodied lager that’s brewed with a mix of barley malt, corn, and hops. Coors Mild has a light, refreshing style that’s good for sipping on a scorching day. Its iconic silver can is immediately recognizable.
Miller Excessive Life
Usually referred to as the “champagne of beer”..we’re getting a bit fancy now for a redneck beer! In reality, it’s solely a small step up from different macro beers comparable to Budweiser with many rednecks referring to Excessive Life as “the beer Bud ought to have been”. Even the brewmaster at Founders has been identified to confess to having fun with the odd bottle or two of Miller Excessive Life when the time is correct.
Miller Excessive Life is a light-bodied lager that’s brewed with a mix of malted barley, corn, and hops. The crisp, refreshing style is ideal for consuming at a yard barbecue or whereas fishing on a scorching day.
We will’t point out Miller with out a phrase or two about Miller Lite, the sunshine beer which kickstarted the entire mild beer revolution. With out Miller Mild, we in all probability wouldn’t have Coors Mild, Michelob Extremely, and even Bud Mild.
Miller Lite is the unique mild beer that’s been round for the reason that Nineteen Seventies. It’s a light-bodied lager that’s brewed with a mix of barley malt, corn, and hops. The clear, refreshing style makes it good for consuming whereas watching the sport or on the newest rodeo.
Bud Mild
Till just lately the preferred beer within the nation, together with Bud Mild in a listing of redneck beers is possibly a controversial selection when you think about the newest Bud Mild transgender controversy. If there’s one factor rednecks don’t significantly like, it’s variety.
As American as you will get, Budweiser has just lately fallen out of favor with the US public over the transgender social media influencer who again in April 2023 posted a few can of Bud Mild along with her face on it.
Beforehand, Bud Mild was a favourite beer of the redneck group with some eating places even depicting Bud Mild cans on the American flag as an indication of patriotism. However following the looks of the Tik Tok video with a can that includes an image of trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney’s face on it, many bars have determined to cease stocking Bud Mild. At nation singer John Wealthy’s downtown Nashville Redneck Riveria Bar & BBQ, they’ve even began to cowl up the blue components of their beer flag which used Bud Mild cans. Nevertheless, all the opposite Anheuser-Busch redneck beers stay on sale within the bar.
Yuengling Lager
The oldest beer in America nonetheless brewed at present, Yuengling Lager is a redneck beer that’s been round for the reason that mid-1800s. It’s a medium-bodied beer with a wealthy, malty taste that’s balanced by refined hop bitterness. Yuengling Lager is brewed utilizing a mix of roasted caramel malt and conventional hops, giving it a particular taste that’s laborious to beat.
That is one redneck beer chances are you’ll discover a craft beer lover secretly chugging away, Yuengling has extra to the style than your conventional macro and feels heavier too. Though it’s extra malty, toasty, and candy, some say it tastes like components of the metallic brewing kettles bought into every can or keg.
Till just lately it was solely obtainable East of the Mississippi, however on the finish of 2022, it was closing in on a nationwide distribution deal.
Lone Star Beer
If we’re speaking redneck, you don’t get way more redneck than the state of Texas. Lone Star Beer is the Nationwide beer of Texas and a basic redneck beer that’s been brewed for the reason that 1800s. It’s a light-bodied beer with a crisp, refreshing style that’s good for sipping on a scorching day.
Lone Star Beer is brewed utilizing a mix of barley malt, corn, and hops, giving it a barely candy taste with a touch of bitterness. It might not be as low cost as a few of the different beers on this listing, however it’s All-American and for the Texan rednecks it’s an emblem of state pleasure.
Redneck Logger
We now have to provide an honorary point out to a beer that’s produced by a brewery proud to name themselves Rednecks.
At Redneck Brewing Firm in Ontario, Canada they’re proud Canadian rednecks who intention to supply high quality crushable craft beers to rednecks throughout the entire of North America. Interesting to the redneck market, they intention to supply these craft beers at very budget-friendly costs.
Probably the most broadly obtainable Redneck Brewing Firm beer on the time of writing was Redneck Logger, an American adjunct-style lager. Redneck Logger is mild and refreshing with an ABV of 4.7% and is pale yellow in shade. The Redneck Logger is ideal for any redneck gathering.
Redneck Beers – Ultimate Name
First, let me begin by apologizing once more if I’ve offended anyone. It was by no means the intention of this submit, it’s only a light-hearted take a look at a few of the basic redneck beers of America. When did all of us get so woke?
Suppose yourselves fortunate that rednecks in different components of the world have way more offensive-sounding names. In Australia, a redneck is often often called a bogan, nearly like a bog-dwelling creature (that is additional break up into “Bushie” – these rednecks who reside within the bush/outback – and “Westies” – the city-dwelling rednecks, as Western suburbs are usually much less posh!).
Within the UK, a redneck is called a rustic bumpkin, though lately derogatory phrases comparable to Chav, road urchin, or gypo (referring to the nomadic gypsies of the UK) have change into extra frequent types of insults. As for beers the rednecks or chavs of the UK would drink, they are usually tremendous robust cheaper lagers comparable to Carlsberg Particular Brew (9.5%), barleywines, or up in Scotland a delicacy often called Buckfast.
Redneck beers within the US might not be probably the most refined or complicated sort of beer on the market, however they’ve a loyal following for a cause. Whether or not you like PBR or Coors Mild, there’s one thing a few chilly redneck beer that simply hits the spot on a scorching day. So crack open a can, sit back, and benefit from the easy pleasures of life. Cheers!
