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Critic Cries in Beer Over Ballpark Brews

Drinking tour of sports stadiums draws Bronx cheer

By Caroline Zimmerman,  Newser User

Posted Jul 14, 2008 5:07 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Nothing like downing a cold one while watching the game at the ballpark—or is there? On a beer-tasting tour of select baseball stadiums, Portfolio's connoisseur Franz Lidz found the brew generally lukewarm, with a rank aftertaste. "Nobody tastes stadium beer," said his neighbor at Shea Stadium. "It tastes like nothing."

There's never much choice beyond Bud and Miller Lite at stadiums, save for the Grolsch and draft Widmer Brothers Hefeweizen at Shea. At Chicago's Wrigley field, Lidz did detect a surprising sweetness in his $6 Budweiser—half the price of his pint at Dodger Stadium. It turns out his 7-year-old neighbor had been lacing his cup with caramel corn.

Boston Red Sox pitcher Jonathan Papelbon pours beer on the American League Championship trophy early Monday morning, Oct. 22, 2007, at Fenway Park in Boston.
Boston Red Sox pitcher Jonathan Papelbon pours beer on the American League Championship trophy early Monday morning, Oct. 22, 2007, at Fenway Park in Boston.   (Associated Press)
A display of Coors beer on ice sits in the right-field stands of Coors Field before the Chicago Cubs play the Colorado Rockies in a Major League baseball game in Denver in this Aug. 11, 2007 file photo.
A display of Coors beer on ice sits in the right-field stands of Coors Field before the Chicago Cubs play the Colorado Rockies in a Major League baseball game in Denver in this Aug. 11, 2007 file photo....   (Associated Press)
Stadium beer doesn't include much variety, and it's usually not much colder than your hot dog.
Stadium beer doesn't include much variety, and it's usually not much colder than your hot dog.   (Shutterstock)
A beer tour of US stadiums confirms fans don't drink it for the taste.
A beer tour of US stadiums confirms fans don't drink it for the taste.   (Shutterstock)
In this Oct. 25, 2005 file photo, bottled and draught Budweiser beers are shown at Foley's Bar in St. Louis.
In this Oct. 25, 2005 file photo, bottled and draught Budweiser beers are shown at Foley's Bar in St. Louis.   (Associated Press)
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