ALCOHOL

How Did Pabst Win Its Blue Ribbon?

Before it was called PBR or even Pabst, the official beer of hipsters, old blue collar Wisconsinites and Frank Booth was brewed under the name Best Select, starting in 1875.

Does Drinking Alcohol Really Keep You Warm When It's Cold Out?

Alcohol is a vasodilator. When you have a drink, the volume of blood brought to the skin’s surface increases, making you feel warm.

Witchcraft and the Art of Winemaking

Maybe you’ve heard a bad bottle of wine being described as “corked.” This is the fault of TCA, a chemical compound that contaminates wine barrels and corks, giving vino an odor similar to Grandma’s dirty basement or a wet dog. Corked wine isn’t pleasant,

Why Does Alcohol Cause the Spins?

You lie down to get some sleep after a long night of drinking, and the room seems to be spinning uncontrollably. Why does this happen?

The Belgian Plan to Give Beer to Schoolchildren

In 2001, Belgian schools waged a new front in the war against childhood obesity. In an effort to keep kids away from sugary drinks, a plan emerged to swap soda and lemonade for a healthy alternative: beer.

The Science of "Breaking the Seal"

If you like beer, and like it in large quantities, this might be a familiar scenario: You sit down at the bar, get a beer and drink it. You drink another one. Maybe a third. Things have gone well up to this point, but now you have to pee. So you go. Once

10 of the World's Most Expensive Beers

If you like sampling new beers or hate having money, you might want to try one of these budget-busting brews.

The Time Russia Ran Out of Vodka

At 1:10 a.m. on May 9, 1945, night owls in the USSR heard a radio report that Nazi Germany had officially surrendered to the Soviet Union. Less than 24 hours later, they faced another crisis: a lack of vodka.

10 Celebrity Refreshments

Advertisers know that the taste of a better lifestyle will sell products. Celebrities learn this as well, and can make a killing putting their name on something that can impart even a little of their charm on a fan. These beverages just might be the perfe

Prettier at Closing Time: How Beer Goggles Work

AISPIX / Shutterstock.com One of my all-time favorite songs, for which my girlfriend always calls me a redneck, is Mickey Gilley’s "Don't the Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time." As the title suggests, it’s about the fact that a little booze makes ev

Hangover Cures from Around the World

In the new issue of mental_floss, we reported why bacon is a miracle drug when it comes to dealing with the morning after: Cure Your Hangovers—with Bacon! Ah, bacon. For years, we've devoured it in all its crispy glory without worrying about the si

An Environmental Argument for Boxed Wine

In the U.S., wine sold in a box used to be synonymous with cheap, bland junk. But in recent years the benefits boxed wine have started changing that perception. For one thing, the box typically contains three or four bottles' worth, and also costs less

Absinthe is Legal Again - 11 Things You Need to Know

1. The anise-flavored spirit derived from the herb Artemisia absinthium, also called wormwood, was first distilled in Switzerland but didn't become popular until the French got hold of it in the 19th century, when it was thought to be wonderfully hallucin

What Makes a Whiskey Bourbon? (And Other Bourbon FAQs)

Answers to the most common bourbon queries.

Absinthe comes to America: Welcome, old friend

I've touched on absinthe before, but I'm going to revisit it in honor of a friend who is currently planning the LA launch party of one of the two Absinthes imported sans trouble into the U.S. One is the French brand, Lucid (!), and the other, KÃ¼bler, deb

A Brief History of Hooch

I came across this story last week about a man being prosecuted for making moonshine, which got me to thinking; do people still make moonshine? It turns out the "business" is still in practice, breaking the bank all the way. However, instead of the three-

Alewives: a very different kind of wife

I was watching someone's excellent sketch audition reel the other day, and almost completely lost it duringÂ one of his requisiteÂ animal characters--it was anÂ impersonation of a certain pupating insect, and it was genius. I'll post as soon as it's publi

I'll Have What Her Majesty's Having (famous folk and their drinks of choice)

The sad truth is, we can't choose a brand of jeans unless a celebrity endorses them. Just can't do it. Nor can we pick a rental car service until we know some sort of professional athlete is comfortable shilling for their brand. That's why we're forgoing