It’s not at all like you’ve probably seen in the movies (i.e Eurotrip). It tastes disgusting, no matter what color, brand etc. I’ve tried green and red stuff, both of which was in Prague. Don’t bother wasting your money on it. And even if are able to take it home, don’t bother. Take some quality liqour with you.

As far as beer goes, I think you’d have to go to Germany or Czech Rep. for the best.

You can get lots of kinds of Absinthe from lots of countries. But even in Europe its illegal to sell it with wormwood (the hallousnigen). Basically you will get a shot of 70% alc that tastes like a shot of 70% alc. Maybe in prague you might try a shot the traditional way, by lighting a cube of sugar in it.

There is no drink of europe, there are different types of alcohols and mixed drink prefrences that vary all of the continent. Sangria in Spain, Palinka in Hungary, Rakia in the Balkans, Zubrovka in Poland, of course whiskey and scotch in Ireland and Scotland. If you really want to try some good stuff, go to a bar or club that isnt overrun by tourists, get to know the bar tender a bit and ask him for some good local drink suggestions.

For beer, Czech Republic is famed for having THE best beer. Pilsner Urquell is the most popular, but they have many brands, try as many as you can, I hardly found one I didnt like, oh yeah, should mention CHEAP! Carlsberg is also very tastey and found on most of the continent. German beer is pretty good, but if varies a lot, just have to find your likeing. Poland has some good beer too.
All around europe, individual towns or regions will have their own variety of beer, sometimes only on tap, I’ve always found it fun to drink those. In Germany and Czech there are hundreds of varieties.

You might be interested in these websites:
http://www.absintheb…
http://www.absinth.c…
http://www.feeverte….

Like others have said, absinthe is just strong alcohol that tastes like strong alcohol. Make sure you blow out a flaming shot before drinking. I believe that any color absinthe save green is pseudo-absinthe (or dyed).

As for beer, I detest Pilsner Urquell and most of the really light brews (see Stella). I’ve found that just like in the U.S., most "national" beers are piss-water (like Budweiser, which is still better than Miller), however slightly less pissy than U.S. domestics. There are a lot of good brews that have less of a reputation though, like Velvet in Czech Republic or Altbeer in Germany.

I really want to try it! Cuase i think if you get the chance you should have to try it! like beer in Munich!

Well, try it then.  Just expect to be dissapointed.

If you buy some, do it at the end of the day so that you don’t have to carry the bottle around.  I didn’t try it but it smelled like cough syrup.

I should have tried it, though.  That’s why you go to different countries.

Like I originally said I expect to be in Europe this summer and I plan on trying it.  It’s got quite the rep here.
 
If you could, explain the lighting the cube of sugar and such?
 
I plan on trying it when I go there.

A friend of us (who is german) came here (im peruvian) and he had an absinthe (sp?) bottle with him. He “prepared” it in front of us. I was a curious cat and i took a sip. I only saw colors more bright and that’s it.

Yes, the sugar cube is 1/2 ceremony, 1/2 taste. It cuts the alcohol. The lighting is for show, I believe. But water is also added which should make the clear absinthe turn cloudy. Plus dilute it.

Oh, and a review on absinthe was recently conducted and concluded that there is NO strange effect of the drink other than what you get with alcohol. This is true even for original absinthe. Basically, before a human could ingest enough thujone (the chemical derived from wormwood) to produce hallucinations, he/she would die from alcohol poisoning. The ban on absinthe is based on old mis-media.

Anyone tried Pacine (I don’t know how its spelt but its pronounced Pa-cheen) Its an Irish drink made from potatoes, an I think its illegal. It tastes pretty disgusting but its lethal stuff!!

Absynth isnt all what its cracked up to be, i was drinking it last night at a club, we had 3 shots and all you get is a horrible taste that wont go away for a while.
 
as for beer, in Germany i would recommend Schofferhofer hefewiezen, but make sure its the light not dark
 
Italy you have to try Birra Moretti i love it
 
im also taking a eurotrip this summer good luck
 
 

The way i heard how to prepare absinth is pour one part absinth into a glass, place an absinth spoon which has holes in it over the top of the glass, place a couple of suger cubes on the spoon.  Pour two or three parts ice cold water over the suger cubes into the glass.  The solution should cloud to a pale gree color.
 
I havent heard of the flame trick.
 
Yeah and its not illegal in the EU but still is in the US dont know what customs will do if they catch you.  Also no other side effects other than the normal alcohol related drunkeness.

    I’ve had Absint once and it was just bleh it’s all hype. Save your money for better stuff like the amazing beers of germany and czech republic.
cheers
howie

If your goal is to get drunk quickly, then try pastis (one brand is Ricard).
As others have said, a much more interesting option is to try the great beers and wines in Europe.
In France, for instance, each region has it’s own wines—- in Alascae, genearlly white (Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc), while in the Rhone area, you’ll find wonderful reds!

If your goal is to get drunk quickly, then try pastis (one brand is Ricard).
As others have said, a much more interesting option is to try the great beers and wines in Europe.
In France, for instance, each region has it’s own wines—- in Alascae, genearlly white (Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc), while in the Rhone area, you’ll find wonderful reds!

Ansynth is not the kind of drink that your going to do on a regular occasion unless of course :

1) Your horendously drunk already
2) You want to see which of your mates flinches first after pouring a 70-85% liquid down your throat.
3) Your clinically insane

But it has to be done. You only live once, so go for it.. creates unbelievable memories (or erases them) even if its not the most pelasant tasting drink in the world.

Adz

It sucks, you won’t hallucinate, I’ve had all kinds of it. Taste like ass.

speaking of drinks can we take wine and beer home to the us? is it legal to do that?
thanks
sammi and mona

The way a friend explained it when he was leaving South Africa: you can send home all you want but there’s no guarantee when it will clear customs. I packed as much wine in my luggage as I could.

I’ve also had friends bring me beer from Germany.

well im not a wine and beer drinker but my family is and i want to send my mom and aunt some wine form italy and paris, and some beer to my unlce from germany. are there any tricks that are more likely to get your stuff through customs?(it would so suck to spend the money on stuff and it not be cleared Im 18 and its not legal for me to have drinks in the US so i dont want to risk taking wine and beer in my luggage.
thanks so much for the tips!
sammi and mona

Absinth makes me cough blood, lose my shoes, sprain an ankle and then snore so loudly that everyone else leaves the dormitory. Don’t do it.

10countries28days wrote:

well im not a wine and beer drinker but my family is and i want to send my mom and aunt some wine form italy and paris, and some beer to my unlce from germany. are there any tricks that are more likely to get your stuff through customs?(it would so suck to spend the money on stuff and it not be cleared Im 18 and its not legal for me to have drinks in the US so i dont want to risk taking wine and beer in my luggage. thanks so much for the tips! sammi and mona

Suggestion: Make your own thread so that more people see it. This one is about three years old.

I wouldn’t think that anyone would care if you had wine or beer in your luggage. Carry on is another thing. I think your only allowed one or two small items with clear liquid.