Your favourite drink?

**Paul** · 28th January 10, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by NewEnglander

That's something I've never heard before. Hops have been used for centuries to counteract the sweetness of malt (ie bitter the brew) and also help preserve beers. But if by "traditional" you mean ancient, proto-beers like gruit then it'd be true, though the mixture of herbs used in those beverages had the same function as hops, which hadn't been domesticted yet, I believe.

Or it this just might be another case of differences in American vs British English...

I'm not a great expert on alcohol. I may well have picked up on a few things in visits to breweries and distorted the facts. It was in my mind that even now-a-days "real ales" don't use hops in the process. My brain may have made that up though, as there's a small section that never gets used and needs to think of something to keep itself occupied

**NewEnglander** · 28th January 10, 06:50 PM

Originally Posted by Paul.

My brain may have made that up though, as there's a small section that never gets used and needs to think of something to keep itself occupied

I avoid that problem by giving that pesky part of my brain something to drink.
You need to find some beer by BrewDog. If you don't like it, send it my way...(because I sure as all heck can't get ahold of it over here)

**jkane** · 29th January 10, 06:53 PM

Originally Posted by Paul.

I'm not a great expert on alcohol. I may well have picked up on a few things in visits to breweries and distorted the facts. It was in my mind that even now-a-days "real ales" don't use hops in the process. My brain may have made that up though, as there's a small section that never gets used and needs to think of something to keep itself occupied

I think the question is your definition of a "real ale"?

If you define all ales as being beers, then modern beers need hops. That is the preservative. However ... you may have heard that they many breweries are using hop oils like a concentrate, and not the hop cones so much now. Still hops, just not whole ones. There are a few places starting to use man made chemicals that are based on what makes a beer bitter. However, those still don't give up the hop aroma, so some real hops still are needed.

If you do not consider an "ale" a beer, then I am really curious of an example of an Ale. Like a commercial brand name "ale" so I can understand what they you might be referring to. Like McEwans Scotch ALE. Is that an ale?

**berserkbishop** · 30th January 10, 10:21 PM

I chose wine because it is what I most often drink. Give me a nice glass of cabernet sauvignon and I am satisfied. That being said, I have a bottle of Glenlivet in my cabinet and love many beers. I am also surprised that there arent more wine drinkers here!

Bishop

GG · 30th January 10, 11:20 PM

I answered wine, but that is if we are generally speaking.

If you mean something to be consumed out of a dinner context it is whisky.

Greg

**Lokishadow** · 30th January 10, 11:37 PM

It's awesome. Scotch-style dark beer, sold by the (English) pint, 8% alcohol, and the only dark beer I like. Yum!

Now, if you're talking hard liquor, it has to be MacCallan 18 year Scotch. The only whiskey of any variety I can sip straight at any temperature, though I prefer it on the rocks. Oh, and that's also the only liquor I won't mix. Neat or on the rocks, thanks. Anything else is sacrilege, especially at $160 a fifth.

-Loki

**Marie Ann Harding** · 31st January 10, 01:53 AM

had to say other because i'm a dispicable, untrustworthy.. "non-drinker" ...pouts..

**Sigismond** · 31st January 10, 03:28 AM

Actually, whisky, single malts. I drink with great pleasure Caol Ila or Laphroaig... Pure sensations !

**Teufel Hunden** · 31st January 10, 10:58 PM

My ABSOLUTE favorite drink ever is 21 year old Glenlivet. But, I generally reach for the more affordable 12 year variety.

Wines would be a close second for me. I like a wide range of different wines, and enjoy trying new ones all the time with my girlfriend. I also brew my own Mead, which is also pretty high on my list.

In my younger days I used to drink a lot of beer, but now the only two I drink at all (which isn't terribly often) are Guinness and Boddington's. I think they're great beers, but nothing tops a good Scotch on the rocks for me.

**B. Somm** · 1st February 10, 07:02 AM

I voted "other" since I've never cared for the taste of alcohol. Give me soda any day!

As for the "beer" debate...

I've always thought of "beer" as the stuff we have here in the U.S., Bud, Coors, Miller, etc. My dad always drank Black Label when I was a kid and he'd let me have a taste of it if I asked.

To me "ale" would be the stuff that you'd get over in Germany, Europe, England, etc. If I were to ever go overseas, then I wouldn't mind having a taste of a 'real ale' just to see what it is like.

Everyone always raves about Guinness and one of these days I'll ask someone if I could have a taste, as I've always wondered what it tasted like.

Being a middle ages re-enactor, I've had tastes of some home-made meads that were rather tasty...a honey/lemon mead that some friends in Tucson made comes to mind! There are several folks who make their own ale, but I've never really had a desire to try it, as I can't get past the smell.

B.