Cheers Beer: What The Cast Was Really Drinking

The cast of Cheers drank what is known as near beer on set. This drink had a low alcohol content of around 3% and was mixed with salt to ensure it stayed foamy under hot studio lights. The bar on set was fully stocked, and the taps worked, but the cast did not drink real beer. Cheers is a classic sitcom set in a Boston bar, and the characters are well-known for their love of alcohol, so it is interesting to learn that the iconic beer-drinking was not all that it seemed!

Norm's beer was near beer with 3% alcohol

Norm Peterson, played by George Wendt, was one of the most popular characters on the classic sitcom Cheers. Norm was known for his frequent presence at the bar, his large tab, and his ever-present beer. But was the beer he was drinking real?

The answer is a bit complicated. While the substance in Norm's mug was technically beer, it was a heavily modified version known as "near beer." This near beer had a low alcohol content of around 3% (some sources say 3.2%), and it was also mixed with salt to ensure that it stayed foamy under the hot studio lights. The addition of salt created a frothy head on the beer, maintaining the illusion that it was a freshly poured draft beer.

George Wendt had to sip the near beer to create a realistic drinking effect, and if he had been drinking full-strength beer throughout the show's run, he likely would not have been able to stand for very long! The use of near beer allowed the character of Norm to spend his days at the bar without the actor becoming inebriated.

The tap at Cheers was functional, and some cast members, including Ted Danson, even took bartending classes to add to the show's realism. However, Norm's beer was not quite as authentic as the rest of the bar's setup. Cheers is known for its attention to detail and the believability of its characters, and the use of near beer helped to maintain that authenticity.

The beer was modified with salt to keep it foamy

The beer on the set of Cheers was modified with salt to keep it foamy. Norm, played by George Wendt, was one of the show's most popular characters, and he was almost always filmed sitting at the end of the bar with a beer in hand. In just about every episode, Norm was depicted drinking ale from a frosty mug.

The substance was technically beer, but a heavily modified version. Norm's glass was full of a drink called "near beer", which had a low alcohol content of 3.2%. The crew added salt to the beer to ensure that it stayed foamy for taping under the hot studio lights. Wendt had to sip the beer to create a realistic effect, but if he had been drinking real beer throughout the show's run, he wouldn't have been able to stand for very long.

The tap at Cheers worked, and members of the cast, like Ted Danson, even took bartending classes to help the realism. However, Norm's beer was the least realistic thing on set. The bar was fully stocked, but Norm couldn't drink any of the real alcohol.

George Wendt had to drink the modified beer

George Wendt, who played the role of bar patron Norm Peterson on Cheers, had to drink a modified version of beer on the show. Norm's signature ever-present beer was, in reality, a drink called "near beer". This modified beer had a low alcohol content of around 3% and was mixed with salt to ensure that it stayed foamy under the hot studio lights.

Wendt had to sip this modified beer to create a realistic drinking effect for his character, Norm. If he had been drinking regular beer throughout the show's run, he likely would not have been able to stand for very long! Norm's drinking was a key part of his character, as he was known for always being at the bar with a beer in hand and a large bar tab that he never seemed to pay off.

The use of "near beer" allowed the show to maintain some level of realism without risking the actor's health or safety. It is worth noting that while Norm drank modified beer, the bar on the show was fully stocked, and the tap worked for real. In fact, cast members like Ted Danson even took bartending classes to add to the realism of the show.

The modified beer allowed for a continuous supply of beer for Norm throughout the show, contributing to the iconic image of his character. Cheers is known for its memorable characters and sharp writing, and the use of "near beer" helped to ensure that the show maintained its comedic timing and the unique charm of Norm's character.

The beer was served from soda dispensers

The beer served on the set of Cheers was not real beer. Norm, played by George Wendt, was one of the show's most popular characters, and was known for always having a beer in hand. However, the beer in his glass was what they called "near beer", a heavily modified version of beer with a low alcohol content of around 3% and a pinch of salt to ensure it stayed foamy under hot studio lights.

The tap at Cheers worked for real, and members of the cast, including Ted Danson, even took bartending classes to help the realism. However, Norm's beer was not real beer. George Wendt had to drink the modified "near beer" every episode for years. If he had been drinking real beer, he wouldn't have been able to stand for very long! The modified beer was necessary to maintain the show's realism and to ensure that the actor could continue to portray Norm as a character who spends his days at the bar.

The bar on the show was fully stocked, and the cast has revealed that it was frustrating to drink modified beer when real alcohol was available. The show is still regarded as one of the best sitcoms of all time, and the attention to detail, such as ensuring the beer stayed foamy, contributed to its success. The show also tackled serious topics, such as homophobia and alcoholism, which were taboo for sitcoms at the time.

The "near beer" allowed the show to maintain a level of authenticity while also ensuring the safety and well-being of the actors. It is a testament to the show's commitment to creating a realistic and engaging world for its viewers.

The beer was flat and salty

The beer on Cheers was flat and salty. Norm Peterson, the barfly, was almost always filmed sitting at the end of the bar with a beer in hand. However, the beer in his glass was not actually regular beer. Norm's beer was what is known as "near beer", a drink with a low alcohol content of around 3%. To ensure the beer stayed foamy under the hot studio lights, the crew added a pinch of salt.

The use of "near beer" allowed the show to maintain some level of realism without risking the health of the actors. If George Wendt, the actor playing Norm, had been drinking regular beer throughout the show's run, he would have been constantly intoxicated and unable to perform. The salty, flat beer provided a more realistic alternative, allowing Wendt to create a believable portrayal of a character who spends his days drinking in a bar.

The tap at Cheers worked, and the bar was fully stocked, so the use of "near beer" was a practical choice. The cast even took bartending classes to improve the show's realism. However, the use of salt in the beer was a necessary compromise to ensure the beer looked authentic during filming.

The addition of salt is a clever trick to maintain the illusion of a busy bar. While the flat and salty beer may not have been the most appetising drink, it served its purpose, and helped to create one of the most memorable characters on Cheers.

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