Stella Artois
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Stella Artois is a 5.2% ABV global lager first brewed in Leuven, Belgium in 1926 as a Christmas brew, and named Stella after the Latin for "star".[1]
Although Belgium is best known internationally for its unique ales, it is the common bottom-fermented pilsner lager, such as Stella Artois, which heads the lists of domestic consumption and exports. Often called “table beers” are classified by their bottom-fermented method and are recognized for their light-color and smooth taste. The pilsners make up almost 75 percent of Belgian beer production, with Stella Artois as the best-known brand internationally, colloquially known as Stella or "wifebeater", "brain damage", or "fella" in some northern English towns.[2] Stella is the best selling premium lager in the UK beer market, and is promoted as an international brand by InBev. In its home market of Belgium, however, it is marketed, priced and sold as a regular lager. It is brewed in Belgium and the United Kingdom, as well as other countries including Australia. Much of the Stella Artois exported from Europe is currently produced at InBev's Beck's brewery in Bremen, Germany.
A well known Ogame alliance called S.A.A AO are dedicated completely to Stella Artois, and promote the drink, purely because of their great love for the beer.
The Anno 1366 on the Stella Artois logo refers to the origin of brewing in the city of Leuven. The city's tax records dated 1366 mentions the existence of a local brewpub called Den Hoorn. The name Artois was coupled to the beer in 1708, when new owner Sebastian Artois achieved the title of master brewer.
Stella's advertising slogan in the United Kingdom is "Reassuringly Expensive". The UK television advertising campaigns have become known for their distinctive style of imitating European cinema and their leitmotiv inspired by Giuseppe Verdi's La forza del destino. The campaigns began with a series of adverts based on Jean de Florette, moving on to other genres including war movies, silent comedy and even surrealism (for which the slogan was changed to "Reassuringly Elephants"). They have used notable movie directors such as Jonathan Glazer. The aim is to portray a sophisticated European culture somewhat belied by the popular conception of the beer. The ads are wholly performed in French, leading some to believe that Stella Artois is a French beer. Many of these ads can be viewed on You Tube.
In Belgium, Stella is promoted as Mijn thuis is waar mijn Stella staat and Chez moi, c'est près de ma Stella (My home is where my Stella is).
Stella is also brewed in Abbotsford, Melbourne by Carlton & United Beverages for the Australian market under license from InBev.
Stella Artois has had a long association with film. Dating back to 1994 (in the UK), the beer has organized a range of events as well as TV sponsorship of Channel 4 films and a website. Most recently the beer brand has adopted the new identity - Studio Artois. Stella Artois has been a primary sponsor of the film festivals at Cannes and Sundance.
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[edit] Stella Artois in popular culture
- "Stella" is the name of a song by Northern Irish "lout" band Hoax.
- The Streets track "Fit But You Know It" contains the lyric "I got this Stella I bombed from that last cafe."
- The Jamie T song "Sheila" contains the lyric "Sheila goes out with her mate Stella, it gets poured all over her fella."
- Stella, along with other notable lagers, was the beer of choice from the cult British comedy series Men Behaving Badly. Similarly, it is often consumed by the lead characters in a later British series called Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps.
- Scottish indie rock band The Breakers have a song named "Stella on the Lawn".
- 'Stella' is the cry of Marlon Brando (Stanley) in A Streetcar Named Desire, a film infamous for its portrayal of domestic violence. This has led to speculation that the film is an origin of the "wifebeater" slang, which is associated with the beer in certain parts of the UK.
- During the 1970s before the advent of political correctness Stella in the UK was marketed with the slogan "Stella's for the Fellas", a reference to its high ABV, at a time when much British lager had a relatively low strength of about 3% ABV.
- The beer of choice of actor George Wendt, also known as Norm on Cheers.
- At the counterpart of the Slayer CD "Reign in Blood" the 4 members of the band have a Stella Artois on their hands
[edit] Fake wikipedia article
On March 13, 2007, Stella Artois made a fake-wikipedia article in Dutch with the name "Stëlla Artøis" under GFDL as part of a publicity campaign. In this article it is claimed that the Belgians stole the beer from the Vikings.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Pivovary Staropramen : Stella Artois. Retrieved on December 10, 2006.
- ^ 'Jeannie Bastian'. Belgium Brewha!. Accessed November 15, 2006.
