Better Than I Remember

The Story Behind the Song

A Kid, a Bridge, and a Saltwater Town

Summer 1987. Craig Whitaker was just a kid wedged in the middle seat of a minivan, holding his breath as the family crossed the rickety old bridge into Wildwood, New Jersey. The AC went off. The windows went down. And the whole world smelled like the ocean.

"Better Than I Remember" isn't just a song — it's a postcard from a time when life was simple, summers were infinite, and the boardwalk felt like the center of the universe. Hunt's Pier. Keystone Cops. Carnival rides and Kohr Bros.

Decades later, Craig still finds himself on those same streets — now with his own family. And somehow, impossibly, it's all even better than he remembers.

Wildwood, NJ — circa 1985

A Collaboration Born for the Shore

Introducing Blue Claw
Lemon Lager

When Craig Whitaker sat down with the team at King's Road Brewing Company, they had one question: what does a perfect Shore summer taste like in a can?

The answer is Blue Claw Lemon Lager — bright, crisp, and finished with a splash of refreshing lemon. Brewed for long weekends, live music, and raising a can with friends while the band plays on.

Inspired by the song "Better Than I Remember."

From the Brewery

When King's Road Brewing Company teams up with Craig Whitaker of Blue Claw County, you know it's going to taste — and sound — like summer at the Shore. Inspired by Craig's song "Better Than I Remember," our new Blue Claw Lemon Lager captures that same easygoing nostalgia: sunshine on your face, salt in the air, and nights that somehow turn out even better than you expected.

Bright, crisp, and finished with a splash of refreshing lemon, Blue Claw Lemon Lager is brewed for long weekends, live music, and raising a can with friends while the band plays on. Just like the song, it's smooth, memorable, and made for moments you'll want to relive — because sometimes the second sip really is better than you remember."

— Bob Hochgertel, Founder, King's Road Brewing Company

The Beer

Blue Claw Lemon Lager

King's Road Brewing Company ×
Craig Whitaker

Style

Lemon Lager

Crisp & refreshing

Finish

Citrus

Bright lemon splash

Brewed For

Shore Season

Long weekends & live music

Pairs With

Boardwalk Nights

Sun on your face, salt in the air

Lyrics

Summer '87, I was just a kid
Holding my breath crossing that rickety old bridge
Middle seat mini van
Ocean waves coming into view
We turned off the AC, rolled the windows down
Just so we could taste the wind of that saltwater town
Sure don't seem that long ago, now all I know
Is all I wanna do, all I wanna do

Is take you to the bar at Surfside Pier
Wearing a Jersey Shore t-shirt and a Blue Claw beer
Slow dance you under those boardwalk lights
Kiss you at the top of a carnival ride
Oh I've been here a thousand times
But you make it feel like never
You make it better than I
Better than I remember

That bayside sundown sailor's sky
Never looked more beautiful than it does tonight
It's like a dream, you and me
Got Springsteen on the radio
I remember down here 1993
All the pretty girls just out of reach
Hey you know what I mean
But you ended up with me
And I ended up with you
So now there's only one thing left to do

Written by Craig Whitaker & Jason Blaine

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Behind the Song

Acoustic Performance

Coming Soon

A stripped-down acoustic take on "Better Than I Remember" — just Craig, a guitar, and the song the way it started.

The Making Of

Coming Soon

Behind the scenes of the collaboration — from the first conversation with King's Road to the finished beer.