Sanford And Son's Favorite Beer: What Was It?

In the Sanford and Son episode The Kid, Fred G. Sanford offers a beer to a child, Jason, who has stowed away on Lamont's truck. When Lamont objects, Fred jokes that beer is just corn flakes in a can. Sanford and Son was a popular American sitcom that aired from 1972 to 1977. It starred Redd Foxx as Fred G. Sanford, a junk dealer, and Demond Wilson as his son Lamont Sanford. The show was known for its racial humour, running gags, and catchphrases. While beer was offered on the show, Fred's drink of choice was Ripple, a fortified wine with an 11% ABV that was popular in the 1970s.

Fred Sanford's drink of choice was Ripple wine

Fred Sanford's drink of choice was Ripple, a fortified wine produced by E & J Gallo Winery. With only 11% ABV, Ripple was originally marketed towards "casual" drinkers. However, due to its low price, it gained a reputation as a drink for alcoholics and the destitute. It was particularly popular among young drinkers, including underage and college-aged students.

On the show, Fred, played by Redd Foxx, often praised Ripple, even declaring it the "national drink of Watts." He also concocted various mixed drinks featuring Ripple, such as Mintchipple (mint julep and Ripple), Cripple (cream and Ripple), Champipple (Champagne and Ripple), and Manischipple (Manischewitz and Ripple).

Ripple reached its peak of popularity in the 1970s, the same decade in which Sanford and Son was set and aired. The wine's appearance on the show, as well as its endorsement by Fred, made him an early spokesperson for the product.

Ripple was produced from 1960 to 1984. Despite its popularity, particularly among young people, Gallo ceased production of Ripple in the mid-1980s without providing an explanation. Some speculate that it was due to the company wanting to clean up its image or the increasing competition from other drinks in the market.

He also drank beer straight from the can

Fred G. Sanford, the main character of Sanford and Son, was known to drink beer straight from the can. In one episode, he even offers a child a beer, to which his son Lamont objects, saying "Pop, children do not drink beer". Fred's response is to claim that beer is harmless, "just corn flakes in a can".

Fred's alcoholic beverage of choice was, however, Ripple, a fortified wine produced by E & J Gallo Winery. It was popular in the 1960s and 1970s, with an 11% ABV, and was originally marketed to "casual" drinkers. Due to its low price, it gained a reputation as a drink for alcoholics and the destitute, and was particularly popular among young people. On the show, Fred is an early spokesperson for the product, declaring it the "national drink of Watts".

Fred also concocted various mixed drinks with Ripple as the base, including Champipple (Champagne and Ripple), Manischipple (Manischewitz and Ripple), and Cripple (Cream and Ripple).

It is worth noting that Redd Foxx, the actor who played Fred, walked off the show in a salary dispute, and there were rumours that the dispute was actually over the lack of a dressing-room window.

He offered beer to a child, calling it corn flakes in a can

In the 1970s American sitcom Sanford and Son, Fred G. Sanford, a junk dealer, and his son Lamont Sanford often drank beer and wine. In one episode, a lonely child named Jason stows away on Lamont's truck and spends the day with the Sanfords. During a meal, Fred offers Jason a beer, to which Lamont objects, saying, "Pop, children do not drink beer." Fred responds by saying, "What's wrong with that? It's just got some barley and some grain and stuff in it. Y'know, it's just corn flakes in a can."

While the beer that Fred offered to Jason was referred to as "corn flakes in a can," the specific brand or type of beer is not mentioned in the show. However, it is worth noting that Sanford and Son is known for its racial humor, running gags, and catchphrases, and this line about beer may have been intended as a comedic element in the show.

In addition to beer, Fred was also known to drink Ripple, a fortified wine produced by E & J Gallo Winery, which was popular in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s. Due to its low price and relatively low ABV of 11%, it gained a reputation as a drink for alcoholics and the destitute, and it was often referred to in the show as Fred's alcoholic beverage of choice.

Fred was also shown to be creative with his drinks, concocting mixtures such as Mintchipple (mint julep and Ripple), Cripple (cream and Ripple), Champipple (Champagne and Ripple), and Manischipple (Manischewitz and Ripple). These drink combinations added a humorous touch to the show and further emphasized Fred's affinity for alcoholic beverages.

While the beer offered to the child in the episode may have been a fictional brand or type, the inclusion of this scene aligns with the show's theme of depicting Fred's cantankerous and unconventional behavior, often played for laughs.

He mixed champagne and Ripple, calling it champipple

Fred G. Sanford, the protagonist of Sanford and Son, was known for his love of alcohol, particularly his drink of choice, Ripple. Ripple was a fortified wine produced by E & J Gallo Winery, with a relatively low 11% ABV. Marketed to "casual" drinkers, it was popular in the United States, especially in the 1970s, and was known for its low price. It gained a reputation as a drink for alcoholics and the destitute and was also popular among young drinkers, including underage and college-aged students.

On the show, Fred was often seen drinking Ripple, and he even created various mixed drinks using it as a base. One of his creations was called "Champipple," a portmanteau of "champagne" and "Ripple." Fred would mix champagne with Ripple wine, creating a unique cocktail. He also had other variations, such as "Gingeripple," made with ginger ale and Ripple, and "Manischipple," made with Manischewitz and Ripple.

Fred's affinity for Ripple and his creative mixed drinks added to the comedic nature of the show. In one instance, Fred offers a child a beer, to which his son Lamont objects, saying, "Pop, children do not drink beer." Fred responds by trying to justify it, saying, "It's just got some barley and some grain and stuff in it... it's just corn flakes in a can."

While the show brought attention to Ripple, it is unclear if the drink portrayed on the show was always the actual wine. Some sources suggest that due to the number of takes required, the actors likely drank alternatives like grape juice or non-alcoholic liquids that resembled the real drink. However, there are also claims that Redd Foxx, the actor who played Fred, drank real Ripple on set, as empty bottles with the label could be seen in certain scenes.

Regardless, the portrayal of Ripple on Sanford and Son has left a lasting impression, with some even creating their own versions of Champipple and other "Ripple" cocktails as a nod to the iconic TV series.

He also created cocktails like mintchipple and manischipple

Fred Sanford, played by Redd Foxx, was known to drink a variety of alcoholic beverages on the show Sanford and Son. One of his drinks of choice was Ripple, a fortified wine produced by E & J Gallo Winery and popular in the United States during the 1970s. With an 11% ABV, it was originally marketed towards casual drinkers, but its low price and high alcohol content made it popular among young drinkers and those struggling with alcoholism or poverty.

On the show, Fred was an early spokesperson for Ripple, declaring it the "national drink of Watts." He also created cocktails like Mintchipple and Manischipple, which were made by mixing Ripple with other beverages.

Mintchipple was a cocktail invented by Fred, combining mint julep with Ripple. This added a refreshing, herbal element to the drink, as mint is a versatile and aromatic herb commonly used in cocktails, particularly juleps.

Manischipple, another one of Fred's creations, was made by mixing Manischewitz with Ripple. Manischewitz is a type of wine that is often associated with Jewish cultural and religious traditions. By combining Manischewitz with Ripple, Fred created a unique blend that reflected his character's creativity and taste for strong, affordable drinks.

These cocktails, along with others like Cripple (cream and Ripple) and Champipple (Champagne and Ripple), showcased Fred's resourcefulness and love for experimenting with different alcoholic beverages. His creations added a layer of authenticity and humour to the show, reflecting the drinking culture of the time and the character's penchant for inventive concoctions.

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