Why does Homebrew seem to get me so buzzed? :)

[motleybrew]

I noticed this, but not just limited to homebrew. If I have a Coors (not lite, and flame away, it's nice to have one once in a while), and then a similar ABV, but darker/hoppier beer, the latter will definitely get me more buzzed. I think there is something to the "hop euphoria." Most of the time, a darker/hoppier beer just seems to hit me harder than a crystalline, light beer.

 

[Tippsy-Turvy]

Could it be you're producing higher carbonation levels than what's typical in commercial beers? I'm referring to the "champagne" effect where the greater fizz causes greater buzz.

I too get a bigger kick from my brews but that might simply be because it's so damn yummy that I'm gulping the delicious stuff down too quickly!

 

[plankbr]

And i just found out that bottle carbonation adds 0.25% bump in ABV. Who knew???

 

[Psycotte]

http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_hops.htm

There's an interesting link that explains quite a bit about the herbal uses of hops. Coincidentally it has long been used as a treatment for insomnia. Who knew. Explains why I crashed so hard on the couch.

 

[BeerGrylls]

http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_hops.htm

There's an interesting link that explains quite a bit about the herbal uses of hops. Coincidentally it has long been used as a treatment for insomnia. Who knew. Explains why I crashed so hard on the couch.

Awesome link, thanks for sharing. I learn something new every day. I guess hops have been found to contain dimethylvinyl carbinol, which is believed to be a sedative or hypnotic. This becomes more pronounced as the hops age. Interesting! :cross:

Also, through similar research I've found that hops oils contain 5-15% caryophyllene, which is a agonist for the CB2 cannabinoid receptors. These aren't highly present in the brain, but rather in the body. That's why we can have plenty of hops and feel the "hop relaxation" without feeling like we've just smoked something. I guess there really may be something to this hop euphoria. For me, a good hoppy beer makes me relaxed.

Funny enough, caryophyllene oxide is the compound that drug-sniffing dogs key in on. I guess it's wise not to walk through the airport with a bag of hops unless you fancy a deep cavity search.

 

[Psycotte]

Awesome link, thanks for sharing. I learn something new every day.

Me Too! A silly thread actually turns into a bonafide discussion which results in learning. Gotta love it!

 

[chawagi]

http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_hops.htm

There's an interesting link that explains quite a bit about the herbal uses of hops. Coincidentally it has long been used as a treatment for insomnia. Who knew. Explains why I crashed so hard on the couch.

That's pretty neat. I was just having this discussion a few weeks ago with a friend of mine about the difference in effects of HB v. Commercial. The first thing I noticed right from the start when getting into HB is that the buzz is completely different. It was more of a pleasant relaxing feeling as opposed to the nauseating effect of a commercial buzz. I also noticed that I would wake up very early in the mornings after consuming HB and feel very serene and refreshed.

Now I know why.

 

[Nightshade]

Point taken although you won't catch me drinking Coors when I go out. Maybe a nice Oatmeal Stout or something else yummy on tap. Even still, the homebrew seems to treat me differently. I must just be a little crazy. LOL

The other variable may be environmental.

Out at a bar you try to resist the "buzz" a lot more or are more aware of other things going on such as conversation, music, game etc. which means you are somewhat passively active so the alcohol works through your system differently.

At home you are on your own ground with no restrictions and very few if any distractions, you also know you won't have to drive and can let go a bit more than you would at the bar.

Effects of alcohol on a person can be as much a psychological response as it is a physical one.

 

[bob1852]

Also keep in mind our homebrewing way of calculating ABV (OG-FG * 131 or whatever formula you use) isn't the same as a commercial breweries process. Our 5.5% beer may be different than their 5.5% beer...

Plus, you tend to drink good homebrew faster.

 

[Psycotte]

Plus, you tend to drink good homebrew faster.

+1 on this!

 

[hou_me]

HB doesn't seem to hit me any harder than commercial beer, but the buzz is softer and I never get a hangover. My wife gets a buzz much faster on my HB than commercial stuff, and some of my friends do too. Maybe it's different for everyone.

-ben

 

[Keith66]

Maybe hops is my problem. Like I said earlier, my HB hits me LESS than commercial. I hate bitter beer, and I'm not wild about hops in general; just a slight hop flavor and aroma does it for me. I tend to brew less hoppy beer styles (traditional German and Belgian), and tone down the bitterness even more by postponing the bittering hops a little. I figured HB ABV = commercial ABV, but apparently hops make a noticeable difference.

 

[forstmeister]

There is absolutely no difference between the beer you make and beer produced commercially. The same ingredients and processes are used. It's nothing more than a placebo effect and user bias.

 

[Keith66]

Mine doesn't have a "Born on" date.

 

[BreezyBrew]

The only difference I have experienced is the last time I ate.

 

[Psycotte]

there is absolutely no difference between the beer you make and beer produced commercially. The same ingredients and processes are used. It's nothing more than a placebo effect and user bias.

booooo!

 

[fuzzy2133]

Hops can be a mild sedative.

I have heard that one too. Even read about a brew-master taking along a co-worker to get fresh hops so he does not fall asleep on the return trip. I will admit I get far more relaxed at night with one HB compared to one commercial craft brew.

 

[Keith66]

There is absolutely no difference between the beer you make and beer produced commercially. The same ingredients and processes are used. It's nothing more than a placebo effect and user bias.

How about filtering vs not filtering? (minor trub, hops, yeast in the beer)

Force-carbing vs bottle-carbing? (same as above)

Labeling regulations for ABV vs no requirements for home consumption? (earlier comment about labeling "no greater than" 5%, but could be less)

Just asking.

 

[rklinck]

Labeling regulations for ABV vs no requirements for home consumption? (earlier comment about labeling "no greater than" 5%, but could be less)

With due respect to the prior poster, this simply is not true. Haven't you heard that there is a class action lawsuit against some of the big boys because the alcohol content was slightly lower than what was on the label. The listed ABV does not have to be exact because you will have some variance from batch to batch, but it has to be within the ballpark. The suggestion that there will be a beer labeled as 6% that is only 4% of lower is ridiculous.

 

[Jonfp]

Is "buzzed" American for 'pissed' ie. drunk and inder the unfluence of alcofrol?

Homebrew does that. Usually due to the proximity of the jug in your fridge to your comfy chair or, in my case the lappy. Its a lot easier to get to than the pub or bar, erstwise your going to use it more.

cheers

Jonfp

 

[NickTheGreat]

Is "buzzed" American for 'pissed' ie. drunk and inder the unfluence of alcofrol?

Homebrew does that. Usually due to the proximity of the jug in your fridge to your comfy chair or, in my case the lappy. Its a lot easier to get to than the pub or bar, erstwise your going to use it more.

cheers

Jonfp

Sure is. And in the US (at least) pissed is what happens when you need to make more room in your bladder for beer . . .

 

[Psycotte]

Sure is. And in the US (at least) pissed is what happens when you need to make more room in your bladder for beer . . .

No. I disagree. Pissed is what happens when you drink Jack Daniels. Lol

 

[AndMan3030]

well, when you go out and drink 5 beers, are those some 5 beers 5.75% abv (with the priming) over 4 hours?

Not me! When i go out, i rarely see a 6%ish beer in the typical restaurants/pubs we have around her. Coors, for example, clocks in at 5% or so and i rarely drink 5 of them in 4 hours. But at home, i'll keep having just a little more and many of my beers are ipas in the 6%ish range.

I'm making a real effort to make more beers in the 4-5% range so that i can enjoy them without getting buzzed.

coors light?!?!? Come on yooper!!!

 

[moscoeb]

I definitely notice a difference, homebrew gets me buzzed quicker. Most of my friends say something about it too. Dunno what it is, I always thought is could be the freshness of the beer.

 

[forstmeister]

How big are your pours? I drink from a keg at home and have better pours than I often get in a bar. Therefore more beer per glass equals more beer drank equals more drunky.

 

[Yooper]

coors light?!?!? Come on yooper!!!

Not Coors Light, silly! Coors.

Seriously, it's the "best" beer our local bar has. That's one reason I started brewing.

 

[Yooper]

There is absolutely no difference between the beer you make and beer produced commercially. The same ingredients and processes are used. It's nothing more than a placebo effect and user bias.

I said the same thing, in effect. But we're in the minority!

Seriously, though- think about this from a physiologically/scientific standpoint and then see how silly it seems that people claim to get hammered more with the same amount of alcohol, in the same quantity, in the same time period with one type of beer than another. That makes no sense at all.

I do agree with the "less hangovers" effect- but that could be because at home I'm munching on something or drinking water and drinking unfiltered beer. But the % of alcohol, the amount of food in the stomach, the time it's consumed, medication interactions- those are the main reasons that alcohol can hit harder at some times than others.

 

[moscoeb]

I said the same thing, in effect. But we're in the minority! Seriously, though- think about this from a physiologically/scientific standpoint and then see how silly it seems that people claim to get hammered more with the same amount of alcohol, in the same quantity, in the same time period with one type of beer than another. That makes no sense at all. I do agree with the "less hangovers" effect- but that could be because at home I'm munching on something or drinking water and drinking unfiltered beer. But the % of alcohol, the amount of food in the stomach, the time it's consumed, medication interactions- those are the main reasons that alcohol can hit harder at some times than others.

Oh logically I agree there should be no effect. But damn if I don't feel a difference!! It very well could be placebo/mental, change in how much I eat/water. No clue. But I enjoy it!!

 

[Psycotte]

I'm leaning toward the hop theory. Seems the most "logical". On s side a side: thank the good lord for your local bar. Without them serving crap beer we wouldn't have Yooper and her wealth of knowledge.

 

[luke_d]

I'm with the environment placebo theory, and also with the hop sedative theory. As far as alcohol goes, booze is booze is booze. People who think that tequila makes them go crazy drunk as opposed to wine, well you're most likely at a raging party or bar with friend if you're taking tequila shots! Right? As opposed to sipping a beer or glass of wine.