I am going through a too damn long segment of my life where I have to watch every stupid dollar, especially the ones for beer. It freaking sucks.
Also, during this time, I enjoy hanging in a bar with a good atmosphere, because I often have nowhere else to be.
This causes me a problem: Not enough money to have more than one or two beers, tops.
So I have to milk my beer. In other words, take as long as humanly possible to drink what’s in front of me.
I have found that taking a full sip is the key. For me, a full sip is when you drink enough to cover your whole tongue, hold it there a little, feel the burn of the alcohol, and drink it down. It’s in between a sip and a drink.
Now, yes, it takes some discipline. But I have found you can burn a whole hour with one beer. It helps if you have something to read or an interesting game to watch.
Interestingly enough, when I am with friends or just talking to someone, I tend to drink faster. Not sure what that is about. I think it’s because talking makes me uncomfortable and I keep drinking the beer, searching for a little comfort.
All I know is that I finish my beer faster than anyone at the table. Undiscipled drinking.
That said, my ‘alone drinking’ has gotten really good. I am up to two hours and just two 16oz beers. Praise me.
-Mike
