by Jim Tankersley
From a blue-state brewery comes a red beer that puts a name to every liberal's worst nightmare: "W '08".
On shelves in Oregon grocery stores now, the Crimson Wheat microbrew is a product of Widmer Brothers Brewing in Portland, which is famous for its hefeweizen. The brewery calls it "traditional" and "experimental." The '08 version is the latest in the annual "W" series of seasonal beers - a different one each year - that dates to 2005; this just happens to be the first that sounds like a presidential election bumper sticker. It also won a silver medal at last year's Great American Beer Festival.
The label describes the taste thusly: "The three different red, caramelized, and dark wheat malts give this beer an intense red color that runs as deep as the flavor. The toasted grain flavors blend perfectly with the subtle spiciness of the hops just as the entirety fades to a smooth quick finish."
Your Swamp correspondent calls it smooth with a kick, and surprisingly light on the wheatiness.
Oregon produces some of the world's best beer. It also produced state wins for Al Gore in 2000 and John Kerry in 2004. So even if the constitution allowed for a "W '08" campaign it's unlikely it would sell well here.
President George W. Bush, of course, does not drink alcohol. But we guess he'd appreciate the foods the brewmasters say go well with the W '08 brew: hamburgers, roast beef sandwiches and seafood.
We'll let you decide which, if any, of these brewmaster descriptions of the W '08 brew best describe a potential Bush re-re-election ticket:
"...bound to fill you with cheer..."
"It's dark and mysterious. But strangely goes well with anything."
"Ride the coattails..."
"You need to hold it up to the sun."
Please vote responsibly.
• 
• 
• 
Comments
Oh Dear. They're writing about BEER!
Beats the inane campaign press releeases about 'we've got superdelegates'.
Now that I have your attention:
SUPER DELEGATES DO NOT VOTE UNTIL THEY'RE AT THE CONVENTION.
These are the preliminaries.
And Hillary's looking better by the minute--pantsuit jokes or no pantsuit jokes.
Posted by: Swamp needs some zzzzz | May 6, 2008 8:14 AM
It has foam but no taste.
It has a head but loses it quickly.
Posted by: bill r. | May 6, 2008 8:16 AM
There's a great many Republicans who'd rather have a third Bush term, than 4 years of McCain. He's been overwhelmingly victorious in 2 Wars, he's given us a strong economy with low unemployment, and a major tax cut. What we'll get with 4 years of McCain is compromise with the socialist Democrats on a variety of issues.
Bob Barr, Libertarian candidate is looking better and better every day as a choice for Bush backers.
Posted by: Eric Dondero | May 6, 2008 9:40 AM
I'll bet you get a real hangover with this one.
Posted by: Kenneth Janowski | May 6, 2008 9:45 AM
I like beer. I support it in all its forms. Even the Beast.
Posted by: Jeff | May 6, 2008 10:51 AM
Senator Clinton must have had a few to many, with her gas problem and everything!! I recommend she lay off the hootch and give Senator Obama a day off from all of her name-calling and false accusations!!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | May 6, 2008 11:17 AM
Someone must have had too much "W" beer, with these comments: Bush has been "overwhelmingly victorious in 2 Wars, he's given us a strong economy with low unemployment, and a major tax cut"?
Try: he's immured us in untenable occupations in hostile countries, erased the middle class, and bankrupted the country.
Posted by: athena | May 6, 2008 11:56 AM
W '08? From the name I'd guess it was an ordinary looking, tasteless but heavily marketed light beer that leaves you with massive headaches that last for many years.
Posted by: Tom O | May 6, 2008 11:58 AM
I just assumed W '08 was this year's Cubs slogan...
Posted by: PhilV | May 6, 2008 1:28 PM
I understand that their Hillary brew will be called L '08!
Posted by: Bubba | May 6, 2008 1:57 PM
Something that is still made in America we can spend our tax rebate on!
Posted by: lochnessmonster | May 6, 2008 4:37 PM