Does Warm beer Get Your Drunk Faster?

Questions abound around beer, how to drink it, what effect it will have, and what warming it up might or might not do. To help you sort a few of these questions, we’ve created a FAQ list of sorts pertaining to warm beer.

Does Warm Beer Get You Drunk Faster?

First on the list, does warm beer get you drunk faster? No. The temperature of the alcoholic beverage is irrelevant when it comes to getting drunk. It is, always has been, and always will be the amount of alcohol in your beverage that gets you drunk, drunker, and drunkest.

There is a theory going around the internet that because the body absorbs liquid at the same temperature of the body, warmer beer will be absorbed by your body faster. While this may be true, that your body will absorb the liquid in the beer faster, that does not mean your bloodstream will absorb the alcohol faster, which is what gets you drunk.

Does Drinking in the Sun Get You Drunk Faster?

This one is actually mostly true. While you won’t necessarily get drunk faster in the sun, you will probably feel the effects of the alcohol faster in the sun, which makes you feel drunker. Why?

Well, the sun dehydrates you, and alcohol dehydrates you. When you are drinking in the sun, you are getting double dehydrated and your body temperature will rise, sometimes to dangerously high levels. Now, your body’s cells are getting less fluid and the alcohol is absorbed faster and in higher concentrations into your bloodstream.

So, if you’re drinking under the sun, take it slow and intersperse your alcohol with plenty of water and other hydrating drinks and foods like electrolyte water and watermelon.

Is Warm Beer Stronger?

While it is not a hard and fast rule that warm beer is stronger than cold beer, in general, stronger beers are meant to be served a bit warmer than lighter beers with less alcohol. When we say warm, we mean 55 degrees Fahrenheit compared to 45 degrees, so not technically “warm.” Still, in a country like the US, where beer is typically served ice cold, it can feel strange to drink a beer that is only slightly cool.

The reason strong beer is often served warmer is because it has more complex flavors and aromas meant to balance out the higher alcohol content. An imperial stout is a perfect example of a beer meant to be enjoyed at a slightly warmer temperature around 55 degrees, while a light lager should be served at an ice cold 32 degrees as it does not have a lot of flavor and warming it up could create an undesirable effect.

Does Warm Beer Go Bad?

Another myth is that warm beer goes bad. In general, beer sitting in a warm room for several days or even weeks should not go bad. It might get oxidized over time, however, and that will create a cardboard-like stale flavor if you crack the beer open. It won’t be “bad,” but it will likely taste just a bit “off.”

In contrast, just an hour or two in direct sunlight can skunk beer in a glass bottle by the time you get it home. UV rays interact with the chemical compounds in beer to make it go bad almost instantly.

What Is Warm Beer Called?

There are actually legitimate warm beers that are either mulled like wine or mixed with other ingredients like flour, butter, sugar, and spices in freezing cold winters in countries like Germany. The first one is called Gluhbier, while the second one is called warmbier and both are to be enjoyed in a warm tavern on a cold day. You can find a variety of mulled ales across Europe, though no one there would confuse these warmed, spiced ales with basic warm beer. The effect is entirely different.

In the end, you can believe that the only thing that will get you drunk fast is drinking a lot of alcohol fast. Anything else is likely a trick of your senses or your body reacting based on other factors.

Also, why would anyone want to get drunk fast, especially on beer?

The whole point is to savor and enjoy the crafts perfected by our local brewers far and wide.

Cheers!

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