Mention the name “Coors,” and beer enthusiasts are likely to turn their heads because this brand has a lot of impressive history packed in its hood. Founded back in 1873, Coors has seen it all, from World War I, to World War II and the Great Depression, and survived harsh legislations along the way. Despite all of these, it has emerged more robust and is now one of the most sought-after beers. So, what is in this Coors beer?
There is very little difference between the Coors original and Coors banquet. Indeed, Coors original was given the name Coors banquet by miners who used to take it in banquets back in the 1930s. So, the Coors original became the Coors banquet, and people, especially in America West and now, the rest of the US, love it so much. Now, a Canadian company, St. John’s, has reintroduced the Coors original where the demand for Coors is surging fast.
This post will look deeper into this highly respected brand to help you find out the main difference between Coors Banquet and Coors original. We will also tell the timelines of Coors and things you probably never knew about the Coors banquet.
The Slight Difference between Coors Original and Coors Banquet
As we have highlighted, the difference between Coors original and Coors banquet is minimal. However, the opinion about the original type (Coors original) and the latter (Coors banquet) appear to put them significantly apart. In the early days of Coors Company operations, the government of the time put anti-beer campaign, resulting in the brewing of beers with low alcohol content. The flavors were also not strong, making some people consider Coors beer not strong and, in some cases, less desirable. Indeed, the Coors Original had a distinct banana flavor.
With the lifting of the beer prohibition in the 1930s and after changing the name Coors to Coors Banquet, the beer went through more improvements. For example, the company uses a blend of Chinook, Hallertau, and Herkules hops to bring out unique flavors, aroma, and bitterness. Well, these might have been there in Coors original, but they were not as strong as in the Coors Banquet.
A Brief History of the Coors
To understand the difference between Coors Banquet and Coors original, you need to travel back in the company’s history. The company was started in 1873 by Adolf Coors and Jacob Schueler, German immigrants, after purchasing a pilsner-style recipe from a Czech immigrant, William Silhan.
The Early Coors
From 1920 to 1933, the US banned the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages, but Coors Company still survived. The prohibition was aimed at healing what was considered an ill society, which was considered to have serious alcohol-related issues, from salon-based political corruption to family violence. Indeed, a lot of communities banned alcohol in the 19th century.
Coors Brewing survived the prohibition by shifting to the production of Porcelain and other ventures through companies such as the Herold Porcelain. The company turned the brewery into malted milk and near-beer establishments. The bulk of the malted milk was sold to another firm known as Mars candy, which used them for sweets production.
When the beer prohibition was lifted in 1933, most breweries in the US had closed shop, but Coors Company sprung back fast and continued producing the Coors Original. In its 100-years of operation, Coors was largely a beer of the American West and only became more available in Montana and Washington later in the 1970s. Indeed, some states limited the production and sale of alcohol after 1933, a move that limited Coors beer access in other states. For example, Oregon disallowed the sale of Coors in grocery stores. Because of this, Coors Banquet was considered a sort of mystique beer, and people traveling to the East Coast had to come back with a case.
When Did Coors Original Become the Coors Banquet?
The term Banquet Beer was first coined by Clear Creek miners, who would drink the Coors Original in banquet halls. If no halls were available, they would turn to tents when drinking their beer. Although the miners used to associate it with the term Banquet for many years, it was not until 1937 when the brewer officially adopted the name Coors Banquet.
Around this time, Adolf Coors opened a shop in Golden, Colorado, and threw banquets to miners who came to buy. The company was also working towards addressing e problem of depression caused by a strain of nostalgia.
The Modern Era Coors Banquet
The modern trends impacting Coors banquet are the need to maintain high sales amid the fast-growing competition. This is one of the reasons why there is a strong resurgence of the old beer types that were doing impressively well in the 20th century, such as the Original Coors. Indeed, most modern trends in different industries, from house designs to beers, are incorporating elements of retro that are considered more appealing. Although you do not expect to get the exact tastes of the Coors Original, a lot of people want to be associated with the famous brand, and the focus appears to be working.
To keep up with the shifting customer focuses, such as low-calorie, non-alcoholic and low-alcohol trends, which are considered healthier, MillerCoors is shifting its focus to “good beer.” These efforts appear to be yielding results going by the emerging sales numbers. For example, the Coors banquet recorded huge sales in 2019. Peter Coors, the Chairman of MillerCoors, indicates that they have changed their way of doing things to get people what is better for them. He says that it is not about retro or craft, but getting people to understand about this terrific drink that has been around for years.
The Making of Coors Banquet
Now that you know the history of Beer original and that it is only the name that was changed to Coors banquet, it is time to understand how it is made. What is Coors banquet made of? How are its outstanding flavors added?
The Coor’s Beer is made using Moravia barley and the famous rocky water, which is reported to be from the Rocky Mountains. However, these are not the only ingredients. Other components used to prepare Coors banquet include:
- Rocky water.
- Malt.
- Barley.
- Yeast.
- Hops.
- Grains.
- Corn.
As you can see, these are the commonest ingredients in most beers, but Coors goes a step ahead in the dilution process to ensure that the beers are gluten-free. Every Coors Banquet you take contains the following 15% ABV, 149 calories, and 11 carbs per 12 oZ serving. These numbers show Coors to be a relatively healthy find for beer fanatics.
Another thing you will note in Coors Banquet is the unique aromas and flavors of herbal hops and toasted grains. To make the beers stand out from the growing competition, MillerCoors adds a range of aromatic hops, such as Chinook, Hallertau, and Herkules. These hops also provide a hint of bitterness that helps to overcome that malt sweetness generated in the brew. Note that the hops are filtered when the hop character is optimized in the beer.
When it comes to barley, Coors boasts of using a unique type, the Moravian barley, which is largely grown in the Czech Republic. Initially, the seeds of this type of barley were introduced into one of the employee’s gardens, and the Coors Banquet made by the company even today is linked to this type of barley.
What You Probably Did Not Know about Coors Banquet
As you can see, Coors Banquet is a beer with a very rich history, having been on the market for so long. Here is a list of things that you probably did not know about the Coors banquet.
- Coors was a Homeboy
Between the 1920s and late 1970s, Coors was only available in about 11 states of the American West. Around this time, Coors beer was unpasteurized and had no preservatives. Therefore, you had to keep it cold for it to stay over a longer period. Even moving it over longer distances was still a challenge, making it a sort of a western American affair only.
To expand Coors beer reach, Coors Company pioneered the use of sterile filling, cold filtering, and refrigerated trucks. Even with these inventions, it was still impossible to hit all the 50 states and only got to Indiana in the early 1990s.
- Coors Company was Very Big on Entertainment
One of the reasons that made Coors banquet a favorite for most western state’s people is that it was huge on entertainment. For example, it sponsored the Coor’s Show, a radio program that featured top personalities of the time, such as Mel Torme and Duke Ellington. Later in the 1950s, Coors sponsored the program I’m The Law, a highly revered police drama that featured starring gangster movie personalities, including George Raft.
- Coors was Revered Even by the Mighty in the US
In the 1960s, there was a Coor’s beer scarcity, and this resulted in the development of a sort of cult status across the country. A closer look at the reports by Eisenhower and Gerald Ford reveals that they had it packed in Air Force One and also added to the White House Menu. Other top personalities also preferred the Coors banquet to other beers. For example, Keith Richards always ensured he had it close on stage while Paul Newman referred to it as the best domestic beer.
- Coors was Music to Clients
The goal of Coors Company was to ensure it is not just a great beer but a brand that all could associate with in the US. Well, so good was the brand that even musicians sang songs to praise it. For example, Ray Charles and Clint Eastwood sang the famous “Beers to You” that praised Coors. The song used to move people to tears, making them associated more with Coors.
The song was also used as a soundtrack for the movie “Any Which Way You Can” back in 1978. Notably, the film never got permission to use Coors Banquet, which was the favorite for Clint, one of the top stars in the video. To keep their favorite drinks, they substituted the Olympia beer cans with Coors Banquet, and it was awesome.
- Coors was a Valued Contraband
The cult status achieved by the Coors drove one of the biggest smuggling sprees in the US. In one of the stories in the media in 1974, “The Beer That Won the West,” an enterprising trader used to run refrigerated trucks to smuggle Coors all the way from Denver to Charlotte, where it was in high demand. However, Coors Company discouraged smuggling because the beer was sold at a higher price compared to local beers, meaning that not all could afford it.
- Coors, Flattery, and Sports
It is impossible to talk about Coors Banquet without mentioning its flattery connotations. Take the case of the 1970s when Coors invented a new sport, jumping from a cliff into a pool of water in the Rocky Mountains when wearing only a pair of jeans and a top. The sport almost rivaled other sports, such as kayaking and skiing as pass-time activity.
Later in 1986, NCIS star, Mark Harmon, was made the Coor’s spokesperson. Being referred to as one of the People’s Sexiest Man on the Planet, he played a huge role in promoting the beer by extending its reach in both the US and beyond.
Conclusion
From the discussion, Coors Original came out as a well-thought-of type of beer that has managed to persist for close to two centuries. After changing its name to Coors Banquet in the 1930s, Coors Company did a great job to not only improve it quality, but also market it in the entire US as one of the best bears. Unlike the Coors original, Coors banquet comes with more flavors, aroma, and tinge of bitterness that makes it irresistible. These attributes have made MillerCoors enjoy a boost in sales. The Coors Original is also being reintroduced, and people are enjoying it.