Alofa mai Vailima, fa'amolemole!
August 7, 2012 8:30 AM Subscribe
Vailima, a German-style lager, has been brewed just outside the capital of Independent Samoa since 1978. There are two versions to choose from, the normal 4.9% strength and the the export-only 6.7%. But, unless you're somewhere near Samoa, you probably won't be able to find it. So, enjoy the commercials, instead!
- The first ad shows Samoa at work and play, and you even get a view of Apia's nightlife.
- But when you're just hanging in the fale with your mates, sometimes the Vailima runs out ... so recreate the first ad and see what happens.
- Vailima seems to run out a lot (listen for "'O uma!", or "It's all gone!" in both this commercial and the previous one). Sometimes, you just gotta dig a little deeper and hope for the best. Australians will appreciate the soundtrack to this one.
- Finally, even Samoan hospitality can be stretched a little when you steal their beer.
Nothing beats the Koff, permanently crossed off my worldwide beer list.
posted by infini at 8:36 AM on August 7, 2012
posted by infini at 8:36 AM on August 7, 2012
Unfortunately, this SME-music-content is not available in Germany because GEMA has not granted the respective music publishing rights.
Splendid.
posted by brokkr at 9:06 AM on August 7, 2012
Splendid.
posted by brokkr at 9:06 AM on August 7, 2012
These ads are neat. A similar "party" ad in the US would feature nothing but hardbodies; the Samoans seem more relaxed, in that respect. Plus I'm a sucker for improvised-percussion music.
I also think local beers--terrible as most of them may be--are really interesting. We were in Puerto Rico a few months back, where the local choice is Medalla Light in 10oz bottles or cans. It's not good, somewhere between Bud Light and stale seltzer, and something about the combination of small cans and 85-degree temperatures made it impossible to drink enough to catch more than the most fleeting buzz, but it's the perfect beer for the tropical weather (don't tell anybody, but I threw a lime slice into each can).
posted by uncleozzy at 9:22 AM on August 7, 2012
I also think local beers--terrible as most of them may be--are really interesting. We were in Puerto Rico a few months back, where the local choice is Medalla Light in 10oz bottles or cans. It's not good, somewhere between Bud Light and stale seltzer, and something about the combination of small cans and 85-degree temperatures made it impossible to drink enough to catch more than the most fleeting buzz, but it's the perfect beer for the tropical weather (don't tell anybody, but I threw a lime slice into each can).
posted by uncleozzy at 9:22 AM on August 7, 2012
A similar "party" ad in the US would feature nothing but hardbodies
Given that over 90% of the population of Samoa is overweight, this ad is still skewed toward an unrealistic representation of bodies, but it looks like a lot more fun than most American beer ads.
posted by howfar at 1:51 PM on August 7, 2012
Given that over 90% of the population of Samoa is overweight, this ad is still skewed toward an unrealistic representation of bodies, but it looks like a lot more fun than most American beer ads.
posted by howfar at 1:51 PM on August 7, 2012
Given that over 90% of the population of Samoa is overweight, this ad is still skewed toward an unrealistic representation of bodies, but it looks like a lot more fun than most American beer ads.
It's worth noting that the above statistic refers to Samoans living in American Samoa. These ads come from Independent Samoa, where obesity is less of a problem.
Two more interesting facts about Vailima:
1) Vailima is a German-style beer originating from the times where Independent Samoa was a German colony. How's that for cross-pollination of cultures?
2) The Vailima brewery was originally situated in the village of Vailima, which is where Robert Louis Stevenson's house still stands.
posted by Alice Russel-Wallace at 3:38 PM on August 7, 2012 [3 favorites]
It's worth noting that the above statistic refers to Samoans living in American Samoa. These ads come from Independent Samoa, where obesity is less of a problem.
Two more interesting facts about Vailima:
1) Vailima is a German-style beer originating from the times where Independent Samoa was a German colony. How's that for cross-pollination of cultures?
2) The Vailima brewery was originally situated in the village of Vailima, which is where Robert Louis Stevenson's house still stands.
posted by Alice Russel-Wallace at 3:38 PM on August 7, 2012 [3 favorites]
ts;dr: "Brokkr: Install Youtube Unblocker!"<unironic> Splendid! </unironic>
posted by brokkr at 3:41 PM on August 7, 2012
Correction, the beer itself doesn't originate from when Samoa was a German colony. Rather, the brewing culture that produced Vailima, originated from that time.
posted by Alice Russel-Wallace at 3:42 PM on August 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Alice Russel-Wallace at 3:42 PM on August 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
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In the Australian tourist ad, my very bad translation would be, roughly: And if you get to Independent Samoa and want to try the export, hop a quick flight (30 minutes) over to Tutuila, American Samoa. Mission accomplished and you can cross two more beers of your worldwide beer tour list.
posted by barnacles at 8:32 AM on August 7, 2012