Cousin Eddie's Christmas Vacation Beer Choice

In the film National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Cousin Eddie, played by Randy Quaid, is seen drinking a Meister Brau beer. The character is often found with a beer in his hand, most notably when he empties his trailer septic tank outside the Griswold house. Meister Brau was a popular beer brewed in Chicago for much of the 20th century and was the predecessor of Miller Lite.

Cousin Eddie's beer, Meister Brau, is now Miller Lite

In the classic Christmas comedy, *National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation*, Cousin Eddie is often seen with a beer in his hand. In the famous scene where he empties his trailer septic tank outside the Griswold house, he is drinking Meister Brau.

Meister Brau was a popular beer brewed in Chicago for much of the 20th century. The Peter Hand Brewing Company, founded by Prussian immigrant and American Civil War veteran Peter Hand, produced the beer from 1899 to 1978. The brewery was forced to close for 13 years due to Prohibition but later reopened and expanded. An investor bought the company in 1965 and renamed it Meister Brau, Inc. after its flagship brew. They heavily invested in the Chicago market, sponsoring many professional sports teams. The launch of Meister Brau Lite, based on a "diet" beer recipe, was a huge success. However, due to financial mismanagement, the company was sold to Miller in 1972.

Although Meister Brau is no longer manufactured, it was rebranded as Miller Lite after the sale to Miller. The Miller Lite recipe has evolved over time but remains similar to the original Meister Brau recipe. So, while Cousin Eddie's beer, Meister Brau, is now Miller Lite, fans of the movie can still enjoy a similar taste to what he was drinking.

Interestingly, the choice of beer for Cousin Eddie's character makes sense as Meister Brau was extremely popular in the 1980s when the movie was released. The film also includes other iconic scenes related to beer, such as Clark Griswold drinking eggnog from Wally World mugs, referencing the Griswolds' destination in the first Vacation movie.

Meister Brau was brewed in Chicago

In the film National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Cousin Eddie drinks Meister Brau beer. This was a popular beer brewed in Chicago for much of the 20th century.

Meister Brau was brewed by the Peter Hand Brewing Company, which was established in 1891 by Prussian immigrant and American Civil War veteran Peter Hand. The brewery was located in Chicago, Illinois. By the time Hand died in 1899, he had found success with a lager named Meister Brau. The brewery continued to grow, and although it was forced to close between 1920 and 1933 due to prohibition, the company survived and expanded after reopening.

In 1965, an investor group purchased the brewery and renamed the company Meister Brau Inc., intending to expand and begin national distribution. The company heavily invested in the Chicago market, sponsoring many professional sports teams, such as the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks, and Chicago Bulls. They also sponsored a popular radio show and distributed a wide array of promotional items, including bottle openers, posters, and billboards. Their advertising campaign was extensive, with only Mayor Richard J. Daley's re-election campaign having more billboards in the city.

The company also focused on product innovation, acquiring and reformulating a previously unsuccessful "diet" beer recipe, relaunching it as Meister Brau Lite. This new lite beer became incredibly popular, and by the end of the 1960s, the company was producing a million barrels of beer each year, with sales exceeding $50 million.

However, due to financial mismanagement and heavy debt, the company ran into financial troubles and was forced to sell most of its existing brands to Miller in 1972. Despite the infusion of cash and a name change back to the Peter Hand Brewing name, the company filed for bankruptcy in 1973 and was eventually sold at auction. The new owners operated the brewery until 1978, when it closed permanently.

Although Meister Brau is no longer brewed, it lives on in a new form. The recipe was rebranded and repackaged as Miller Lite, which has won awards and become one of the most popular American-style beers. So, while Cousin Eddie's beloved Meister Brau may no longer be available, its legacy can still be tasted today in its successor, Miller Lite.

Cousin Eddie drinks Meister Brau in the septic tank scene

In the iconic scene where Cousin Eddie empties his trailer septic tank outside the Griswold house, he is drinking Meister Brau beer. Cousin Eddie, played by Randy Quaid, is often seen with a beer in his hand throughout the film, but this particular scene is the most memorable.

Meister Brau was a popular beer brewed in Chicago for much of the 20th century. The brand was sold to Miller in the early 1970s and is no longer manufactured, but it lives on in a new form. Meister Brau has since been reformulated and rebranded as Miller Lite. So, while you can't drink the exact same beer as Cousin Eddie, you can still get a taste of the predecessor to Miller Lite.

The choice of beer for this scene was fitting for the character of Cousin Eddie. Meister Brau was an extremely popular beer in the 1980s, the decade in which National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation was set and released. The film captures the atmosphere of family dysfunction, and Cousin Eddie's choice of a once-popular beer now rebranded as Miller Lite adds a touch of humour and authenticity to the character and the scene.

The septic tank scene is just one of the memorable moments from the film that contribute to its status as a holiday classic. The film's blend of humour and heart, along with its relatable characters, has made it a staple of the holiday season for many viewers. Cousin Eddie's septic tank incident, complete with his Meister Brau beer, is an integral part of what makes Christmas Vacation so beloved.

Meister Brau was popular in the 1980s

Meister Brau was a popular beer in the 1980s, as seen by Cousin Eddie drinking it in the film Christmas Vacation. The beer was first brewed in Chicago in 1891 by Prussian immigrant and American Civil War veteran Peter Hand. The Peter Hand Brewing Company popularised the light beer recipe, which it later sold to Miller Brewing, which rebranded it as Miller Lite.

Meister Brau was one of the first beer drinks on the American market and was especially popular with college students due to its affordability. The six-packs of 16oz drinks were priced between $3 and $4. The beer was described as thin and bubbly, with a carbonated taste and a creamy feeling. It was also known to have a strong bitterness.

The Peter Hand Brewing Company invested heavily in the Chicago market, sponsoring many professional sports teams such as the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks, and Chicago Bulls. They also sponsored a popular radio show and distributed promotional items like posters, bottle openers, and steins. By the end of the 1960s, the company was producing a million barrels of beer a year, and sales exceeded $50 million.

However, due to financial mismanagement, the company faced serious issues and was forced to sell to Miller in 1972. Despite the infusion of cash, the Peter Hand Brewing Company filed for bankruptcy in 1973 and was acquired by Joseph Huber Brewing Co. The brewery closed permanently in 1978.

Miller rebranded Meister Brau as Lite Beer by Miller and started test marketing the new product. After successful results, they began manufacturing it nationally in 1975. Today, Miller Lite is considered one of the best light beers in America, winning first place in 2010 and 2014 at the Great American Beer Festival.

BrewDog created a beer inspired by the film

Cousin Eddie's choice of beer in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is Meister Brau, a popular Chicago brew and predecessor of Miller Lite. While Meister Brau is no longer manufactured, fans of the film can rejoice in the fact that BrewDog has created an official beer inspired by the movie.

Dubbed "It's a Beaut", this limited-release beer is a Pecan & Toffee Stout with 7.5% ABV. It promises to bring you the "hap-hap-happiest Christmas" with its warm and fuzzy flavours of the holiday season. Think fudge, nuttiness, vanilla, roasted cacao and sweet toffy—all wrapped up in a smooth and roasty brew.

BrewDog's head brewer, Steve McMillen, shared that the crew grew up enjoying the antics of Clark and the Griswold gang and have passed on the tradition of watching the movie during the holidays with the next generation. They couldn't resist the chance to collaborate with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products (the movie's distributor) to create this fun twist on a classic porter.

McMillen added, "We'd like to think Clark would enjoy a can or two of It's a Beaut while mastering his holiday light display." BrewDog bars and their online store offer six-packs of 12-ounce cans for $10.99. Fans can also use BrewDog's Beer Finder to locate the beer at other retailers.

So, if you're planning a re-watch of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, why not grab a six-pack of "It's a Beaut" and join Clark and the Griswolds in their holiday cheer!

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