More proof that the image of a beer is almost directly proportional to how far away from home it is. In Belgium, Stella is regarded as cheap swill. In the Netherlands, Heineken is regarded as cheap swill that isn’t quite as foul as Oranjeboom (another beer that will leave you whimpering in the morning). In the UK, Heineken and Oranjeboom are regarded as being posh-ish beers, and Stella is trying for that, despite being the preferred tipple of many hooligans. They sell Coors over here as being a premium american beer.
And yes, in general industrial beers are nastier, which I think is down to the greater use of chemicals or all kinds, adding to the toxic brew in your bloodstream the next day. However, it’s worth noting that many ‘import’ beers are brewed locally since all the big brewers are global nowadays (e.g. Stella is brewed in the UK). So it’s entirely possible that Stella is totally different beer in different countries, depending on local tastes and regulations.
However, for a hangover of quality and distinction, I suggest necking many pints of Hoegaarden . In the UK it is sold in pubs by the pint, and by supermarkets in large bottles, whereas I think it should be drunk in relatively small quantities. Coriander? Curacao? These are not ingredients that make for a great session beer, even if it does taste nice 
To be fair, that’s “curaçao orange peels”, not the gloopy blue liqueur that goes into cocktails à la Del Boy. I find Hoegaarden a great summer session beer 
Rest assured, it’s cheap swill the world over.
Ist’s laced with arse, Nick!
[semi-hijack]The type of beer that almost never fails to give me a headache is Heffewiesen (wheat beer). The headache comes on within an hour of first consumption, and I’ve assumed it is some sort of allergy problem, but I’m not allergic to any of the constituants. Any clue to this problem?[semi-hijack]
Seconded. In fact, ‘a pint of wifebeater’ round my way means a pint of Kronenbourg, not Stella. I guess it can refer to any strong lager. If they served Kestrel Super Strength (aka ‘Trampagne’) by the pint, that would be the title-bearer, I’m sure. (9% ABV)
Don’t forget that they sell Bass and Boddies over there as great examples of British breweing :eek:
I’ve heard plenty of drinks called ‘wifebeater’, with Stella and Strongbow being the most common culprits. I’ve never heard any meaningful argument that it’s about anything other than the general dispensation of the drinkers.
I think it’s likely the proportion of methanol to ethanol.
I spent 10 months drinking mostly Stella and I don’t recall getting a headache. When I had money, I’d buy one of the abdij beers, but for just getting together after class, Stella was what was on tap. (Of course, it was on tap and not bottled–being the home town brew, and all–but I’ve picked up a six-pack once or twice for nostalgia since they started marketing it in the States and I have not gotten a headache from it.)
I suppose, we could speculate that its headache properties originate with the water, taken from the “dirty Dijle”*.
*(The river passing through Lueven is the Dijle which, in Dutch, would be pronounced “dial eh” but in the particular dialect of Flemish spoken in Leuven sounds like “deal” to English speakers.)
Yeah - not sure which came first, the drink or the drinkers, but it works in reverse too - the ‘lager lout’. I’ve heard the term ‘fighting juice’ used a lot too.
Hmmm… The UK version seems to be brewed in Newport, Wales. No idea what the water is like there…