Beer vs. Soda: Which is Worse for Your Health?

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The discussion centers around the health implications of drinking beer versus soda. Participants express a general consensus that soda, with its high sugar and acid content, is worse for health compared to moderate beer consumption. Many argue that beer lacks the harmful chemicals found in soda and can even offer some nutritional benefits, such as fiber and B vitamins. However, there is caution against daily alcohol consumption, with suggestions to limit it to special occasions. Some participants share personal experiences, noting a preference for beer over soda due to its less damaging effects on dental health and overall well-being. The conversation also touches on caffeine consumption from drinks like coffee and energy drinks, which some participants view as equally harmful. Overall, the thread emphasizes moderation and the relative health risks associated with both beverages, with a leaning towards beer being the lesser evil when consumed responsibly.
  • #101
Moonbear said:
No "tramp" around here could afford the super-strength stuff. It usually is far more expensive than regular beers, so not exactly the choice of alcoholics or underage drinkers...they usually go for the cheap Bud and similar beer that can be bought by the case for what a bottle or 6-pack of the stronger beers costs.

Around here they call it malt liquor. There's King Cobra, Colt 45, Old English, Steel Reserve, Mickey's, ect. I don't like lagers so I have never tried any of them myself but you usually see these and a bunch of other similar brands in the liquor stores around here.
 
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  • #102
TheStatutoryApe said:
Around here they call it malt liquor.

Oh, I didn't know those were so high in alcohol. I thought they were just large in volume. I've never even been tempted to try one of those, so don't know what they're like. But, I think I've seen those in stores around here...maybe because they call it malt liquor instead of beer, they can get away with it, which makes the law even more stupid!
 
  • #103
Moonbear said:
Oh, I didn't know those were so high in alcohol. I thought they were just large in volume. I've never even been tempted to try one of those, so don't know what they're like. But, I think I've seen those in stores around here...maybe because they call it malt liquor instead of beer, they can get away with it, which makes the law even more stupid!

There might be strange little loop holes or something. Around here lately bars that only have a beer and wine license are starting to make cocktails with soju, korean rice wine, which is like a weak vodka but technically still wine.
 
  • #104
The county I live in is like the Mafia. Basically, only the county can sell liquor. So if you want to go to a liquor store, it's owned by the county. Private businesses can only sell beer and wine, and they have to purchase it through the county. In fact, I think resturants do too. So the county makes a lottttttttttttt of money from alcohol sales. Also, the county stores sell rock bottom prices because any store owner has to buy it from them and then mark up the price to make a profit. It makes no sense, and we need some good (not crazy religious) republicans to change that around there.

I'd def. be a republican if they weren't so religious nutty.
 
  • #105
http://www.bottledbeer.co.uk/photos/ayingerbrauweisse.jpg

Today was a heffe weizen from germany. Very good beer, really enjoyed this one. I had two really nasty IPAs the other day that ended up down the sink again. I really hate dark red beers.

This one is good :approve:
 
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  • #106
Question for all you beerios...why does the last bit of beer in a bottle taste so different than the first? Yes, the temp is certainly different - it's warmer, sometimes a lot warmer (I don't drink beer quickly). But is that the only factor? Does commercially produced beer have sediment at the bottom of the bottle which makes it taste more bitter?
 
  • #107
That's why I chug Lisa.
 
  • #108
Some microbrews have sediment at the bottom. One I know definitely has sediment are Bell's beers, and they are best served in a glass. Otherwise, I think it is just that it gets warmer, and maybe a bit flatter if you're nursing it slowly. Otherwise, maybe it's backwash.
 
  • #109
lisab said:
Question for all you beerios...why does the last bit of beer in a bottle taste so different than the first? Yes, the temp is certainly different - it's warmer, sometimes a lot warmer (I don't drink beer quickly). But is that the only factor? Does commercially produced beer have sediment at the bottom of the bottle which makes it taste more bitter?

I've really noticed that with something like a Yuengling. I wouldn't attribute it to stuff settling at the bottom becuase it happened when I got it on tap. So, I would expect it to be either all fine, or all really bitter because either you get the start of a fresh keg and its fine, or the end of a keg and it would be all from the bottom (if that makes sense). I really think its the temperature, and it depends on the beer.

Budweiser, for example, won't do that to you. It's the darker red beers/guiness that really change a lot near the bottom. Also, beers can be filtered or unfiltered. You probably drink unfiltered beer, so there should be no sediments. I like unfiltered Hefeweizens. If you can find a bottle of the one I posted at the very bottom, try it. You would like any of the beers listed here if you don't want that strong bitter taste.


Oh, yesterday I kinda had three beers (:biggrin:)

One was a modelo especial (mexican). Its a lager similar to a budweiser, and pretty good.

http://www.neonsign.com/eng_lightedsigns/images/modelo3dcansign.jpg

The next was a rolling rock, which was again quite good and close to the modelo in taste

http://ceoworld.biz/ceo/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/rolling-rock-beer.jpg

The last one was a Michelob Ultra Light, which was really light and drank like water. I two two sips and it was all gone.

michelobultra.jpg


As far as light beers go, it was pretty good and similar to an amstel light.

Tonight I'm having a repeat of my favorite beer: franziskaner beer

http://thebeerlist.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/franziskaner-hefe-weisse-poured-200x300.jpg

Oh, this ones so good.
 
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  • #110
The same is true for soda. Ever noticed how a warm soda tastes wayyyyyyyyyy more sugary than an ice cold soda?
 
  • #111
Cyrus said:
One was a modelo especial (mexican). Its a lager similar to a budweiser, and pretty good.
I get the Nagra Modelo when I go to mexican food places. It's a lot like Newcastle.
 
  • #112
TheStatutoryApe said:
I get the Nagra Modelo when I go to mexican food places. It's a lot like Newcastle.

Newcastle is too bitter for my taste.
 
  • #113
Cyrus said:
The same is true for soda. Ever noticed how a warm soda tastes wayyyyyyyyyy more sugary than an ice cold soda?

Hmmm...I don't drink sodas but once in a blue moon but yes, you're right.

Come to think of it, temperature affects the taste of milk too...I like mine almost room temperature...makes the cream taste stand out.
 
  • #114
lisab said:
Question for all you beerios...why does the last bit of beer in a bottle taste so different than the first? Yes, the temp is certainly different - it's warmer, sometimes a lot warmer (I don't drink beer quickly). But is that the only factor? Does commercially produced beer have sediment at the bottom of the bottle which makes it taste more bitter?
The commercially produced beers are the ones that usually don't have sediment, unless they're unfiltered white beers or have had some yeast added back into the bottle during filling or secondary fermentation. Temperature has a major impact on beer taste. Most US beers are drunk ice cold because I guess the beers are really bland or the people who drink them don't really like the flavour anyway. (Apologies in advance to all true American beer lovers... but if we didn't have such drinkers who else would drink most commercial US brands?). As well as getting warmer, the CO2 is lost from solution. The beer may also taste more bitter if it collects some of the foam that was deposited earlier on the side of the bottle or glass, or some of this foam (which has a lot of the bitter compounds) has collapsed into the bottle. Exposure to oxygen can cause a sort of aging or oxidation (this will happen anyway as the beer ages, but the more carefully the beer was handled during processing, and the better oxygen was excluded, the better the beer will age. Really old beers tend to taste of cherry or old tea. Don't drink this stuff. And of course, exposure to UV light will cause the phenomenon known as lightstruck, or what most Americans call skunky. The darker the beer, the more this is masked. The hoppier the beer, the more it is prone to this off flavour. So light, hoppy beers are very prone to lightstruck. I wouldn't drink them out of doors on a sunny day. You can actually taste the skunky/burnt rubber flavour developing in the first 5-10 minutes of drinking if you drink from a clear glass outdoors. White and lambic beers tend not to get either lightstruck or oxidised.
 
  • #115
Thanks, RR!

I had a feeling you'd know the answer :approve:.
 
  • #116
Today was a Bayerischer Bahnhof Berliner Weisse.


http://beerovision.wnymedia.net/blogs/files/2007/07/bayerischer.jpg

It had a very very strong lemon taste. It was unfiltered, but too much like lemon.


Last week I had a Bass beer, and I didn't like it's strong bitter taste one bit.

http://bertsbeerblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/bass.jpg
 
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  • #117
So, I'm getting the general impression that Cyrus would not like the beers usually stocked in my fridge. :biggrin: I usually like the more bitter beers. Though, had a yearning for something lighter this weekend, and currently have Widmer's Hefeweizen. I'm underwhelmed. It was okay with the grilled cornish hen I made this weekend, but I had one tonight after work, and meh, I prefer something I can chew. :-p
 
  • #118
I had a second beer since the first one was so small (it was like 10 oz!).

http://www.germanbeerinstitute.com/images/Ayinger_Ur_Weisse_1.jpg

I had the normal hefeweizen a few weeks ago, but this one is the dunkel weizen. Overall, not bad. A sweet afteratste similar to a skullsplitter, but an initial taste similar to that of their hefewizen.
 
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  • #119
Cyrus said:
I had a second beer since the first one was so small (it was like 10 oz!).
Maybe it was because it only had 3% Alc./vol. Doesn't sound manly to me. Doesn't the buzz matter?:rolleyes:
 
  • #120
dlgoff said:
Maybe it was because it only had 3% Alc./vol. Doesn't sound manly to me. Doesn't the buzz matter?:rolleyes:

Haha, I didn't even realize that. It def had 99.9% lemon by volume.
 
  • #121
My mother braught a bottle of Veglio moscato d'Asti (dessert wine) for my grandfather.


http://194.145.144.50/myEuropages-web/GalleryDocSnapshot?galleryId=104525

I took a small taste of it in a cup. It's very sweet, and similar to a Martini Rossi Asti, but a sweeter finish. I've been quite the drinker today.
 
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  • #122
Speaking of beer, I found out tonight from watching the "Jeopardy!" TV quiz show that in Wisconsin, they call beer "bratwash." A Google search led me to this site:

http://www.bratwurstpages.com/beer.html

Gee, I wish I'd grown up in Wisconsin instead of Ohio! :!)
 
  • #123
A few days ago I had the Ayinger Jahrhundert-beir (100 years). It was a lager, and quite good. Similar to a Taj Mahal beer.

http://bengaliboypaul.com/images/PicsOH/Ayinger-Jahr100.jpg
 
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  • #124
I been slacking on posting

http://www.bunitedint.com/portfolios/producers/bfm/meule/_images/meule-bottle.jpg

This is a swiss unfiltered golden ale with herb sage. It was ok, tasted a bit like a hefewiezen with a strong aftertaste. For the taste, I wouldn't spend the money on another bottle (upwards of 9 bucks for one bottle, yikes).

Another one I had was a Julius Echter Hefe-weiss (german import) it was pretty good, but I prefer the Ayinger Hefewiezen taste wise.

juliusEchterHefeWeiss.jpg


Oh, the foam. This one made lots of foam and took FOREVER to settle back down.
 
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  • #125
There's something to having a nice head. If you have a mustache you'll understand.
 
  • #126
That foam looks really nice.

I don't think I'd buy a bottle of beer for $9 though. Maybe to include as a gift for someone who really likes beer, but not for myself.
 
  • #127
Moonbear said:
That foam looks really nice.

I don't think I'd buy a bottle of beer for $9 though. Maybe to include as a gift for someone who really likes beer, but not for myself.

It's only once, and it was to try something new in life. Most bottles run around $5.00 that I've posted.

I want to have tasted and tried lots of things before I'm dead. My body will make better mulch that way. :biggrin:
 
  • #128
The day before yesterday I had a Budweiser American Ale, and I hated it so much I poured it down the sink. I didn't like it because it was an Ale and I can't stand the taste of Ales

BudAle.JPG


I also (yesterday) had a Baltika 8 wheat ale from Russia. Verrrryy good.

891825720_ba30bdb5af.jpg
 
  • #129
Cyrus said:
I had a second beer since the first one was so small (it was like 10 oz!).

http://www.germanbeerinstitute.com/images/Ayinger_Ur_Weisse_1.jpg

I had the normal hefeweizen a few weeks ago, but this one is the dunkel weizen. Overall, not bad. A sweet afteratste similar to a skullsplitter, but an initial taste similar to that of their hefewizen.

Ayinger is a personal favorite of mine!

The Belgium classics of Chimay, Duvel and Delirium are great for getting a quick buzz.
 
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  • #130
Todays beer was from Russia again, Жигулёвское Zhiguljovskoje made by Baltika. It's a Lager beer and I found it to be good! (But Beer Advocate really flunked it! http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/401/31518)

http://www.beerme.com/graphics/brewery/0/194/22206.jpg
 
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  • #131
Moonbear said:
I don't think I'd buy a bottle of beer for $9 though. Maybe to include as a gift for someone who really likes beer, but not for myself.

Pssst, MB, I really like beer . . .
 
  • #132
Cyrus said:
The day before yesterday I had a Budweiser American Ale, and I hated it so much I poured it down the sink. I didn't like it because it was an Ale and I can't stand the taste of Ales

Why the hell would you drink anything with the brand name Budweiser on it anyway? Thats some redneck beer.
 
  • #133
Was NASCAR on? Cyrus turns into a redneck for NASCAR. :biggrin:
 
  • #134
Who doesn't like cars that go 180MPH making lots of noise? Who doesn't like Budweiser? I like Budweiser. I think its a great beer!
 
  • #135
Budweiser beer. For God's sake it's an oxymoron. I quaffed three glasses of Kwak last night. It was great and I have no idea why I didn't get home til 5 a .m. Well, perhaps the Kwak was a clue.
 
  • #137
Right now I'm having a hoegaarden:

http://blog.winemag.com/editors/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/hoegaarden.jpg

It's a great wheat beer, but what makes it even better is that I have the glass shown in the picture, which makes for an at home experience that is even closer to what I get at a nice pub. I finally realized the importance of having an appropriate glass/mug for all these diferent types of beer, I have collected about 10 distinct beer vessels!
 
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  • #138
Civilized said:
Right now I'm having a hoegaarden:

http://blog.winemag.com/editors/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/hoegaarden.jpg

It's a great wheat beer, but what makes it even better is that I have the glass shown in the picture, which makes for an at home experience that is even closer to what I get at a nice pub. I finally realized the importance of having an appropriate glass/mug for all these diferent types of beer, I have collected about 10 distinct beer vessels!

I personally think its, ok. But I'd tell you to try the Baltika 8 wheat beer. Personally, I like it a lot better. Then again, I have a very particular tasting beer I like. However, the Hoegaarden is absolutely better than a blue moon, IMO.
 
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  • #139
I am currently drinking Vitali vodka mixed with ruby red grapefruit juice.
I can not find a picture of the bottle online for some reason.

It is of a variety that anyone but the most ardent of brownbag vodka drinkers should drink with a mixer. You should be able to find it at your local grocery store though they may have accidentally stowed it with the floor cleaners.
 
  • #140
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  • #141
there was a time in my life when i'd drink soda as if it were water and i believe i had been addicted to it until it made my stomach so sore when i drink it. that's the time i stopped and just drink water. until now beer or soda would still make my tummy sore like hell.:cry:
 
  • #142
Anybody visiting Amsterdam must call into this place. Have a Kwak from the tap and if you get hungry try the cheese board with olives. It will be a night to remember as long as you keep the Kwak count below 4.

http://www.cafegollem.nl/default_EN.asp
 
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  • #143
http://www.cafe-belgique.nl/html/index.html

This one is also interesting although lately every time I pass by they seem to be holding private parties. Is it me?

Then there's also this unusual one near Central station. The name translates as The eleventh commandment (don't get caught, I believe). The amount of religious statuary in this establishment unnerves some people. But it's an interesting bar with friendly and eccentric owners.
http://www.hetelfdegebod.com/page4.html
 
  • #144
Since I've advertised Belgian bars in Amsterdam, it's only fair to provide a link to this excellent establishment much closer to home for me in Leiden. http://www.cafe-olivier.be/

The bar is located in an old hospital and has an interesting museum. You can learn all about the more intimate aspects of human anatomy while using the toilet facilities. The cuisine is pretty good as well.
 
  • #145
Boddingtons best for me.

http://www.beers-portugal.com/boddingtons.jpg
 
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  • #146
I'm currently enjoying a Wacko beer from Magic Hat. It's their summer seasonal beer. The only issue I have with them is it's impossible to figure out from anything on the label what kind of beer you're going to be trying. This one is described only as "a beer with beet juice color," which means NOTHING. It turns out, it's an English Ale...Cyrus wouldn't like it since it's bitter. But to figure out just what it was required checking out their website. :rolleyes:
 
  • #147
I've had some good experiences with Dogfish Head's raisin brew, which offsets the sweetness with a rather high alcohol content. This 4th was a mixture of Chimay, Whale's Tale IPA, and Otter Creek Stovepipe Porter. I was not the one drinking the IPA, since apparently like Cyrus, I'm not a huge fan of bitter. I like beer that's like rich drinkable bread, malty. The exception would be a bitter stout with strong coffee notes; that works well with bitter flavors.
 
  • #148
xxChrisxx said:
Boddingtons best for me.

[PLAIN]http://www.beers-portugal.com/boddingtons.jpg[/QUOTE]

Yes! I have that glass but sadly, ran out of ale
 
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  • #149
Ok, in all seriousness, I am finding this discussion a bit hard to believe. Personally I am a diet soda addict. It's not good for me, I know, etc. etc. However, as of yet, it has not produced any noticeable health problems other then likely caffeine dependence.
If I drank the same quantity of beer that i did soda, I can't imagine that I could be remotely functional.
 
  • #150
Try chugging a soda.
 

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