I received an email advertisement today for stovepipe (19.2 oz) cans of a red ale and golden ale, both barrel aged and each one clocking in at a hearty 11%! The ABV is listed clearly at the top of the can, something I’ve seen elsewhere—I want to say Voodoo Ranger and some of the Torpedo variants do this, as well as Bell’s new Topical Hopslam (at a still hearty 9%, natch). I don’t think of stovepipes as something to share or space out over a few hours, and there’s more than one reason we call 16 oz cans pounders. And I’ll tread lightly if it’s anything +/- a double digit ABV, in general. Clearly, I’m not the target demographic for these.But someone must be. So who is drinking these? And how strong is too strong for your stovepipe/tall boy/gas station-convenience store selections?
Stovepipes have strictly been for work hotel rooms for me. They serve a purpose, but don't pretend like they aren't just a fancy alcohol delivery device. Picking up a half pint of Seagrams 7 would serve the same purpose, but Wawa has stovepipes of 90 minute, and the liquor store is closed.
I chose 9% in the poll. I received the same social media post that you mention for those two 11% beers, and I thought the same thing. However, if I don't happen to be sharing that large can of beer I'll typically go very slow (I usually take 3-4 hours for a 12 ounce big beer) and likely would take longer to drink 19 ounces. I can handle that, and I look at it as extended sipping enjoyment.
That reminds me......time to see if'n I have any 12oz bottles of any 120Minute of any ages cellared/refrigerated stashed away anywhere..................
I didn't vote. The stovepipe is my least favorite format since the bomber. The only stovepipe I ever bought was Zombie Ice and only because I wanted to try it. I didn't intend to drink all of it and I dumped it about a third of the way through. I don't mind drinking five 5-ounce pours in a flight, but I just can't drink 19.2 ounces of one beer. At least I could re-cap a bomber (although with varying degrees of success).
7% is perfect 8% is doable 9% is too much I associate stovepipes with gas stations. This format is meant to be consumed on the go. So it has to pack a punch, but without getting people blitzed.
I picked 9% as it can feel like a chore to climb that 19oz headache-in-a-can mountain especially if it's an artificial tasting subpar IPA (you heard me Voodoo Ranger and Beer Hug). With that said, the younger me would have kicked the older me in the nuts for saying something this stupid. So clearly there is a demographic for this....
Like MrOH, the main appeal of stovepipes is when I'm traveling and don't want a 4/6 pack. You can space them out over a couple hours if you leave the can in the fridge (which most hotel rooms have now). I picked 10% and above. I've had a couple 9% stovepipe cans and that's probably as high as I'd want to go.
So a stovepipe is (about) 3 oz more than a pounder and 5oz less than two 12oz servings . I would say pick what you like regarding ABV. Many pounder 2IPA”s are 8% , lots of 12oz beers are 7- 9% that we all enjoy at home . Like others i buy stovepipes when traveling for the hotel room ( cause i want more than 1 beer but not a 4/6 PK) when filling up the car at the gas station for next day travels . So for voting purposes i said above 10%
I’ve been known to drink a 17%+ 750mL bottle solo (it takes me hours, and has sometimes spilled into the following day)—in fact I have several such bottles currently in the beer fridge awaiting the right moment. I’d treat a strong stovepipe the same way: pour 6 or 8 ounces at a time, savor it, and keep the rest of the can in the fridge. So I voted “sky’s the limit.” Take your time and drink lots of water and “too strong” is an oxymoron.
I voted +10%, for general enjoyability reasons. Although I’ll add, that high ABV alone wouldn’t keep me from buying one if it was a beer that I really wanted to try. I don’t usually purchase this format, but have wondered about the odd 19.2 ounce size and where it came from. I guess the cans I’ve looked at did not have alternative volume information printed on the label, and the 568 milliliter metric volume didn’t lake any sense either. Some light research brings these facts to light: A “Stovepipe Can” is an “Imperial Pint”, or 20 British Ounces. One UK, or British ounce = 0.96076 Fluid ounces. (20 X 0.96076 = 19.2152) or 19.2 Fluid ounces Additional facts: Born out of bringing the low-commitment customer a larger single-serve size, the 19.2-ounce cans are the largest size that will take a standard can end. They maximize liquid volume without the need to make major modifications to most package lines.
I think there should be a negative correlation between abv and serving size. I’d love it if stovepipes were in the 3.8-4.5% range. They never are, so I don’t buy them.
First thing I thought of! To the question, no abv is out of the question. No sweeping decisions, depends on the mood and the beer in question. I basically only drink Sip in this format (vs 16oz) cos a local store has em at $3.19 vs $17/18 for 4x16.
The strength of the stovepipe comes down to whether you plan to share it or not. For one person, keep it under 6%. If it is a beer you plan to share with multiple people it could be Utopias strength.
It really depends. If I'm in a casino, an amusement park, a concert, a sporting event, a block party, etc. then it can be fun to have something super strong in a large container. In my younger days, a 12% beer in a big ass can would have been the ultimate college party drink, too. However if I'm going to have to drive anywhere...not so much. Even if I'm at home and just watching a movie or a football game, I'd probably rather just have 2 smaller cans. It's gonna be warm by the time I'm halfway done. I see it as something situationally appropriate.
I chose 6% or under. Health guidelines state that a male should not consume more than 2 standard drinks in a day. A 7% stovepipe is 2.2 standard drinks, meaning you technically should not be consuming even that one can. Athletic oddly has stovepipe cans. But I'm with you on your overall sentiment. A UK pint works because cask ales tend to be in the 3-4% range. Heady Topper wouldn't work.
