Nick Perry's Trading Floor Blog this morning links to an article heralding the debut of "Bilk," a new brew introduced at a Japanese liquor store Feb. 1 that combines a low-malt beer with milk. The beverage, which is brewed with about 30 percent milk, is presumably higher in calcium and lower in alcohol than traditional brew, and can help establishments find a use for their extra milk before it spoils. A win-win? (I'm thinking the loser here might be whomever is drinking it.) Chitoshi Nakahara, the brains behind this controversial idea, claims that "Bilk" tastes like ordinary beer -- if you can ignore the "slight milky scent." So far, the concoction is only available by mail order or at six local shops and it is currently sold out due to press attention (and morbid curiosity). Somehow I doubt that the early popularity of "Bilk" is making Anheuser-Busch Cos (NYSE:BUD) and other major brewers terribly nervous.
This brainstorm reminds me of one of Laverne & Shirley's titular characters, who liked to drink a mixture of milk and Pepsi (NYSE:PEP). Now that I think about it, Laverne De Fazio also worked at a brewery, so she was just one step away from experimenting with "Bilk" herself. Just think ... we could have had this idea stateside 30 years ago. Schlemiel! Schlemazl! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated!
Beth Gaston Moon is an analyst at Schaeffer's Investment Research.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
2-22-2007 @ 2:20PM
Jennifer said...
i think that idea is wonderful. this is the reason why the japanese and chinese are taking over economically- they think outside the box and will try new things.
and i dont know about any one else on here, but when i go to the bar and see guys sucking down bud lights i think that they may be able to stand a little healthy dose of calcium. when they make green-tea liquor you better believe i will be one of the first ones in line!
2-22-2007 @ 3:31PM
Jkingdogg said...
I don't like the idea, when I want a Beer nothing else will do, and when I want Milk nothing else will do, but not together! Jkingdogg-Milwaukee
2-22-2007 @ 3:43PM
CMARDELEAN said...
Doesn't look bad but sounds awful.
2-22-2007 @ 3:37PM
dee said...
I won't be trying it unless they can make it with lactose free milk. Lactose intolerance is apparently also high amongst Asians, so I wonder if they will have a problem with it?
2-22-2007 @ 3:42PM
CMARDELEAN said...
I'd give it a try but don't think I'd like it.
2-22-2007 @ 4:01PM
s said...
Sounds Delish.
2-22-2007 @ 4:06PM
Marilyn said...
This is an old concept, haven't they ever heard of "Boner Beer". Check out their website at bonerbeer.com if you don't believe me!
2-22-2007 @ 6:19PM
Rob said...
No wonder the Japanese are in a 15 year depression. If they eliminated their idiotic farm subsidies they wouldn't have millions of liters of milk wasted each month and wouldn't have any incentive to try such inane ideas. Grains are dramatically cheaper than milk - beer is made of grains in every rational economy.
2-22-2007 @ 4:55PM
michelle said...
They do make green tea liquor jennifer, there is Charbay Green Tea vodka and Zen Green tea liquer. I havent triend either because they are not cheap and I dont know what I would drink them in. But yes, go to your liquor store and try them out.
2-22-2007 @ 5:11PM
jesusgirl1 said...
Ewwwww. On the rare occassion that my dad would drink a beer, he mixed it with Sprite. I always thought that was gross...but this sounds truly disgusting! I can't imagine this fas kicking in, but stranger things have happened. Can't wait for the "got BILK" campaign to hit. That will be hilarious!
2-22-2007 @ 5:20PM
Gary said...
I'd love to see some "Very Brave Soul" mix in some Ovaltine before chugging it down.
2-22-2007 @ 6:01PM
Nancy said...
Well it is pretty and its not cloudy thats a help...ofcourse I'd have to try it ! nothing says I have to like it or ever drink it again .
2-22-2007 @ 6:12PM
Bryce Bennett said...
Can you imagine what the beer farts will smell like? Ewwwww!
2-22-2007 @ 6:47PM
Nick Birkett said...
Hm. Though I am not 21 yet, I have tasted beer, and I must say it is delicious (Heineken). I am, however, well over the legal limit to drink milk, and I LOVE milk. Mixing the two only seems odd, and though I haven't tried it, I can bet it is more than delicious. ^_^
2-22-2007 @ 7:17PM
clow69carlow said...
How much alcohol is in the beer? If it tastes good and has the same amount of alcohol as your normal beer I'd try it.
2-23-2007 @ 2:23PM
From Alabama said...
This is just something someone with a hangover woke up and was going to drink more beer to get rid of their hangover, except they added milk to calm their stomach.
2-23-2007 @ 2:50PM
jr13284 said...
yea, great idea I think I saw the same drink in the first american pie movie -- stiffler drank it!
2-23-2007 @ 3:25PM
MrGump said...
Once at a St.Matricks Party Several of us put Chocolate chip Ice cream in our Oatmeal stout.It was great!try it! Works good with rum raisin too!
2-23-2007 @ 3:36PM
Danise said...
I am so angry I didn't create this drink first. I have tried a particular beer, mixed with a little bit of carnation milk, a dash of sugar and it is the ....BOMB! You also have to add a couple of cubes of ice. It doesn't taste good with all beers.. I don't wan't to say which just in case I become rich with the idea... I don't want to sell my secret recipe.
2-23-2007 @ 3:43PM
KAB said...
From what I understand, some college students have been doing this for the last couple of years at least?? Am I mistaken??