Norm's Beer: Real Cheers Or Just For Show?

Norm Peterson, played by George Wendt, is a well-known character from the classic sitcom Cheers. Norm is a barfly, known for his ever-present beer in hand and his large bar tab, which is the subject of many jokes throughout the show's eleven seasons. But was the beer that Norm drank on Cheers actually real? The answer is a bit complicated. While the substance in his glass was technically beer, it was a modified version, known as near beer, with a low alcohol content of around 3% and salt added to keep it foamy for taping. So, while Norm gave the impression of being a beer enthusiast, the actor George Wendt had to pretend to enjoy the flat, salty drink, revealing that it took some serious acting to pretend he liked it.

Norm's drink was a modified version of beer

Norm Peterson, played by George Wendt, is a well-known character from the classic sitcom Cheers. Norm is a barfly, often unemployed and lacking ambition, but he is a beloved character due to his wit and charm. One of his defining characteristics is that he always has a beer in hand.

While the character Norm is a beer enthusiast, the actor George Wendt is also a beer lover in real life. However, Wendt did not drink real beer while playing Norm on Cheers. Instead, he drank a modified version of beer, often referred as "near beer." This beverage had a very low alcohol content of around 3% and was modified further by the addition of salt to ensure it stayed foamy for taping.

The use of "near beer" allowed Wendt to sip the drink to create a realistic effect without actually consuming a significant amount of alcohol. This was important to maintain the character's likeability and to avoid any concerns about him appearing pathetic or drunk.

The process of preparing Norm's drink involved some challenges. The producers initially wanted the fake beer to be served on tap, but the specific type they wanted was not available in kegs. Instead, they had to resort to using cans of the generic non-alcoholic beverage and putting them into soda dispensers. By the time of filming, the drink was often flat, and the props team added salt to the mugs to create a frothy head.

Despite the challenges and the unappealing taste of the modified drink, Wendt's dedication to his performance as Norm helped create some of the show's most iconic moments and running gags, including Norm's ever-growing bar tab and his beloved greeting from the bar crowd: "Norm!"

It was called near beer with 3.2% alcohol content

Norm Peterson, played by George Wendt, is a well-known character from the classic sitcom Cheers. Norm is a barfly, known for his ever-present beer in hand and his large bar tab, which is the subject of many jokes throughout the show's eleven seasons.

While the character of Norm is frequently seen drinking beer, the actor portraying him, George Wendt, did not drink real beer during the show. Instead, he consumed a non-alcoholic beverage called "near beer" with a 3.2% alcohol content. This drink was modified to ensure it stayed foamy for taping, with salt added to the beer mugs to create a frothy head.

The use of "near beer" allowed Wendt to sip the beverage to create a realistic drinking effect without actually consuming alcohol. This was important to maintain the character's image as a beer enthusiast who spent his days at the bar without appearing intoxicated or pathetic.

The process of preparing the fake beer involved taking cans of generic non-alcoholic beer and putting them into soda pop dispensers, as the producers wanted it served on tap. By the time Norm drank it on-screen, the beer had gone flat, and Wendt described it as unappealing, requiring some serious acting to pretend to enjoy it.

Despite the differences in their drinking habits, Wendt shared some similarities with his character, Norm. In his book, "Drinking With George: A Barstool Professional's Guide to Beer", Wendt references his own appreciation for beer. However, he also points out distinctions, such as his actual liking for his wife, unlike Norm's ambivalent attitude towards his never-seen wife, Vera.

Salt was added to the beer to keep it foamy

In the popular sitcom Cheers, Norm Peterson, played by George Wendt, is a beloved barfly known for his beer-guzzling ways. However, the beer that Norm drinks on screen is not real. In fact, it is a non-alcoholic, flat, and salty beverage.

To create the frothy head of foam often seen on Norm's beer, the props team added salt to the beer mugs. The salt interacts with the carbon dioxide bubbles in the beer, resulting in a large, foamy head. This technique is not unique to the world of television and film; adding salt to beer to increase its foaminess is a practice with a long history.

Salt has been used to enhance the foaminess of beer for various reasons. One reason is purely aesthetic—a large, foamy head can make a beer look more appealing. Additionally, the foam created by salt can give the beer a different texture, providing a better mouthful with each sip.

Salt also has the effect of reducing the gas in beer. This means that drinking a salted beer can lead to less gas and bloating after consumption. This, in turn, can encourage people to consume more beer than usual, as they are not as affected by the gas.

The practice of salting beer appears to have been more common in the past, particularly during wartime and in hot climates. For example, some sources mention that during World War II, beer may have been of lower quality and needed salt to make it more palatable. Additionally, people working in hot environments may have added salt to their beer to replace minerals lost through sweating, preventing health issues like muscle cramps.

Today, the practice of salting beer is less common but still has its enthusiasts. When salting beer, it is generally recommended to start with only a pinch of salt and adjust to taste. Wheat beers, lagers, and pale ales are said to pair better with salt than strong-flavored beers like stouts or IPAs.

Norm's tab was a running joke on the show

Norm Peterson, played by George Wendt, is a beloved character on the hit sitcom Cheers, which ran from 1982 to 1993. Norm is a barfly, a regular at the bar, and is known for his love of beer and his ever-growing bar tab. Norm's tab was a running joke throughout the show, with the character often being reminded of his mounting debt by the bar owner, Sam Malone.

In one episode, Sam refers to Norm's tab as his "retirement plan", saying, "One of these days, you'll start paying, and I can start thinking about retiring." The exact amount of Norm's tab was never specified, but it was implied to be substantial. In one episode, it is mentioned that Norm's tab occupies "most of the memory" on the bar's computer, and in another, a character quips that Norm has a tab "the size of his pants."

Despite the jokes and references, the show intentionally avoided putting a specific dollar amount on Norm's tab to avoid dating the show and having to account for inflation. However, this has not stopped fans and writers from trying to calculate the exact amount. One forum post estimated Norm's tab at $260,149.22, assuming he drank 11 beers a day for 37 years. Another post put the number at $32,032, without providing any reasoning.

Brian VanHooker, a staff writer at MEL, took on the challenge of calculating Norm's tab with scientific rigor. He examined all 275 episode scripts, consulted experts, including George Wendt, and crunched numbers to determine the amount. According to Wendt, Norm had been going to Cheers for about ten years before the show started, and he drank about ten beers a day. Using these numbers and the average price of beer during those years, VanHooker estimated Norm's tab at the end of Cheers to be $123,953.98, remarkably close to Wendt's estimate.

Norm's tab was not only a running joke on the show but also a source of fan curiosity and speculation. The attempts to calculate the exact amount showcase the dedication and interest of the fans, even years after the show's conclusion.

Norm's tab was wiped clean at least once

Norm Peterson, played by George Wendt, is a beloved character on the show Cheers. He is frequently unemployed, lacking ambition, and spends his days at the bar, always with a beer in hand. Norm's tab is a running joke throughout the show, with the bar owner, Sam Malone, even referring to it as his "retirement plan".

While the exact amount of Norm's tab is never specified, it is mentioned to occupy "most of the memory" on the bar's computer. In one instance, Norm's tab is described as being the "size of his pants", and in another, it is said to be $837 over his credit limit. Norm's tab is wiped clean at least once, when Sam buys back the bar at the beginning of Season 9, erasing everyone's tabs. Despite this, Norm's tab continues to be a source of humour and fascination for viewers.

The show's writer, Tom Leopold, who worked on the show during its final season, estimated Norm's tab to be around $1.2 million, although he cautions that putting a specific amount on it would date the show. George Wendt, who played Norm, estimated that assuming Norm had 10 beers a day for the 11 seasons Cheers ran, and for 10 years prior, Norm's tab would be $123,953.98.

However, this doesn't account for specific references to Norm's tab in the show, such as when it is mentioned that Norm has been coming to Cheers since at least the 1960s, or when his tab is reduced, paid off, or wiped out. A more detailed analysis of the show's scripts and references to Norm's tab throughout the seasons places it at $124,406.90 by the end of the show in 1993.

While the exact amount of Norm's tab may never be known, it is clear that it is a significant and beloved part of the show's humour and lore.

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