#384367 - 07/19/05 10:54 AM
Re: Alcoholism: How much is too much?
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phaeton
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Loc: Die Land Of Cheese Und Bier
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Berghoff is ok... it doesn't appear to be very popular where I'm at, so it might get lots of shelftime. It's kind of skunky like you'd expect from a german-inspired bier. Sometimes i have a taste for that, sometimes i don't. I tried their dark, and I would drink it again if there wasn't any Leinie's available. I'll have to check out the Wit Solstice. I like Weiss and Bock style beers.
I still have yet to try out the Blue Moon Belgian Ale that Tedster recommends.
A side note... New Glarus used to distribute in Iowa and Illinois but they decided about four years ago to maintain quality rather than grow production and pulled back their distribution to just Wisconsin.
In a way it's kind of a bummer, but on the other hand it makes lots of sense. New Glarus Brewing is truly a Wisconsin Treasure. Just like how Deschutes River Brewery is back home in Oregon.
Phaeton, if you ever get to Waukesha.....Discount Liquor.
Nuttin' wrong with some of those dirty ole dives. You'll find the best Mexican food in the filthiest of restaurants, for example.
I'll have to check it out. Maybe when we come back from the State Fair in a bit, i'll have to convince Sarah to make a quick detour for a Beer Run! 
----
Of course, what i really want to do, is brew my own. I've read up on it, i understand the process. I feel like i've accomplished more challenging things than brewing beer. You don't really save money this way, but AFAICT really fresh beer is really really good, and then there's the whole creativity thing. Just like music!
Sarah's dream is to get into a lil farm-ette type place- Kinda like what Tedster has. You know, 10 acres, couple of dogs, handful of goats, six-pack of chickens, maybe a donkey or a cow, all as pets. Sure, why not. If that's the case, then I'll grow my own wheat, barely and hops too... 
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Dr. Seuss: The Original White Rapper(tm)
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WWND?
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#384368 - 07/19/05 12:33 PM
Re: Alcoholism: How much is too much?
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PBBPaul
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I've brewed lots of beer. Some has been pretty good, lots of not so good. It does not save you any money but it is kinda fun.
I'm surprised that the Berghoff you've had was skunky. It must have been really old. I've never had any of their beer go bad on me. Of course it doesn't last real long around me either. 
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#384369 - 07/19/05 01:06 PM
Re: Alcoholism: How much is too much?
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phaeton
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I've brewed lots of beer. Some has been pretty good, lots of not so good. It does not save you any money but it is kinda fun.
Cool! Somehow this doesn't surprise me- you're kind of a DIY sort with other stuff....
I made wine once, as a teenager. The law dictates that you must be 21 or older to purchase alcohol, but nobody said anything about buying yeast, a pound of sugar, some jugs and spending the afternoon picking plums and apples off the trees in my yard. It didn't turn out so well, and i'm sure a lot of things factored into it, probably bacterial contamination moreso than anything...
My roommates just bought a house, and it appears to have a suitable basement (with a utility sink) for brewing. Thing is, i think they would really frown upon that. It'd probably stink up their house and such (nevermind their chain smoking) and then there's the problem of storing it- I wouldn't have a refrigerator at my disposal for keeping it cold (for drinkability and to keep it from spoiling, lest i pasteurize it)...
Anyways....
I'm surprised that the Berghoff you've had was skunky. It must have been really old.
That's what I figure. I looked for dates on it, but i couldn't find any. You know how some types of beer normally has just a tad of skunkiness to it. It can be kinda good in this manner, but the berghoff was REALLY skunky, like i was drinking it out of a rubber inner tube. I was pretty sure that was abnormal. I'll have to check out some 'fresher' stuff sometime. I have a feeling i'll like it.
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Dr. Seuss: The Original White Rapper(tm)
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WWND?
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#384370 - 07/19/05 02:38 PM
Re: Alcoholism: How much is too much?
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not Cereal
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Loc: FARGO NORTH DAKOTA
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sunday i drank all my beer. i had like 3 left in the fridge and drank them all before bedtime. all was well. monday went to work in the am, came home in the pm. felt like crap all day but it wasnt beer related. i think i got some bad food at the local burger king sunday night.
monday night i had planned to go work on my rv until dark, but instead went home and went to bed at 6pm. i slept a long time and when i woke up, i felt "ok" but not great. i ate some food and decided to take it easy for the night.
well, about 10pm i got a pretty nasty craving for beer. i mean, nasty. i had to have a beer. i had already decided against it so i went with my first instinct. normally this would not have been an issue, but for some reason i was REALLY jonesing for a beer.
finally at 10:30 after sitting on my hands for 1/2 hour, i decided to get ready for bed so would be less tempted to walk a block to the beer store. cant go without clothes eh?
this didnt work very well. still wanted beer. had a glass of tea. still wanted beer. had a glass of coke. still wanted beer. had a big plate of cantalope. for some reason, after the cantilope the beer craving went away. the rest of the night was beer-craving free.
weird huh?
the reason i didnt want to drink beer is that my tummy was really bothering me and i had way below normal energy all day. i thought beer would complicate this.
today i still dont feel all that well, but better. i still think i got some bad food at BK, although my appetite is back and i ate normal today.
but i dont have any desire for beer today.
i find this very odd.
usually i dont drink if i have a craving for it.
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#384371 - 07/19/05 03:11 PM
Re: Alcoholism: How much is too much?
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phaeton
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Registered: 11/21/01
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Loc: Die Land Of Cheese Und Bier
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That is kinda odd... canteloupe.... hmmm
At least you're better now, tho.... better for
NACHOS!!!
or something...
Did you initially feel like crap due to the health stuff you were struggling with last year? How's that coming?
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#384372 - 07/19/05 03:45 PM
Re: Alcoholism: How much is too much?
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not Cereal
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Loc: FARGO NORTH DAKOTA
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well THATS not much better and is a long story, but is not the reason i felt like crap. my tummy was bothering me and i had no energy, but breathingwise i am "ok" for now. could be and have been better but i am "functional" at the moment.
i have learned i am a severe case. right now i am in the middle of applying for assistance (i dont beleive in this, but i have no choice).
the docs have tried everything without success and nowwant to put me on an imuniglobin E blocker called xolair. this is reserved for severe cases only. BUT, it costs $1285 dollars a DOSE, and i need FOUR doses a month. i have to inject it in my arms myself. i really, REALLY dont like this and have severe doubts i can even do it. i honestly am scared out of my gourd.
last year, due to illness, i made about $5500 total. yeah, thats right, 55 HUNDRED. this is considerably less than i made when i was healthy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i'm in debt up to my eyeballs.
i'm working more THIS year, often 40hours/week and sound gigs on the weekends. so i am doing better financially but there are days i cannot do much at work. i can always stand behind a FOH console but moving stacks and racks into/outof trucks is difficult and sometimes not possible.
also getting home at 7am doesnt do me too well.
i stopped drinking completely when i do FOH about 2 years ago, before my health took the turn.
anyway the assistance program may pay for nearly all of the xolair. if it doesnt, i dont think i can buy it. i cant spend $60,000 a year on that stuff.
for now they have me on a semi-permanant dose of steriods, and you may remember my feelings on steroids. i hate them. they make me want to drink like a fish. they also make me want to smoke. its been 18 or 19months since i had a smoke.
mostly when i am not at work i try and stay busy. thats why i have been devoting so much time into the rv lately. keeping busy seems healthy and does feel good, plus i am accomplishing something.
that whol accomplishing thing, thats another thing. for the longest time i have held the beleif that i should not drink if i have not accomplished anything that day. i have friends that are hungover all day until 5pm and then start drinking. or i should say, HAD friends like that. i never could do that. i have the need to get something done. just going to work is not enough. i have to build something, mix something, clean the house, but get something big done. then i can have a couple beers. otherwise i dont enjoy them.
i really want to go work on my rv tonight after work. i had some major progress this weekend and want to start wraping up the closet area (that now has a fridge and small closet instead of the original big closet).
gotta do somethin. thank god i have health insurance.
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#384374 - 07/19/05 04:35 PM
Re: Alcoholism: How much is too much?
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Franky
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Registered: 12/11/03
Posts: 132
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Thanks for the info Phaeton! I have a friend in Madison that I would love to visit sometime. I'll have to stop at some of those cool spots in SW Wisconsin when I go there.
With so much Beer to choose from it might be difficult to choose which to bring back home. But I have a mini van so I should be able to bring back a lot. How long of a shelf life do those beers have?
Before I make a trip to Wisconsin I'll ask some liquor stores in Des Moines if they could carry New Glarus.
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#384376 - 07/19/05 04:50 PM
Re: Alcoholism: How much is too much?
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Franky
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If I do buy beer in Wisconsin to bring back I'll buy it directly from the brewery to make sure it's fresh.
I guess beer doesn't really age well like fine wine.
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#384378 - 07/20/05 04:29 AM
Re: Alcoholism: How much is too much?
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Franky
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I think you’re in the right ballpark. This is from Michael Jackson’s Beer Hunter. The article is titled “Best Drunk When Fresh”
“In America, where beers are sent very long distances and endure considerable changes of climate, the biggest brewer, Budweiser, insists that its product be removed form the shelves after three months. In Britain, brewers who wish to sell in supermarkets are obliged to guarantee the beer's stability for nine months. “
So I think your 6 to 12 month figure is in the right ballpark. I think beer should still be drinkable in this time period.
Michael Jackson also insists that the very best beer in the world is beer that is as fresh as possible.
In the best beer producing parts of Europe there is “a brewery in every village, the beer is as fresh as bread from a neighborhood bakery. This is especially true in Bavaria, a state with more than 800 breweries”
So I think this is why it is impossible for New Glarus and other microbreweries in Wisconsin to widen their distribution without sacrificing quality.
You can read the full article at
http://www.beerhunter.com/documents/19133-000096.html
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#384379 - 07/20/05 04:54 AM
Re: Alcoholism: How much is too much?
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Franky
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Registered: 12/11/03
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There are some exceptions to the fresh is best rule.
From Michael Jacksons Beer Hunter:
http://www.beerhunter.com/documents/19133-000096.html
There are, though, important exceptions: the minority of beers that are designed to mature in the bottle. "Best before" dates do not do justice to them, either.
These brews are either not filtered or pasteurised, or are given a dosage of fresh yeast and sugar in the bottle, so that they can have a slow further fermentation. They are not totally bright -- they have a yeast sediment -- but their flavours are lively and complex. These are less like fresh bread than mature fruitcake.
An example at a conventional alcohol content, such as Worthington White Shield or the Oddbins bottle-conditioned range, may develop for 18 months. A stronger one will hit its stride at five years, and can mature for 20 if kept in a dark, cool place (but not refrigerated).
This applies to many Belgian specialties, especially those from Trappist monasteries, and to products from Britain such as Gale's Prize Old Ale, Thomas Hardy's Ale or Courage's Imperial Russian Stout. The Campaign for Real Ale and similar organizations in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Scandinavia have been lobbying in Brussels for a European Community ruling in favour of bottling dates. They would like to get rid of unqualified "best before" dates, and have ingredient labeling.
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