Alcohol

[Mal]

I made some lemoncello with unfiltered vodka. Its not bad but the aftertaste reminds me of medicine... maybe I should have had filtered the vodka and perhaps I can dilute the lemoncello with some water/vodka. The simple syrup I made might have been too concentrated.

 

Up next on my list of alcoholic creation... mead. I just have to ask the old couple who sells honey at the Farmer's Market if they can sell me a larger container of honey or a slight volume discount. Hell, I can grab the honey myself...

 

Also, honey whiskey is damn good.

Edited April 29, 2012 by MaliciousH

[Mercurial]

I just need like 3 bottles of these

[Little Pirate]

UV Cake is not as tasty as it sounds... Glad this was half price because this is gonna take me a while.

[TheFlyingGerbil]

it must be bad because it does not sound at all tasty.

[Thursday Next]

Makes me think of Urinal Cake. Which is probably not at all tasty...

[Alex Heat]

People are always shocked that I don't like beer, and I say "It tastes bad." The respond "it's an acquired taste", to which I reply "Why would I drink something that tastes bad in order to make it eventually taste good, when I can just drink things that taste good to start with?"

 

I know that there's probably a helluva lot of people who don't enjoy beer, but it is incredibly nice to see someone else vocalize it for a change. If I ever go out for drinks with anyone or even discuss drinks, it is kind of quite to devolve into 'WHAT THAT'S CRAZY ALEX BEER IS AWESOME!'.

 

Can't I just drink Creme de Cacao and milk or UV Blue and Lemonade forever? I think I could.

[P4: Gritty Reboot]

In Defense of the Holy Beverage

 

I grew up in a religious household (and am in fact still religious myself), and American Protestantism, depending on the denomination, often frowns on alcohol consumption. This belief ignores the total absence of any admonition against drinking in the Bible or throughout church history (Jesus' first miracle wasn't turning water into grape juice!). My parents are a fine example of this kind of thinking: they're teetotalers, and while they don't knock or judge those who do drink, beer, wine, and spirits aren't something I grew up with a working knowledge of.

 

Now when I got married and came of age, I dabbled with various drinks: mixes, shots, wines, champagnes, and the like. One time, I tried a beer, a Corona. It was awful, and I ended up throwing most of it out. Following this experience, I avoided beer for the most part, though I would have the odd Bud or Miller piss-water can when at a party, barbecue, or what have you. I still wasn't a huge fan of most other drinks either, with the exception of the occasional fruity drink or malt beverage, and I hated taking shots as I wasn't trying to get drunk.

 

One fateful Sunday afternoon, the wife and I purchased a couch at a now-defunct Levitz furniture store. It was a great couch at a fantastic price, but that's a story for another time (I'll even make a mental note to start a "Furniture" topic). The salesman, who uncannily resembled Matt Damon, was amiable. As Damon was finalizing the paperwork for us, somehow we got on the subject of beer, and my wife volunteered, "My husband hates beer. He says it tastes like urine."

 

Damon was visibly shocked. I even caught a glimpse of pain in his eyes, similar to expressions he used in The Bourne Supremacy. Wanting to make things right, I offered, "I'd be willing to try it again; I guess I just haven't found the beer that I like." This seemed to improve his spirits a bit, and he suggested that I try a Newcastle the next time I was in the mood for downing a few, and I thanked him for the advice.

 

As we drove our new sectional home in a friend's truck, we stopped at the local Albertson's and picked up a six-pack of the stuff. It was tinted a rich reddish-brown, unlike other beers I had tried. We packed it in the cab and continued home, where we set to work assembling the couch with the easy-to-follow instructions. Within a short time, I was relaxing on my new couch, feet up on our secondhand coffee table and my first, fateful bottle of ale in front of me.

 

I popped the bottle cap off with an opener and took a swig. Thoughtfully, I took another, and another, until I had polished off the drink in its entirety. I sat quietly, brow furrowed, lips smacking, breath slow and measured. The world stood still, awaiting my reaction. Birds ceased their chirping and children their play as I prepared to hand down my judgement upon the drink of brown and red.

 

I won't pretend I was instantly sold. Yet, finishing the beer without at any point wanting to pour the stuff down a drain was, in retrospect, a turning point for me. It was full and at times bitter, but there were moments of delight too: a passing hint of nuttiness, a fleeting taste of coffee or caramel. Maybe there was something to this drink of both kings and peasants alike from ages past.

 

In the months and years that were to follow, I began to expand my tastes from relatively light ales like the ale from Newcastle to darker fare like Guinness, fine lagers like Stella Artois, and smooth golds like Boddington's. Sometime along the ride--I'm not sure when--I started to seriously enjoy myself. Making a new find, whether a classic consumed by millions or a local microbrew, became a joy and a triumph. I read up on pouring and the correct type of glass and temperature to serve with each type of ale, lager, and stout.

 

While many people my age see beer as a one-way ticket to drunksville, for me, it turned into something more sacred. It was a way of enjoying the bounty of the earth, of experiencing different regions' unique flavors and character. The beer says something about the beer's maker, and I like that. Rather than grabbing a 36-pack of Keystone for a party, I'll peruse the store for the latest seasonal or a micro made by a small business owner ten miles from my house. Selecting a drink to match with dinner is a fun, risky adventure that sometimes succeeds, and sometimes takes a turn for the worse. Reading up on the history of the region and brewery enriches and enlivens the experience, bringing something to beer drinking that can't be had with mixed drinks and the like.

 

I'm not saying beer's for everyone, but I just wanted to share my story and with some luck show non-beer-drinkers a little glimpse into why it's so well-loved. It's a journey, not just a drink.

 

--

 

Also, for anyone wanting to try a fantastic beer, pour a Saison Dupont and let her rip.

[TheRevanchist]

I'm not a big beer fan, as I only buy it for guests and to put out fires on the grill. But I would say that brands and style do make a difference in taste.

 

Not to say my tastes completely eliminate beer from consumption. Guinness is one such beer that I can stand when used properly. You see, there is a drink, an Irish car bomb, which goes down smooth and has a great flavor. I have only had it on an occasion, but the drink was good in flavor all the way through, despite how you drink it doesn't allow it much time in the mouth.

 

So, even if you don't like beer, an Irish car bomb is the drink to try. And I'm not one for the taste of alcohol.

 

Note: Much apologies for any social insensitivities the name of the drink contains. If the drink has a more socially acceptable name, please let me know and I will start to use that name instead.

[TheMightyEthan]

I will say, one time I was at a party and had a beer that I absolutely freaking loved. It tasted like drinking a loaf of bread, in the best way possible. To this day I have not ever been able to figure out what my mystery wonder-beer was (I drank it from a cup), and that makes me sad.

[Thursday Next]

Yeah, that doesn't have an appropriate name. I'd avoid ordering it in Ireland, or asking for the ingredients and when asked making up a different name.

[Mal]

I'll be giving making ginger beer and ginger ale a shot since I won't be getting a good amount of honey anytime soon for my mead experiment. Not sure if I can make the ginger stuff alcoholic but I'll be trying.

 

Another thing... for some reason Rite Aid has waaaaaaaaay cheaper alcohol than a regular grocery store... a bottle of Jack Daniel's honey whiskey there is around $16-$18. Albertsons has it for $26. Its really odd.

[Faiblesse Des Sens]

>flavored whiskey

>anything Jack Daniels

 

you sicken me.

[Mal]

Its tasty and cheap enough for a near daily drink.

 

Does it make you feel better that I have a bottle of Johnnie Walker? This one I have for a Friday or something.

[Faiblesse Des Sens]

It tastes like whiskey that is much cheaper. I've made the Smirnoff comparison before. You pay for their marketing campaigns with the price.

 

Let's not even get into the scotch conversation...

[Mal]

Okay. I can say for sure that I don't like pale ale.

[Strangelove]

I've been drinking Murphy's Irish Stout all week. I love it.

[MasterDex]

Jaysus, haven't heard that brand in years. It's not sold around Ireland much anymore. You'd probably find a tap in a few pubs in Cork but ya'd be lucky to even find a single can in most off-licences anywhere else.

 

I'm not a big beer fan, as I only buy it for guests and to put out fires on the grill. But I would say that brands and style do make a difference in taste.

 

Not to say my tastes completely eliminate beer from consumption. Guinness is one such beer that I can stand when used properly. You see, there is a drink, an Irish car bomb, which goes down smooth and has a great flavor. I have only had it on an occasion, but the drink was good in flavor all the way through, despite how you drink it doesn't allow it much time in the mouth.

 

So, even if you don't like beer, an Irish car bomb is the drink to try. And I'm not one for the taste of alcohol.

 

Note: Much apologies for any social insensitivities the name of the drink contains. If the drink has a more socially acceptable name, please let me know and I will start to use that name instead.

 

I've heard of the drink before but it wouldn't be very well known over here. If you were over here, I doubt there'd be too much problem calling it what it is, unless you were close to the border/over the border. We have a few bomb type cocktails, one of the most popular is the Jagerbomb, just Jagermeister bombed with Red bull. I'd say if you were ever over here and wanted to order an Irish Car Bomb, the best thing to do would be to frame it so they know it's a cocktail.

Edited August 4, 2012 by MasterDex

[Little Pirate]

Bailey's Minis seem to sit pretty well with me lately. I need to avoid bourbon, whiskey, and beer because they tend to give me coughing fits...It could just be because of how strong the drink is, but Bailey's have 17% so I'm not sure if that's the case. I miss my booze...

[TheFlyingGerbil]

baileys is nice but I can't drink much - it's really filling. Also all the different flavours they've introduced are all gross.

 

If you like creamy liqueurs you should try frangelico (hazelnut) or kahlua (coffee) cream liqueurs.

 

From your post I can't tell if you're drinking or not (or just if you shouldn't?) so I'll make a non alcoholic suggestion. Almond syrup and milk is 100% scrumptious.

[P4: Gritty Reboot]

Been a while since I've had a good hearty beer. Maybe tonight is the night.

[Waldorf and Statler]

Anybody here can't drink liquor anymore?

 

As in, I can't enjoy whisky or rum unless it's in a mixed drink with something like juice or coke that takes away most of the flavor. I'm such a beer guy now.

 

Lager Lager Lager, Sam Adams Wheat beer.

[P4: Gritty Reboot]

I've never much enjoyed hard alcohol, either in mixed drinks or in shots. I can handle a little tequila and the odd mix, but I'm all about the beer.

[FMW]

It is summer, and summer is the time for Gin and Tonic. I actually prefer it without lime (heresy, I know). I like them to be cold, be light on the gin, and not to have ice.

 

If all those conditions are met and I can sip it during a warm/hot evening, it is a transcendent experience.

[MasterDex]

In Ireland, that's considered a woman's drink. I've never, ever seen a man order it.

[Faiblesse Des Sens]

In Ireland, that's considered a woman's drink. I've never, ever seen a man order it.

 

What a progressive country.