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Olde English 800







Olde English 800 is one of the kings of the 40oz malt liquor world, making the crown a fitting logo. It's a brand with many nicknames, most notably being Olde E, OE, OE 800, and 8 Ball. The fact of the matter is OE is an OG. Olde English 800 can trace its roots back to the late 1940s, to a brewery called Peoples Brewing Co. in Duluth, MN. One of their brands was called Ruff's Olde English Stout. "Stout" referred to the strength of the beer, as opposed to the actual style, much like "malt liquor" has in later years. That brand was later renamed Olde English 600 and sold to Bohemian Breweries in Spokane, WA, and then to Blitz-Winhard in Portland, OR where it became Olde English 800. Blitz-Winhard was sold to Pabst Brewing Co. in 1979, and the Olde English 800 brand then sold to Miller Brewing in 1999.

Olde English 800 in its heyday was charcoal filtered which was a way to filter out organic impurities that could affect the color, taste, and odor. Endorsed over the years by rappers and hardcore bands alike, OE 800 has been released at several different alcohol contents. The 5.9% ABV is referred to as the "east coast" OE, and the 7.5% ABV is known as the "west coast" OE. Meanwhile, OE is limited to 3.2% ABW (4% ABV) in Oklahoma, and comes in its strongest form in Canada, at 8% ABV. I also have a bottle with a label on the back written in German alleging it to be 6.1% ABV while also referring to it as a bockbier. In addition to the various alcohol contents, Olde English 800 has also come in bigger sizes than 40oz bottles, the most infamous being the 64oz bottle, as well as 45oz bottles and 42oz plastic bottles.

My favorite version of OE 800 is the one I have regular access to - the 5.9%. It's classic. The label has remain virtually untouched up until the 42oz, but hope remains that those will be short-lived and that MillerCoors may bring the brand back to glass bottles where it belongs, like they did with Miller High Life and Mickey's. Besides plastic bottles, there's nothing not to like about Olde English 800. It's pure, it's delicious, and it's a malt liquor by which all others could be judged. 10/10 swills for being one of my favorites. My fingers remain crossed that glass 40s of it will return as I miss drinking 40s of OE. Until then Colt 45 will continue getting all of my money. The 7.5% version is also excellent and tastes much like the 5.9%. You can tell it's a bit stronger but otherwise there's no difference between the two. Another 10/10 swills! Canada's 8% version does indeed taste like an even stronger OE 800, as opposed to OE's other 8% brand, Olde English HG 800. It's what OE HG 800 should be. The taste is a bit harsher than its American counterparts, and the swill's rough, but its still worthy of a rating matching its alcohol content: 8/10 swills. The 3.2% ABW (4% ABV) version in OK is OK. It flows down like a watered down 5.9%. It's color is much paler as well. Consider it OE 800 Light. 5/10 swills for the diluted version of OE.

I need the 12 variants pictured on the bottom. If you can help, please email me.

Here are 2 old concept designs for the plastic 40s from the pre-production phase:


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