When I were a lad, the idea of shipping Bud to Canadian forces in the field would be somewhere between an insult and an joke that didn't make all that much sense. So much for the prejudices of my youth. Apparently, the Canadian troops in Afghanistan needed flats of the iconic American light lager to celebrate the honeymoon of Will and Kate recently held in Canada... I think:
Officials say the donation was made as a way of celebrating William's military service as well as Catherine's grandfather, Peter Middleton. Kate's granddad served as a flight instructor with Britain's Royal Air Force at the No. 37 Service Flying Training School in Calgary for two years during the Second World War. "Both the Duke of Cambridge and Labatt have a proud history assisting the military and this donation continues that tradition of support," said Ryan. The newlyweds requested donations be made to charity in lieu of wedding gifts.
I am still confused about this qualifying under the donation concept - but the weirdest thing about the article is how the text avoids mentioning what the photo in the Toronto Sun screams. "14,000 cans of local brew" or "a small taste of home" or "Canadian-brewed beer" are not often terms Canadians would use to describe Budweiser. Let's be honest - Canadian drink a load of the stuff and it is brewed here but does that make it the first beer that comes to mind when I think Canada? Hardly.
Comments
BrettS - July 12, 2011 10:40 PM
When I was in Afghanistan, I paid a pretty penny for a garbage bag full of cans of Foster's that were so old and well traveled that most of the color had been worn off the cans (they were all shiny). Point is, when in Afghanistan, particularly in June, beer is beer and I am sure few are in the mood for complaining. Perhaps if Budweiser were provided when they return home the discussion would differ.
Neil, eatingisntcheating.blogspot.com - July 13, 2011 5:00 AM
It's a good point made above, but also the fatc is most normal drinkers dont understand the geographical relationship of beer.
I've heard on more than one occassion people refer to Stella Artois as British beer, and squaddies aren't known for their taste. Which is not a dig at Soldiers, I'm just saying they havent got a lot of time for exploring the virtues of craft beer now, and most of them will have been pretty young when they signed up meaning they had little prior drinking experience apart from teenage years where everybody drinks crap anyway!
Alan - July 13, 2011 8:37 AM
Good point, Brett. My two favorite lady warriors, Robin and Katie, would no doubt agree.
Neil, that point about age may well be the case in the US with young soldiers given the military age is lower than the drinking one but most of my Canadian military pals are pretty open to all things beery.