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Comment by bluedino | Hacker News Reader

People don't drink for the taste.

I just now enjoyed a small, delicious glass of cognac, my only drink of the day. Yes, some people do drink for the taste.

If anything, I drink only for taste and loathe how the alcohol makes me feel. I love the taste of a good beer or cocktail, and often regret that it's alcoholic, since I have to drink less to be responsible with my health.

Taste is part of the reason people drink, similar to how taste is part of the reason people eat chili peppers or sichuan peppercorns. Whether taste is a primary or secondary reason, it's still a factor.

What do you think people are doing at wine tastings?

And what do you think is the point of alcohol free beers and wines?

I believe that wine tastings are primarily for the social value, with the socializing eased by the alcohol. Having a guise of learning about the wine (or whatever) is useful.

And my second belief (again generalizing, how I see it, etc.) is that alcohol-free beers are so that you can fit in when at the bar (where again, socializing is the main value) and choosing not to drink alcohol.

> wine tastings are primarily for the social value, with the socializing eased by the alcohol

...but you don’t consume the alcohol at a wine tasting so this doesn’t make any sense. If you aren’t consuming any alcohol what is left but valuing the taste?

There are wine tastings (less classy affairs I suppose some would say) where you do consume the wine. For instance I was at the San Sebastian Winery in St. Augustine recently and the "Tour and Tasting" I was on included about 20 people. All of us swallowed the wine. This has been my experience at many wineries and benefit events over the years.

Perhaps these are technically not "tastings" according to some gatekeeping organization.

>I believe that wine tastings are primarily for the social value

You have apparently never tasted wine with a sommelier or wine enthusiast, because I can assure you it is 100% about the wine. Socializing is minimal

>with the socializing eased by the alcohol

...the alcohol in the spit bucket?

I have never been to a wine tasting where people are spitting out the wine. But I have read of them so acknowledge that they exist and that you have a fair point.

I drink modestly expensive single malts for the taste. Usually I don't like feeling the buzz at all, so I keep it to about half an ounce and sip it over the course of an hour.

I remember thinking this... as an 18 year old in college

I do. I mostly drink barrel-aged beers. I enjoy discovering the differences between them, how they change over time, and their flavor profile.

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