Debunking Beer Can Chicken: A Waste Of Good Beer, And Dangerous
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Is cocktail culture losing its buzz? Last fall, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that bartenders were mixing up a host of cocktails with a lower alcohol content -- drinkers are looking for beverages with fewer calories, and a lower alcohol level also means patrons can consume more without fear of the breathalyzer. The trick behind many of these cocktails? Fortified wines, which are substituted for stronger spirits.
Last week, Grub Street SF dug a bit deeper into the world of low-alcohol beverages by tasting an array of lower-alcohol spirits made without distillation. After sampling fermented vodka and agave wine (think tequila, but instead it hovers around the ABV limit for wine), they proclaimed themselves impressed with the flavor -- and the added benefits. ("You've got yourself a decent drink that, after a half dozen or so, will have your college-age cousin buzzed but not barfing," was one enthusiastic response.)
The trend carries over into alcohol levels in wine. In a market reversal, California vintners are pulling back after years of producing juicy, high-alcohol wines, writes ZesterDaily. NPR reports that Kutch Wines and Vineyards owner, Jamie Kutch, is lowering the alcohol content of his winery's pinot noir to balance our the flavors -- and also prevent people from falling asleep on the couch after dinner.
Though these low-alcohol drinks may be growing slightly in popularity and distribution, they are far from mainstream -- particularly in the realm of beer: The Sunday Times tried to find to find moderate-alcohol beer in London and struggled due to "low demand." Colorado actually banned the sale of low alcohol beers in bars, albeit for complicated political reasons (and legislators are working to overturn the bizarre measure).
As with most matters booze-related, it's largely a matter of preference. But if you like your cocktails on the lighter side, it's nice to know you have options.
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4-26-2011 @11:30PM Bier Baus said... Actually, very good "session" beers are fairly common in many countries. Here in the States most will be imported and some will be reasonably inexpensive, while others can get quite pricey quickly. Most of them are British or German, but the American craft beer scene is starting to catch on. If you are looking for nice traditional beers - look at England, Germany. Almost all British "Milds" or "Bitters" are under 5% alcohol, sometimes as low as 3.5% and they are made with malt, barley, wheat, etc. instead of the cheap adjuncts/additives (rice, corn, starch, simple sugars, etc.) that are common in the big breweries mass produced "lagers" and "lite/light" beers.
As far as Germany goes, they have a very traditional wheat ale called the Berliner Weisse which is always low in ABV (5% or less, commonly 3.5-3.0%). Although there are only a few versions of this once common beer available here in the states - it is a tasty, flavorful beer indeed, with lemon/citrusy notes and a bit of tart/sourness - it's almost more like a carbonated, slightly alcoholic lemonade. If you are looking for exactly that - there a fairly common summer beer in Germany called a "Radler" - which is Lemon-Lime Soda or Lemonade mixed with a traditional lager beer. The most popularly available here in the US is Stiegl Radler.
The next country of importance would probably be Belgium - it has a LONG history of brewing. In Belgium it is quite common for a regular beer to be rather strong in ABV - sometimes reaching into and beyond the scope of wine at 12% or more. However, they also make lots of light fruit and wheat (also called white or wit) beers which are generally 5% or lower. In the case of many of the fruit beers, they can even be as low as 2.5% - check out Lindeman's Lambics. They actually taste like fruit and just have a spritz of beer-like carbonation.
Very recently, here in the states there has been a movement towards more flavorful lower ABV beers or "Session beers." Unless you live in Midwest I cannot speak on what is locally available to specific people - you'll have to seek it out yourself. I guarantee there's at least a few - most low ABV beers are seasonals and specifically Spring or Summer seasonals at that - so look now! As far as the region I'm from there are several local offerings of 4% or under in a few different styles, and probably about a hundred in between 5% and 4% of all different styles, many of them are world class beers.
By the way, if you're worried about my credentials/authority... I'm a craft beer manager for a large liquor store, I've been drinking craft beers for about 10 years, and homebrewing for about 5.
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4-30-2011 @7:18AM ddoane21177 said... This is a great idea Http://www.wineandspiritsinfoguide.info every way of cutting calories helps.
4-30-2011 @7:27AM Bopco said... First the world of diet convinced the bright people of planet earth that the daries who sucked the cream off the top of the milk, or mixed it with water, should no longer be arrested as theives, but advertize their second rate product as being better for you. Now Bartenders will be able to say they invented a diet drink when they add a teaspoon of overproof rum to a diet Wallmart Cola. MMMM!!! a hint of the Islands, can't wait!!! Yeah, "Light Beer" is delicious!!!! Yummmm!!! Less is more, I finally understand...
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4-30-2011 @9:17AM dickn2000b said... Bopco, I think you've hit the nail on the head!
4-30-2011 @7:03AM Steven R. Russell said... "Be not filled with wine, in which is excess, but be filled with the Spirit."
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4-30-2011 @7:11AM Don said... It's UN-AMERICAN!!
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4-30-2011 @8:41AM DON said... This is like they did with the 1# bag of coffee which is now 11 ounces and all the other things they made smaller. This will appeal to all the idiots that drink 2% milk and light beer. If you want those things just buy the real thing and add water which is all the producer does.
Be real stupid and buy bottled water.
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4-30-2011 @9:32AM Elizabeth said... Don: I am not an idiot and I drink 1 or 2% milk.1% and 2% milk is lower in calories and grams of fat than whole milk. Any person over the age of two or three should not drink whole milk. I have bottled water that I take to work and reuse it for a few weeks and then recycle it . My neighbor next door has Pearl Light beer and it is canned and has 68 calories per serving.
Now, about the stuff the made smaller. They did that so they did not have to raise the price. So instead of raising the price of rasing the price of a certain product, such as a bag of coffee. They charge you the price of a pound of coffee for 12oz. Unless you want to be overweight or obese drinking full fat everything, try reducing the amount of calories you eat and drink in a day, including what you drink. Nobody is stupid because they drink 1 or 2% milk because it is lower in calories and fat, only babies up to age two or three should drink whole milk.
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4-30-2011 @10:18AM cindy said... Not only are they making the packaging smaller on all the products, but yes, where I live they have raised the prices too.
4-30-2011 @9:34AM dickn2000b said... This article was poorly written, poorly edited and poorly proof read. It is also confusing. If the writer was trying to make a point it was obfuscated by the contradictory methods used by the various entities presented within the article, i.e., one vintner lowers alcohol levels while another talks about fortified wines. I get it however. These drinks are meant to replace distilled spirits. This seems to me to be like having sex without achieving orgasm. When I drink, I drink for one purpose...to get drunk. Watered down beer and lowered alcohol wines are a waste of taste and time. I want real booze. Let the limp wrists and women drink the lightweight slop.
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4-30-2011 @10:33AM Angiebaby said... To each his own. Personally, I would rather have a REAL drink and sip it slowly and just have one or two than to drink some hybrid concoction that doesn't taste like what I want it to just so's I can drink more of them. I like alcohol with meals, and I'm not averse to a few drinks just for enjoyment or special occasions. But the key to successful drinking is moderation, as in all things, and being responsible to not drink too much and drive, etc.
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4-30-2011 @2:03PM TERRY said... MY DAUGHTER HAS A DUI AT .05 AND HER FRIEND IN THE CLASS HAS A .02 DUI, THEY STILL HAVE TO GO AND PAYALL THE FINES SCHOOLING AND GO BEFOR THE JUDGES FINE, LOOSE THERE LICENCE, AND PAY TWICE THE INSURENCE RATE FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS, SO BULL .
4-30-2011 @12:02PM dolphie said... are these low-alcohol drinks going to be low-priced? hell no. will there be less intoxicated people driving? not in the real world. let the buyer beware.
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4-30-2011 @1:46PM TERRY said... YOU ARE SO RIGHT ,GIVE YOU A BIG PLUS FOR MADD
4-30-2011 @1:41PM TERRY said... SO YOU STILL CAN GET A DUI UNDER THE LIMIT
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4-30-2011 @2:33PM IE said... I'll dringk to that!
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