Comments for Drunkmansguide's Weblog http://drunkmansguide.wordpress.com Your Guide to Alcohol Wed, 14 May 2008 10:07:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU Comment on Friday 5 o’Clock Coctail – The Mojito by cigarsmokingman http://drunkmansguide.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/friday-5-o%e2%80%99clock-coctail-%e2%80%93-the-mojito/#comment-105 cigarsmokingman Fri, 09 May 2008 16:17:44 +0000 http://drunkmansguide.wordpress.com/?p=79#comment-105 Yup, it's almost Mojito season here in Tampa Bay. The tropical weather is returning with a vengeance. Once the humidity reaches a point where I no longer need a humidor to protect my cigars, the mojito's flow freely ! Yup, it’s almost Mojito season here in Tampa Bay. The tropical weather is returning with a vengeance. Once the humidity reaches a point where I no longer need a humidor to protect my cigars, the mojito’s flow freely !

]]> Comment on How to Make Grenadine by cigarsmokingman http://drunkmansguide.wordpress.com/2008/04/29/how-to-make-grenadine/#comment-104 cigarsmokingman Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:09:04 +0000 http://drunkmansguide.wordpress.com/?p=77#comment-104 This is certainly on my list of things to do. This is certainly on my list of things to do.

]]> Comment on Homebrewing – Measuring Alcohol Content of Your Beer by drunkmansguide http://drunkmansguide.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/homebrewing-%e2%80%93-measuring-alcohol-content-of-your-beer/#comment-103 drunkmansguide Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:12:04 +0000 http://drunkmansguide.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/homebrewing-%e2%80%93-measuring-alcohol-content-of-your-beer/#comment-103 Yes, you can increase the alcohol by adding sugar. However, if I were you I would add the sugar after your mash - not before. If you add the sugar before the mash, then you'll lose some percentage to the grain. So, you won't know how much actually made it into the wort. Also when you say 30% sugar to water ratio. I'm not sure if you mean by weight or volume, but either way, I would probably lower the additional sugar. If your grain bill calls for 10 lbs of grain, then this is roughly equivelant to about 6 pounds of DME. You could add another pound or so of corn sugar to your wort, but any more than that and you will start to taste some negative effects (sour/cidery). Keep the corn sugar below 20% of the total sugar in the wort. There is definitely such a thing as too much sugar. Some yeast strains can tolerate a higher sugar (and alcohol) level. A Belgian Wit yeast will ferment a whole lot more sugar than an English Ale yeast. That said it is difficult to get your alcohol level above 12% - 14% or so. People do it, but they rarely squeeze much more out of it than that. Most of the additional sugar stays in the beer and makes it overly sweet. If you want to push the alcohol level up beyond whatever point your yeast will tolerate, the best way is to add medium quality vodka after your beer has finished fermenting. Vodka is basically pure ethanol and water (corn beer that has been distilled). Other than the ethanol, it is neutral in taste. You have to add the liquor after fermentation because otherwise the high alcohol level would kill your yeast before they finish the job. Yes, you can increase the alcohol by adding sugar. However, if I were you I would add the sugar after your mash - not before. If you add the sugar before the mash, then you’ll lose some percentage to the grain. So, you won’t know how much actually made it into the wort.

Also when you say 30% sugar to water ratio. I’m not sure if you mean by weight or volume, but either way, I would probably lower the additional sugar.

If your grain bill calls for 10 lbs of grain, then this is roughly equivelant to about 6 pounds of DME. You could add another pound or so of corn sugar to your wort, but any more than that and you will start to taste some negative effects (sour/cidery). Keep the corn sugar below 20% of the total sugar in the wort.

There is definitely such a thing as too much sugar. Some yeast strains can tolerate a higher sugar (and alcohol) level. A Belgian Wit yeast will ferment a whole lot more sugar than an English Ale yeast.

That said it is difficult to get your alcohol level above 12% - 14% or so. People do it, but they rarely squeeze much more out of it than that. Most of the additional sugar stays in the beer and makes it overly sweet.

If you want to push the alcohol level up beyond whatever point your yeast will tolerate, the best way is to add medium quality vodka after your beer has finished fermenting. Vodka is basically pure ethanol and water (corn beer that has been distilled). Other than the ethanol, it is neutral in taste.

You have to add the liquor after fermentation because otherwise the high alcohol level would kill your yeast before they finish the job.

]]> Comment on Homebrewing – Measuring Alcohol Content of Your Beer by Nate http://drunkmansguide.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/homebrewing-%e2%80%93-measuring-alcohol-content-of-your-beer/#comment-102 Nate Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:38:51 +0000 http://drunkmansguide.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/homebrewing-%e2%80%93-measuring-alcohol-content-of-your-beer/#comment-102 Would it be possible to alter the alcohol content of your brew by maybe starting out with a 30% sugar to 70% water solution before you start making the wort? Would it be possible to alter the alcohol content of your brew by maybe starting out with a 30% sugar to 70% water solution before you start making the wort?

]]> Comment on Friday 5 o’Clock Cocktail - Miami Cocktail by drunkmansguide http://drunkmansguide.wordpress.com/2008/04/25/friday-5-oclock-cocktail-miami-cocktail/#comment-101 drunkmansguide Sun, 27 Apr 2008 04:06:12 +0000 http://drunkmansguide.wordpress.com/?p=76#comment-101 I like to think of it as "minty fresh" :-) I like to think of it as “minty fresh” :-)

]]> Comment on Friday 5 o’Clock Cocktail - Miami Cocktail by cigarsmokingman http://drunkmansguide.wordpress.com/2008/04/25/friday-5-oclock-cocktail-miami-cocktail/#comment-100 cigarsmokingman Sat, 26 Apr 2008 23:16:03 +0000 http://drunkmansguide.wordpress.com/?p=76#comment-100 It's very green. It’s very green.

]]> Comment on Canned Beer Vs. Bottled Beer – Is there a difference? by CigarSmokingMan http://drunkmansguide.wordpress.com/2008/04/22/canned-beer-vs-bottled-beer-%e2%80%93-is-there-a-difference/#comment-98 CigarSmokingMan Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:55:39 +0000 http://drunkmansguide.wordpress.com/?p=75#comment-98 The Wives just don't get it do they? My Wife did not understand my triple Gin challenge experiment at all. She complained that I took over the kitchen with all the bottles and glassware. This reminds me of a funny story. Before we were married, my side of the family asked me what I thought we could use to start our new life together. I gave them my thoughts and forgot about it. When I arrived at the end of the party my Bride-to-Be, with a questioning glance shows me a set of eight Pilsner glasses. My response was "Excellent!, just what we needed!" That was over 16 years ago. To this day my Wife still shakes her head whenever I enjoy a cold beer in my wonderful Pilsner glassware. The Wives just don’t get it do they? My Wife did not understand my triple Gin challenge experiment at all. She complained that I took over the kitchen with all the bottles and glassware.

This reminds me of a funny story. Before we were married, my side of the family asked me what I thought we could use to start our new life together. I gave them my thoughts and forgot about it.

When I arrived at the end of the party my Bride-to-Be, with a questioning glance shows me a set of eight Pilsner glasses. My response was “Excellent!, just what we needed!”

That was over 16 years ago. To this day my Wife still shakes her head whenever I enjoy a cold beer in my wonderful Pilsner glassware.

]]> Comment on Do You Know What Causes Drunkenness? by cigarsmokingman http://drunkmansguide.wordpress.com/2008/04/03/do-you-know-what-causes-drunkenness/#comment-87 cigarsmokingman Tue, 08 Apr 2008 23:54:35 +0000 http://drunkmansguide.wordpress.com/2008/04/03/do-you-know-what-causes-drunkenness/#comment-87 You need to try a Tequini. Here's my take on it: http://cigarsmokingman.wordpress.com/2008/04/06/the-tequini-and-a-pair-of-hondurans/ You need to try a Tequini. Here’s my take on it:

http://cigarsmokingman.wordpress.com/2008/04/06/the-tequini-and-a-pair-of-hondurans/

]]> Comment on Do You Know What Causes Drunkenness? by drunkmansguide http://drunkmansguide.wordpress.com/2008/04/03/do-you-know-what-causes-drunkenness/#comment-82 drunkmansguide Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:44:15 +0000 http://drunkmansguide.wordpress.com/2008/04/03/do-you-know-what-causes-drunkenness/#comment-82 Ha! It's like in X-Files... You know things are getting good when the Smoking Man shows up :-) I'll see your Gin and raise you a shot of Tequila! (now, where did I put that lime?) >M Ha!

It’s like in X-Files… You know things are getting good when the Smoking Man shows up :-)

I’ll see your Gin and raise you a shot of Tequila!

(now, where did I put that lime?)

>M

]]> Comment on Do You Know What Causes Drunkenness? by cigarsmokingman http://drunkmansguide.wordpress.com/2008/04/03/do-you-know-what-causes-drunkenness/#comment-81 cigarsmokingman Thu, 03 Apr 2008 18:55:02 +0000 http://drunkmansguide.wordpress.com/2008/04/03/do-you-know-what-causes-drunkenness/#comment-81 Another excellent article. I think it calls for some gin ! Another excellent article. I think it calls for some gin !

]]>