False ABVs?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by dripa8, Sep 28, 2015.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
Page 1 of 5
  1. dripa8

    dripa8 Zealot (647) Sep 19, 2014 Kansas

    I am not a scientist or anything, but I do like my ipas extra cold. So recently I noticed that if I throw a couple NB ramp ants(8.5 abv)in the freezer at the same time as a couple fresh squeezed(6.5 abv) to cool before drinking, the ramp ants will freeze way before the lower abv beers. I always thought higher abv beers took longer to freeze. Comment?
     
    #1 dripa8, Sep 28, 2015
    sinkas likes this.
  2. PsilohsaiBiN

    PsilohsaiBiN Maven (1,473) Aug 10, 2010 New York

    Why do you freeze your beer?
     
    #2 PsilohsaiBiN, Sep 28, 2015
    MarshallBirdhouse, machalel, BeerForMuscle and 20 others like this.
  3. dripa8

    dripa8 Zealot (647) Sep 19, 2014 Kansas

    Funny, but my intent is not to freeze it, thus the question. My intent is a nice cold beer.
     
    #3 dripa8, Sep 28, 2015
    algebeeric_topology likes this.
  4. ghostinthemachine

    ghostinthemachine Initiate (0) Aug 14, 2015 Louisiana

    wrap them in damp paper towels and they cool much quicker in the freezer
     
    #4 ghostinthemachine, Sep 28, 2015
    MrDave, Caveworm, Stevem68 and 5 others like this.
  5. dripa8

    dripa8 Zealot (647) Sep 19, 2014 Kansas

    I trying to thoughtfully ask if maybe the bag is not what is stated. But I do understand haters gotta hate.
     
    #5 dripa8, Sep 28, 2015
    sinkas likes this.
  6. Steban

    Steban Initiate (0) Dec 3, 2014 North Carolina

    Your keeping them in the freezer too long if they are freezing. 30 mins is exactly enough time to go from room temp to ice cold for me.
     
    #6 Steban, Sep 28, 2015
    Shroud0fdoom, StrappingYoungLad and Lare453 like this.
  7. dripa8

    dripa8 Zealot (647) Sep 19, 2014 Kansas

    My spell check turned abv into bag, sorry
     
    #7 dripa8, Sep 28, 2015
    sinkas likes this.
  8. PatrickCT

    PatrickCT Grand Pooh-Bah (3,776) Feb 18, 2015 Connecticut

    The OP isn't asking how to freeze beer.
     
    #8 PatrickCT, Sep 28, 2015
    frozyn, MUTINY, Bolivian22 and 20 others like this.
  9. dripa8

    dripa8 Zealot (647) Sep 19, 2014 Kansas

    Once again,you all are missing the point. I am not leaving them in there all night. Just before I start in on 3 or 4 beers, I throw em in there to get really cold. But my main question is are the stated abvs correct?
     
    #9 dripa8, Sep 28, 2015
    Givemebeer likes this.
  10. Kuaff

    Kuaff Initiate (0) Mar 31, 2013 Alaska

    I'm not sure if I can answer this specific question, but as a chemistry student, I can shed a little light on a factor besides alcohol content that affects freezing points of solutions.

    A higher concentration of solutes in a solvent (say salt in water, for example) increases the entropy of the solution and results in boiling point elevation and freezing point depression. It's because the molecules in the solution become too chaotic to want to freeze solid, yet less inclined to vaporize due to a decrease in the differential between the liquid's entropy, and the air's. That's why salt water freezes at colder temps than fresh water. Perhaps the amount of sediments or other more invisible particles in different beers could influence their freezing points?

    This may be irrelevant to your issue though. I have no idea if such a factor could override alcohol content.
     
    #10 Kuaff, Sep 28, 2015
    Retroman40, foundersfan1, machalel and 15 others like this.
  11. SLewis

    SLewis Pundit (901) Jun 17, 2014 North Carolina

    I don't care about ABV all that much, but I seriously doubt New Belgium would lie about the ABV of its beers.
     
    #11 SLewis, Sep 28, 2015
    sarcastro, sharpski, Lare453 and 1 other person like this.
  12. scottakelly

    scottakelly Maven (1,487) May 9, 2007 Ohio

    You think the abvs are false? Based off of beers freezing at different times that are only 2% apart in abv?
     
    #12 scottakelly, Sep 28, 2015
    LambicPentameter and Lare453 like this.
  13. PA-Michigander

    PA-Michigander Grand Pooh-Bah (3,372) Nov 10, 2013 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    You ARE leaving them in there too long if they are literally freezing.
     
    #13 PA-Michigander, Sep 28, 2015
    machalel, VABA, HopBomb515 and 3 others like this.
  14. dripa8

    dripa8 Zealot (647) Sep 19, 2014 Kansas

    Give me another reason if my hypothesis is wrong. I'm not looking for troll comments, just an honest discussion.
     
    #14 dripa8, Sep 28, 2015
    Brutaltruth and algebeeric_topology like this.
  15. algebeeric_topology

    algebeeric_topology Pooh-Bah (2,052) Dec 30, 2014 Florida
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    But again, not the point...

    It's possible OP! It also seems like the type of thing nobody would ever really check. At the same time though, if we're being super serious, can we control for location in the freezer, particularly relative to wherever it is your cold air comes from?
     
    #15 algebeeric_topology, Sep 28, 2015
    dfillius, utopiajane and sharpski like this.
  16. dripa8

    dripa8 Zealot (647) Sep 19, 2014 Kansas

    Thank you kuaff and RobNewton for intelligent possible answers.
     
    #16 dripa8, Sep 28, 2015
    BeerForMuscle, MUTINY, dfillius and 1 other person like this.
  17. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    The ABV better be very close to what is stated. The law stipulates that if its on the label it has to be accurate to within +/- 0.3 percent (IIRC) of what the label says it is. Not a large margin for error.
     
    #17 drtth, Sep 28, 2015
    Last edited: Sep 28, 2015
    foundersfan1 and cjgiant like this.
  18. CheapHysterics

    CheapHysterics Initiate (0) Apr 1, 2009 Pennsylvania

    What's the margin of error for abv reported on a bottle?
     
    #18 CheapHysterics, Sep 28, 2015
  19. hopfenunmaltz

    hopfenunmaltz Pooh-Bah (2,635) Jun 8, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    +/- 0.3% ABV

    TTB does random checks.
     
    #19 hopfenunmaltz, Sep 28, 2015
  20. Lare453

    Lare453 Pooh-Bah (2,884) Feb 1, 2012 Florida
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    You're beer is in the freezer too long.
     
    #20 Lare453, Sep 28, 2015
    VABA, UcDru and glass_house like this.
Page 1 of 5
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.