# Natural Ice is the best beer around **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 18, 2004, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natural-ice-is-the-best-beer-around/260332 "2004-08-18T01:43:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natural-ice-is-the-best-beer-around/260332/41 "2004-08-19T01:03:27Z")
> [@Wesley Clark](#): > > Its not good tasting Ok, so why do you drink it in the first place? ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natural-ice-is-the-best-beer-around/260332/42 "2004-08-19T01:42:00Z")
> [@Johnny Bravo](#): > > Ok, so why do you drink it in the first place? Because its alcohol. In small doses beer is ok (under one 12oz can), beyond that drinking it is a chore. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natural-ice-is-the-best-beer-around/260332/43 "2004-08-19T02:00:51Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Coincidentally, the legal age in Indiana is 16. Dude! Where did that come from? Unless you are trying to say 16 years for scotch. > [@Homebrew](#): > > At least 10 years-old, but the older the better. Personally, I won’t buy one younger than 12. My question was really a rhetorical one. I don’t mind Balvenie 10, it is pretty good. Although I am still reeling with the fact that Lagavulin 16 may not be available for a while. > [@silenus](#): > > **Bowmore 17** Based on your recommendation in that other thread, I just picked up a bottle of this and I like it. Oh yeah, and **Czarcasm** , the best beer in the world is [Big Rock Traditional](http://www.bigrockbeer.com/03brands/03beers.html#trad). ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natural-ice-is-the-best-beer-around/260332/44 "2004-08-19T02:10:56Z")
You’re welcome! 😃 **Bowmore** is something that everybody should know about. For some reason, the only one I really like is the **17**. The spirit goes through so many changes as it is aging that a couple of years makes a big difference in the flavor profile. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natural-ice-is-the-best-beer-around/260332/45 "2004-08-19T02:36:21Z")
> [@Wesley Clark](#): > > Because its alcohol. In small doses beer is ok (under one 12oz can), beyond that drinking it is a chore. That’s a terrible reason to drink. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natural-ice-is-the-best-beer-around/260332/46 "2004-08-19T04:07:15Z")
> [@Johnny Bravo](#): > > That’s a terrible reason to drink. No its not. Beverages should theoretically be economical, taste good and give variety. Alcoholic beverages are easily the most expensive beverages that exist. Ounce for ounce they are more expensive than the vast majorities of coffee, tea, soda, water, kool-aid, and most anything else. Gasoline is $2 a gallon and Natural Ice is $4 a gallon. I can get a 24 pack of Pepsi for half of what a 24 Pack of Pabst Blue ribbon costs, and for a quarter for what an equal amount of guinness costs. Alcoholic beverages also taste the worst of them all and the ones that don’t taste terrible usually have 2x as much sugar as Pepsi or Coke. They do offer variety but due to the economic thing i’d rather not spend money sampling various bad tasting alcohols. I personally see no reason to drink alcoholic beverages except for the ethanol so I don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natural-ice-is-the-best-beer-around/260332/47 "2004-08-19T05:20:53Z")
> [@Wesley Clark](#): > > I personally see no reason to drink alcoholic beverages except for the ethanol so I don’t. So, since it tastes awful and is too expensive, you wouldn’t drink alcohol if it weren’t for the effects? In other words, you only drink to get drunk? I think this is what **Johnny Bravo** was referring to as a terrible reason to drink, no matter whether it’s a mild buzz or a total sloshing. Good beer is intended to be enjoyed for reasons other than the intoxicating effect. Believe it or not, the folks who’ve replied to this thread actually _like_ the flavor. (Why would you intentionally drink something you think tastes terrible?) It should be obvious that people who like beer and people who don’t like beer are going to have different criteria to determine the best brew in which to indulge. So do try to understand why those who enjoy their partaking disagree most heartily when you state your own opinion as fact. ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natural-ice-is-the-best-beer-around/260332/48 "2004-08-19T14:00:07Z")
> [@Wesley Clark](#): > > . They do offer variety but due to the economic thing i’d rather not spend money sampling various bad tasting alcohols. I personally see no reason to drink alcoholic beverages except for the ethanol so I don’t. If you don’t like beer, don’t drink it… If you like wine coolers, drink them instead. Since you like Pepsi, buy some cheap whiskey or rum to mix with it. Beer is not the only way to get drunk… By the way… I don’t accept Natty meaning Natural. Anyone from Baltimore knows that the one and only Natty anything is Natty Boh (National Bohemian), a truely awful beer in my humble opinion. I wonder if it’s still being brewed… ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natural-ice-is-the-best-beer-around/260332/49 "2004-08-19T14:17:19Z")
> [@Wesley Clark](#): > > Beverages should theoretically be economical, taste good and give variety. Alcoholic beverages also taste the worst of them all and the ones that don’t taste terrible usually have 2x as much sugar as Pepsi or Coke. They do offer variety but due to the economic thing i’d rather not spend money sampling various bad tasting alcohols. I personally see no reason to drink alcoholic beverages except for the ethanol so I don’t. \*\*Sez you! \*\* All you have done here is prove that you should not be drinking alcohol in any form. You are a drunk, plain and simple. Your blanket pronouncements as to taste are an insult to those of us who _have_ tastebuds, and who are mature enough to enjoy alcohol for reasons other than or in addition to getting drunk. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natural-ice-is-the-best-beer-around/260332/50 "2004-08-19T14:32:19Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > \*\*Sez you! \*\* All you have done here is prove that you should not be drinking alcohol in any form. You are a drunk, plain and simple. Your blanket pronouncements as to taste are an insult to those of us who _have_ tastebuds, and who are mature enough to enjoy alcohol for reasons other than or in addition to getting drunk. Damn, im not mature enough to appreciate drinking bad tasting liquids which are adored by the pompous, i’ll go kill myself now. I don’t even know where/how to begin on this so I won’t. Besides its socially inappropriate to have give/take insults outside of the pit and I don’t want to get banned. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natural-ice-is-the-best-beer-around/260332/51 "2004-08-19T15:07:35Z")
> [@Wesley Clark](#): > > . Alcoholic beverages are easily the most expensive beverages that exist. Ounce for ounce they are more expensive than the vast majorities of coffee, tea, soda, water, kool-aid, and most anything else. Jeez, there’s a reason they cost more. It’s because they take more time, ingredients and effort to make. Beer takes barley malt, water, hops and yeast. Malting takes time and effort before you even start the mash. Then you have to boil the wort and the hops. Then you have to pitch the yeast and wait for fermentation. Then bottle. All the while you have to maintain cleanliness. Liquors and wines have their own production costs and time involvment. Of course they cost more. ---
**Author:** ![\_xiao\_wenti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/b782af/32.png) [@\_xiao\_wenti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_xiao_wenti)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natural-ice-is-the-best-beer-around/260332/52 "2004-08-19T16:30:02Z")
At one time Natural Ice was my cheap beer of choice. Then I got into homebrewing. My beer of choice is now whatever I have bottled. I spend more money, but oh, the flavor. Homebrew has a depth that I don’t see in commerical (or most microbrews). I guess it is all the live yeasties. Long story short, I haven’t bought beer in almost three years. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natural-ice-is-the-best-beer-around/260332/53 "2004-08-19T17:43:48Z")
Sorry, **Wes**. I shouldn’t have jumped your case. It’s been a bad week. My apologies. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natural-ice-is-the-best-beer-around/260332/54 "2004-08-19T18:33:02Z")
> [@\_xiao\_wenti\_](#): > > At one time Natural Ice was my cheap beer of choice. Then I got into homebrewing… > > Long story short, I haven’t bought beer in almost three years. Well, since we are “coming out of the fridge”, I’ll admit that I used to buy this dreck, along with Hamm’s before I started homebrewing. I couldn’t justify the expense of “good” beer in the quantities I would drink. I could easily pound $25-40 on a good weekend night. I find it (and most other “store-bought” beer) nearly undrinkable now. Harsh, chemically and prone to giving hangovers.\* \*I don’t hangovers from my homebrew even after a 6 liter/night binge! ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natural-ice-is-the-best-beer-around/260332/55 "2004-08-19T19:09:21Z")
> [@gatopescado](#): > > I don’t hangovers from my homebrew even after a 6 liter/night binge! :eek: Just you and 6L or is that a group of people? All of my homebrew equipment disappeared over the last few years. When I get settled in my new home I want to take it up again. ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natural-ice-is-the-best-beer-around/260332/56 "2004-08-19T20:01:42Z")
> [@Wesley Clark](#): > > Damn, im not mature enough to appreciate drinking bad tasting liquids which are adored by the pompous, i’ll go kill myself now. I don’t even know where/how to begin on this so I won’t. Besides its socially inappropriate to have give/take insults outside of the pit and I don’t want to get banned. Ah, don’t listen to 'em **Wes**. I’m not much older than you and I love cheap American beer. I’m on a High Life kick right now but I love PBR, Budweiser, etc., especially in the summer. Drinking a Guiness on a 90 degree day doesn’t appeal to me. The fall, however, I look forward to getting back into the Newcastle and IPAs at my local watering hole. Just drink what you like, don’t worry about the beer snobs. When they put you down just go 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natural-ice-is-the-best-beer-around/260332.md?page=2)