Duff Beer

The choice of beer in Springfield.

Duff is available both on tap (in Moe's Tavern and probably other places), and also in cans as can regularly be seen in the fridge at the Simpsons. We're never really told much about what Duff tastes like, whether it's more of a lager or an ale etc. The Duff brewery also sponsors various things such as the Duff blimp.

Duff has featured as more than just a passing comment in a number of episodes.

Episode 4F15 - Homer vs. The Eighteenth Amendment

An ammendment to the Springfield town charter is found that is basically prohibition. The Duff brewery launches "Duff Zero", thinking everybody will drink it. 30 minutes later, Duff goes out of business.

Episode 9F14 - Duffless

Homer and Barney go on a brewery tour and get drunk. Homer gets arrested on the way home and swears off beer for a month - and more surprisingly, manages to keep to his promise!

Episode 9F17 - So It's Come to This: A Simpsons Clip Show

Bart's april fools joke is shaking up a can so it explodes and puts Homer in hospital.

Duff Beer is an existing, real beer that you can purchase and drink. How do I know? Because I am drinking one nowwwwww! In fact I just popped the tab and am drinking Duff, just so I can fill you in on what Duff tastes like. And feels like.

First: I am in Costa Rica, and The Simpsons has a cultural impact on Latin America that surpasses its pop cultural role in North American, even. Latinos really like the Simpsons. References to the show permeate conversation here. As an English as a Second Language teacher, I sometimes use a Simpsons' reference, knowing my students will understand it. "Homer's Crime Was Very Great", I will say "because 'Great' can be pejorative in English", and my students will understand.

But back to Duff. I bought a can of Duff Beer at the AM/PM. I actually have a thick stack of colones that I got from an ATM and I got to spend them before I leave so might as well. It has some interesting writing on them. It is apparently envased en Portugal and then imported to Heredia. Only for majors of age! Don't drink straight from the can! (I am following only one of those rules). It is made of barley and corn. It is a lager, and is 5%, so it is better than the watery pilsners that I usually drink in Costa Rica. Other than that, it is a...basic lager? It is actually pretty sweet, and a bit thicker than a Budweiser. When I bought it at the AM/PM, I was also buying two donuts. "Dos donuts y Duff, vivo la vida de Homer Simpson" I said to the AM/PM clerk. So I can basically imagine Homer Simpson downing this sweet lager along with some donuts. Other than that, this is a basic lager that if it didn't have the Simpsons' branding connection, I wouldn't think twice about. It is actually okay, a sweeter Budweiser.

Also, for full disclosure, before the Duff, I also drank an entire Bamboo alcoholic seltzer, which at 10% packs a bigger kick, and is the most alcohol I can get from the AM/PM without asking about what is behind the counter, because see, I sometimes don't know how to navigate social situations.. I know that drinking and noding is in general bad practice, but I think for the explicit purpose of reviewing alcoholic beverages, it allows the reader to actually imagine you are sipping a sweet lager made of corn.