If you could add or subtract 2% ABV from any brew......

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Providence, Jul 19, 2012.

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  1. Providence

    Providence Pooh-Bah (2,652) Feb 24, 2010 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    What would it be and why?

    Last night I sprung for a bottle of Ruination 10th Anniversary. Let me be perfectly clear, this beer was great. Very tasty, good proportion of hops to malt, awesome appearance, AMAZING nose, etc. I really think it can compete with the big name DIPA's that people on the boards constantly talk about.

    Nevertheless, I couldn't help feel that it was just a little too boozy. I believe the ABV is 10.8% and I think if it were, say, 8.8% this may have been the greatest DIPA I have ever had and one of the best brews I have ever had period.

    What say you? Have you ever wished that a specific beer was 2% less in ABV. Or, on the flip side, did you ever wish something was 2% more (and not just because you were trying to get bombed, although that certainly is an understandable desire)?

    PS: I think if I were able to add 2% to any brew it would be Anchor Steam. I love that beer, and it's been my side arm at many a venue where craft choices were limited. But I wish it had a little more punch.
     
    #1 Providence, Jul 19, 2012
  2. GRPunk

    GRPunk Pooh-Bah (1,841) Apr 5, 2007 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    I'd love to drop the ABV on Two Hearted without changing the taste. I could enjoy it all day at 5% ABV.
     
    #2 GRPunk, Jul 19, 2012
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  3. sarcastro

    sarcastro Savant (1,133) Sep 20, 2006 Michigan

    If it is a matter of dropping ABV without affecting taste, I would like to drop the ABV on every beer, so I so I could drink more of all of them.
     
    #3 sarcastro, Jul 19, 2012
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  4. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I started blending the last few bottles of my sixer of Lagunitas Undercover Shut Down with (slightly) smaller beers because I found it to be a touch too big. BTW- that beer blended 50/50 with FW Union Jack made for an incredibly good mix. The question is, do I buy it again just to do that?:confused:
     
    #4 TongoRad, Jul 19, 2012
  5. Jason

    Jason Founder (0) Aug 23, 1996 Massachusetts

    What about 1.5% :wink:

    Bring this one back to 7.5% ... 9.0% version is good and all but a bit too much IMO.

    [​IMG]

    And this one back to 6.94% ... I think the last batch was 5.5%. So sad.

    [​IMG]
     
    #5 Jason, Jul 19, 2012
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  6. Mavajo

    Mavajo Initiate (0) Feb 10, 2007 Georgia

    I'd like to raise the ABV on sours, and lower the ABV on pretty much everything else, particularly bourbon barrel stouts.
     
    #6 Mavajo, Jul 19, 2012
  7. BdubleEdubleRUN

    BdubleEdubleRUN Initiate (0) Jul 28, 2009 California

    Professor Fritz 1809 and drop the price to $5, would drink all day erryday.
     
    #7 BdubleEdubleRUN, Jul 19, 2012
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  8. JM03

    JM03 Initiate (0) Nov 12, 2010 Ohio

    I'd say TNP. 32% is a bit much, but would probably be perfect right at 30% :rolling_eyes:
     
    #8 JM03, Jul 19, 2012
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  9. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I love Prof Fritz, and have been drinking it a lot lately. My initial impression was that it was the closest thing to the Kindl I used to get in the early 80s that I have had in a long while, so I really took to it. But it could use a bit of tweaking to make it 'perfect'. If it were just a touch more tart, a touch less full, a touch more pale...actually all of those things could probably be accomplished by dropping it to around the 4% range or lower, so I guess I'm with you on that one.
     
    #9 TongoRad, Jul 19, 2012
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  10. BirdsandHops

    BirdsandHops Grand Pooh-Bah (3,061) Apr 14, 2008 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah

    Pretty much this. Also, lower abv = fewer calories, which would be better for chunky guys like myself.
     
    #10 BirdsandHops, Jul 19, 2012
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  11. SittingOnAMtnTop

    SittingOnAMtnTop Initiate (0) Nov 3, 2009 North Carolina

    Raise: Bruery Hottenroth
    Lower: Pretty much anything anything over 7% as long as it didn't affect the taste (so I could drink more of course).
     
    #11 SittingOnAMtnTop, Jul 19, 2012
  12. RStang13

    RStang13 Initiate (0) Jun 22, 2011 New Jersey

    I'd love to add 2% to every bomber of barleywine or big stout I open at home by myself. The extra oomph might keep me from going into the cellar and opening a second bottle (and much regretting at work the next day), as I can't leave an opened bomber without finishing it
     
    #12 RStang13, Jul 19, 2012
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  13. bpgpitt10

    bpgpitt10 Pundit (849) May 12, 2008 District of Columbia

    Pretty much all DIPAs over 10% I think need toned down... hoptimum, hopslam, etc. There are a few exceptions (Dreadnaught for example), but mostly I find DIPAs over 10% have a bit of heat that detracts from my enjoyment.

    Most of the darker, cellarable styles I wouldn't really change because you can put them aside and drink them a year from now with the heat mellowed out a bit.

    Overall though, I find myself constantly searching for lower ABV beers in the stores because a 7.5% IPA can be tough to chill out and drink by the pool. I feel super lucky in Chicago to have some of the FFF, Daisy Cutter, All Day, and a few others that are amazing beers at any ABV.
     
    #13 bpgpitt10, Jul 19, 2012
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  14. YaKnowBrady

    YaKnowBrady Pundit (809) Jul 23, 2010 New Jersey

    I'd like to make Black Tuesday an even 20%
     
    #14 YaKnowBrady, Jul 19, 2012
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  15. leedorham

    leedorham Initiate (0) Apr 27, 2006 Washington

    I'd subtract 2% from Bud Select 55 so my kids could drink it.
     
    #15 leedorham, Jul 19, 2012
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  16. BdubleEdubleRUN

    BdubleEdubleRUN Initiate (0) Jul 28, 2009 California

    Couldn't disagree more. Cheers.
     
    #16 BdubleEdubleRUN, Jul 19, 2012
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  17. otispdriftwood

    otispdriftwood Initiate (0) Dec 9, 2011 Colorado

    Wouldn't adding or subtracting 2% ABV from a beer make it an entirely different beer?
     
    #17 otispdriftwood, Jul 19, 2012
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  18. notchucknorris

    notchucknorris Pooh-Bah (2,230) May 28, 2010 California
    Pooh-Bah

    Totally agree on the Hoptimum. Loved it, but it definitely had a punch of heat that took away from it a bit. Agreed on the 10 Anny Ruination as well.
     
    #18 notchucknorris, Jul 19, 2012
  19. muletrane

    muletrane Initiate (0) Oct 26, 2006 Pennsylvania

    I would subtract 2% from Flower Power so I could drink more!
     
    #19 muletrane, Jul 19, 2012
  20. Kinsman

    Kinsman Maven (1,457) Aug 26, 2009 Nevada

    +1 for Hoptimum heat. I enjoyed it but definitely didn't expect that little punch.
     
    #20 Kinsman, Jul 19, 2012
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