With Pandora's Box Open, how often do you surcome?

[Philipek]

Still I don't binge drink anymore and at least I know every ingredient in what I am drinking so probably better than someone addicted to coke (cola!).

It's interesting that you say that. I have found that homebrewed beer severly hampers the binge drinking urge. Perhaps because, although cheaper, it's far rarer, in that one recipe has never turned out the same way twice. I want every pint to have my full undivided attention.

[confounded]

Still I don't binge drink anymore and at least I know every ingredient in what I am drinking so probably better than someone addicted to coke (cola!).

It's interesting that you say that. I have found that homebrewed beer severly hampers the binge drinking urge. Perhaps because, although cheaper, it's far rarer, in that one recipe has never turned out the same way twice. I want every pint to have my full undivided attention.

Yes, I agree, especially when you see you are nearing the end of one barrel and the new one is not ready yet. I think the most I have ever drunk (to date) is about 2 1/2 pints of my home brew mostly for the reason you point out, conservation. But now I am getting better at brewing it and I have more available to me I am starting to get the urge to tuck in.

[WishboneBrewery]

At the moment I drink roughly 2 bottles an evening with 3 to 4 bottles Friday / Saturday.
I think I drink too much but its rare I get drunk, its more fun enjoying what you are drinking...

Its not alcohol, its a Flavour experience

[Northern Brewer]

At the moment I drink roughly 2 bottles an evening with 3 to 4 bottles Friday / Saturday.

And how much beer do you get through?

[Capped]

A cautionary tale. Many years ago I had time on my hands and an obsession with brewing. Made one batch and was already thinking about the recipe for the next one.I was brewing with alarming frequency,as over the years and almost without noticing it,I was in the habit of supping at least five pints a night,every night. Such acclimatisation meant I was never drunk but somehow couldn't envisage not having that. Things came rapidly to a very nearly fatal head towards the end of 2003. Woke up one morning with the most incredible abdominal pains - literally rolling around on the floor screaming for God. I remember the missus phoning 999,and the next time I was awake was over one month later,having been in intensive care in a coma and wired up to every life-support system going during that time. Whilst in the coma I had to have an emergency tracheotomy to save my life. I'd fallen victim to acute necrotising pancreatitis (Google it),the cause of which in over 90% of cases is 'long term heavy alcohol consumption'. The doctors ruled out all the other known causes. Was teetotal for two years after having my life shattered,then a chat with the consultant revealed that,incredibly,my pancreas was for all intents and purposes back to normal,I showed no signs of liver disease and had no hint of diabetes. I cannot stress how incredibly fortunate I was to survive,such was the gravity of my condition for a few weeks. Anyways,the same consultant told me (without me asking!) that it was now safe to drink alcohol again. Wouldn't put a a cap on what I was allowed,just told me to "be sensible". So,since around the beginning of 2007 I have never exceeded 2 pints a day,and know I never will - it could cost me my life. And because of my shift pattern at work,I have one 'dry' week out of three as I work a night shift then,and abstain completely. I'm grateful for that! May sound odd,but I have never,and still don't consider myself to have,or have ever had an alcohol dependency. At no point during my abstinance did I ever think "boy I could do with a drink". I just love the whole brewing thing and seeing what comes out at the end!

[WishboneBrewery]

At the moment I drink roughly 2 bottles an evening with 3 to 4 bottles Friday / Saturday.

And how much beer do you get through?

I'll just go count the 4 Litre PET's




500ml Bottles

[confounded]

A cautionary tale. Many years ago I had time on my hands and an obsession with brewing. Made one batch and was already thinking about the recipe for the next one.I was brewing with alarming frequency,as over the years and almost without noticing it,I was in the habit of supping at least five pints a night,every night. Such acclimatisation meant I was never drunk but somehow couldn't envisage not having that. Things came rapidly to a very nearly fatal head towards the end of 2003. Woke up one morning with the most incredible abdominal pains - literally rolling around on the floor screaming for God. I remember the missus phoning 999,and the next time I was awake was over one month later,having been in intensive care in a coma and wired up to every life-support system going during that time. Whilst in the coma I had to have an emergency tracheotomy to save my life. I'd fallen victim to acute necrotising pancreatitis (Google it),the cause of which in over 90% of cases is 'long term heavy alcohol consumption'. The doctors ruled out all the other known causes. Was teetotal for two years after having my life shattered,then a chat with the consultant revealed that,incredibly,my pancreas was for all intents and purposes back to normal,I showed no signs of liver disease and had no hint of diabetes. I cannot stress how incredibly fortunate I was to survive,such was the gravity of my condition for a few weeks. Anyways,the same consultant told me (without me asking!) that it was now safe to drink alcohol again. Wouldn't put a a cap on what I was allowed,just told me to "be sensible". So,since around the beginning of 2007 I have never exceeded 2 pints a day,and know I never will - it could cost me my life. And because of my shift pattern at work,I have one 'dry' week out of three as I work a night shift then,and abstain completely. I'm grateful for that! May sound odd,but I have never,and still don't consider myself to have,or have ever had an alcohol dependency. At no point during my abstinance did I ever think "boy I could do with a drink". I just love the whole brewing thing and seeing what comes out at the end!

Wow,

Thank you for your post and a very sobering one at that. I guess that is what I was getting at with my post, I know 21 units is the recommended weekly allowance and I suspect mostly I stick within it. But currently I am tucking into pint of Summer Lightning my (second AG) and it is lovely and can see myself having a few more at this rate. I like my beer but when I used to buy bottle beer it was not like draft real ale and I did not feel the urge to drink more and more. My AG is acceptable to pub standard and this is the problem...

Will power is the order of the day.

[DarloDave]

Generally have about 2-3 pints a night if im in, if i go out generally 4-6. Main difference is im starting to get fat.

[Capped]

Wow,

Thank you for your post and a very sobering one at that. I guess that is what I was getting at with my post, I know 21 units is the recommended weekly allowance and I suspect mostly I stick within it. But currently I am tucking into pint of Summer Lightning my (second AG) and it is lovely and can see myself having a few more at this rate. I like my beer but when I used to buy bottle beer it was not like draft real ale and I did not feel the urge to drink more and more. My AG is acceptable to pub standard and this is the problem...

Will power is the order of the day.

Yes,with a seemingly limitless supply of high quality ale at hand,it's all too easy to get 'carried away' and fall into a deadly routine without realising it. As my consultant put it, "be sensible"! Borodave,I was pushing 15 stone when me panc popped,now I'm 11 stones!

[DarloDave]

I've gone from 10 stone to 12 and a half in about 6 months which is quite worrying, perhaps its time to join the dreaded gym.

[vacant]

I've gone from 10 stone to 12 and a half in about 6 months which is quite worrying

That's five stone per year which would come above "quite" worrying on my scale. I put on a stone in six months when I left uni and worked for an insurance company that had an excellent, highly subsidised canteen. I don't know what would have happened if I'd stayed but the job was "quite" (on the Borodave scale ) boring so I quit.

[mysterio]

Woah, sobering tale, Capped. Glad you shared it.

I wonder how long it will be before we get pictures of exploding pancreas on our beer bottles

[adm]

I'm historical/ traditional....I only drink beer as i don't trust the water

Really though....I travel a lot for work, but when I'm at home I'll quite happily drink 4 pints of an evening. Maybe more at weekends.

(It's not that I don't drink when I'm away though either......I just spent most evenings this weeks drinking Franziskaner Weiss in Berlin)

On the positive side though.. AG has stopped me drinking lots of expensive New Zealand wine most nights.

[umpa]

I have never been able to take my ale, in my youth the most I could sup was 6 pint at the weekend, and that usually came back up. After developing type 1 diabetes, ( not the ale I might add) I took up homebrew. The result is I can now brew weeker dryer beers, that are better for me. I might have 5 pints a week these days.

[KevP]

I am actually starting to wonder if I should stop brewing for a while, I am now finding it far too convenient to nip to the shed for 'just one' after work, which often ends up as 4 or 6. Its not healthy anymore and I was never like this when I had to buy the stuff.