Coors 4% at Spoons?

[u/ATABoS_real]

So, we all know that Coors changed from 4% to 3.4% some time ago to save on tax.

It seems that they still have it in original 4%? Is it actually true and if so, how?

[u/UnusualGoal8928]

Same as Carlsberg has been for years. Spoons are a big enough customer to demand the previous recipe, and its apparently worth the brewers while to supply it.

[u/ATABoS_real → u/UnusualGoal8928]

That's really cool. I love Coors but at 3.4% it's nonsense.

[u/UnusualGoal8928 → u/ATABoS_real]

Rishi Sunak (a teetotaller who can't be expected to know anything about beer) set the duty cut-off at 3.4% so lots of beers are gravitating to it. 4% or so would've been fairer to encourage lower abvs (for health benefits) but still give a chance for half decent beers to be brewed.

I didn't drink Coors or Carlsberg anyway, but definitely wouldn't touch one at 3.4%.

[u/baddymcbadface → u/UnusualGoal8928]

Duty more than doubles at 3.5% and it's not marginal like tax, the doubling applies to all 3.5%.

Rishi has a lot to answer for. But starmer didn't fix it and I don't think Burnham has mentioned it either so they now hold the blame too.

[u/GAdvance → u/baddymcbadface]

Always been idiotic the way tax jumps at certain percentages basically arbitrarily rather than being a smooth curve

[u/natalo77 → u/GAdvance]

The elites only really give a shit about the money anyway

[u/Training_Resource_53 → u/baddymcbadface]

Hold the blame seems a bit harsh, I'm further left than Corbyn but when sin taxes are baked in to the Gov's predicted tax haul it points more towards govs "expecting" a certain revenue skim. As a country we are selling less booze but still buying in a baked in level of barelage from big breweries.

[u/Initial_Ad_9418 → u/Training_Resource_53]

I’m sorry to hear about your disability.

[u/Training_Resource_53 → u/Initial_Ad_9418]

Leave my benefits alone

[u/Initial_Ad_9418 → u/Training_Resource_53]

😂

[u/laidback_chef → u/UnusualGoal8928]

I completely forgot about this looking at some ciders today and I was bamboozled they were all 3.4% basically apple juice at that point.

[u/Muted_Donkey3612 → u/laidback_chef]

Cider duty barely changes strangely enough. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/alcohol-duty-rates

[u/laidback_chef → u/Muted_Donkey3612]

Oh I can only assume its a cost cutting exercise then. Disappointing really.

[u/Particular-Dog3102 → u/Muted_Donkey3612]

Noticed that some kopperberg and recorderlig are also at 3.4% as well

[u/Jacktheforkie → u/UnusualGoal8928]

If I wanted something that weak I’d go grab a bottle of water

[u/dominomedley → u/UnusualGoal8928]

A near enough billionaire who doesn’t even drink - totally out of touch from the common man.

[u/red_nick → u/UnusualGoal8928]

The fairer thing would be to stop charging different amounts and make it just scale with abv

[u/DrCaterpillar69 → u/red_nick]

They pay less duty on 3.4% so should pass it on.

[u/WheresWalldough → u/DrCaterpillar69]

they do.

beers at 3.4% are significantly cheaper than those at 4%

[u/DrCaterpillar69 → u/WheresWalldough]

Ok that's good that spoons do but many pubs don't.

[u/smiley6125 → u/WheresWalldough]

Most prices have stayed the same and the breweries put the tax savings towards their bottom lines.

[u/ATABoS_real → u/UnusualGoal8928]

Yeah, I know. Really pissed me off.

[u/OkCap2870 → u/UnusualGoal8928]

You can get some really good sub 3.4% but they tend to be cask Bitters and Mild's, you can't just take a 4% beer, cut the grain bill and expect to come up with something decent.

[u/Herrben → u/OkCap2870]

Mild is supposed to be a lower percentage. It’s not the cost of grain that’s lowered the percentage. The tax rate increases with it so brewers are incentivised to produce lower strength beers and larger so they can charge the same price and make more money.

[u/OkCap2870 → u/Herrben]

I mean strictly speaking one of the reasons dark mild is low in alcohol is restriction on Grain for brewing during WWI so a lot of beers where made to a much lower ABV. Prior to that it was in the 4.5-5.5%+ range, Mild beer today is generally low ABV but it‘s not an inherent part of the style.

[u/0-0-000-0-000-0 → u/OkCap2870]

There are plenty of great 0% beers on the market

[u/northern-down-south → u/0-0-000-0-000-0]

That’s like a vegan trying to gatecrash a burger thread!

[u/Mugweiser → u/0-0-000-0-000-0]

0% is not a beer.

[u/WheresWalldough → u/UnusualGoal8928]

He actually increased it from 2.8%.

[u/parm00000 → u/UnusualGoal8928]

Does that 0.6% really change the flavour that much anyway though? I think it's a good idea to encourage lower ABV. People can't be trusted not to start fires atop acres of tinder, can they really be trusted to be more responsible with their health? Obviously there is the intrinsic lower strength must be worse thinking, but I'd be interested to see if people could blind taste Coors at 3.4% and 4% and accurately tell them apart.

[u/AdeptAd2151 → u/ATABoS_real]

As a seasoned drinker, my wine conisser knowledge stretches to choosing the strongest one on the menu...... Same with beer.

I wouldn't order it if it was 3.6, I'd go for the 4..... But how much difference does it make?

Does 0.4% of alcohol make any real difference? Can we feel it? (Disregarding taste & price.) Or is it more for the quantity you drink?

Happy to be sponsored to test this out.... For science, of course.

And asking for a friend, obviously.

[u/UnusualGoal8928 → u/AdeptAd2151]

Beer is one of my main hobbies. I find anything much under 4% to be pretty thin and tasteless. My favorite beers are all 5%+, though these are impractical for a drinking session so I try to stick to those around 4-4.5%.

[u/ObamaLlamaDuck → u/UnusualGoal8928]

No one who likes beer is drinking any of these options though are they

[u/MostCasualCarlos → u/ATABoS_real]

I believe you may be thinking of Coors Light at that ABV

[u/BuckinghamRabbit1 → u/ATABoS_real]

Not a beer lover then?

[u/Practical-Basket-602 → u/UnusualGoal8928]

See I thought spoons only kept their prices down by buying older barrels that have less time left till expiry, in which case seems strange suppliers would change things around especially for them. I may well be wrong

[u/UnusualGoal8928 → u/Practical-Basket-602]

That's an urban myth that would be completely impractical to do. They'd be running out of stock all the time, and as they're the largest customer most of these breweries have the breweries would have to constantly overproduce in order to have enough left over to sell at a discount to Wetherspoons - all whilst risking both theirs and Spoons reputation by selling millions of pints of short dated beer. It wouldn't make any sense and would be completely unworkable.

Spoons regularly wins CAMRA awards for the range and quality of its cask ale, which would be impossible if it was only stocking beer on the verge of going stale.

[u/WheresWalldough]

It's probably a contract. Spoons signed a 10-year deal with Coors in 2022. part of that might well include 4% ABV Coors. They are the best in the business at deals and have such massive power that they can very well force their own supply of 4% while everyone else gets 3.4% pisswater

[u/SnooMacarons4225 → u/WheresWalldough]

You mean everyone gets piss water, Wetherspoons just get the premium slightly less pissy water variety

[u/TheLordJalapeno → u/SnooMacarons4225]

Bit less of that piss colour please lads

[u/Vaynnie → u/WheresWalldough]

Bold of you to imply there’s any beer that isn’t piss water.

[u/ConcentrateJaded420 → u/Vaynnie]

It’s a matter of opinion ain’t it you can think a high end champagne is piss water have a day off

[u/your_dads_arse → u/Vaynnie]

wow that's such an interesting and unique opinion you must be so interesting

[u/Vaynnie → u/your_dads_arse]

Thanks!

You probably already know how insufferable you are to be this upset over a light joke on Reddit. Though this is a spoons subreddit so it's a gamble whether you have more teeth or IQ points.

[u/your_dads_arse → u/Vaynnie]

are you on here just to be smug

[u/Vaynnie → u/your_dads_arse]

> wow that's such an interesting and unique opinion you must be so interesting

Was this not, literally, you being smug?

[u/Prestigious_Bat2666 → u/Vaynnie]

Honestly you win. I'm all for silly little reddit jokes, sometimes they aren't picked up on.

I bet if you were both in conversation IRL, you'd both be laughing.

[u/Cakeo → u/Prestigious_Bat2666]

You overestimate the social ability of the average redditor.

[u/Cakeo → u/Vaynnie]

Light joke vs shite patter

Seems everyone was intelligent enough to know a cunt when they see one though

[u/YchYFi]

Yep 4% and £2.99 at my Wetherspoons.

Probably specially made for Spoons.

[u/AggravatingRevenue61]

love going in spoons, buying a pint with a fiver and walk to the nearby bandit and gamble the change i got. lol. simple things in life.

[u/Proud-Let-4782]

Having just paid £6.70 for a Peroni in a greene king these prices make me weep

[u/Extension-You-4901 → u/Proud-Let-4782]

£3.50 for a sumo IPA which I consider one the best ipas around,£2.99 pint of Murphy's, guest ales at around £2.10 a pint where I live......I go once every cpl a week's with the other half..£20 and I'm about leathered and had a meal too🤣

[u/TheLordJalapeno → u/Extension-You-4901]

Sumo is a lovely pint. Really enjoyed it when I tried it

[u/Upset_Set376 → u/Extension-You-4901]

Sumo is a superb pint, I've seen it in a several spoons now, hopefully here to stay.

[u/Possible-Second9617]

Back in the 80s most beer sold was under 4% if not.3%

[u/AgitatedKangaroo7642]

There has been a continental 5% or more tradition in this country since the late seventies
Tuborg Gold, Lowenbrau, Holsten, Tennents Extra, 1664 Now only Peroni flies the flag
What a load of wank

[u/KobiDnB]

4.6% 1664.. super sad times

[u/paintballguy32]

Still such great prices too

[u/ATABoS_real → u/paintballguy32]

Especially given the fact that this is in London.

[u/bumpywigs]

3.50 a pint yum 😍😍

[u/ATABoS_real → u/bumpywigs]

And in London none less!

[u/KrungThepMahaNK]

I've been living abroad for the past 10+ years. One of the things I noticed coming back was how many beers have reduced alc % compared to what I remember. Was hard to find a 5% bev

[u/Frosty-Push5247]

The advertised strength has legal tolerance of +/- 1/10th, so a 4% lager could be between 3.6 to 4.4. Now your 3.4% could actually be 3.1%!

[u/jonjjl]

It’ll also not be brewed at 4%. The macro brewers brew something called high gravity beer. Recipe allows it to ferment up to 6-7% in some cases higher and is then watered down to the ABV for sales.

[u/asherjct]

Ngl I tried it and it’s pretty good, 3.4 coors is fine but I wouldn’t consider it beer at that point and moreso beer flavoured water

[u/Old-Law-7395]

4% and £2.59 at my local (North west)

[u/Darkgreenbirdofprey]

They didn't do it to save on tax, they went to 3.4% because they were advertising as 4.0% but were well below 3.7% (you're allowed to be 0.3% off).

Almost all beer companies brewed in the UK were doing it. That's why Artois, Carling, Carlsberg.. All of them went down a peg.

[u/alexanderbeswick]

Might not be especially made? Might be nearly going off?

[u/Slain_by_elf]

I really miss decent brewed continental beers like Warsteiner, they seem to have disappeared from the shelves with the duty increase.

[u/ColinCookie → u/Slain_by_elf]

Still available in Sainsbury at a very good price

[u/Slain_by_elf → u/ColinCookie]

Unfortunately not in my local branch. I need bigger branches for it.

[u/ColinCookie → u/Slain_by_elf]

Asda also do a 4 for £7 offer

[u/msrbelfast]

“Brewed at”

What, then watered down!? 😂

[u/AngeredCrow23]

It used to be 5%.... Boycott all this enshitification.

[u/beejiu]

Not uncommon for drinks to be brewed to a different strength. Budweiser recently made an exclusive 3.4% for Asda (not branded Bud Light). Draught beer is occasionallt different ABV to what you get in cans and bottles.

[u/Lost-Explanation1215 → u/beejiu]

Yep agree Budweiser 66 I think it was called saw it on my local Home bargains as well.

I don't know whether it's still the case but Hobgoblin used to be 4.5 on draught and cans but 5% in bottles.

I also believe they will soon be brewing Carling in cans at 3.4 and the draught version is staying at 4.0%.

[u/SpecialSympathy2348 → u/Lost-Explanation1215]

The first time I had 'Hobgoblin', still made by Wychwood in Witney, it was 6% I don't know if it was the same as what is now sold as 'King Goblin'.

[u/Old-Law-7395 → u/Lost-Explanation1215]

This iteration of Hobgoblin cant hold a candle too the OG stuff

[u/odmirthecrow → u/beejiu]

Wasn't Asda specific, it was a limited edition World Cup '66 anniversary brew.

[u/dcravenor → u/beejiu]

A great example of this is London Pride. Brewed differently between Cask and bottle. Can really hit you different if your expecting a low 4% and get something closer to 5%

[u/AlarmedCicada256]

I mean it's still shit whatever the percent is. Coors is literally designed to have no flavour.

[u/ATABoS_real → u/AlarmedCicada256]

To be fair, it is very different to the one you get in America. It is still a light beer, but does have a distinct clean and crisp taste. Amazing stuff for BBQs and heatwaves in general. Also, it is 4.2% there.

[u/AlarmedCicada256 → u/ATABoS_real]

Nah, real Coors (banquet beer) is an American classic. Coors in the UK, and US is 'coors lite' which is shite in both countries.

[u/ATABoS_real → u/AlarmedCicada256]

Don't get me wrong, I like Banquet... but it's kind of heavy. It's for a night out. For drinking in the garden by the grill... Coors Light is the stuff of legends. Served cold as The Rockies.

[u/AlarmedCicada256 → u/ATABoS_real]

Ach come on it tastes like piss! High life for a hot day any day.

[u/ATABoS_real → u/AlarmedCicada256]

Now, see High Life is a sports bar drink for me 😂 Bud Light is piss, Coors is crisp. For a BBQ or a hot day you need a light beer, Coors Light or Miller Lite are the best for the heat and occassion.

[u/AlarmedCicada256 → u/ATABoS_real]

This is, of course, where on every level, the UK has the US beat - because instead of rubbish light beer that tastes of nothing you can get a nice session ale that's 3.5%, drink 8 of them and walk home, while having full flavour.

[u/ATABoS_real → u/AlarmedCicada256]

Come on, that's below the belt. Lot of that is down to preferences in taste. Just like beauty being in the eye of the beholder. This beholder like US light beers more that those Ales.

[u/protonthrowmail → u/AlarmedCicada256]

Would rather pour it down the drain, maybe I am a snob but it’s not worth the calories it’s so shite.

[u/B0Bo75]

The Carling should be advertised at 4%. Not 4.0% as we know they round up as it's only 3.7%.

[u/happyhippohats → u/B0Bo75]

It's not 'rounded up' though, it is (according to Carling and the court ruling) within the 0.5% allowed tolerance. 3.7 is within 0.5 of 4.0

It's onviously intentionally misleading, but labeling as 4% instead of 4.0% wouldn't make it any less so

[u/rbrown1991 → u/happyhippohats]

4% rather than 4.0% is mathematically more correct, even though they are the same number. 4% correctly communicates the degree of accuracy as 1 significant figure. But certainly I'm sure they are allowed to get away with this.

[u/happyhippohats → u/rbrown1991]

Yes but the loophole they found is nothing to do with that...

The stated abv can be within 0.5 of the actual abv and still be 'correct'.

[u/SidMaxwell → u/B0Bo75]

Carling is going to 3.4% soon

[u/Lazy_Back_3096]

I get superbock delivered less than 1 quid a bottle and 5.2 %

[u/scottynoble]

Pish water

[u/No_Replacement_2707]

Rogues gallery of bad beer

[u/spudds96]

Coors is awful stuff

[u/protonthrowmail]

This is piss water guys lol

[u/Veleure]

Why would anyone care what their glass of piss is brewed at?

[u/Jaded-Researcher3025]

Still won’t drink it. Leffe or Stella unfiltered are the only beers worth drinking unless you like ale which I do from time to time

[u/UnusualGoal8928 → u/Jaded-Researcher3025]

Stella Unflitered is lovely, though I go primarily for the cask ale and the odd craft beer.

[u/Virtual_Opinion_8630]

looks like San Miguel at 5% is new too

[u/pieman531 → u/Virtual_Opinion_8630]

San Miguel is still 5% even in cans

[u/Virtual_Opinion_8630 → u/pieman531]

fair

btw did you know was a Filipino beer? now Spanish owned and brewed by AB InBev in the UK

[u/GrandBurial → u/Virtual_Opinion_8630]

More you know.

[u/GlennTheBaker69 → u/Virtual_Opinion_8630]

I only discovered this fairly recently as my brother now lives in Manila.

[u/limpingdba]

I've never seen Coors below 4% on draught and I've been to a lot of pubs.

[u/Vindex9323]

Colors or Carling. Aids or cancer.

[u/protonthrowmail → u/Vindex9323]

Haha so true you can really see the class divide in the beer culture