10 ms·

I quit beer in favor of cold sparkling mineral water. I don't miss hops. I don't miss the buzz. I don't miss my belly. I don't miss hangovers. I realized I wa

I quit beer in favor of cold sparkling mineral water. I don't miss hops. I don't miss the buzz. I don't miss my belly. I don't miss hangovers. I realized I was drinking beer and looking beyond all that makes beer what it is and focusing on the qualities of the water (softness, minerality, etc.) and bubble characteristics (small nitro bubbles or big bursty ones) and finding no limit to the quantity I could consume, no scarcity in variety or imposed limits on where I can refresh myself. I've gone so far as to consider adding hop essence and some barley malt for lulz, but probably have turned that corner for good.

canadianfella 5y ago
Lulz?
innot 5y ago
The next step is to drop sparkling water for regular water. There is no particular difference when you are thirsty, and bubbles have some adverse effects, some say.
- cdcarter 5y ago
  That "some say" is doing a lot of work. Any sources?
  - advanced-DnD 5y ago
    No sources beyond pseudo-sciences... according to my first page of googling.
  - hawski 5y ago
    AFIAK bubbled water is acidic and it can hurt mucous membranes.
  - eyko 5y ago
    I don't know about adverse effects, but I've always considered the environmental impact of sparkling water. I still don't get why some people are unaccustomed to the taste of just water.
    - derbOac 5y ago
      For me it's not so much about being unaccustomed to the taste of pure water, as much as it just looking for variety in life.
    - niij 5y ago
      What environmental impact?
- odiroot 5y ago
  No thanks. I like my water spicy.
- xboxnolifes 5y ago
  People drink more than just water for the same reason they don't eat the same thing for every meal, every day.
res0nat0r 5y ago
I've not quit drinking (yet), but have thought the same thing. My go to just to get a nice fizzy drink has been the absolute best carbonated water around, Topo Chico. It's from Mexico and has a cult following down here in TX and isn't quite ubiquitous all over the USA even though they were bought by Coke a while back, but the carbonation is like 2x of any soda I've ever drunk and is extremely refreshing when consumed super cold. Their lime flavor is my favourite: https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61lzGXV15AL._SL1500_.jpg https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61lzGXV15AL._SL1500_.jpg
- jasondigitized 5y ago
  Topo Chico is simply the best. If you haven't tried it, go get you some as soon as possible. I buy it buy the case as does my workplace.
  - res0nat0r 5y ago
    I usually have a couple cases in my place at any time. I just wish it was cheaper. It's a bit stupid that a 24 pack of Coke costs ~$8, but 24 Topo's cost ~$20.
- cwkoss 5y ago
  Heads up, Topo Chico has the highest levels of PFAS of all carbonated water drinks tested by Consumer Reports: https://www.consumerreports.org/bottled-water/whats-really-in-your-bottled-water/ https://www.consumerreports.org/bottled-water/whats-really-i... PPT PFAS for various brands: 1.1 - Perrier Natural Sparkling Mineral Water 1.16 - La Croix Natural Sparkling Water 1.24 - Canada Dry Lemon Lime Sparkling Seltzer Water 1.66 - Poland Spring Zesty Lime Sparkling Water 2.24 - Bubly Blackberry Sparkling Water 6.41 - Polar Natural Seltzer Water 9.76 - Topo Chico Natural Mineral Water (brands that are <1PPT in link)
  - hammock 5y ago
    Thanks for the link. Interesting that PFAS are so much more common in sparkling water vs. flat water. It must be leaching from the equipment used to carbonate or otherwise process the water - possibly facilitated in part by the fact that carbonated water is slightly acidic. Makes me also remember that there is PFAS in all kinds of food processing equipment that we know very little about. For example, in the US pasta extruders are coated with Teflon and who knows how often or how well that coating is maintained. (In Europe the pasta extruders are not Teflon-coated by regulation)
itronitron 5y ago
I've found that I prefer tonic water and lime over every NA beer I've tried so far (which all have an overpoweringly dull bitter aftertaste). Currently looking for a less sugary tonic water and considering quinine or tonic syrup.
- derbOac 5y ago
  You should try tonic syrups. I love them as you can adjust the water:syrup ratio to your taste, and mix and match syrups and waters. My impression (correct or not) is also that there's more tonic syrups out there than bottled tonic water, so a lot of choice (at least last time I looked). Finally, the syrup concentrates take up a lot less space in the refrigerator. The only tricky part for me was figuring out what ratio of water:syrup to go with for any given brand, but that isn't too difficult. I've thought about making my own syrup, as I'm a lifelong tonic water fan, and make a lot of other things myself, but haven't wanted to mess with it. There's relatively dry tonics on the market now too, but nothing will get you to quite the same place as the syrups.
  - itronitron 5y ago
    Thanks, if you have any recommendations on tonic syrups or bitters to try out I'm interested to hear them.
    - derbOac 5y ago
      I liked this site: https://www.onlybitters.com/tonics/ https://www.onlybitters.com/tonics/ I'm probably not the best person to ask for favorites as I tend to like almost all the tonic waters and syrups I've tried (except for diet ones).
- itomato 5y ago
  When I'm out I drink 'Alton Browns' - soda water with bitters.
cheezymoogle 5y ago
For anyone that's interested in how to make a transition to sparkling mineral water without all the single-use plastic waste, the answer is to DIY. Making a DIY force-carbonation rig is trivial and costs around $100 upfront: https://www.seriouseats.com/pros-cons-diy-carbonation-rig https://www.seriouseats.com/pros-cons-diy-carbonation-rig Cloning mineral waters is also easy enough to do: https://khymos.org/2012/01/04/mineral-waters-a-la-carte/ https://khymos.org/2012/01/04/mineral-waters-a-la-carte/ I've been doing this for a while and have had great results. Even if you're not tee-totaling, it's still a fine investment for cocktails and DIY alcoholic seltzers.
- icoder 5y ago
  For those that don't mind paying a bit more there's of course non-DIY solutions that do the same. We went all out and bought a Quooker with our new kitchen: boiling water, cold and filtered water, and carbonated water. Of course it helps that here in the Netherlands, the tap water is basically mineral water. It's a luxury, but we really love it.
  - contravariant 5y ago
    Depending on your exact location it's only like mineral water if you don't mind the limescale.
- vultour 5y ago
  Do you not have SodaStream in the US?
  - Epenthesis 5y ago
    The article alleges that sodastreams produce weaker fizz than commercial carbonated water. I personally haven't found that to be the case, but it seems like there's dozens of sodastream models and maybe I happened on a good one.
    - vultour 5y ago

canadianfella 5y ago

Lulz?

innot 5y ago

The next step is to drop sparkling water for regular water. There is no particular difference when you are thirsty, and bubbles have some adverse effects, some say.

cdcarter 5y ago
That "some say" is doing a lot of work. Any sources?
- advanced-DnD 5y ago
  No sources beyond pseudo-sciences... according to my first page of googling.
- hawski 5y ago
  AFIAK bubbled water is acidic and it can hurt mucous membranes.
- eyko 5y ago
  I don't know about adverse effects, but I've always considered the environmental impact of sparkling water. I still don't get why some people are unaccustomed to the taste of just water.
  - derbOac 5y ago
    For me it's not so much about being unaccustomed to the taste of pure water, as much as it just looking for variety in life.
  - niij 5y ago
    What environmental impact?
odiroot 5y ago
No thanks. I like my water spicy.
xboxnolifes 5y ago
People drink more than just water for the same reason they don't eat the same thing for every meal, every day.

res0nat0r 5y ago

I've not quit drinking (yet), but have thought the same thing. My go to just to get a nice fizzy drink has been the absolute best carbonated water around, Topo Chico. It's from Mexico and has a cult following down here in TX and isn't quite ubiquitous all over the USA even though they were bought by Coke a while back, but the carbonation is like 2x of any soda I've ever drunk and is extremely refreshing when consumed super cold. Their lime flavor is my favourite: https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61lzGXV15AL._SL1500_.jpg https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61lzGXV15AL._SL1500_.jpg

jasondigitized 5y ago
Topo Chico is simply the best. If you haven't tried it, go get you some as soon as possible. I buy it buy the case as does my workplace.
- res0nat0r 5y ago
  I usually have a couple cases in my place at any time. I just wish it was cheaper. It's a bit stupid that a 24 pack of Coke costs ~$8, but 24 Topo's cost ~$20.
cwkoss 5y ago
Heads up, Topo Chico has the highest levels of PFAS of all carbonated water drinks tested by Consumer Reports: https://www.consumerreports.org/bottled-water/whats-really-in-your-bottled-water/ https://www.consumerreports.org/bottled-water/whats-really-i... PPT PFAS for various brands: 1.1 - Perrier Natural Sparkling Mineral Water 1.16 - La Croix Natural Sparkling Water 1.24 - Canada Dry Lemon Lime Sparkling Seltzer Water 1.66 - Poland Spring Zesty Lime Sparkling Water 2.24 - Bubly Blackberry Sparkling Water 6.41 - Polar Natural Seltzer Water 9.76 - Topo Chico Natural Mineral Water (brands that are <1PPT in link)
- hammock 5y ago
  Thanks for the link. Interesting that PFAS are so much more common in sparkling water vs. flat water. It must be leaching from the equipment used to carbonate or otherwise process the water - possibly facilitated in part by the fact that carbonated water is slightly acidic. Makes me also remember that there is PFAS in all kinds of food processing equipment that we know very little about. For example, in the US pasta extruders are coated with Teflon and who knows how often or how well that coating is maintained. (In Europe the pasta extruders are not Teflon-coated by regulation)

itronitron 5y ago

I've found that I prefer tonic water and lime over every NA beer I've tried so far (which all have an overpoweringly dull bitter aftertaste). Currently looking for a less sugary tonic water and considering quinine or tonic syrup.

derbOac 5y ago
You should try tonic syrups. I love them as you can adjust the water:syrup ratio to your taste, and mix and match syrups and waters. My impression (correct or not) is also that there's more tonic syrups out there than bottled tonic water, so a lot of choice (at least last time I looked). Finally, the syrup concentrates take up a lot less space in the refrigerator. The only tricky part for me was figuring out what ratio of water:syrup to go with for any given brand, but that isn't too difficult. I've thought about making my own syrup, as I'm a lifelong tonic water fan, and make a lot of other things myself, but haven't wanted to mess with it. There's relatively dry tonics on the market now too, but nothing will get you to quite the same place as the syrups.
- itronitron 5y ago
  Thanks, if you have any recommendations on tonic syrups or bitters to try out I'm interested to hear them.
  - derbOac 5y ago
    I liked this site: https://www.onlybitters.com/tonics/ https://www.onlybitters.com/tonics/ I'm probably not the best person to ask for favorites as I tend to like almost all the tonic waters and syrups I've tried (except for diet ones).
itomato 5y ago
When I'm out I drink 'Alton Browns' - soda water with bitters.

cheezymoogle 5y ago

For anyone that's interested in how to make a transition to sparkling mineral water without all the single-use plastic waste, the answer is to DIY. Making a DIY force-carbonation rig is trivial and costs around $100 upfront: https://www.seriouseats.com/pros-cons-diy-carbonation-rig https://www.seriouseats.com/pros-cons-diy-carbonation-rig Cloning mineral waters is also easy enough to do: https://khymos.org/2012/01/04/mineral-waters-a-la-carte/ https://khymos.org/2012/01/04/mineral-waters-a-la-carte/ I've been doing this for a while and have had great results. Even if you're not tee-totaling, it's still a fine investment for cocktails and DIY alcoholic seltzers.

icoder 5y ago
For those that don't mind paying a bit more there's of course non-DIY solutions that do the same. We went all out and bought a Quooker with our new kitchen: boiling water, cold and filtered water, and carbonated water. Of course it helps that here in the Netherlands, the tap water is basically mineral water. It's a luxury, but we really love it.
- contravariant 5y ago
  Depending on your exact location it's only like mineral water if you don't mind the limescale.
vultour 5y ago
Do you not have SodaStream in the US?
- Epenthesis 5y ago
  The article alleges that sodastreams produce weaker fizz than commercial carbonated water. I personally haven't found that to be the case, but it seems like there's dozens of sodastream models and maybe I happened on a good one.
  - vultour 5y ago