Cheers And Beers: Was It Real?

The cast of Cheers drank near beer, a flat, salty, non-alcoholic beer, for 11 seasons. The only exception was in one of the final scenes of the show's finale, where the cast drank real beer.

The cast drank flat, salty, non-alcoholic beer

The cast of Cheers drank flat, salty, non-alcoholic beer, or "Near Beer", during filming. This revelation came to light during a reunion panel at the ATX TV Festival in Austin, where cast members shared their memories from the show's 11-season run.

George Wendt, who played Norm Peterson, disclosed that the beer was flat and non-alcoholic, and that the prop team added salt to create a foamy appearance. Wendt described the concoction as "warm, flat, salty, non-alcoholic beer".

The use of "Near Beer" was a practical choice, as it helped maintain the appearance of freshly poured beer under the hot studio lights. However, the cast reportedly disliked the taste. The beer was also problematic because the heat of the set caused the foam to fade quickly, requiring the addition of salt to create a frothy head before each take.

While "Near Beer" was non-alcoholic, it is worth noting that it had a low alcohol content of around 3% ABV. This means that consuming a significant amount could still result in intoxication.

Interestingly, in one of the final scenes of the series finale, the cast drank real beer. Executive producer James Burrows joined them, drinking real beer off-camera as well.

The beer was called 'Near Beer'

The beer was called Near Beer, and it was flat, salty, and non-alcoholic. During a reunion panel, actor George Wendt, who played Norm Peterson on Cheers, revealed that the beer was not quite as appealing as it looked on screen. Wendt explained that the prop team added salt to the beer to create a foamy appearance, which was necessary due to the heat of the set causing the foam to fade quickly.

Near Beer was chosen because the producers wanted a draft beer, and the cast members drank it for all 11 seasons of the show. The beer had an alcohol content of around 3% (some sources state 3.2%), so while it was not completely non-alcoholic, it was still a very weak beer. In fact, one source notes that "enough of it could still get you drunk". However, the cast members did not enjoy the taste of the beer, with one source stating that "everyone on set hated it".

The use of Near Beer as a prop may have been necessary for practical reasons, but it also adds an interesting layer of realism to the show. The fact that the beer was flat and warm, and that the cast members were drinking a weak and salty beer for all those seasons, somehow makes the show feel more authentic. It's a small detail, but it helps to create the sense that the audience is peeking into the lives of real people in a real bar.

Interestingly, in one of the final scenes of the show, the cast drank real beer. Executive producer James Burrows was also drinking real beer off-camera. The cast then appeared on The Tonight Show, which was broadcast live from The Bull & Finch in Boston, the bar that Cheers was based on. By the end of the hour, the cast was visibly drunk.

It had an alcohol content of around 3%

The beer consumed by the cast of Cheers was not real beer. It was revealed by George Wendt, who played Norm Peterson on the show, that the beer was flat, warm, salty, and non-alcoholic. It was also referred to as "near beer," and had an alcohol content of around 3%.

The low alcohol content of the beer allowed it to be consumed in large quantities without causing intoxication. This was particularly important for the cast members who had to drink it during filming. The addition of salt to the beer was necessary to create a foamy appearance and maintain the illusion of freshly poured beer under the hot studio lights.

While the "near beer" had a low alcohol content, it was not completely alcohol-free. This means that consuming large quantities of it could still have had some effect on the cast members. However, it is unlikely that it would have caused them to become heavily intoxicated.

The use of "near beer" with a low alcohol content was a practical choice for the production. It allowed the cast to drink beer on set without worrying about the effects of excessive alcohol consumption. It also helped to maintain the authenticity of the bar setting, as real beer would have been too strong and could have impacted the performance of the actors.

The revelation that the cast of Cheers was drinking "near beer" with an alcohol content of around 3% adds an interesting behind-the-scenes detail to the popular sitcom. It shows the measures taken to ensure the accuracy of the setting and the dedication of the cast and crew to their roles.

The cast drank real beer in one of the final scenes

The cast of Cheers drank real beer in one of the final scenes of the show. While filming the series, the cast drank "Near Beer", a non-alcoholic beer with 3.2% alcohol content. To make the beer look freshly poured, the prop man added salt to create foam under the hot studio lights. However, in one of the final scenes, the cast was seen drinking real beer as they sat around talking about life and their importance to each other.

Actor George Wendt, who played Norm Peterson, revealed during a reunion panel at the ATX TV Festival in Austin that the cast drank warm, flat, salty, non-alcoholic beer for 11 seasons. He also mentioned that the draft beer required a bit of movie magic and a lot of sodium chloride to enhance its foamy appearance.

The use of real beer in the final scenes added an authentic touch to the emotional moment, as the gang reminisced about their time together. It also contributed to a memorable ending for the beloved show, which ran for 11 seasons and became a staple of American sitcom history.

The revelation about the use of real beer in the final scenes showcases the attention to detail and commitment to creating a realistic bar setting for the viewers. It also highlights the cast's dedication to their roles, even when it came to drinking real beer on camera.

The bar was fully stocked with real alcohol

The bar in the long-running American sitcom Cheers was fully stocked with real alcohol, but the actors didn't always drink it. In fact, the cast has revealed that they were often drinking "Near Beer", a non-alcoholic beer with a dash of salt to create a foamy head. The sodium chloride was added to make the beer look freshly poured under the hot studio lights.

Actor George Wendt, who played Norm Peterson, recalled that the beer was "warm and flat". The cast drank this concoction for all 11 seasons of the show. Wendt also revealed that the prop man was responsible for adding the salt to the non-alcoholic beer.

However, in one of the final scenes of the series finale, the cast did drink real beer on camera. Executive producer James Burrows joined them, and the cast got visibly drunk. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno aired live from The Bull & Finch in Boston, the bar that Cheers was based on, and the cast drank real beer there as well.

While the actors often drank non-alcoholic beer, the "Near Beer" brand they used did contain a small amount of alcohol, around 3%.

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