You've gone without beer for 31 days. What's next?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by elNopalero, Jan 27, 2022.

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You've gone 31 days without beer. What's next?

  1. I had a nice break, now it's back to my old ways--with a vengance!

    11 vote(s)
    13.8%
  2. I am marking day 32 with something special for the occasion.

    38 vote(s)
    47.5%
  3. I'm going to incorporate more NA options in my regular rotation.

    22 vote(s)
    27.5%
  4. 31 days is nothing. I could do this all year!

    17 vote(s)
    21.3%
Multiple votes are allowed.
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  1. elNopalero

    elNopalero Grand Pooh-Bah (5,822) Oct 14, 2009 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Here's the scenario:

    You, as part of the Beer Advocate community, will have cut your consumption of beer out completely for 31 days.

    Once you're ready to give up your life of what some call pure evil, do you go back to your old habits?

    Was this a break that leads to a new lifestyle?

    Have you explored the world of NA beers and maybe even tasted a few that you'll return to?

    And, perhaps more importantly, what are you opening on day 32?




    ...Yes, yes, this is a not-so-veiled reference to my own participation in Dry January.
     
  2. Rug

    Rug Grand Pooh-Bah (3,454) Aug 20, 2018 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    All hypothetical for me because I did not do dry Jan, but I would definitely celebrate a job well done with a special beer for day 32. Cheers to all the brave souls who went dry all month!
     
  3. scootercrabb

    scootercrabb Savant (1,083) May 2, 2007 Illinois

    Well I did a week without but because of covid back to normal routine
     
    zac16125, beergoot, tigg924 and 2 others like this.
  4. fuzzywarren

    fuzzywarren Crusader (445) Aug 7, 2020 Ohio

    I hope this reply is acceptable. I went 59 days (long story) 3 years old. For the whole 59 days I fantasized about that first beer. I decided on Anchor Steam, a favorite of mine when I didn't know what I wanted. When I drank it on day 60 I found it thick and foamy, totally gross. The next day I tried a lager from a local microbrewer and while less gross, still not enjoyable. The following day I picked up a couple cans of Coors Banquet beer. Heaven!! I rode that train for awhile but was worried I would never get my taste back. That I had ruined years of research, etc. I decided I needed to try something very clean and picked up some Zombie Dust on my way to my sister's. One sip and everything was fine. Off to the races again. Now 59 days is different than 30 but maybe this will be of interest to some.
     
  5. beer_beer

    beer_beer Pooh-Bah (2,306) Feb 13, 2018 Finland
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Absolutely nothing special awaits :wink:

    But glad for this special BA ride, glad for you!
     
    #5 beer_beer, Jan 27, 2022
    Last edited: Jan 27, 2022
    JayORear, BuffaloBill12, Rug and 4 others like this.
  6. Celtics76

    Celtics76 Pooh-Bah (1,781) Sep 5, 2011 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah

    I have a Utopia barrel aged World Wide Stout waiting for me. Unfortunately I started late so it will have to wait until Super Bowl weekend.
     
    IKR, AlcahueteJ, CBlack85 and 7 others like this.
  7. Shanex

    Shanex Grand Pooh-Bah (4,960) Dec 10, 2015 France
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I definitely skipped Dry Jan but was totally sober for a bit over three weeks in late October to mid November.

    The key point here is the benefits out of it.

    Drinking less, still to this day. A beer. Or two if I’m by myself. Even then, after three beers at a friends/neighbors place or the formal family dinner and that’s already more than enough for me.

    Lightweight? Nah, more like self-conscious.

    Nearing the big 4.0 it won’t last forever that my transaminases are still under the critical point, and during my twenties I was pretty much higher than a kyte the whole decade.

    OT but I quit smoking too, even weed, tried the CBD thing and it didn’t appeal to me either.

    Give me my daily dose of hops and I’m perfectly happy.
     
  8. tigg924

    tigg924 Grand Pooh-Bah (5,076) Apr 30, 2008 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    When I did Dry January, I definitely had something special the first weekend of February. I then cut back but not cut out regular strength beer and kept NAs in the rotation.
     
    IKR, scootercrabb, JSullivan and 6 others like this.
  9. eppCOS

    eppCOS Grand Pooh-Bah (4,570) Jun 27, 2015 Colorado
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Confession: Haven't had the willpower to completely take more than 2-3 days off the 'real' stuff in a row but have added in the N/A stuff to replace day to day beers that would have had more negative impact on me. I'll think about taking off a summer month, as races get closer, but otherwise... eh.
    @Shanex - congrats on quitting smoking, that is tough (I hear), and good for you!
     
    IKR, scootercrabb, AlcahueteJ and 9 others like this.
  10. Providence

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

    I'll be let down if there isn't one or two people in the WBAYDN on 2/1 trying to drink a 12 pack of Hopslam.
     
    sulldaddy, eljabak, REVZEB and 15 others like this.
  11. officerbill

    officerbill Pooh-Bah (2,228) Feb 9, 2019 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    59 days without beer when you were 3 years old? Beats my record :wink:
    [​IMG]
     
  12. beer_beer

    beer_beer Pooh-Bah (2,306) Feb 13, 2018 Finland
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Changed my vote from the fourth to the third alternative. After all I've drunk beer all the dry January...I like to call NA beer...and glad more and more people do...like to incorporate even more of them in the rotation...but you can overdo even them, believe it or not...
     
    #12 beer_beer, Jan 27, 2022
    Last edited: Jan 27, 2022
    IKR, eppCOS and Shanex like this.
  13. eppCOS

    eppCOS Grand Pooh-Bah (4,570) Jun 27, 2015 Colorado
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Overdo them? How? Do you mean just get tired of them or the calorie effect? Because at 0 or 0.5% it would take then of those to equal a regular 5% beer. Baffled.
     
  14. steveh

    steveh Grand Pooh-Bah (4,174) Oct 8, 2003 Illinois
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Can I vote for 2?

    My first beer will be all hops to quell the craving. SN Powder Day and Off Color Beer for Lounging awaiting me.

    And... I'm over-set for Starkbierzeit -- quite a few Doppelbocks lined up, but I'm not going to go overboard. Been keeping a good pace 2 years now and my annual checkups are helping me on a straight road!
     
    rocdoc1, cavedave, Jaycase and 5 others like this.
  15. MistaRyte

    MistaRyte Pooh-Bah (2,681) Jan 14, 2008 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I think all these people should reflect on the pain they've inflicted on COVID-ravished breweries... (ducks)
     
  16. FBarber

    FBarber Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,325) Mar 5, 2016 Illinois
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

  17. Celtics76

    Celtics76 Pooh-Bah (1,781) Sep 5, 2011 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah

    In terms of calories yes. Most of them are 80-100 calories, so having 2 or 3 will add up. During my dry month (so far) I limit myself to just a couple NA beers per week. Trying to maximize weight loss.

    I'm sticking mainly to club soda/lime juice as my NA drink of choice, and believe me after 11 days it's gotten old in a hurry. May add decaf coffee to the mix!
     
    ESHBG, cavedave, beer_beer and 3 others like this.
  18. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I haven't started my dry January yet because I still have a few IPAs that I don't want to get any older before I drink them. I think I'm down to three of them and will go dry after that. However, I've been drinking one NA beer alternating with my one regular beer that I drink with dinner. When I go dry I'll probably continue to drink an NA beer each day. We'll see if I get sick of them.
     
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  19. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,145) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    So drink one a day and stop drinking on the 30th until the end of the month!
     
  20. tigg924

    tigg924 Grand Pooh-Bah (5,076) Apr 30, 2008 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    I agree that NA beer calories can add up quick. I certainly made that mistake last year. If you are looking for high quality, low calorie NA beer, give Partake a try--or even better One for the Road. Those two breweries have been the best that I have found that combine low calorie and still taste like beer.

     
    beer_beer, IKR, PapaGoose03 and 2 others like this.
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