Chuggability

Today started off with a long bike ride...about 63 miles, 10 of which was climbing and the rest was rode at a race pace...ridiculously fast and I burned over 2800 calories according to my HRM. The rest of the day I spent trying to replenish those calories. Started with a 1/2 lb bacon cheeseburger, fries and 32 ounces of coke. For some reason, a good hamburger is my favorite recovery food. Late in the evening, I decided to move on to beer. In order to get all the calories in, I knew I had to drink fast. So, I reached for the most chuggable beer in the house...that's right, Bud Heavy. On the chuggability scale of 1-10, Bud Heavy is clearly a 10.

Last week, Sonya and I had a chugging contest. Our beer stockpile down to 1 Coors Light, the Michelob Sampler Pack, and a Porter homebrew. I asked Sonya for a Pale Ale, thinking that would be the most chuggable beer (aside from the Coors Light I deferred to her). She went in the kitchen and made the pour. I didn't pay attention to the color of my beer, assuming she'd pour the Pale Ale like I asked. In a move of tactical deception, she gave me a Bavarian Wheat instead. This was a good move on her part, as the wheat beer is not very chuggable. I had a hard time getting it down and had to stop midway through the glass....luckily, Sonya's chugging skills have deteriorated and she stopped at the same time. We were both halfway. After nearly puking, I called Sonya a cheater and asked her to swap glasses for round two. I took the rest of the Coors Light down in an instant, while she choked on the wheat beer. We learned two things that night...1) Coors Light ranks a 9 on the chuggability scale and the Bavarian Wheat is a 4, and 2) I'm the chugging champ of the Lindsey house.

There are a couple of factors important to chuggability. First and foremost is that the beer must be light. No way I could chug a double bock, stout or porter. Lagers are clearly the most chuggable. As for Ales, I think I could chug something like a Bass or New Castle...maybe a Sierra Nevada. Secondly, the beer needs to have a decent taste. So, for that reason, Bud Heavy is probably the most chuggable beer for me. Even though Bud Light or Coors Light are like water, they don't have the taste.