At the risk of being viewed as a beer snob, and someone with nothing else to worry about, I feel as though I must add my two cents to the recent “Beer of the Week” by Dan Stone.

Stella Artois cannot be compared to either Blue Moon or Fat Tire; they fall into three completely different categories. Stella Artois is found in the same category as Miller Genuine Draft, Heineken, Beck’s and Michelob: Premium American Lager.

Stella Artois leans toward the slightly bitter end of the malt/bitter continuum.

This is due to the heavier use of bittering hops. Stella Artois will also sport a lighter body than either Blue Moon or Fat Tire. This is due to, among other things, the use of adjuncts in the mash process.

Fat Tire, on the other hand, would fall into the Belgian Pale Ale category of brews.

An ale cannot a lager be; they use two completely different species of yeast, two completely different mashing processes, and two completely different temperature and storage regimes. Because of these differences, Fat Tire will be more malty, have lower carbonation, and very little by way of hop flavor.

Blue Moon is a Belgian Wit style of beer, and, in my opinion, a very weak example of the category. Belgian Wit’s will possess a slight sour taste, with a nice velvety smooth mouth feel and a cloudy appearance.

These characteristics are due to the use of wheat and oats in the mash process and yeast sediment found at the bottom of the bottle. True wits will have little to no hop aroma. Instead, they possess a wonderful bouquet which comes from the addition of coriander and orange peel late in the fermentation process.

For a truly wonderful beer drinking experience, might I suggest a Hoegaarden Wit, or, if that can’t be located, Celis White is a great second choice. If I am labeled a beer snob because of the above, so be it. I’ve certainly been called worse. Cheers!

Jarrod Loerzel
Senior, political science

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