On the topic of alchohol... any beer/ale fanatics out there? A well made ale is possibly the deepest, most complex and thirst quenching drink available, though I cannot stand the feeling of drunkenness so a single pint will do me just right. Whiskey is nice to an extent, but the overpowering alcoholic overtones render the taste slightly indistinct, whereas beer can have many flavours, and can be drunk in larger and more satisfying quantities. I'm reffering to cask ale here, which as far as i know is only brewed in England but probably in some other countries as well, so i reccomend you to try it if you have lost faith in beer as being piss coloured gassy swill which is wholly unpalatable (lager). good brands to try: Theakston, Thwaites, Moorhouse's, Cain's. i gather you can buy these in america too, but only in bottle form, without the freshly pulled taste and fireplace.