a thoughtful web.
Good ideas and conversation. No ads, no tracking.   Login or Take a Tour!
comment by mk
mk  ·  3504 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Vox: Expensive wine is for suckers.

One thing that I appreciate about the microbrewing movement is that price rarely plays a role in the quality of the beer, or the effort to make it. Once you are willing to pay a $3-4 more dollars for a six-pack, the a world of diversity is open to you.

Also, wine is not refreshing. :)





Meriadoc  ·  3504 days ago  ·  link  ·  

That's one of the reasons I got into the craft beer movement as much as I did. You're never looking at a six pack for more than 15, and the top end bombers are $20.

And then you make the mistake of falling in love with sour beers too and that will hurt your wallet.

mk  ·  3504 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Really most six-packs have no business being more than $11. If the process and ingredients demand more, then ok. But just becuase the beer is 'very good' isn't reason enough.

Meriadoc  ·  3504 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Absolutely. I'm wary of any beer over 12 or so (Midwest beers usually cost a bit extra here). And most of them don't live up to their extra money past that. I've had a few exceptions, of course, but that's the general rule.

am_Unition  ·  3504 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I fell in love with a girl who knows perhaps 500-600 beers, for her job.

To everyone looking to have a better retirement fund... if you can just delude yourself in the world of boring/cheap domestics, more power to you. Just try not to die young.

thenewgreen  ·  3504 days ago  ·  link  ·  

One of my favorite aspects of the wine list at a restaurant I once helped run, eve -the restaurant, was its "excursions" section of its wine list. All of the bottles were specifically sleceted to be awesome AND under $30.

I would argue that wine can be far more refreshing than beer at times. White wines can be wonderful on a warm day. The acidity, the cool temperature, the light body of a nice white can make it a better quencher than many beers.

mk  ·  3504 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I should be more specific about 'refreshing'.

Wine can be refreshing in a sitting on the veranda sense, but I am not looking to gulp a glass of chadonnay after some intense physical labor.

thenewgreen  ·  3501 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I hear ya, but the truth is I'm not looking to chug a beer either. Very rarely do I ever want a beer because I'm thirsty. When I'm thirsty I want water. Otherwise, I'll take a beer/wine.

b_b  ·  3504 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I'm not a drinker of wine so often, so I can't really comment on the video. But sparkling's a whole 'nuther story. I might not be able to tell a $50 from a $100 champagne, but I can sure as shit tell either from a $20 bottle. There is no question that when it comes to sparkling wine that there is a clear correlation between price and quality. I don't think there's a way to make good sparkling wine inexpensively. At least, nobody has yet found one.

The most expensive wine I've ever purchased was a Krug Grand Cuvee (non-vintage), and it was in celebration of selling my house. I could afford it, and I wanted to have something special to enjoy the moment. It was unlike anything I'd drank before, and very tasty. However, I wouldn't say that it was worth 3x a bottle of, say, Taittinger. But Taittinger is sure as shit worth 3x as much as a bottle of Asti or whatever shit they peddle for $15 at the liquor store.

That said, I wouldn't buy a bottle of Taittinger every day or even every month. It's a special occasion thing, and I'd rather buy quality every now and then than shit all the time.

To address your broader point, though, beer >>> wine. I could give up wine, even champagne, and not feel like I'm missing out on too much in life. I would never voluntarily give up beer.

katakowsj  ·  3504 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Agreed. Micro-brewing seems to be far more about adventuring into new tastes of a great beverage, than reaching new levels of exclusivity. Not that wine need be exclusive either. It's all in what we make of it. I don't have two buck chuck available near me, dammit. I've been paying upwards of $4.50 per bottle for some pretty good red Zinfandel at Kroger instead. Tough huh?