Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Zima, the clear and refreshing malt beverage popular during the early 1990s, recently died, the MillerCoors family said.
After a long battle with challenging malternative segment sales Zima production ceased Oct. 10 and was officially declared brain dead ten days later.
Born in 1993, Zima was a brand-name “alcohol refresher” and a wine cooler alternative. Zima was named after the Eastern European word for “winter” – which is arguably is the world’s coldest season. Zima was a one-time member of the 1990’s “Clear Craze” alongside Tab Clear, Crystal Pepsi and bottled water but later left the group to focus on its highly anticipated solo career.
Zima’s popularity peaked in 1993.
Although there was an attempt revitalize the product in 1995 by marketing Zima Gold to young men, as well as a poorly orchestrated online effort to save Zima, the battle was ultimately lost to a declining consumer interest.
Zima was preceded in death by Miller’s Qube and Stroh’s Clash, which are no longer made today. Zima is survived by Smirnoff and Smirnoff Ice.
Service will be at Fast Horse next week: date TBD, invite only, closed casket. Visitation and chips with dip to follow.
We ask everyone to remember Zima by writing their fondest Zima memory in the comment section below. In lieu of flowers you may create a 20 foot glass-shard mural depicting a bald eagle carrying a bottle of Zima in the Minnesota state capital rotunda.
November 10th, 2008 - 10:30 am
Ah, I fondly the remember the single bottle of Zima I consumed during its lifetime.
It was so refreshing, so stimulating, so clearly different, that I vowed never to consume another, lest I tarnish the beautiful memory of that one perfect bottle.
November 10th, 2008 - 2:59 pm
Let us not forget Zima’s life partner, Jolly Rancher. All who have tasted the result of their union can attest that these two complimented each other in every way.
Since Zima’s death, Jolly Rancher has sought comfort in Icehouse, a rather unsavory coupling. Please keep her in your prayers.
November 10th, 2008 - 3:39 pm
A co-worker who shall remain unnamed made the same comment about Jolly Rancher.
November 10th, 2008 - 4:00 pm
This unnamed co-worker was lambasted when she (or he – who knows?) noted that it was the perfect pairing. I believe all colleagues at Fast Horse need to quit shooting her dubious looks when, really, her cultural expertise should never be questioned.
November 10th, 2008 - 5:44 pm
Amanda, can you refocus your comments back to Zima please? This post isn’t an open diary for you to broadcast your anxieties about colleague’s “dubious looks,” this is about Zima. Thank you!
November 11th, 2008 - 12:34 pm
Maybe that’s why I mourn Zima’s departure on such a personal level. Zima and I shared the same fragile self – easily crushed by liquor “experts” and colleagues’ dismissive comments (see above). However, we persevere with a resilient spirit, emboldened by malt, liquor and a lil “Minnesota Nice.”
Zima will rise again and rightly take its place next to Boone’s Farm – delighting underdeveloped palates around the world.
November 11th, 2008 - 1:42 pm
Don’t forget the lesser known affair that Zima had with grenadine at a work party I attended in 1997. Kind of like that Christmas party you got too drunk at. The hazy details are best forgotten.
November 12th, 2008 - 10:00 am
I have to say that it’s a sad time for me. While most ridicule Zima, there are true fans of it. It is definitely ‘Zomething’ different which has not yet been able to be touched by anything else! You have to have a keen sense of taste to truly appreicate it.
November 18th, 2008 - 11:52 am
I remember seeing a Zima commercial while watching The George Carlin Show on Fox. It was 1994 (I watched most every program Fox broadcast from 1992-1998). A quick wiki check confirms that Zima was one year old at this point. Although the entry (even in death) has been tampered with to read “Zima SUCKS BALLS is a lightly carbonated…” But I digress.
I remember watching that commercial at age 10, thinking this was as funny as George Carlin got. The commercial looked cool and so did the bottle. I had already tasted my dads beer at this point and believed I would never like beer. I thought, maybe this Zima would be the alternative for me.
I refer you to these youtube videos to see what I mean:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5LcYs14-PQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nx0yzf4mpU8
I could be those guys. Hanging out, maybe playing some hackey sac or listening to Spin Doctors. Drinking Zima. I was generation X and we didn’t drink dad’s “Bud Light”. We drank Zima. 1994.
Of course 11 years later when I earned the right to purchase Zima, the cultural feedback was just too much. Zima had become a joke on every level. Simpsons, Friends, everyone took time out of their day to take a swipe at Zima. People who had never drank Zima made fun of Zima. People who had never SEEN a Zima, made fun of Zima.
I never even bought one six pack.
Just like Crystal Clear Pepsi (this deserves a serprate entry, but I’ll be brief). I never tried crystal clear pepsi. I followed the herd and made fun of that innovative little drink. The whole time cheatin no one but myself. That was one mistake I promised myself I would never make again, and here I have with dearly departed Zima.
We were young. We had the whole world ahead of us. 1994.