Day 345, Dec 11 / Pig Swig Pig Pen Pilsner

Day 345 / December 11, 2011

Pig Swig Pig Pen Pilsner

Thomas Creek Brewery for Piggly Wiggly / Greenville, SC

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I’m Big on the Pig

Say the name of just about every other grocery store chain (Safeway, Giant, Kroger, Wegman’s, Topps), and that’s all it is – just a name.

But you can’t help but smile when you say or hear Piggly Wiggly.  While it sounds like a children’s book come to life, this chain of grocery stores in the south is pretty ordinary.  I’ve been in a few Piggly Wiggly’s in my time, and they’re pretty much like a Food Lion in terms of quality.  But they’ve got a cute little pig with a hat as a mascot.

My friend Rosie was down in the land of the Piggly Wiggly (South Carolina) last week and had dinner at a friend’s house.  Her friend offered her a beer… with a cute little pig on it!  Not the same pig, but they are related.

Earlier this year, Piggly Wiggly started marketing their own private label beer called Pig Swig.  Unlike some other store brand beers, which are… well, cheap swill (like Walgreen’s Big Flats Lager), Pig Swig is a better, craft beer, brewed by Thomas Creek Brewery in Greenville, SC.

The Pig Pen Pilsner is a respectable pilsner, which should have pretty broad appeal.  It’s got a little bit of hop character, and was crisp and refreshng.  It’s best served in a pint glass with a cute pig with a hat.