 Editor in Chief Bill   | 15 Aug 2019 6:23 p.m. PST |
It's February 1944, and Berlin is attempting to recover from American aerial bombing. But life and industry continues on the city's outskirts. In farmhouses, bottles clang and a mix of ex-convicts, Chinese laborers, and other workers fill glass bottles of what was likely a cloudy, brownish liquid. This is one of Coca-Cola's makeshift bottling operations, and they are making Nazi Germany's signature beverage. Even during war, Germans want their Fanta… link |
ScottWashburn  | 15 Aug 2019 6:28 p.m. PST |
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| dBerczerk | 15 Aug 2019 6:57 p.m. PST |
"On, Two, Three" an entertaining comedy by Billy Wilder set in post-war Berlin involving the misadventures of the Chief of Operations for Coca-Cola Bottling Corporation in Germany.
My first-ever exposure to Fanta was in the Republic of Korea in 1977. The warrant officers mixed Orange Fanta and Korean So-Ju, a clear spirit distilled from rice, in a spin-cast aluminum teapot -- called the mixture "Fan-So." Tasty, but potent! |
Tgerritsen  | 15 Aug 2019 8:38 p.m. PST |
I've known about this for years and tell the story often. |
| Zephyr1 | 15 Aug 2019 9:37 p.m. PST |
" In farmhouses, bottles clang and a mix of ex-convicts, Chinese laborers, and other workers fill glass bottles of what was likely a cloudy, brownish liquid." That sounds more like Yoo-Hoo… |
| Stryderg | 16 Aug 2019 6:52 a.m. PST |
mmmm, Yoo-Hoo. Haven't had one of those in years. I know where I'm going for lunch today. |
| rustymusket | 16 Aug 2019 9:58 a.m. PST |
Interesting. I just recently learning the Fanta story after enjoying it (orange and strawberry) at Hardee's. Trying to find something I like that has no caffeine. |
| All Sir Garnett | 16 Aug 2019 2:38 p.m. PST |
Fanta – better than Coke! |
| skippy0001 | 17 Aug 2019 9:48 a.m. PST |
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| Old Wolfman | 19 Aug 2019 12:03 p.m. PST |
"Put yer pants on,Spartacus!" ;^) |
 deadhead | 19 Aug 2019 12:56 p.m. PST |
Anyone who can write "glass bottles of what was likely a cloudy, brownish liquid." must have enjoyed some of the pleasures of Guest Ales in many an English country village pub…usually on a hand pull though. We fell about laughing in the beer garden of the Free Trade Inn on Tyneside when US tourists walked out holding pints of what looked like yellow dishwater. Totally opaque but they loved the taste, after we all convinced them that this was how it is meant to look. Try real Budweiser in Prague. Depending on the brew it can be lethal and nothing remotely like the US travesty. |
| dBerczerk | 19 Aug 2019 1:52 p.m. PST |
deadhead -- you certainly seem to hold Americans in low esteem. I almost wonder why. |
| deadhead | 20 Aug 2019 6:15 a.m. PST |
Only as far as esteem for your beer went in the past (Americans have always produced the best music, clothing and aircraft carriers and are generally so welcoming to those from over the pond. The folks in Newcastle joined in with the joke and we all got on great, once they realised the beer should look like that. ) but my contempt for US drinking beer? That was before all those IPA breweries sprung up along the East Coast.
In 1983 I had six months in Michigan and still recall the standard of beer in the supermarkets. Recent trips to New York, PA and Va have shown me how things have changed. But, ever since the US Bomber crews first came to East Anglia, our overseas cuzzins have been shocked by traditional rural British beer. Luke warm, flat and cloudy compared with their domestic product…but at least it was flavoured.
If you ever get to Prague try their version of Budweiser. They do a dark one amongst several variants…two bottles and that will do……
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| dBerczerk | 20 Aug 2019 10:36 a.m. PST |
deadhead -- Thank you for the amplification. |
| deadhead | 20 Aug 2019 11:48 a.m. PST |
Heck, I could not be called "Deadhead" and have anything but massive respect for US culture and its contribution to my CD collection (almost exclusively…and much of it a certain West Coast band and the offshoots and former members of). Internet is so funny. Simple words can inadvertently give totally the opposite impression of that intended. Even the barman who served them was born in California, he looked younger than my sons, but he did recognise the windshield/windscreen sticker on my Jeep…(the same as I use here.)
The Fanta story is simply brilliant and I have read up much more on it on-line. Unless you see "real ale" in the UK you may not understand the appearance of what these folk were served (but how good it tasted).
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| Marc at work | 23 Aug 2019 3:13 a.m. PST |
AS a Brit, my view of our native beer YouTube link bBerc – never worry about what us Brits say about our US cousins. We tease as a way of life. But we tend to have far deeper knowledge and respect of the US, its actions and policies, than I fear the US do of us. The Americans I have worked with, and cousins I have, have all been great companions and good sports at being teased. It is only on FB do I see people getting agitated by inter-country stereotypes. As a petrol head, an American muscle car remains the dream, and a Harley if the mid-life crisis ever gets too bad… As to bands – well, Liam has his taste. Me, I was always a Beachboys fan (or Jan and Dean). And have a liking for Ms Britney Spears… |
