How much beer do you normally drink in a sitting?

[Beaver]

How much beer do you normally drink in a sitting?

[Beaver]

For me, I normally drink at home and have 1 or 2. If I'm at a bar or brewpub, I probably have 3 or 4. And occassionally, I'll have a bit more. :)

[Tweek]

1 to 2 is pretty standard for me. Sometimes Ill have more but not very often.

[Fast_Eddy]

2-3 pints(20 oz) at home
3-5 pints at a bar if I have a driver, 1-2 with no driver

[barley ben]

1-2 is usually common during the week. Fall asleep before I drink anymore than that. Weekend is a different story sometimes. I work long hours mon- fri and the weekend is time to play!!!

[Stodbrew]

Generally I'll have 2-3 imperial pints at home. I might have a pint at work at the end of the day, especially if friends come in, but usually not.

[Richard English]

Again we have this problem of what is "a beer"? Could we please have a poll that indicate what measures we are speaking of.

In the USA, as I understand it. a standard bottle of beer is 12 US fluid ounces. That's only 0.6245 of an Imperial pint, which is the UK's standard measure, or 0.3549 of a litre (the common "large measure in mainland Europe is .5 of a litre.

So how many beers? In a good session five Imperial pints, which is 6.005 US liquid pints - or 8 US 12 ounce bottles - or 2.81 litres. (Or 15.75 Japanese go, 23.1 Russian Charka, 0.1088 of a Roman Amphora or 9.007 biblical logs).

So anywhere between less than one and over 8 - depending on the measure you choose!

[Herb Ninja]

I drink about 2, 6%, 12 ounce beers per average sitting. Peace, HN-

[brewmonkey]

Originally posted by Richard English
Again we have this problem of what is "a beer"? Could we please have a poll that indicate what measures we are speaking of.

In the USA, as I understand it. a standard bottle of beer is 12 US fluid ounces. That's only 0.6245 of an Imperial pint, which is the UK's standard measure, or 0.3549 of a litre (the common "large measure in mainland Europe is .5 of a litre.

So how many beers? In a good session five Imperial pints, which is 6.005 US liquid pints - or 8 US 12 ounce bottles - or 2.81 litres. (Or 15.75 Japanese go, 23.1 Russian Charka, 0.1088 of a Roman Amphora or 9.007 biblical logs).

So anywhere between less than one and over 8 - depending on the measure you choose!

Damn you, I just laughed Goose Island Holiday Ale through my nose!

[stronk]

3-4 imperial pints in a pub, 1-2 imperial pints at home. Only very occasionally more than 1 pint if I'm driving.

[brewmonkey]

Depends on the beer. I usually drink bigger beers, so I only have 2 maybe 3 in an evening. If I am out at the pubs I go for the "smaller" beers and have maybe 6-8. In the summer when it is 100+ and 100% humidity here, I do not drink a lot of beer at all and instead opt for the water (former heat casualty) and maybe have 1 or 2 lawnmower beers.

[DreamWeaver]

Sounds like a question my wife would ask. I usually don't count but she may, (she counts the empties). This would be a good reason for going to kegging my homebrew. And sitting is kinda vague also. I usually stand... maybe shoot billiards and mingle. If I'm sitting , I've prolly had too much! I usually only drink a few on weekends if I'm not busy. I've believe I've slowed down in my old age but in my younger years... oh nevermind... Everybody should believe in something... I believe I'll have another HOMEBREW! -DreamWeaver- :D

[dallyr]

1 or 2 16 ounce bottles a sitting unless a good game is on the tube. Then who is counting?

[studentofbeer]

generally 2-3 12 ouncers when im drinking big beers <6%), which is happening a lot now as i gather winter offerings and other bad boys. sometimes its more, but i hate drinking good beer after 2 or 3 before it because i dont taste it very well. its also an economic hardship to drink so much good beer. if im having a bomber or a 750 ill usually drink just that (especially with a big belgian 750) and occasionally will have one more to end the night.

in college i used to keep a supply of "crap beer" for those nights the roommates and i would get a little out of hand, but now i cant really stand to drink the swill and also the girlfriend frowns upon such conspicuous consumption.

at the pub im usually more like 4 pints (or imperial pints at goose island--thanks mba!) if its just a hang-out sort of thing.

[hopjack13]

hmmm......lets see, i have 23oz glasses so two of those work fine for me. or two bombers, some times two 750ml . but i drink a lot period. if i buy a soda at 7-11 i'll get one of those 64oz cups. if im drinking milk i'll always have at least two 16oz glasses , same with o.j. (thats the drink not the football player)
but if were talking 12oz.....mmmm maybe 4 or 5 ???

[hops99]

On a typical weeknight, 2-3 12 oz. bottles is perfect.

On a typical weekend night, maybe 3-4 12 oz. bottles does the trick.

If I'm out at a bar/brewpub, I'll usually sample everything they have, then have a couple of pints.

If it's July, and I'm in Wisconsin on vacation, multiply everything above by 5.

[chazwicke]

1-2 beers at a sitting at home. If I am out maybe 1-2 with dinner. At a bar or tasting more. I find drinking cask beers to be easier because I prefer the milds and less alcohol and less carbonation make them easier to consume. I can drink more of them during a session then I can bottled beers.

[BeerBelly]

Well maybe two

[Summer]

1-2 beers at home. If I am at a bar with friends I usually have 2-3 beers. And occasionally little more ;)

For me 1 beer = 1 imperial pint.

J

[threecb]

I'm in the 2-3 catagory.

Usually 1-2 if I'm drinking during the week, but most of my drinking is on weekends and it's usually 3ish. This is probably over the course of 2-3 hours. 12 oz bottles at home, 16 oz. (14.5 oz beer) at the pub.

[BucksBrew]

It depends. If I drink alot on the weekends (Parties & Football) I will not drink for 1-6 days.

If I don't drink alot on the weekends I'll drink 3-4 12 oz. sized during the week.

The weekend I could polish off 8-12 beers during the day into the night.

The beers are my homebrew at 5-6% alc. and my Stout at 8-9%, Sierra Neveda at 5.6%. I can't drink too many Stouts, maybe 3-4 tops.

My beer is kegged in my Freezer, so the wife can't count empties on me like she has in the past!

[barley ben]

My beer is kegged in my Freezer, so the wife can't count empties on me like she has in the past!

Just got a spare fridge and about to set-up a triple tap. That's another benefit of kegging I have not thought of.

Kegging, the gift that keeps on giving!!!

[hopjack13]

i saw a 50oz hopf glass at my beer store but they wanted $50 for it! ouch! i'd do better buying that much in beer!

[chazwicke]

A 50 ouncer is pretty darn big. I have 20 ounce glasses just like those in the pubs for my beer drinking.

[Richard English]

Quote "...i saw a 50oz hopf glass at my beer store ...

US or Imperial ounces?

[hopjack13]

im not sure...u.s. i think, i'd have to go back and look. one hell of a beer glass though. it was a huge pilsner glass, it looked really cool . i'd love to have bought it but i was there on other business, a case of the yulesmith! which sadly is all but gone now :(

[MeridianFC]

For a standard US pint glass (12-14 US oz depending on how good/crap the barman is) of 5%abv beer:

1-2 is not even drinking
3-4 "having a few". perfect session
5-6 I have stepped over the line and have entered the death of glory phase of the evening
7-8 I have opted for death. Or maybe glory. Can't remember. I'm too busy talking about the great things I'm going to do for mankind. I should really open my own brewery.
9-10 I should run for president. I will run for president! Where's my drink? Who are you?
11+ NASA we have a problem

Not to boast about excessive consumption of alcohol (BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE WRONG) but I did 15 pints at the Pig's Ear Beer Festival in London a few weeks back. I paid a heavy price for the next 24 hours.

So the long in short of it is I average 3 beers a sitting a few times a week. Sometime more, sometimes less.

Adjust the above number for extra strong beers or the introduction of spirits into the equation.

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by MeridianFC
For a standard US pint glass (12-14 US oz depending on how good/crap the barman is) of 5%abv beer:

1-2 is not even drinking
3-4 "having a few". perfect session
5-6 I have stepped over the line and have entered the death of glory phase of the evening
7-8 I have opted for death. Or maybe glory. Can't remember. I'm too busy talking about the great things I'm going to do for mankind. I should really open my own brewery.
9-10 I should run for president. I will run for president! Where's my drink? Who are you?
11+ NASA we have a problem

Not to boast about excessive consumption of alcohol (BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE WRONG) but I did 15 pints at the Pig's Ear Beer Festival in London a few weeks back. I paid a heavy price for the next 24 hours.

So the long in short of it is I average 3 beers a sitting a few times a week. Sometime more, sometimes less.

Adjust the above number for extra strong beers or the introduction of spirits into the equation.


I will usually have more when attending festivals but smaller glasses so that I can taste more different beers. How was the Pig's Ear Fest? What was your favorite beer there if you can remember?:)

[MeridianFC]

The Pig's Ear was spectacular. I did half pints for the very reason you mention. It was actually 30 (generous) half pints that made up the 15 full measures I had. When you purchased your tasting glass you could buy a full pint glass with the half pint line on it. The full pint, or indeed full half, is a big issue for CAMRA.

I find that the small taster samples (2-4 oz) don't really give one a good feel for the beer, though sometimes you don't have much of a choice. I think like most I prefer to have the natural standard measure to get a feel for a beer (Imperial pint for British bitters, .5l for German lagers, 14 US oz for mircors, 8-11oz tumbler for Belgian specialties, etc.).

The standouts of the festival, as best as my battered brain can recall:

"Back in a Flash" Hambleton
"Raven" - Orkney
"Nottingham Dark Stout" - Castlerock (or it might be Castle Rock)

I kept pretty good notes, well until beer number 24 when it all kind of went to hell. I've got a copy of all the stuff I had on my recent travels:

Cask
Adnams - Broadside
Arran - Blonde
Belhaven - 70/-
Belhaven - 80/-
Cairngorm - Tradewinds
Cairngorm - Santa's Sledgehammer
Cairngorm - Nessie's Monster Mash
Cairngorm - Witch's Cauldron
Caledonian - Deuchars IPA
Caledonian - 80/-
Castlerock - Nottingham Dark Stout
Clarke - Christmas Man
Dark Star - Best
Dowbridge - Bonum Mild
Exmoor - Gold
Greene Kings - IPA
Hambledon - Back In A Flash
Hancock - IPA
Harviestoun - Bitter & Twisted
Harviestoun - Special Beer for Bow Bar Festival
Hopdeamon - Scrimshander
Houston - Killellan
Houston - St. Peter's Well
Meantime - Blonde
McEwans - 80/-
McMullen - AK
McMullen - Country Best Bitter
Museum - Witch Dripping
Newtonmore Kingussie - Creag Dubh
Oakleaf - Farmhouse
Orkney - Raven
Pictish - Brewers Gold
Ridley's - Old Bob
Ridley's - IPA
Springhead - Bare Bones
St. Austell - Tribute
Three Bees - Mild
Timothy Taylor - Landlord
Wadsworth - 6X
Wold - Mars Magic
Wye Valley - Santa's Helper
Wyndham - Special Beer for Bow Bar Festival
Yates - Bees Knees
Young's - Bitter
Young's - Special Bitter
Young's - Winter Warmer

Keg
Caledonian - 80/-
Meantime - Gold
Meantime - Red
Meantime - Chocolate
Meantime - White
Meantime - Lager
St. Christofel - Blonde
Staroprammen - Lager
Young's - Double Chocolate Stout

Bottle
Wychwood - Hobgoblin
Young's - Plum Pudding

I think I'm veering miles of topic, my apologies.

[chazwicke]

You sampled some delectable brews.I was at the Great British Beer Festival last August for all sessions. I managed to drink 81 beers, mostly halfs and also kept notes. I LOVE cask ales. I am going to the Fabfest in Miami (South Beach) 2/6-2/8 because they will have 64 cask ales there. I went last year and it was as good as it gets here in the States.

www.fabfest.com

I also have a trip back to London lined up in early May. I was considering one there in February but as you know, those flight from London to Dulles keep having problems during the High Alert status.

[MeridianFC]

I've never heard of that one. I was going to do this:

http://www.realalefestival.com/index.html

even though it's somewhat abbreviated this year.

[chazwicke]

I have not yet been to that one either. Steveh can tell you more about it as he lives in Chicago area and has kept us updated on the forced changes this year.

[S.F.B.]

1-2 12 oz glasses is the norm for me. Anything beyond that and my tastebuds are gone.

[fretlessman71]

Agreed! I like to drink my beer when I can actually taste it! What a concept! ;)

[steveh]

Originally posted by chazwicke
I have not yet been to that one either. Steveh can tell you more about it as he lives in Chicago area and has kept us updated on the forced changes this year.

I'm on the mailing list for updates, but nothing more new other than what's on the web-site home-page. Stay tuned...

S.

[chazwicke]

There is a slim chance I may be able to get there for this. We have changed the dated of our trip to Costa Rica for the 2nd week in March now. Hmmmmm.....

[hopjack13]

is there beer in costa rica, i know a few good places in costa mesa :D

[chazwicke]

I'm sure hoping there will be. I will have to do a little investigating online before I go. I am also hoping to do a little fishing for sailfish. I have never been down there before so it will be a whole new experience for me. I'm hoping for some good beer. Maybe the casino there will have SNPA. :D

[hopjack13]

i found a brewery on ba here
Apdo.
795-100
San Jose, Costa Rica
Costa Rica
phone: (506) 2213511
there's a brewery in mexico called casta they're not too bad. maybe you can find that to hold you over.

[chazwicke]

I have had a cople of Casta beers. I have one large bottle left in my beer fridge. I will be in San Jose. I hope thier beer is good. Not too high hopes though.

[hopjack13]

is that the millena ? i've not tried that one, the dark was not bad and the hef was okay , but i disliked the pale. twas a little too pale :rolleyes: i found these and from what it looks like there's not much over there.
http://www.1costaricalink.com/eng/shopping/shop-eng/cerveceria-123eng.htm

http://www.realbeer.com/nmvbp/rev_cr.htm

looks like it's pretty cheap though...except guinness

http://www.costarica.com/Home/Retirement/Cost_of_Living/Beverages

watch out for the fer-de-lance , those things are scary!

[chazwicke]

Hey, thanks for looking that stuff up.

[hopjack13]

no pro-blame-oh :D be sure and get back to us with a report on any beer findings there chaz, hope you have a good time and have even better beer!

[Jose]

I tend to like to drink about 2 to 3 16oz bottles of beer in a sitting nowadays. I agree that if you have them all in a row then you might not taste the last one very well. I spread them out over a few hours though, and play a lot of poker in between.

[Richard English]

Imperial or US ounces?

[Jose]

Sorry. I correct myself. US Ounces but the bottles are not 16 they are 12 ounces.

[Richard English]

That seems to be a common US measure. It's just over half an Imperial pint (0.6245 of a pint to be exact).

Watch out when you come to England, then. A very ordinary session here would be four Imperial pints. That's over six US 12 ounce bottles.

The most common bottle size now used in the UK (and the size that you will be used to for imported British beer) is 500ml. That's equal to 16.91 US ounces, or half as large again as a US standard bottle.

[barley ben]

If they are so hooked on Imperial Pints over there, how come I always pick up six packs of 12 us fluid oz bottles here?

[Richard English]

All draught beer is sold by Imperial pints or exact multiples or fractions thereof. That is the law.

Bottled beer can be sold in any size of container but it must be marked in metric measures (although the equivalent in Imperial is often shown). The most common size for bottled beer is 500ml, which is equal to 16.91 US ounces, 1.057 US pints or 0.8799 Imperial pints. Some beers are sold in Imperial pint bottles, which is equal to 568.3ml or 1.201 US pints.

I am not sure where you mean by "here" but if you are referring to the USA then I am surprised to learn that there are any British beers that are sold in those quantities; most of the better beers, such as 1845 or Youngs, are sold in 500ml bottles, both in the UK and abroad.

In the UK most US beers are sold in 350ml bottles (11.83 US ounces)

[eddiefebuary]

I have found myself drinking more because I'm in a hurry to empty my bottles so that I can brew some more. I don't know if I like brewing better or drinking.:rolleyes:

[BigRed]

1-2 22 ozs, if at all.

I can only drink beer when I am happy for some reason, so while that means I will usually get one, I do not always have one (thats probably a good thing).

[barley ben]

I am not sure where you mean by "here" but if you are referring to the USA then I am surprised to learn that there are any British beers that are sold in those quantities; most of the better beers, such as 1845 or Youngs, are sold in 500ml bottles, both in the UK and abroad.


Yes USA. I can get all Fuller's in US 12 oz. six packs with the exception of the 1845. That is only sold in the 500ml bottle. Also, there is no metric unit on the 12 oz's.

[Richard English]

This is obviously a special packaging for the US market. The eponymous "sixer" is an American way of buying beer and is not common in the UK.

12 US fluid ounces is 354.9ml but, as the packaging is created especially for the US market, I am unsurprised that the equivalent is not shown. If Fuller's were to sell these smaller bottles in the UK then they would, as do the US bottles, carry the metric size. As I said, that's the law here.

The 1845 is bottle-conditioned and I suspect that it, and all other bottled-conditioned beers sold in the USA, will be in 500ml bottles. It is more complicated to adjust the size of a bca bottle since the priming sugar dosage has to be adjusted. For brewery-conditioned beers only the quantity of liquid needs to be altered.

[Brownbeard]

Actually. most of the bottle conditioned beers I buy are in 12 fl.oz bottles. I have not seen Fullers in 12oz here. Only the 500ml. But, all products sold in the US should have both US and metric listings. Imperial listings may be on the Fuller's bottles, I have never checked.

Oh, by the way. I usually have 8-10 beers a week. More during the hockey season.

[Tweek]

I have had a few BCAs in 12 oz as well, though I have also had them in 500ml, and even 750ml bottles. I dont know that adjusting the bottle size has anything to do with priming sugar rather just what your bottling line is set up for. I dont know but I would wager that the guys that are doing BCAs are adding the priming sugar in the bulk container and giving it a stir, then the beer + priming sugar would go to the bottles, rather than adding the sugar to the individual bottles. I would imagine to add to the bottles would be very expensive and time consuming.

[Krougar]

Just thought I would put my part of the story on the thread. I usually drink about 3-10 US pints in any given night/day, depending on the quality of the brew (and don't be misled, usually I drink less when I can get a real beer in front of me... I like to taste every one I drink). Maybe brewing will convince me to pull it back a little, since I'll have a beer worth tasting in front of me more often than not. Otherwise I usually drink until I worry about the financial end, or until I realize that I'm not enjoying the actual drinking of my beer.

If that's alcoholism, then I think I can deal with that.

Krougar
Blessed with psychological "high tolerance"

[wild]

I never drink 12 hours prior to work which leaves my weekly drinking a bit dry. On the the weekend I will mostly have 2 20oz. bottles or glasses of beer. Except for beer meetings with which I'll taste as much as 60oz. (including mead) depending on the turnout. And of course this weekend is the Great Arizona Beer Fest. :D This means I'll be sampling many while I'm not pouring for the public.

Wild

[Krougar]

Thank god I work in a kitchen in the morning now. My first 3-4 hours on the job are monotonous jobs of prepping for the day. No real limits to alcohol consumption the night before :)