Comments on: Malt Liquor: A Historical Examination

By: ShonQuayShah

ShonQuayShah — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 01:16:10 +0000

on the west coast, the prefered jet fuel beverages were:
Old English 800
Schlitz
and Miller High Life.

yes, i drank st. ides in the late 80’s early 90’s and blew up behind it as well…calories for days!!!

but they would get you sky high!!

By: Nicole

Nicole — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:55:27 +0000

And there is there little known, white-trash malt beverage “Mickie’s”, fully embraced by the urban Irish-American nitwit’s of the 1990’s. (Really, I think House of Pain had an endorsement deal, they mentioned Mickie’s so much.) Very interesting times, when the underaged unwittingly participated in the larger sociological experiment of purchasing 40’s from a certain store on Girard Avenue that never checked id’s. Although dressed nearly the same, the scheming Irish kids grabbed Mickie’s and the scheming black kids grabbed crooked letter.
Thus ends my small contribution to the history of malt liquor.
(just remembering drinking that swill made me a little nauseous.)

By: Billy

Billy — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:28:00 +0000

Where was the Rufus Thomas commercial for the Schlitz bull? The one where he wears the pink hotpants? Surely the epitome of malt liquor advertising.

Here in Alabama we couldn’t buy the 40-oz in the 1970’s. I spent my GI bill money on 6-packs.

By: Ann

Ann — Mon, 11 May 2009 01:05:06 +0000

Although large containers were used during World War II, because of shortages, malt liquor was sold in small containers after the war.

After Coca Cola found success using larger containers, it hit the beer industry to do the same. I don’t think 40 ounces were introduced until the 1980s, not earlier as your post claims. But, check me out and see if I’m wrong.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 05:58:00 +0000

Nevah has such a post (and poison) brought back such fond memories of what had to have been the worst think I’ve ever ingested. 40’s of “tha crookid lettah” and shrimp fried rice in Drew Hall dormatory!
Also, a Special shout out to dp for breaking out the Cisco.

By: DP

DP — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 14:59:00 +0000

Waiting for the drop on Cisco, Thunderbird, Night Train, Mad Dog 20/20, Wild Irish Rose and Brass Monkey.

Now those were some ‘hood drinks before all that fancy hard to pronounce shit came around.

By: coolcrys

coolcrys — Fri, 30 May 2008 15:34:00 +0000

OH HOW I LOOOOOVED this post. I love how you took it back…showed references adn evidence and all the while made me laugh until I feel outta my chair.

DO IT GIRL!!! DO IT!

By: Vee (Scratch)

Vee (Scratch) — Thu, 29 May 2008 16:27:00 +0000

Thembi, Great Post.
This will definitely inspire a future post and of course you will be linked.

I remember all of the commercials from Fred Williamson and on. The Ice Cube St. Ides drops were classic hits! He definitely has some regrets about doing those commercials but at least he got the corporation to put money back into the community.
I know and have seen many people drown their lives and potential away in 40oz's.

I have a cousin that still drinks them to this day. He drinks and smokes and his body uses everything possible to filter the toxins out of his body. So he does have a horrible odor emanating from him OFTEN.

. . . 40 ounces may be one thing, but the continued marketing of liquor through hip hop music may have devastating effects in years to come. Some people shell out $100 of dollars and support a particular brand because it is the flavor of the month. Some brands really do not need to advertise when many rappers offer brand recognition and marketing services for free.

End note, interestingly enough the owners of Ciroc are upset with Diddy because he's usually seen drinking Patron - a ridiculously high priced product.

By: theblackactor.com

theblackactor.com — Wed, 28 May 2008 20:20:00 +0000

This was a great post. I missed half of it (they have YouTube on lock at my job so I can’t see half the stuff). But as a reader, thanks for taking the time to research this.

Sadly interesting.

By: Gadgetgirl

Gadgetgirl — Tue, 27 May 2008 03:53:00 +0000

Ah…memories Lol! I remember my ex Step mom in the ’80s letting me sip some Pink Champale when I was around 11 or so (Fix your faces! Back then it wasn’t considered abuse…) and spat it out! Ugh! In a weird way it was a blessing as I had no desire to drink dreck like 40s (or even beer). I’ve been around chronic 40 OZ’ers and that s_it seeps through their pores and funks up the room!

I forgot the name of this one tall can of ML that was like $.50 in the hood. I think it had a dog on it or something and there were crazy rumors about the crap that was in it. Too bad 2 cans for a buck was too much like right for a lot of folks. SMH