I don't have a dog in this fight, pretty much never drank 3.2 beer, but I thought we hashed this out pages back. Isn't it the way the brewers make their 3.2 beer the main reason some of it tastes different, and not the percentage of alcohol? Some make it originally at 3.2%, and some make it stronger, but literally water it down? Could be wrong, but I thought that's what came out about it...

Anyways, the days of trying to defend 3.2 beer are nearing an end. It will be gone in six days.

Good luck to people trying to find 3.2 beer now.

Yeah, I think 3.2 is effectively gone already.

My dad has been stocking up on 3.2 because he doesn't want to drink beer with "double the alcohol". I've tried to explain that the difference in domestics is relatively negligible (~1%), but it seems like a lot of people still don't realize the difference.

Sooner88,
I don't like Budweiser from Texas. A friend brings it to me often and it just tastes like alcohol. I enjoy my F-5 at home but I also enjoy 3.2 Bud.
C. T.

I don't have a dog in this fight, pretty much never drank 3.2 beer, but I thought we hashed this out pages back. Isn't it the way the brewers make their 3.2 beer the main reason some of it tastes different, and not the percentage of alcohol? Some make it originally at 3.2%, and some make it stronger, but literally water it down? Could be wrong, but I thought that's what came out about it...

Yes, while some craft beers - for instance COOP’s Spare Rib, Briefcase Brown, et al. - were/are actually formulated to be 3.2, mass consumption beers were not. Instead they took finished full-strength product and altered it to meet the restriction.

There are essentially three techniques brewers used to make full strength beer into 3.2; reverse osmosis (filtering), another process that applies heat to bake off the alcohol, and the third process is essentially just watering it down. From my understanding most mass-market brewers used a combination of two or more of these techniques. I suspect the “add water” technique was most often used.

Either way it wasn’t the alcohol discrepancy that caused the taste difference so much as the fact that they were altering a finished product. You think applying heat to finished beer doesn’t change the taste a bit? Or adding water? I blind tasted tested different versions of the same products more than once with friends and there was definitely a difference. My biggest complaint was that 3.2 had a flatter taste. Like if you let an ice cube or two melt in it. It wasn’t a huge difference, but there was one.

For me it isn’t so much about Bud or Coors or other light lagers that I rarely drink, but the fact that they changed beers I do like such as Fat Tire or in a pinch (basketball game or something) beers like Stella or Shiner. I know very well what those beers tasted like as full-strength, and what we’ve had here ain’t it.

Good riddance.

But they don't have 3.2 beer and some of us would like to have that. I have a kegerator with two 1/6th barrels of COOP F-5 but I still enjoy 3.2 cans occasionally. I realize it is history but I wish I had stocked up on it.
C. T.

I'm not sure which beers you like, but one thing to consider would be Miller Light. The difference between the old 3.2% ABW and full strength is negligable; 3.2% ABW is equal to 4.0% ABV, and full strength Miller Light is 4.2% ABV. Full strength tastes slightly better but there's honestly very little difference between the two. Of course, other beers are different, but that gives you some idea.

Yes, while some craft beers - for instance COOP’s Spare Rib, Briefcase Brown, et al. - were/are actually formulated to be 3.2, mass consumption beers were not. Instead they took finished full-strength product and altered it to meet the restriction.

There are essentially three techniques brewers used to make full strength beer into 3.2; reverse osmosis (filtering), another process that applies heat to bake off the alcohol, and the third process is essentially just watering it down. From my understanding most mass-market brewers used a combination of two or more of these techniques. I suspect the “add water” technique was most often used.

Either way it wasn’t the alcohol discrepancy that caused the taste difference so much as the fact that they were altering a finished product. You think applying heat to finished beer doesn’t change the taste a bit? Or adding water? I blind tasted tested different versions of the same products more than once with friends and there was definitely a difference. My biggest complaint was that 3.2 had a flatter taste. Like if you let an ice cube or two melt in it. It wasn’t a huge difference, but there was one.

For me it isn’t so much about Bud or Coors or other light lagers that I rarely drink, but the fact that they changed beers I do like such as Fat Tire or in a pinch (basketball game or something) beers like Stella or Shiner. I know very well what those beers tasted like as full-strength, and what we’ve had here ain’t it.

Good riddance.

:congrats:

Can we set up a blind taste test for okctalk? We can call it OKC Tasting

Interesting story about some of the real-world impacts that the new liquor laws are having - surprisingly, from The Lost Ogle:

https://www.thelostogle.com/2018/09/26/792-the-price-of-modernization/

^^^^^^^
That's good stuff. This part at the very end sums up how I feel about all of it:


-The ‘Unknown Unknowns’

There are plenty of little details that were left out of 792 that were planned on being legislated later. How will this affect street festivals and tailgating? It has always been legal to consume 3.2% beer at public events, and we don’t know how it will be enforced moving on. There are a lot of bars and restaurants that operated selling from low-point beer licenses. Will they be able to easily upgrade to selling strong beer, even if they’re in a close proximity to schools and churches? There’s gotta be a hundred more unknowns like these, and especially queries that won’t be recognized until it’s too late.

To reiterate my feelings from the beginning of this, I still don’t have any regrets about voting ‘yes’ on 792. But the more I’ve learned about what is being changed, the more confused and apprehensive I am about the future. At the end of the day, most other states still have liquor stores coexisting with grocers selling beer and wine, and in the end, everything works out fine there.
I've made posts in this thread for a while now that resemble those above, and some posters seemed to think that I was being anti-792, which I absolutely was not. I voted for it myself. All I have been saying is that - due to all of the heavy and complex regulation that it undid and changed - there would be tons of unintended consequences that would emerge and that it might be a rough ride for a while. I think it might have been impossible to think them all through before passage, but I think a lot of them have STILL not been solved completely.

IMO we need Sunday sales for liquor stores and get rid of the 21+ age limit for entry. Will help the pendulum swing a bit back towards the middle

I saw a wine chiller in Total Wine in Dallas - you put the hot wine bottle in water and it swirls around and chills it. Will something like this be allowed under the new laws?
Sorry for the sideways picture!!
14942

^
Interesting. I don't know why that would not be allowed under OK Law.

BTW, Total Wine and BevMo are awesome but since liquor can't be sold through retail stores in OK, we'll never have them unless the laws change.

BTW, Total Wine and BevMo are awesome but since liquor can't be sold through retail stores in OK, we'll never have them unless the laws change.

I wonder what retail will look like in 2089.

^
Interesting. I don't know why that would not be allowed under OK Law.

BTW, Total Wine and BevMo are awesome but since liquor can't be sold through retail stores in OK, we'll never have them unless the laws change.

Not sure about BevMo, but Charlotte has Total Wine and if anybody is familiar with North Carolina, they allow beer/wine in grocery stores but not liquor. NC is an ABC state as well so there aren't any loopholes. I don't see why Total Wine couldn't come to OK unless there is some kind of percentage limit on alcohol sales for grocery stores/gas stations and as far as I know, there is none.

^

Oklahoma law dictates that other than liquor stores, only these types of retailers can carry wine & beer: Supermarket, grocery store, convenience store, drug store, warehouse club and supercenter.

This eliminates places like BevMo and I doubt they would come here anyway if they could only sell wine and beer.

I got some 3.2% Budweiser for blind taste testing next week. Paseo Mart, at 30th and Walker, still has it if anybody wants 3.2 beer.

I saw a wine chiller in Total Wine in Dallas - you put the hot wine bottle in water and it swirls around and chills it. Will something like this be allowed under the new laws?
Sorry for the sideways picture!!
14942

Soonerinfiniti,
That chiller has been around in Texas since the 80's or earlier. It's a way to get around the county option laws that prevent selling chilled wine. You purchase a bottle of wine and when I was in Victoria in 1980 you put a quarter in the slot, placed your bottle in the chain bag and it lowers the bottle into the swirling cold water then raises the bottle and it is perfectly chilled. With the new Oklahoma laws, why would that be necessary? Can't they sell chilled wine like cold beer?
C. T.

that was a great article from tlo... i've been searching if the new laws affect liquor store hours and the article seemed to indicate that they can now close as late as midnight... is that right?

that was a great article from tlo... i've been searching if the new laws affect liquor store hours and the article seemed to indicate that they can now close as late as midnight... is that right?

Yes, they can be open 8am to midnight Monday through Saturday...being open on Sundays is county option and each county has yet to vote on that...

I got some 3.2% Budweiser for blind taste testing next week. Paseo Mart, at 30th and Walker, still has it if anybody wants 3.2 beer.

You need to invite other OKCTalkers from this thread to do it too. Should be interesting.

Yes, they can be open 8am to midnight Monday through Saturday...being open on Sundays is county option and each county has yet to vote on that...

Honestly that's huge for me. I hate getting my dinner almoooost ready, look in the fridge to see I am out of beer, turn back to look at the clock and see it is 8:58. Any other time and I can usually put my food in a holding pattern for 10 minutes for me to go down the block and get something. Being able to buy cold now is equally awesome, I don't have to wrap it in wet paper towels and throw it in the freezer and see how fast I can chill it.

Sure I should be prepared before getting that far along, but hey, life happens.

I agree with catch22. The most limiting factor of Oklahoma's old liquor laws was the 9pm closing time. Followed by that the requirement to sell at room temperature. The grocery/gas station thing is mostly just a nice convenience. It will be nice to have 3.2 beer gone though. I'll order stuff like Shiner and Rolling Rock more now that I don't have to worry about getting the watered down 3.2 version.

Any change to letting kids in a liquor store? It was stupid that I couldn’t carry my infant with me if I needed to buy a bottle of wine.

Any change to letting kids in a liquor store? It was stupid that I couldn’t carry my infant with me if I needed to buy a bottle of wine.

Since I'm not a parent I've never thought of this, but there should be exceptions for minors especially below a certain age. I can understand not wanting underage teenagers in the store but infants and toddlers shouldn't be a problem.

Another thing I was thinking of is are all the 7/11 liquor stores gone? I typically root for small businesses but if those are the liquor stores that go out of business it needs to happen. I'll still go to Freeman's simply because I like the people who work there and they have a great selection of beers especially.

Another thing I was thinking of is are all the 7/11 liquor stores gone? I typically root for small businesses but if those are the liquor stores that go out of business it needs to happen. I'll still go to Freeman's simply because I like the people who work there and they have a great selection of beers especially.

Yes, with 7/11 able to sell wine and strong beer, they now view liquor stores as competitors and stopped renewing their leases...

Yes, with 7/11 able to sell wine and strong beer, they now view liquor stores as competitors and stopped renewing their leases...

And they aren’t necessarily being cold hearted about it; it places everyone in a bad position if you are either competing with your landlord; or competing with your tenant. Better off to not even attempt the conflict of interest.

And they aren’t necessarily being cold hearted about it; it places everyone in a bad position if you are either competing with your landlord; or competing with your tenant. Better off to not even attempt the conflict of interest.

Those were also some of the worst liquor stores in OKC. They were the kind of places you find bottom-shelf wine almost a decade old that has already turned to vinegar.

With the new Oklahoma laws, why would that be necessary? Can't they sell chilled wine like cold beer?
C. T.

It would limit the amount of wine that a liquor store had to have refrigerated. You see these in a lot of the smaller package stores in Kansas. You don't have to chill any of the wine (except maybe your biggest movers) cause anyone can get a bottle of white and chill it on their own. More space in the coolers for beer.

Since I'm not a parent I've never thought of this, but there should be exceptions for minors especially below a certain age. I can understand not wanting underage teenagers in the store but infants and toddlers shouldn't be a problem.

I also was told to leave with my 6 month old in her car seat. Ridiculous.

I think all age restrictions should be gone. Under 21 need to be accompanied by an adult, but if they can go in a grocery store by themselves, they should be able to go to a liquor store. It just seems silly.

I also was told to leave with my 6 month old in her car seat. Ridiculous.

I think all age restrictions should be gone. Under 21 need to be accompanied by an adult, but if they can go in a grocery store by themselves, they should be able to go to a liquor store. It just seems silly.

I totally agree! 10 years ago we were with newborn. I had picked our newborn son up at grandmas and was headed home. Momma wanted a bottle of wine since, of course, she hadn't had wine for a loooong time. Anyway, being a new dad it took me forever to gather my son up and we went into an unnamed large liquor store and as I walked in was told I couldn't have my son in there with me. Yes at that very moment I knew that I had a newborn that wasn't 21 (LOL) and I sort of laughed at first jokingly commenting that I promised I wasn't buying liquor for this little guy. He was not as chippy about it and reiterated that I couldn't have the child in there. So I left. I felt stupid, but I guess yes the law is the law. I do think there should be some common sense laws regarding the issue.

I'm reminded of a time when I lived in Missouri and a friend and I were out with her rather young daughter. I want to say she was just under two years, because when the store pointed out nobody under 21, we (as noted above, jokingly, but we weren't the ones facing a fine and/or jail time) responded she was over 21 months. We both (all three actually, as the store employee thought so as well) agreed the law was pretty stupid, and we certainly weren't leaving the kid alone in the car, so we left. Because again, we weren't the ones facing a fine and/or jail time, the employee was. The law may be stupid, but it is still the law, and I imagine not a day goes by that someone doesn't walk into the store and raise a fuss over it, as if it's a store policy that can be overlooked.

Honestly, until/unless the law is changed, I think the issue should be settled with a sign clearly posted saying "Sure, you can bring your kid in here, it will cost you $25,000 and three months in jail". I guarantee nobody will be raising a fuss then, and even so the matter still isn't equal, as the store could lose its license. Maybe the sign should say $25,000, three months in jail, and you plus another handful of people lose their jobs.

I should clarify, I'm not upset with the stores for enforcing what they have to enforce, but with the law that won't allow me to take my kids into the liquor store under my supervision.

I saw a wine chiller in Total Wine in Dallas - you put the hot wine bottle in water and it swirls around and chills it. Will something like this be allowed under the new laws?
Sorry for the sideways picture!!
14942
The liquor store at NW 122nd & Penn had one of those 20 years ago.


^

Oklahoma law dictates that other than liquor stores, only these types of retailers can carry wine & beer: Supermarket, grocery store, convenience store, drug store, warehouse club and supercenter.

This eliminates places like BevMo and I doubt they would come here anyway if they could only sell wine and beer.
When I looked into a liquor store was allowed only one license and the state had a 10 year continuous Oklahoma residency requirement.

the crest on sw 104th & may is set up for the change... was there this morning and they have two 20-25 foot shelving sections for wine
(maybe more... the whole section was roped off) where they once stocked seasonal items. the beer case was also full with a sign stating that nothing can be sold until october 1.

I saw yesterday that the little corner liquor store at Main and western had a sign out that all liquor was 50% off. never had been in there before. went in and mostly he carries small sizes and 50% off was only for over 10.00. but I picked up a bunch of liter of Vodka for my Halloween party for super cheap. owner said he's closing and going to travel.

This might be of interest regarding who can get a liquor liscence......https://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show/id/Could-the-Supreme-Court-Strike-Down-Bans-on-Wine-Merchant-Direct-Shipping?utm_medium=email&utm_source=092818BreakingNews&utm_campaign=092818BreakingNews

This is such a long thread so it may have already been mentioned, but apparently, there are a lot of gotchas in the law? If somebody could help me out, but no more beer specials at bars like buying buy the pitcher or bucket? What else?

The TLO article seemed pretty thorough but didn't mention anything about pitchers

This is such a long thread so it may have already been mentioned, but apparently, there are a lot of gotchas in the law? If somebody could help me out, but no more beer specials at bars like buying buy the pitcher or bucket? What else?

Where did you hear that?

Where did you hear that?

A couple of bartenders while visiting Tulsa.

They did have pretty strict rules in place about how much liquor can be sold at once. I know of strong beers they had to sell in smaller glasses to avoid crossing the quantities. And places that serve margaritas pitchers serve a very weak version. So it depends how new rules take stuff into account such as abv on beer, since there's no longer a classification for 3.2 and under which had special allowances.

Just a curiosity question, but I own a kegerator and have always had to take a warm keg home and let it chill overnight before I could drink the beer. But, yesterday I picked up three kegs (1/6th barrel) and all of them were chilled. I don't want to get my store in trouble, just wondering if maybe the distributors have gotten an early start or if liquor stores could always have chilled kegs.
C. T.

Not sure if there are any golfers out there so no one may care. None the less, the new law is potentially going to cause some problems for municipal golf courses.

As deadline looms, golf courses struggle with beer law @ The Journal Record (http://journalrecord.com/2018/09/07/as-deadline-looms-golf-courses-struggle-with-beer-law/)

Essentially municipal courses are being forced to attempt to circumvent the law as currently written. Pretty sad.

Happy new liquor laws!! I bought a six pack of beer right at midnight to celebrate.

Darn. Not happy. Wal-Mart unveiled their beer only to reveal my favorite, Miller Lite, labeled at 3.2%. At least the price is the same as before. Just $12.23 for an 18 pack. So 3.2 beer not ready to go away yet.

^ I wonder if they're just getting rid of existing inventory before making the switch?

Just a curiosity question, but I own a kegerator and have always had to take a warm keg home and let it chill overnight before I could drink the beer. But, yesterday I picked up three kegs (1/6th barrel) and all of them were chilled. I don't want to get my store in trouble, just wondering if maybe the distributors have gotten an early start or if liquor stores could always have chilled kegs.
C. T.

They can start selling chilled kegs as of today. So....I'd say thank your local liquor store for the early cold beer and don't tell anyone where you got it!

So as someone a few posts brought up, are beers now smaller at bars and restaurants?

So as someone a few posts brought up, are beers now smaller at bars and restaurants?

i know there are limits as it increases in ABV... but i am not aware of any beer that was being served as a low point 3.2, that is now over 9% ABV... i could be wrong though

A couple of bartenders while visiting Tulsa.

I do know that you can't sell more than two drinks to one person. But a "drink" is not specified by any size/amount/alcohol content, which is a bit odd. So two shots = two drinks, two light beers = two drinks, etc.

I wonder if braums would be able to sell beer and wine in their grocery section?

I wonder if braums would be able to sell beer and wine in their grocery section?

They probably could but they've never carried beer in the past.

My roommate was apparently unable to find a single parking spot at TJs earlier today.

My roommate was apparently unable to find a single parking spot at TJs earlier today.

I dropped by the Urban Homeland around lunch, and it seemed like everyone was rolling out of there with large cases of High Point Beer. Felt like I was in Dallas, Texas, for a minute.

Ubran Homeland. I shall use that henceforth.

Ubran Homeland. I shall use that henceforth.I think it’s pretty good too. I told my wife and she’s going to see if it might catch on in the office.

i know there are limits as it increases in ABV... but i am not aware of any beer that was being served as a low point 3.2, that is now over 9% ABV... i could be wrong though

I think Blue Moon was probably the strongest normal brew (other than Bud Light Platinum) that was watered down to 3.2% for Oklahoma. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong. The full-strength version is 5.4%. Drinking a full-strength 4.2% Bud Light Lime right now. There is a huge difference in taste, even though in ABV % it's only like an additional 0.2%.

I bought refrigerated beer at a liquor store at 9:15 last night. What a time to be alive