Frasier's Dad's Beer Of Choice: What's His Favorite Brew?

In the US sitcom Frasier, the titular character's father, Martin Crane, is a beer drinker. In fact, in the episode 'The Good Son', Martin's favourite beer is revealed to be Ballantine. This was a popular choice for dads in the 20th century, alongside other brands such as Shlitz, Strohs, Little Kings, Blatz, Burger, Pabst and Genesee. However, by the time Frasier is set, these beers were in decline, and Martin's choice of Ballantine is described as odd.

Frasier's dad's favourite beer is Ballantine

Frasier's dad, Martin Crane, is a fan of Ballantine beer. In fact, in one episode, Martin's favourite beer is revealed to be Ballantine, a beer that was once a massive operation, beating out Budweiser in size.

Martin's preference for Ballantine is interesting, given that he is from the golden age of 'dad beers' where the likes of Shlitz, Strohs, Little Kings, Blatz, Burger, Pabst and Genesee ruled the beer bellies of America. However, over the years, sales declined and many of these brands became defunct.

Pabst, being the largest of these, bought up the brands and meticulously recreated old recipes. Ballantine's part in that story began in 1972 when the brand faltered through several changes in ownership, which eventually led to the original recipe being lost. Pabst purchased Ballantine in 1985 and slowly reduced production down to the popular XXX Ale and little more.

Then, in 2014, brewers at Pabst went through extensive chemical analysis and testing to recreate the original Ballantine Ale and Ballantine IPA recipes to great success.

Martin's choice of beer is just one example of how the Crane family embodies American drink culture in the 20th century. Frasier and his brother Niles, on the other hand, are partial to sherry and other fine wines.

Frasier's drinking habits change depending on who he is trying to fit in with. When he was in Boston, he drank beer to fit in with the other barflies. However, when he moves to Seattle, he tries to fit in with a higher-class crowd and sticks to more expensive drinks.

Ballantine was a huge operation for most of the 20th century

In the popular US sitcom Frasier, the titular character's father, Martin Crane, is a fan of beer. In one episode, it is revealed that his favourite beer is Ballantine.

However, over the years, sales declined for these more regional beers as tastes changed, and many of them became defunct in the latter half of the 20th century. Pabst, being the largest of these, has come to serve as a sort of second life for these beers, buying up the brands and meticulously recreating old recipes.

Ballantine's part in that story begins in 1972 when the brand faltered through several changes in ownership, which led it to Falstaff Brewing, where the original recipe was lost in a shuffle of paperwork and inconsistent contract brewing. Pabst purchased Ballantine from Falstaff in 1985, slowly reducing production down to the popular XXX Ale and little more.

Then, in 2014, brewers at Pabst went through extensive chemical analysis and testing to recreate the original Ballantine Ale and Ballantine IPA recipes to great success.

Ballantine's original recipe was lost in the 1970s

In the TV show Frasier, Martin Crane, Frasier's dad, is often seen drinking Ballantine's lager. However, the original recipe for this beer was lost in the 1970s, and the brand has changed hands several times since then.

The P. Ballantine and Sons Brewing Company was founded in 1840 in Newark, New Jersey, by Scottish immigrant Peter Ballantine. The company was, at one point, the third-largest brewer in the US. However, by the mid-1960s, the brand began losing popularity as consumers favoured lighter lagers with lower alcohol content.

In 1972, the original owners sold the company to the Falstaff Brewing Corporation, and the new owners closed the Newark brewery, starting to brew elsewhere. It is believed that the original recipe was lost during this transition. Falstaff was successfully sued for violating the terms of the sales contract, and although the beers remained faithful to their original flavour profile for a time, the company was struggling financially. In 1985, Falstaff was sold to Pabst, and at some point during these changes, the original recipes were lost.

Pabst attempted to recreate the original Ballantine IPA recipe in 2014, and brewmaster Greg Deuhs discussed the possibility of bringing back other beers from the Ballantine portfolio, such as the Brown Stout and Burton Ale. However, it seems that the original recipe for Ballantine's lager, Martin Crane's drink of choice, has been lost to history.

Despite the loss of the original recipe, Ballantine's lager remains a cultural icon, referenced in works by writers such as Hunter S. Thompson and Ernest Hemingway, as well as musicians like the Beastie Boys, Jay-Z, and GZA/The Genius of the Wu-Tang Clan.

Pabst bought the brand in 1985

In 1985, the Pabst Brewing Company, an American company founded in 1844, bought the Ballantine brand when it purchased the Falstaff Brewing Corporation. This purchase added to Pabst's portfolio of beer brands, which it had been building up since the 1970s.

Pabst's interest in the Ballantine brand began in 1972 when the brand was owned by Falstaff Brewing. However, due to a shuffle in paperwork and inconsistent contract brewing, the original Ballantine recipe was lost. Pabst slowly reduced production of Ballantine beers down to the popular XXX Ale and little more.

In 2014, Pabst brewers used chemical analysis and testing to recreate the original Ballantine Ale and Ballantine IPA recipes, which had been off the market for nearly 20 years. This was a significant undertaking for the company, which does not brew its own beer and instead outsources the brewing of over two dozen brands of beer and malt liquor.

Pabst's purchase of Ballantine in 1985 was part of a larger strategy to buy up defunct or struggling regional beer brands. Pabst, which was the largest of these regional breweries, served as a second life for these beers. The company meticulously recreated old recipes and invested in advertising and promotion to drive demand.

Pabst's focus on brand-building and marketing has been a key part of its strategy, especially for its flagship brand, Pabst Blue Ribbon. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles and is the fifth-largest brewery in the US, claiming 30 brands, including well-known names like Old Milwaukee, Colt 45 Malt Liquor, and Schlitz.

Pabst recreated the original Ballantine Ale recipe in 2014

In the TV show Frasier, Martin Crane, Frasier's dad, drinks Ballantine Ale. The brand is currently owned and operated by Pabst Brewing Company, which has been selling the beer since 1985.

In 2014, brewers at Pabst recreated the original Ballantine Ale recipe. The original recipe had been lost when the brand changed hands several times between 1972 and 1985. The recipe was reverse-engineered by Pabst brewmaster Greg Deuhs, who relied on analytical chemistry reports from as far back as the 1930s that tracked the ale's attributes (alcohol, bitterness, gravity level). He also researched the ingredients that were likely used and historical accounts of the beer, and incorporated feedback from beer lovers.

Deuhs and his team spent two years and made more than two dozen different five-gallon batches before they felt they had nailed the recipe. The recreated Ballantine Ale was launched in the first few days of September 2014 in 12-ounce six-packs and then in limited 750ml bottles. It was initially only available in the northeast US, but Pabst planned to expand across the rest of the country if it proved popular.

Pabst also announced in 2014 that it would be reviving Ballantine Burton Ale for the 2015 holiday season. This beer had never been sold to the general public and was instead gifted to Ballantine distributors, executives, and VIPs. The new version was also reverse-engineered by Greg Deuhs and had an ABV of 11.3%, 75 IBUs, and a starting gravity of 26.5 Plato.

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