Norm's Cheers Beer: Fact Or Fiction?

Norm Peterson, played by George Wendt, is a character on the hit sitcom Cheers, which aired from 1982 to 1993. Norm is a bar patron who is almost always seen with a beer in hand. However, the beer that Norm drank on the show was not real. Instead, it was a modified version, known as near beer, with a low alcohol content of around 3.2% ABV and salt added to enhance its appearance, creating a foamy head. This was done to ensure that the beer looked appealing on screen, as the show was filmed under hot studio lights. The use of near beer allowed Wendt to sip the beverage without becoming intoxicated, contributing to the realism of his performance as a barfly.

Norm drank non-alcoholic 'near beer' on set

Norm Peterson, played by George Wendt, was one of the most popular characters on the classic sitcom Cheers. Norm was a beer-loving barfly, always seen with a beer in his hand and a large bar tab he never seemed to pay off. In almost every episode, Norm was shown drinking ale from a frosty mug. However, the beer that Norm drank on the show was not actually real beer.

Norm drank non-alcoholic "near beer" on the set of Cheers. According to George Wendt, the show's producers wanted the fake beer to be served on tap, but the specific type they used was not available in kegs. Instead, they took cans of generic non-alcoholic beer and put them into soda dispensers. By the time Norm drank it on-screen, the beer was flat. To improve its appearance, the props team added salt to the beer mugs to create a frothy head. Wendt described the drink as "warm, flat, salty, non-alcoholic beer", and said that pretending to enjoy it required "some serious acting".

"Near beer" typically refers to low- or non-alcoholic brews with less than 0.5% ABV. The term first came into use during Prohibition, when brewers like Anheuser Busch and Pabst created low-alcohol beverages that became known as "near beer". While the exact brand used on the show is not known, the drink had an alcohol content of around 3.2%.

While George Wendt shared his character's appreciation for beer, there were some key differences between them. In his book, Drinking With George: A Barstool Professional’s Guide to Beer, Wendt wrote, "I actually like my wife; Norm, on the other hand, was a bit more ambivalent about his heard-but-never-seen wife, Vera... And when I drink a lot of beer, I will occasionally get drunk. Not so for Norm: It was very important to the network (and to my mother) that Norm never seem like he was getting loaded. They didn’t want him to appear pathetic."

The beer was flat and salty

So, why was the beer flat and salty? Well, it all came down to the specific requirements of filming a TV show. The producers of Cheers wanted the fake beer to be served on tap, but the type of non-alcoholic beer they used wasn't available in kegs. So, they took cans of the generic fake beer and put them into soda dispensers. By the time it was poured on screen, the beer was flat. To improve its appearance, the props team added salt to the beer mugs. The salt reacted with the carbonation in the beer to create a frothy head, making it look more like a traditional draft pour.

The term "near beer" is typically used to describe low- or non-alcoholic brews with less than 0.5% ABV. This type of beer first appeared during Prohibition, when brewers like Anheuser-Busch and Pabst created low-alcohol beverages that became known as "near beer". While the exact brand used on the show wasn't revealed, it's safe to assume that it fell into this category.

While Wendt had to sip the flat, salty beer to create a realistic effect, it's safe to say that he didn't enjoy it. In fact, he found it quite unappealing. This less-than-tasty beverage was a small price to pay, however, for the comedic gold that the show delivered. Cheers became a beloved and iconic sitcom, with Norm's ever-present beer becoming a signature part of the show.

George Wendt, the actor, didn't enjoy the taste

While George Wendt, the actor who played Norm on Cheers, did enjoy drinking beer in real life, he did not enjoy the fake beer he had to drink while filming the show. Norm's ever-present beer was a crucial part of the character, as the barfly was known for always having a beer in hand and a hefty bar tab to match. However, the "beer" that Wendt had to drink while portraying Norm was far from enjoyable.

The producers of Cheers wanted the fake beer to be served on tap, but the specific type they used was not available in kegs. As a result, the crew had to take cans of the generic non-alcoholic beer and put them into soda dispensers. This process had to be done long before filming, so the beverage was flat by the time it was poured into Norm's mug on-screen. To improve its appearance and create the illusion of a fresh draft beer, the props team added salt to the beer mugs. The salt briefly combined with the beer's carbon dioxide to form a foam head, giving the beer a frothy appearance.

In an interview with ESPN, Wendt revealed his true feelings about the flat, salty drink: "That was some serious acting to pretend I liked that stuff." He also mentioned in his book, "Drinking With George: A Barstool Professional’s Guide to Beer," that there were some distinct differences between himself and his character when it came to their drinking habits. While Norm could spend entire days at the bar and never seem drunk, Wendt noted that he would get drunk if he drank as much beer as Norm did.

Despite the less-than-appetizing nature of the fake beer, Wendt's portrayal of Norm as a beer enthusiast was incredibly convincing. So much so that Norm became one of the most popular characters on the show, with his iconic entrance and ever-present beer mug becoming staples of the series. Cheers fans may take comfort in knowing that while Wendt didn't enjoy the fake beer, he did share an appreciation for real beer with his beloved character.

The beer was served from soda dispensers

The beer that Norm drank on Cheers was not real beer. While the substance was technically beer, it was a heavily modified version called "near beer". It was a non-alcoholic beverage with a very low alcohol content of around 3.2%. The show's producers wanted the fake beer to be served on tap, but the specific type they used wasn't available in kegs. Instead, the cans of generic fake beer were put into soda dispensers. This process took place long before filming, so the beer was flat by the time it was served on-screen.

To improve its appearance, the props team added salt to the beer mugs. The salt created the illusion of carbonation by briefly forming a foam head when it combined with the beer's carbon dioxide. This gave the beer the appearance of a traditional draft pour with a frothy head. However, the end result was far from appealing to the actors, particularly George Wendt, who played Norm. In an interview, Wendt recalled the drink as "warm, flat, salty, non-alcoholic beer" and remarked that pretending to enjoy it required "some serious acting".

The use of fake beer was necessary to ensure that the actors, especially Wendt, who had to sip the drink to create a realistic effect, could perform their roles without actually consuming alcohol. This was especially important to the network and to Wendt's mother, who wanted Norm to never seem like he was getting drunk. They wanted to avoid making the character appear pathetic or loaded.

Despite the unappetising nature of the drink, the modification of the beer was a clever solution to the challenge of filming a show centred around a bar without actually using real alcohol. The process of serving the beer from soda dispensers and adding salt helped to create the illusion of real beer on screen, allowing the actors to portray their characters believably without the potential risks and side effects of consuming large quantities of alcohol.

The drink was modified heavily for filming

Norm Peterson, played by George Wendt, was one of the most popular characters on the classic sitcom Cheers. Norm was a beer-loving barfly, always seen with a beer in hand. However, the drink in his mug was heavily modified for filming and was not actually beer.

The drink was a non-alcoholic, generic "near beer" with an alcohol content of around 3.2%. To make the beer appear frothy on camera, the props team added salt to the beer mugs, creating the illusion of carbonation. This technique, while effective for the show's aesthetic, made the drink less than appealing to Wendt, who had to sip the flat, salty beverage to create a realistic effect.

The process of preparing the fake beer was also less than ideal. The producers wanted the beer to be served on tap, but as the specific type of non-alcoholic beer they used was not available in kegs, the cans were put into soda dispensers instead. By the time Norm drank it on-screen, the beer was flat.

Despite the challenges of working with the modified drink, Wendt's performance as Norm was exceptional. He earned six Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his portrayal of the beloved barfly.

While Wendt shares an appreciation for beer with his character, he has noted some key differences between himself and Norm. For one, Wendt actually likes his wife, whereas Norm was often ambivalent about his wife, Vera, who was heard but never seen on the show. Additionally, while Norm never seemed to get drunk, Wendt has stated that he does occasionally get drunk when drinking beer.

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