Home brew buzz VS commercial buzz

[kennyconley0269]

Unless you're one of the folks who think that vitamin C is a game changer.

Please note that I am not in any way suggesting that ascorbic acid causes hangovers, but rather that at least some preservatives are likely to be completely inocuous.

Do they really use ascorbic acid in commercial brewing? If so, Vitamin C is a potentiater of a lot of different drugs. Something to do with liver enzymes… It’s not impossible that it would affect the way the liver metabolizes ethanol. For example it could inhibit the conversion of acetyldehyde into acetate, which would certainly lead to more inebriation and hangover…

 

[mac_1103]

I was referring to a thread on this forum about using ascorbic acid as an anti-oxidant in homebrewing. But it is in fact commonly used as a preservative of all sorts of food and drink. I'm not sure about commercial breweries, but it's definitely used in commercial wineries, especially in white wines. I believe that the amounts used are pretty insignificant compared to normal dietary intake, so I tend to doubt that the amount in a glass of wine or a beer is altering the way anyone metabolizes the ethanol in that drink.

 

[Miraculix]

Well my hangovers never include a headache, but maybe you’re on to something. I was under the impression that if your pitch was adequate the yeast would clean up the fusels… but if not… I know at home I maintain a tight 68 throughout fermentation. Typical Colorado craft breweries may be more in the habit of fermenting ales at ambient room temp, which would rise quite a bit with a large batch of beer doing its thing…

Some yeasts can take higher temperatures without much fusels, like us05 for example. Some don't, like wlp002.

But once they are there in significant amounts, fusels won't be cleaned up by the yeast.

 

[Deric]

Now I’m drinking 5 gallons a week...

5 gallons per week = 40 pints per week = 5.7 pints per day

Maybe 20 7%ers is an over exaggeration but not by a lot.

Seems like a lot.

 

[JoeSpartaNJ]

One thing I have noticed, especially since I started kegging beer 10 plus years ago, is that one can lose track of their actual drink count.

When drinking commercial, usually there is a body count left behind with either cans or bottles, but when you are just pulling pints at home, one can certainly lose track of those. I have had my share of those mornings where you wake up a lot more damaged than you thought you would be. Then you have to start doing some math.

 

[Komodo]

One thing I have noticed, especially since I started kegging beer 10 plus years ago, is that one can lose track of their actual drink count.

Plus it’s your own tap, and I don’t know about you but I tend to give myself very healthy pours.

 

[JoeSpartaNJ]

Plus it’s your own tap, and I don’t know about you but I tend to give myself very healthy pours.

I very rarely ever give myself less than a full pour.......those are the rules.

 

[Airborneguy]

I’m actually the opposite. I tend to pour smaller so I can bounce around the taps more.

 

[Komodo]

I’ve only got one tap! I know, it’s heresy.

 

[odie]

I’ve only got one tap! I know, it’s heresy.

up your game...

 

[beersk]

One thing I have noticed, especially since I started kegging beer 10 plus years ago, is that one can lose track of their actual drink count.

When drinking commercial, usually there is a body count left behind with either cans or bottles, but when you are just pulling pints at home, one can certainly lose track of those. I have had my share of those mornings where you wake up a lot more damaged than you thought you would be. Then you have to start doing some math.

Man, this was, like, all of 2020 and 2021 for me. It took its toll on my mental health, that's for sure. I went back to using smaller glasses. The psychological affect is pretty powerful. Plus, like another said, you can bounce around taps more without getting f*cked up. Having said that, I still oftentimes give myself good healthy pours when I'm feeling like pounding some beers. And I've got 4 taps!

 

[Callacave]

I guess I should just speak for myself then. I started brewing 5 months ago. At that time I was drinking 3-7 IPAs a day and having varying degrees of hangover every morning. Now I’m drinking 5 gallons a week and haven’t had a hangover in 5 months. Based on comments I’ve read in this forum I thought that was a universal experience for home brewers but I stand corrected. Still there’s got to be some explanation. Maybe 20 7%ers is an over exaggeration but not by a lot.

Jesus, dude. That's an extremely excessive amount of brew. Maybe you're just in a perpetual state of hangover that you don't even notice it, and that becomes your baseline of "feeling ok"? Not trying to be your doctor, but damn... maybe take it easy on the 5 gallons a week?

 

[mac_1103]

That's an extremely excessive amount of brew.

But still less than half of what he originally claimed.

 

[Civilian]

OP didn't say how much hard stuff is consumed...

 

[kennyconley0269]

But still less than half of what he originally claimed.

I never claimed to drink 20 beers a night every night. Week nights 3 or 4. Friday and Saturday 15 or so, maybe 20 I don’t really count them, and I wasn’t trying to brag about it. I’m surprised this is so controversial in a brew forum. I know plenty of people who drink a suitcase of bmc in a sitting. Anyway this was supposed to be a scientific thread

 

[kennyconley0269]

5 gallons per week = 40 pints per week = 5.7 pints per day


Seems like a lot.

Don’t care what you think bro. It’s not uncommon at all for me to put away 20 beers. And when I say beers I mean 12oz beers, as compared to the beers you buy commercially at the beer store. And when I say 5 gallons a week, most of that is Friday and Saturday night. 15 or so in 8 hours is not even hard to do if you like beer. What’s hard is not drinking that much

 

[kennyconley0269]

One thing I have noticed, especially since I started kegging beer 10 plus years ago, is that one can lose track of their actual drink count.

When drinking commercial, usually there is a body count left behind with either cans or bottles, but when you are just pulling pints at home, one can certainly lose track of those. I have had my share of those mornings where you wake up a lot more damaged than you thought you would be. Then you have to start doing some math.

Righto friend. I actually stuck a dry erase thing on my keezer so I could tally my drinks but it took about 2 days to say f that. A I don’t need my wife judging me and 2 what’s the difference. I’m not going to cut myself off… and maybe I’m better off not knowing. This brewing thing is supposed to be fun, ammaright

 

[kennyconley0269]

Jesus, dude. That's an extremely excessive amount of brew. Maybe you're just in a perpetual state of hangover that you don't even notice it, and that becomes your baseline of "feeling ok"? Not trying to be your doctor, but damn... maybe take it easy on the 5 gallons a week?

There is probably some truth to that. I would imagine that my baseline is different from a completely sober person’s baseline. But also a serious hangover is impossible to miss. I used to get them, now I don’t. The amount of **** that I get done in a day I would put up against any sober normie out there. My body metabolizes my brew like it’s a life saving elixir. I don’t know why but I like it

 

[kennyconley0269]

OP didn't say how much hard stuff is consumed...

Hard stuff? Virtually none.

 

[dmtaylor]

I’m sure we can all agree that drinking homebrew is different than drinking commercially produced beer. The buzz for one seems a bit less disorienting and I can drink 20 of them in a night- yes even at 7% ABV and not have a hangover in the morning.

What are your hypotheses about why that is?

You're an alcoholic. Or from Australia.

Typical Colorado craft breweries may be…

Or from Colorado.

I never claimed to drink 20 beers a night every night. Week nights 3 or 4. Friday and Saturday 15 or so, maybe 20 I don’t really count them, and I wasn’t trying to brag about it. I’m surprised this is so controversial in a brew forum.

Seriously man, you're an extremist. Most homebrewers are in it for the craft, not for hangover-free binge sessions. Please be careful and never drink & drive.

 

[hbarsquared]

To me it sounds like you are increasing your alcohol consumption and becoming acclimated to it. This is dangerous, and it has nothing to do with any perceived difference between homebrew or commercial.

I've lost family members to alcoholism. You would be doing yourself and your loved ones a huge favor by taking a critical look at your relationship with alcohol.

 

[mac_1103]

It’s not uncommon at all for me to put away 20 beers.

I still don't believe you. Like I said, that's going to put your BAC in the 0.3 range, which is approaching unconsciousness no matter how acclimated you are.

 

[Airborneguy]

Not to pile on but I have to agree with the others. Twenty beers 1-2 nights a week, on top of daily consumption, is definitely going to affect your health. My 3-5 daily sometimes concerns me, even though I tend to brew 5% or below beers.

 

[bellhp]

Welcome to homebrew talk Kenny

 

[Quentin Nelson]

Original poster didn’t drink 20 7% beers, home brew or commercial. He just lost count after 4 or 5. If it was at a brewery and bar tab says 20, his friend drank 15 and had a good laugh.
Yes, commercial breweries put some terrible stuff in beer, such as sulfates. That’s why I rarely drink store-bought wine. Two ounces gives me a headache in less than 10 minutes. I’ve had a very few “craft” beers do the same, especially stouts. Fusel alcohol in garbage beer like Busch can do the same.

 

[Civilian]

If it was at a brewery and bar tab says 20, his friend drank 15 and had a good laugh.

No,that never happens

 

[kennyconley0269]

Say I was to modify my post to say I drink 6 beers and feel no hangover vs commercially produced craft beer… Then could we discuss reasons why this may be?

 

[kennyconley0269]

Original poster didn’t drink 20 7% beers, home brew or commercial. He just lost count after 4 or 5. If it was at a brewery and bar tab says 20, his friend drank 15 and had a good laugh.
Yes, commercial breweries put some terrible stuff in beer, such as sulfates. That’s why I rarely drink store-bought wine. Two ounces gives me a headache in less than 10 minutes. I’ve had a very few “craft” beers do the same, especially stouts. Fusel alcohol in garbage beer like Busch can do the same.

I 100% lost count after 4 or 5. My reason for guesstimating about 20 is A. 20 over the course of 8 hours is about 2.25 per hour which seems about right and B. If I tapped a 5 gallon keg on Friday and floated it on Wednesday and didn’t drink much during the week than I must’ve had about 2 gallons on Friday and a gallon and a half on Saturday… Also if my friend can have a laugh drinking 15 why can’t I?

That being said I wasn’t referring to piss beers. Craft is all I drink. If I pound 4 or 5 Voodoo Rangers at 7:5% in 2 hours I will wake up hungover af. If I pound 4 or 5 homebrews at 7.5% in hours I will wake up good to go. Not saying it’s not sulfates, could be

 

[kennyconley0269]

You're an alcoholic. Or from Australia.


Or from Colorado.


Seriously man, you're an extremist. Most homebrewers are in it for the craft, not for hangover-free binge sessions. Please be careful and never drink & drive.

Pretty funny coming from a Wisconsinite. The most alcoholic state in America. But yes I do enjoy my beers, and no I don’t drink and drive. And I am also 100% in it for the craft. I’m going to open a brewery and my beer is going to be so good that everyone is going to be drinking 20 beers a night. Even the stiffs up in Wisconsin

 

[kennyconley0269]

Welcome to homebrew talk Kenny

Haha where you go to get lectured on your drinking habits by a bunch of lightweight bootleggers eh? Thank you, It’s good to be here.