Olde English 800
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Olde English 800 (commonly referred to as OE, Olde E, or Eight Ball) is a brand of malt liquor produced by the Miller Brewing Company (owned by SABMiller). It is available in a variety of serving sizes but is best known for its forty ounce (1.183 liter) bottle.
The alcohol content of Olde English 800 varies by region, mostly to comply with local regulations. It is 5.9% alcohol by volume (ABV) in the eastern United States, 7.5% ABV in most western U.S. states and 8.0% ABV in Canada. Olde English High Gravity 800 is 8% ABV. There is also a 6.1% ABV version made for the European region. Because of its relatively high alcohol content and low price, it is popular among those on a tight budget wanting to become drunk quickly.
[edit] Olde English 800 in popular culture
The beverage turns up repeatedly in rap music and gangsta culture. Eazy-E has appeared on album covers with an Olde English 800 bottle. In the 1990s era gangsta films, Boyz N the Hood (1991), Menace II Society (1993), the film's main characters drink Olde English. It is referenced in LL Cool J's 1990 song "Mama Said Knock You Out", DJ Quik's "8 Ball", KMD's "Sweet Premium Wine", N.W.A.'s "8 Ball", and Old Dirty Bastard's "Sussudio". The Game has recorded a song titled "Ol' English" which appears on the album Doctor's Advocate.
Olde English has also appeared in many other popular culture contexts. Martha Stewart drank from a big bottle of Olde English 800 on the Conan O'Brien show. The Olde English 800 bottle logo is used by Olde English, a sketch comedy group. "Olde Fortran", a parody of the beverage, appeared in the animated series Futurama. The Philadelphia punk rock band The Low Budgets (ex-Town Managers & Dead Milkmen) have a song entitled "OE in the AM", dedicated to the beverage and drinking it in the very early morning. The Long Island/New York punk band, The Poseurs, modeled their album cover after the Olde English label. Olde English makes an appearance in the film Malibu's Most Wanted. The main character "B-rad" is forced to steal "OE" from the liquor store. He ends up buying the OE's and then pretends that he is robbing the store in an attempt to fool his captors.
The New York Hardcore band "No Redeeming Social Value" also pays homage to Olde English. Many of their songs are about, or reference OE, such as "Olde-E," "Olde-E New-E," "The New 64," "22oz of Pain," etc. The band has been known to go through excessive amounts of OE during performances. (www.nrsv.com)
[edit] Cocktails
Olde English can be used to make the beer cocktail known as Brass Monkey or Ghetto Sunrise. Typically, the first quarter to third of a 40 ounce bottle is consumed, and then topped off with Sunny Delight.
Olde English can also be used to make you Lickasic, popularized by Gangsta rap Brotha Lynch Hung. Again the first quarter to third of a 40 ounce bottle is consumed, and then topped off with Gin.
Olde English can be used to make the beer cocktail known as a Black Eight. The 40oz bottle is consumed down to the label and then topped off with a 12 oz Guiness Stout. This was popularized by the Tha Alkaholiks.
[edit] External links
Colt 45 | Hurricane | Olde English 800 | Mickey's | St. Ides | Steel Reserve 211
