the buzz log

Thursday’s much-anticipated "beer summit" started rocking the Search box as soon as President Obama unveiled his plans to knock back a cold one (or two) with Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Cambridge police officer James Crowley. People are especially interested in which brews the trio will imbibe.

For those wondering why two regular joes get to hang with President Obama, a bit of history: Two weeks ago, Gates and Crowley were embroiled in a controversy when Gates was arrested outside his own home. Gates alleged that the arrest was racially motivated, a charge that Crowley denied. President Obama jumped into the discussion, saying the police "acted stupidly" in arresting Gates.

President Obama has since apologized for his remarks and wants to turn the incident into a "teachable moment." What better way to learn than by drinking during class? The three participants won't be boozing up with the same brand, however. Gates will enjoy Red Stripe, a Jamaican brew. Crowley will reportedly drink Blue Moon. And the president? A man with simple tastes, he's scheduled to drink Bud Light. (What, Schlitz is too fancy?)

The threesome's beer choices has been dissected by experts, and sought out in Search. Queries on "blue moon beer" experienced the biggest spike, but "red stripe" also enjoyed a nice bump. Even Bud Light let out a belch in the Buzz, thanks to Obama's unofficial endorsement. What are the odds we'll see a Bud Light commercial featuring an Obama look-alike at next year's Super Bowl? Better than average, we'd say.

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