Alcohol

[TheMightyEthan]

As long as the ultimate goal of getting hammered is accomplished I won't be too upset. Though I do worry about people who drink things like Smirnoof due to the high sugar content and how easily they dehydrate you and give you a terrible hangover.

 

Yeah, stuff like Smirnoff Ice and Mike's Hard taste delicious, but there's so much sugar that I can only get through about 1 1/2 of them before my stomach starts to hurt.

[Mal]

After my comment in the US Politic thread, I think I should figure out what types of beer I like and I do not like. Main reason is I eventually would like to play around with homebrewing my own beer since I love to make my own food and drinks. For example, I don't think I can go back to most store bought ginger ale after making my own. If you're interested in my ginger ale adventure, check the spoilers.

 

 

 

I tried it with two different kind of yeasts that do indeed changes the flavor and mouth feel.

 

EC-1118 makes for a drier but more potent (in ginger taste) ginger ale. Not that sweet.

Safale US-05 makes for less sharp and sweeter ginger ale.

 

They are indeed alcoholic but barely. You'll have to drink the entire 2 liter bottle to MAYBE equal to about one can of beer. If I could test it, I would.

 

 

 

As for beer, I can say with certainty that my favorite beer right now is Firestone Walker's Solace, a wheat beer. It is flat out amazing. Their DBA, an English Pale Ale, is fantastic as well but it shares something with the following. For something that I stay the hell away from, it would be things like Firestone Walker's Union Jack, an American Indian Pale Ale. It taste like piss.

 

With me typing this out, I am starting to think its certain hops flavor that I can't quite agree with. I can maybe start narrowing it down further by pulling up more beers that I have tried.

[Faiblesse Des Sens]

I've had Union Jack and can't remember if it was overly hoppy or not. It doesn't seem like it in my mind. That's what can turn a lot of people off: When beers get too hoppy.

[TheRevanchist]

On topic and off topic at the same time!

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2011/dec/23/six-video-game-cocktails

[Mal]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/08/29/ale-chief-white-house-beer-recipe

 

Oh... sounds good. Knowing how different honey can bee depending on whats plants its based off of, I am wondering what plants the bees collect from. Also, I demand a bottle of each as part of my tax refund. Well, anyways I will need more equipment to even start to do my own beer.

[WTF]

I've been drinking a lot of single malts lately. Too many double shots of single malt too - It's a fricking expensive habit.

Honestly though I feel like we once had a thread about booze cause I'm sure I've told people about my dislike for most beers with the exception nice vintage ales and brews. Now those are good. Generally though I've had all sorts of alcohol throughout my life [My father once told me when I was 16 that I should try them all while I was in uni, else I was likely to stick to one drink and get addicted and he actually had a fair point there] and even had a few drinks named for me in my favourite pubs XD - hasn't happened yet in London but i'm going to make it happen (hopefully) lol.

[Faiblesse Des Sens]

I wish I had the money to drink scotch regularly. I really do enjoy the peaty taste. I have a friend who works at a bar and gave me some Johnnie Walker Green Label and some Laphroaig 10 year. The Laphroaig was fantastic. The JW was enjoyable but not as much as the Laphroaig.

[Mr. GOH!]

Laphroaig is tasty. I've been alternating between single malts and bourbon lately. I'm a whiskey and whisky man these days. Though I have had some great ciders, too.

[MasterDex]

Have any of you tried Middleton Very Rare? It's a once a year release and you can see the starting price. I like my pure pot whiskeys, and Irish whiskeys in general. I find when you're concerned about price, they offer the best quality in the lower bracket but even when you go to the expensive bottles, the taste is still better than other types. Cheap scotch can be a horrible thing, as can cheap bourbon but some nice examples of how to do it right in both camps out there - Glenfiddich and Macallan for Scotch and I can't remember the names of any good bourbons but that's because I rarely drink them.

 

How do ye drink your whiskey?

[Faiblesse Des Sens]

^That site did not even begin to fuck around with letting me in. I'm impressed that they put up such a comprehensive message about it.

 

Anyways, low end scotch and bourbon can be REALLY bad, especially scotch. If I'm going cheap I'll just get a Canadian blend since it doesn't have the bite but still at least tastes like whiskey.

 

In America at least, neither Glenfiddich or Macallan are cheap, at all. They're more expensive than mid-tier bourbons like Maker's Mark. I've had both of those, and they're miles ahead of Clan McGregor and other terrible low-end scotches I've had.

 

 

Years ago I drank my whiskey with water. With cheap canadian shit I still do. I think it enhances the smell (and the flavor to a degree because of it.) Never was really okay with ice. I also don't like my beer ice old like most Americans. When I drink scotch and (at least decent) bourbon I drink it straight.

Edited September 14, 2012 by Faiblesse Des Sens

[MasterDex]

Similar to myself then. If it's a cheap whiskey I'll probably add a bit of water or ice but if it's any way decent, I'll drink it straight.

[Mal]

Just tried a Firestone Walker's 805, a blonde ale. Not bad! I can drink it cold or room temp.

 

With that said, I plan on going with some folks to this: http://oaktoberfest.com/

Perhaps I can try FW's oaktoberfest there since no bottled one exist.

[Mal]

http://foodbeast.com/content/2012/10/27/warning-the-worlds-strongest-beer-is-stronger-than-vodka/

This drink isn't beer yo! They're fermenting then freezing and then removing the ice. They do this till they get up to 130 proof. Still though, I wonder how it taste like.

[Faiblesse Des Sens]

Shit, I would assume.

[TheRevanchist]

Advent calendar for the whiskey lover in your life.

 

http://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/drinks-by-the-dram/the-whisky-advent-calendar/

[Mal]

Apparently I'm the Asian Master Race since I don't get the Asian Glow. Add in the facts that I'm quiet, remain quiet while drunk and in theory can down a shit ton of drinks (Seems like there's binge drink/alcoholism in my family).

 

In other news... stouts are fantastic. So at the moment I got a ranking by (very) general type.

1. Stouts/Porters
   
2. Wheat
   
3. Lagers
   
4. Ales
   

I paired up stouts and porters since they're pretty similar. The stout I am drink right now was kind of hard to find since it seems that only a handful of stores carry it. I'm currently trying to find this one for Turkey Day:

Barrel aged, blended beer. If it turns out good, I'm getting another one for Christmas and maybe sending one to my brother (I should look up the laws, never sent alcohol before).

[Faiblesse Des Sens]

Add in the facts that I'm quiet, remain quiet while drunk and in theory can down a shit ton of drinks

 

None of these are a good thing.

 

Anyways, jesus, 13%? Firestone Walker has pretty good stuff so if it's still around when I have more cash I'll see if I can get it at my local specialty shop.

[Mal]

I know. That why it sort of scares me that I could be an alcoholic in the making. Main reason why I hold very firm to a max 3 drinks rule. So I never pushed my limit.

 

I'm quite in the dark on how much these special ones cost since I never seen them.

[Faiblesse Des Sens]

I would assume they're quite pricy based on the ABV and how they're an anniversary edition. Barley Wines are the only things I ever see get that high and those are always quite expensive.

[Mal]

After drinking FW beers and such... light beers (Bud Light) are really like water.

 

Also trying an Anchor Steam Beer. Not sure what exact style it is. Just says "beer".

Edited November 23, 2012 by MaliciousH

[FredEffinChopin]

I've worked in a liquor store for a (far too) long time, and my tastes have moved around a lot over that time, first expanding greatly, and then narrowing drastically. Some of that has to do with the fact that I started to have a nasty reaction to many types of drinks (just about anything mixed, and certain syrupy products tend to get me red-faced and short of breath, which leads me to believe that diabetes is on my doorstep. Hooray!). Aside from those restrictions, my tastes for types of booze solidified, and my preference for brands effectively (not completely) went out the window.

 

So I lean towards dark stuff. Scotch, bourbon, that Tennessee sour mash which shall remain nameless, brandy/cognac... Even the cheap stuff is alright with me. I'm one of those "I want my poison to taste like poison" people (IMO every taste for straight booze is at least somewhat acquired if not tolerated, and always has a hint of "I'm eating your insides alive", no matter how it's been aged or blended), so even when I'm not drinking something whose qualities I'm especially appreciative of, I'm content as long as it resembles whiskey. A few glasses in and it stops mattering altogether. On that note, I can drink just about anything straight with minimal protest from my tastebuds. I'm one of the only people I know who has worked on glasses of gin or vodka when (I felt) the occasion called for it.

 

Dry, red wine. Thick, dark brew, though I can work with most.

 

Re: Drink temperature

Supposedly a drink's flavor is stronger when it's served warm. From what I understand, it's why a cognac glass is shaped the way it is; so that the heat from a hand holding it from underneath will warm the liquid from the bottom. It makes sense when you see how many people demand that their beer be cold. I know someone who drinks warm cola for that reason. I can't say I've noticed a great difference myself, but I'm usually drinking whiskey at room temperature anyway. Occasionally I'll take a cube or two of ice in my scotch or something. Generally though, in the past couple of years I don't drink very frequently at all.

[madbassman39]

My friend bought some Blue Label to celebrate his California Bar results (he bought it ahead of time to either celebrate or forget his woes, he luckily got to celebrate). He shared some with me, a person who drinks beer, beer and more beer. I can start to taste the difference between good and bad vodkas, almost between good and bad wines, and even some rums (!). Scotch, whiskey, and bourbon I cannot tell the difference between the good, the bad and the ugly.

 

Anyhow, Blue Label was lost on me. The only difference between that and other bottles was that it didn't quite burn when I smelled it. I tried to appreciate it like he was, but I couldn't.

 

I went back to drinking my cervesa and eating tacos

[Faiblesse Des Sens]

Don't worry, Blue Label is nothing but an incredibly overpriced, not very good blended Scotch.

Edited November 28, 2012 by Faiblesse Des Sens

[Mal]

Then give me all you (Everybody) recommendation. Be it anything besides beer. I think I'm on the tail end of my beer episode for now so I want something else. For example... I don't know single thing about wines. I know the difference between whites and reds but like hell I know how the grape variety will effect how the wine is.

[Faiblesse Des Sens]

I'm not a wino but an easy way to start is just trying different grapes and regions. Just like with beer you just need to experience a wide variety. You don't have to worry about food pairing just yet. Also with table wine you have mixed types of grapes and if you're actually ordering table wine somewhere they should damn well know how to recommend you something.