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Different types of alcoholic beverages

The shelves at any ABC store, grocery store and even some gas stations are packed with different types of alcoholic beverages. Alcoholic beverages are either made from fruits or grains. Each distiller has its own special formula to make their own unique alcohol beverage. Some alcoholic beverages are meant to be drunk straight while others can be mixed in a cocktail. Here are some of the different types of alcoholic beverages.

Brandy

The word brandy was coined from the Dutch word “brandewijn”. Brandewijn literally means burned wine. Brandy started off as a drink of the Mediterranean region in the seventh century. Brandy is made from fruits and can be broken down into three categories of: grape brandy, pomace brandy, and fruit brandy. Grape brandy is made from crushed grape pulp or skins; pomace brandy is made from pressed not crushed grape pulp, skins and also stems, and fruit brandy which are any and all brandy that is made from any other fruit other than grapes. Brandy is considered liquor because it has an alcohol content of about 40 to 50 percent.

Scotch

Whiskey is spelled with an ‘e’ in Ireland and without the ‘e’ in the United States. Whisky includes a wide variety of distilled spirits. There are nine basic types of whisky and each one of these types has a variation in flavors and the way they are made. Scotch whiskey comes in two categories either single malt or blended. Single malt scotch whiskey is an unblended whiskey from a single batch. Blended whiskey is a combination of multiple malts.

Rye

Rye whiskey is a distilled beverage with at least 51 percent rye grain. All the other ingredients of rye whiskey can be corn and/or malted barley. These regulations on rye whiskey only apply to whiskey in the United States. Rye whiskey that is made in Canada does not have to include rye at all. Rye whiskey is most commonly used in the cocktails known as the Old Fashioned, the Manhattan, and the Whiskey Sour.

Bourbon

Bourbon is another distilled spirit that’s content is regulated by laws. Bourbon has to be a minimum of two years old and be at least 80 proof. Not only that but bourbon also must be made from at least 51 percent corn and be aged in charred, new oak barrels.

Rum

Rum is the only alcoholic beverage that is made from a grass known as sugar cane. Rum is made by pressing the juice out of the sugar cane. Distillers will use the juice although some other just use molasses which is what is left over of refined sugar. Rum is fermented by adding yeast. Rum is made all over the world but most commonly in the Caribbean and the rum from each country tastes different.

Beer

There are around 20,000 different types of beer in the world and there are at least 180 different styles of beer. The basic process of making beer is kind of common knowledge. Yeast mixes with grain in water, the grain ferments and then you have beer. It is the type of water, yeast, and grain that creates different types of beer. Hard water will make bitter ale and soft water will make a bitter lager. Add barley to the mix and you now have a sweet taste. Add hops and you know have a bitterness to it.

Wine

Wine comes in so many varieties but it always starts out the same. Wine is created by taking a bunch of grapes that are crushed and pressed and then fermenting them. The fermentation of grapes happens all by itself by adding special yeast to the mix. The clarification of wine happens the wine is moved from one barrel to the next leaving a bit of the solid pieces behind each time it moves. Each time the wine is moved from barrel to barrel it becomes clearer and clearer. The last steps for wine are, of course the aging and bottling process. Some wines get bottled immediately and left to age in there; some are left in steel tanks or small barrels to age.

There is no shortage of different types of alcoholic beverages. There are hundreds of thousands of different types of alcoholic beverages and each one has multiple varieties within themselves. The description of different types of alcoholic beverages could literally go on for days and days.

Sources:

http://www.medindia.net/slideshow/types-of-alcohol.asp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcoholic_beverage

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Hangover Myths

Hangover Myths

There are tons of hangover cures on the market today. Whether those hangover cures actually work though has yet to be determined. For every actual remedy for a hangover, there are two hangover myths. So here are the top hangover myths that you most likely have heard of to take care of your morning after blues.

1. Aspirin or ibuprofen while you drink can help with the headache.

THAT IS A HUGE HANGOVER MYTH.

The truth is that aspirin while you drink or after a hangover should be an absolute no-no. Aspirin increases acid in your hurting stomach and does absolutely nothing to get rid of the alcohol in your body. In fact this statement is so mythological because the contrary is true. Aspirin actually increases the blood alcohol levels by about 25% if you take it before drinking. Ibuprofen is also not recommended as a hangover cure because it can cause damage to your liver when it’s mixed with copious amounts of alcoholic beverages.

2. Wine doesn’t give you a hangover, vodka does.

THAT’S A HANGOVER MYTH!

The truth behind the hangover myth is that red wine can in fact leave you with more of a hangover than vodka. It has something to do with congeners that are in alcohol. Congeners are toxic and when you drink these get strewn all though out your body. Dark colored drinks such as brandy, whiskey, and. . .you guessed it! Red wine has more congeners than clear alcohol such as vodka and white wine.

3. Beer before liquor makes you sicker

THIS IS A CLASSIC HANGOVER MYTH

You have followed this hangover myth for ages were guessing. The truth behind this hangover myth though is that nothing about the chemistry of drinks interacting with each other makes you sick the next day. How this came about is probably a story about someone whose reluctance to drink the harder stuff disappeared after drinking a few beers.

4. Drink lots of water the morning after

HANGOVER MYTH!

You are probably surprised by this one. Drinking water the morning after definitely will help with your hangover the next day but it is actually much more important and helpful if you’re drinking water with your alcoholic beverages. If you don’t drink water while drinking alcohol your body will use the water where it’s needed due to the alcohol dehydrating you and you won’t ever really get hydrated to the point of feeling better.

5. Hair of the dog

HANGOVER MYTH AND WERE NOT SURPRISED.

This hangover myth has long since its conception become folklore. The claim is that if you drink more alcohol in the morning it will cure your hangover. All drinking more alcohol will do is delay the hangover; it won’t get rid of it all together. More alcoholic drinks just boost the body’s existing toxicity levels.

6. Drinking helps you distress and sleep

HANGOVER MYTH

If you think you are drinking to get rid of stress or fall asleep easily you have thought wrong. If the amount of alcohol in your blood is high the brain won’t ever go into REM (rapid eye movement) stage of sleep, which is the actual relaxed state. Ultimately, you sleep all night and often all day to beat your headache without giving your mind and body the actual rest you really needed and wanted.

There are tons more hangover myths out there and many people use them on a weekly basis. The truth is if you just get some rest, drink some Gatorade, eat some healthy food, and relax you are going to be fine. Don’t listen to the hype of the hangover myths, usually they are just quick, very unhealthy, thoughtless ways to put off a hangover or make it worse.