alcoholic drink substitutes

[BillyBadAss 189]

I've been in the the habit of drinking alcohol in the evenings (whiskeys, gin, wine, etc.) 

I'm looking to cut back a bit, and trying to find some substitute drinks that might satisfy the same ritual of sipping on something, without the alcohol. 

The ideal drink would have a bit of a bite of some sort (spicy or perhaps bitter) to encourage sipping, and not be too unhealthy as far as calories, sodium, etc. 

Ideas? 

[BearSchlong 8,082]

Topo Chico /thread

[Hank_Hill 18,785]

Yep, sparkling water of some kind and some citrus juice.

[Reagan1k 3,024]

Ginger beer if you like that....there are some pretty flavorful ones out there.  Gosling even has a diet version if you don't want the calories.

Or - Topo Chico as stated above which is my 1st preference. 

Iced tea steeped with mint also makes a good substitute.

[SimonBolivar 10,957]

I like a Coke Zero w/Cherry from time to time, but certainly not healthy just low in calories.

 

Daily I like water and hot green tea, but that doesn't have much bite.

Edited April 30, 2018 by SimonBolivar

[TornACL 7,698]

Does it need to be cold? I'm a hot green tea guy on weeknights.

[Celery Man 20,929]

Gosling Diet Ginger beer (or whatever ginger beer) for a taste/bite that’s reminiscent, Topo Chico for a bit of that in a glass bottle, chamomile tea for a different relaxing evening drink ritual.

[Landomatic 3,813]

Not sure it fits this thread due to the “at night” part.  But I had a nitro coffee this weekend from Royal Blue Grocery.  It’s just a coffee with nitrogen infused or some stupid hipster shit.  Pretty frothy and very beer-like.  I imagine the caffeine was through the roof but it’s about as close to beer as I’ve had without the alcohol.

[Hank_Hill 18,785]

There’s one in Dallas now? Interesting

[Sbbruin 21,826]

3 hours ago, Reagan1k said:

 

Iced tea steeped with mint also makes a good substitute.

[GreenspointTexas 9,598]

5 hours ago, BearSchlong said:

Topo Chico /thread

Exactly this

 

grapefruit or lime topo chico is numero uno

[Mo Horn 8,817]

 Agree with the ginger beer but would add a good ginger ale. Not Canada dry but the real stuff that actually tastes like ginger from a small bottling company.

 

[billfromlaketravis 11,444]

6 hours ago, BearSchlong said:

Topo Chico /thread

This. Only correct answer. 

[futureman 22,440]

6 hours ago, BillyBadAss said:

I've been in the the habit of drinking alcohol in the evenings (whiskeys, gin, wine, etc.) 

I'm looking to cut back a bit, and trying to find some substitute drinks that might satisfy the same ritual of sipping on something, without the alcohol. 

The ideal drink would have a bit of a bite of some sort (spicy or perhaps bitter) to encourage sipping, and not be too unhealthy as far as calories, sodium, etc. 

Ideas? 

username does not check out.  

[TwiceHorn 31,434]

For some strange reason, the high carbonation level of "fizzy water" (of which Topo is the king by a longshot), rather well simulates drinking a shitty American beer.  Every recovered drunk I know is in agreement with this observation.  I know a couple who toyed with "non-alcoholic" beers (most have a slight amount of alcohol) before trying this and they preferred the fizzy water by a longshot.  Also, if you don't feel like being harassed by drinking friends, a club soda with lime can pass as a _______________ tonic, easily.

 

The Refreshe (and they've also packaged it as Soleil or something similar, at a bit higher cost, I think) at Tom Thumb/Randalls is pretty good shit, cheap, and comes in a variety of flavors.  I'm sure HEB has something good, if it's open.

Edited May 1, 2018 by TwiceHorn

[Celery Man 20,929]

Yeah, HEB also sells canned sparkling water.  I can tell no difference between that, La Croix, Waterloo, whatever canned sparkling water and HEB is the cheapest.  Safeway should really rebrand the Refreshe from seltzer to sparkling water.

[Firemans4Horn 18,034]

La Croix or topo chico 

[Landomatic 3,813]

8 hours ago, futureman said:

username does not check out.  

Kinder gentler billy bad ass

[Quagmire 2,147]

Maybe try to snort coke instead?

[South Austin 52,431]

12 hours ago, Sbbruin said:

Maybe this is an oldie, but I’ve never seen it before, and I’m still laughing at it, so rep a brother.

[BurntOrange&White 39,930]

Tea?

[Bat Guano 359]

If you don't mind a couple of drops of alcohol, put a dash of bitters in your Topo Chico. Gives it a nice shot of drinky flavor.

[captained 57]

18 hours ago, BearSchlong said:

Topo Chico /thread

i've been doing the same and cutting out a lot the "muscle memory" drinking, especially during the week.  as a result, i need to find a way to invest in topo chico stock.

[Elvis Presto 21]

for me its topo, la croi, sugar free redbull or a latte. 

[Johnny Sack 8,397]

Iced tea or La Croix

[TwiceHorn 31,434]

For those of you referencing LaCroix, I highly suggest you check out the store brand sparkling waters.  As mentioned, the Safeway/Randalls/Tom Thumb store brand comes in comparable "flavors" and is considerably cheaper and compares very favorably.  I'm sure your other local grocers have similar store brands.

 

Topo is kind of a different animal because the carbonation is so high, and it does start with a mineral water that has a rather distinct flavor, to me anyway.

[BearSchlong 8,082]

Have you ever had Kombucha?  Fermented Tea, usually with a fruit flavor?

From time to time I drink that when I'm in need of probiotics.

 

[Kyrie Eleison 9,312]

muddle some lime, couple of slices of jalapeno, pinch of sea salt and cilantro, pour into a glass and fill with lime-flavored Topo Chico. 

[Johnny Sack 8,397]

36 minutes ago, TwiceHorn said:

For those of you referencing LaCroix, I highly suggest you check out the store brand sparkling waters.  As mentioned, the Safeway/Randalls/Tom Thumb store brand comes in comparable "flavors" and is considerably cheaper and compares very favorably.  I'm sure your other local grocers have similar store brands.

 

Topo is kind of a different animal because the carbonation is so high, and it does start with a mineral water that has a rather distinct flavor, to me anyway.

I buy the HEB brands.

[Hank_Hill 18,785]

Hmu when they make an equivalent to the cherry lime LaCroix.

[Zepol87 9,185]

The Kroger brand of the sparkling water sucks

[Walden Ponderer 12,639]

19 hours ago, Reagan1k said:

Ginger beer if you like that....there are some pretty flavorful ones out there.  Gosling even has a diet version if you don't want the calories.

This right here. Really, anything with ginger.

[Firemans4Horn 18,034]

15 minutes ago, Zepol87 said:

The Kroger brand of the sparkling water sucks

Truth. It’s awful. 

[Celery Man 20,929]

1 hour ago, Kyrie Eleison said:

muddle some lime, couple of slices of jalapeno, pinch of sea salt and cilantro, pour into a glass and fill with lime-flavored Topo Chico. 

[Kyrie Eleison 9,312]

i've started tweaking that a bit and use equal parts of Topo and this...

 

i'll also muddle the same mix but replace with japs with a thai chili pepper, pour that into a glass rimmed with smoked salt, fill with ice and then fill with V8.

[TVtray 76]

Kombucha

[captained 57]

2 hours ago, TVtray said:

Kombucha

Mandarin for "who came in my tea?"

[Stoogey 219]

 

On 4/30/2018 at 3:09 PM, BillyBadAss said:

 gin 

You know how there are sipping whiskies? Beefeaters 24 is a sipping gin. Instead of two or three martinis I'll have one glass on the rocks.

Or .... Never tried it myself. Non-alcoholic gin.

[BearSchlong 8,082]

5 hours ago, TVtray said:

Kombucha

As a recovered alcoholic, the first time I drank this stuff it made me nervous - it's got a kick almost like wine, but it doesn't get you drunk, it just makes you shit.

Anybody got brand/flavor recs for Kombucha?

[TVtray 76]

1 hour ago, BearSchlong said:

Anybody got brand/flavor recs for Kombucha?

Simple Truth Organic and Bucha brand at krogers 

[GSU&UT 1,798]

I'm in this boat, I'm usually having two beers a night and would like to cut back to one or zero. I tried sparkling and carbonated water, but I couldn't get into it. For the Topo Chico purists, how much of a difference does that make? Seems just as expensive as beer which kind of sucks.

Edited May 2, 2018 by GSU&UT

[J.R. 150]

10 hours ago, Hank_Hill said:

Hmu when they make an equivalent to the cherry lime LaCroix.

No shit is it patented or something 

[Mo Horn 8,817]

Lemon Lime Bitters is from Australia. You can find it at World Market. Good stuff. 

[Chips O'Toole 1,322]

Central Market carries a brand called Polar that has a Cherry Lime flavor that is badass.  

My go-to is Waterloo Black Cherry or Grapefruit, but it is $5.99/12 pack compared to $4 for lacroix.

Topo Chico is magic though, the glass bottle keeps the bubbles really well, so you can drink it slowly without it going flat.  It is more expensive though, not quite as much per oz as craft beer but I also don't drink 4 in one sitting like I did with beer.

[solamente73 1,132]

(Diet) Tonic with lime juice is all that's worked for me.  It's "harsh" enough to make me kinda feel like I'm having a real drink.  I tried Topo but it just wasn't enough - maybe because I drink way more liquor and wine than beer?

[relapse98 634]

On 5/1/2018 at 5:28 PM, BearSchlong said:

it doesn't get you drunk, it just makes you shit.

Not really selling it.

[captained 57]

1 hour ago, relapse98 said:

Not really selling it.

you mean you don't want to change your name to prolapse98?

[Al_4_ISU 12,447]

When I want a drink, but don't want booze I make a Bloody Mary and replace the vodka with (more) pickle and olive juice.

Hit's the spot.

[Beau Vine 54,203]

There is no substitute for alcohol.

To alcohol!  The cause of, and the solution to, all of life's problems!

[relapse98 634]

1 minute ago, Beau Vine said:

There is no substitute for alcohol.

To alcohol!  The cause of, and the solution to, all of life's problems!

HERE HERE!