Cousin Eddie's Beer Choice In First Vacation Movie

In the first Vacation movie, 'Christmas Vacation', Cousin Eddie, played by Randy Quaid, is seen drinking a Meister Brau beer while emptying his septic tank outside the Griswold house. Meister Brau was a popular Chicago beer in the 1980s and was sold to Miller in the early 1970s, making it a predecessor of Miller Lite.

Cousin Eddie's beer is Meister Brau

In the first Vacation movie, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Cousin Eddie, played by Randy Quaid, drinks Meister Brau beer. This is notably seen in the famous scene where he empties his septic tank.

Meister Brau was a popular Chicago beer in the 1980s, and it has since been reformulated into today's Miller Lite. In the film, Cousin Eddie hands Clark his opened beer and opens the last fresh one for himself, offering the iconic line, "Mmmm, mmm, mmm; I don't know why they call this stuff Hamburger Helper. It does just fine by itself, huh?"

The character of Cousin Eddie was based on a guy Randy Quaid knew from Texas, who had similar traits, most notably the clicking of the tongue. Quaid's portrayal of Cousin Eddie is considered iconic, and the beer-drinking scene is one of the most memorable moments from the film.

The Meister Brau beer brand even released a Cousin Eddie beer bottle opener as merchandise, further cementing the association between the character and the beer brand.

Meister Brau is now Miller Lite

In the first Vacation movie, Cousin Eddie, played by Randy Quaid, is seen drinking Meister Brau beer. This was a popular beer brewed in Chicago for much of the 20th century. The Peter Hand Brewing Company, founded by a Prussian immigrant and American Civil War veteran, produced Meister Brau from 1899 until 1978, when it was sold to Miller.

Meister Brau was extremely popular in the 1980s, the decade in which the first Vacation film was released. However, by that time, the brand had already been purchased by Miller. The original Meister Brau is no longer manufactured, but it lives on in a new form. After the sale to Miller, the beer was reformulated and rebranded as Miller Lite. While the Miller Lite recipe has evolved, it remains similar to the original Meister Brau recipe.

The choice of Meister Brau for Cousin Eddie's beer makes sense for his character. Not only was it a popular beer at the time, but the brand also sponsored many professional sports teams, which would have appealed to Eddie, a sports fan who wears a Chicago Bears baseball cap in the film.

So, the next time you watch the iconic scene of Cousin Eddie emptying his septic tank with a beer in hand, remember that he's drinking the predecessor of Miller Lite, a beer that has become a modern classic in its own right.

Meister Brau was brewed in Chicago

In the first Vacation movie, Cousin Eddie is drinking Meister Brau beer as he empties his septic tank. Meister Brau was indeed brewed in Chicago by the Peter Hand Brewing Company, founded by Prussian immigrant and American Civil War veteran Peter Hand in 1891. The company popularised a light beer recipe that would later be sold to Miller Brewing and rebranded as Miller Lite.

Meister Brau was Hand's flagship beer, and it quickly became popular. By the end of the 1960s, the company was producing a million barrels of beer each year, with sales exceeding $50 million. Meister Brau was particularly popular with college students due to its affordability.

Peter Hand Brewing Company sponsored several major Chicago sports teams, including the Chicago White Sox, Blackhawks, and Bulls. They also sponsored a popular radio show and distributed bottle openers, posters, and other promotional items. Their advertising campaign included billboards, second only in number to those for Mayor Richard J. Daley's re-election campaign.

Despite its success, the Peter Hand Brewing Company ran into financial difficulties due to mismanagement and heavy debt. In 1972, most of its brands, including Meister Brau, were sold to Miller. Miller repackaged Meister Brau Lite as Miller Lite, and Meister Brau became a cheaper competitor to Budweiser. Despite the cash injection, the Peter Hand Brewing Company went bankrupt in 1973 and was purchased by the Joseph Huber Brewing Company. However, in 1978, the brewery closed permanently, marking the end of beer production in Chicago until Sieben's River North opened in 1987.

Cousin Eddie drinks beer while emptying his septic tank

In the first Vacation movie, Cousin Eddie, played by Randy Quaid, is seen drinking a Meister Brau beer while emptying his septic tank. This scene has become iconic and is one of the most memorable moments of the film.

Meister Brau was a popular beer in the 1980s, especially in Chicago, where it was brewed by the Peter Hand Brewing Company from 1899 to 1978. The brand was sold to Miller in the early 1970s, and the beer was eventually rebranded as Miller Lite. However, the Miller Lite recipe has evolved over time and is now similar to the original Meister Brau recipe.

The choice of beer for this scene makes sense for Cousin Eddie's character as Meister Brau was a well-known and widely consumed beer during the time period in which the movie is set. It also adds a touch of humour to the scene, as Cousin Eddie's choice of beverage while performing such a task may be seen as unusual or even disgusting to some viewers.

The septic tank scene is not the only time Cousin Eddie is seen drinking Meister Brau in the movie. In another memorable scene, he tells Clark about "the gift that keeps on giving" while drinking the same brand of beer. Despite the association with Cousin Eddie, it is unlikely that Clark Griswold would drink Meister Brau, as he is depicted as having more refined taste in beer.

The inclusion of this specific beer brand adds a layer of authenticity to the character of Cousin Eddie and helps to establish his working-class background and unrefined taste. It also serves as a reminder of the time period in which the movie is set, as Meister Brau is no longer available under that name.

Clark Griswold would not drink the same beer as Cousin Eddie

In the National Lampoon film series, Clark Griswold and Cousin Eddie are two distinct characters with contrasting personalities and tastes. While the two cousins share a love for beer, it is clear that Clark would not drink the same beer as his cousin Eddie, who is often seen with a can of Meister Brau in his hand.

Meister Brau, a predecessor of Miller Lite, was a popular Chicago beer in the 1980s when the first Vacation movie was released. The brand suited Eddie's character as it was widely consumed during that time. However, Clark, who is portrayed as a family man with discriminating tastes and a penchant for nicer things in life, would likely prefer a different beer.

Clark is described as a food scientist with a discriminating palate, suggesting he would opt for a beer that aligns with his refined taste buds. Additionally, Clark is a fan of the Chicago Blackhawks and the Chicago Bears, which aligns with his preference for Chicago-based beers. However, he would likely seek out a beer that is a step up from Meister Brau in terms of quality and taste.

In the movie, Clark is shown drinking eggnog and dancing and fighting at a German Oktoberfest, indicating that he enjoys a good time and is open to different beverage choices. However, when it comes to beer, he is likely to be more discerning than his cousin Eddie.

While Clark might occasionally indulge in a cheaper beer, as seen when he shared one with his son, he would generally prefer something of higher quality. He is established as a hard-working man with a successful career and some disposable income, allowing him to be more selective with his beer choices. Therefore, it is safe to assume that Clark Griswold would not settle for the same beer as his cousin Eddie and would instead opt for a beverage that better aligns with his taste and status.

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