There's nothing quite like coming home after a long day in the rat race, kicking back, propping my feet up on the ottoman, and hoisting a tall, cold one. Truly, it's one of life's underrated pleasures.
Here's a weird thing about me: I have never had an alcoholic beverage alone. Ever. Seriously, if people aren't around, even drinking a beer never occurs to me. I love the taste of beer, so I have no idea why I have this particular quirk.
I was explaining to two guys I work with on Monday that the first thing I do when I get home from work is open a beer. One doesn't drink beer at all, cause he doesn't like the taste. The other, drinks only when getting drunk, and drinks light beers. They were baffled that I drink alone, only one sometimes, or when it's hot that I crave beer instead of gatorade or water. I always have Widmer Hef in my fridge, but I love every type of beer. I often spend 20+ minutes at the grocery store making a decision on what beer to get. I love BevMo and Total Wine, without those places I would miss out on all the Northwest beers that most of you are so lucky to have. Right now I'm enjoying Alaskan Brewing Company's newest beer White Ale, a delicious Witbeiren most similar to Hoegaarden.
My problem is that I like the taste of beer, but only when it's ice cold, as in right out of the fridge, cooler, or tap cold. If it warms up even a couple of degrees, it doesn't taste good to me anymore. I can't tell you how many beers in my life I've wasted because I drink about 1/3 to 1/2 of it, and then leave the rest because it's too warm for me. I wish they would invent an electric mug or bottle/can cover that maintains the temperature of the liquid inside to a consistant 34-37 degrees.
That is freaking sweet!!! I love beer too. I absolutely enjoy a coldie after I get off work. Then a nice pull off the blunt after that.
Wow, that is pretty cool. Another way is to frost your glasses/mugs in the freezer. Gives you a few more minutes if they are thick.
Underrated? By who? Considering what you describe is more popular as an after-work activity as any plausible alternative, I would think it isn't much of a secret. Me, I am partial to cool ale. Cold beer just doesn't float my boat unless it is really hot. Not a common situation in Portland.
I'm with you on cool over cold. Ice cold is reserved for PBR, Bud, Miller type of products, that have no real flavor, so you need to keep them as cold as possible. Drinking a good beer at near freezing temperatures eliminates a lot of the flavor in the beer.
That USB chiller thing is a joke. But I did find some things that would help, like this: http://www.thermos.com/Product_detail.aspx?CatCode=PART&SubcategoryID=36&ProductID=283
