logos999

I believe, the difference between a cold beer in the US and in Bavaria is about 10C. They really drink their beer when it's almost freezing. I believe that's because of the stange way it tastes. Otoh Coca Cola tastes "best" at about room temperature, maybe a little less.

altamiro

Beer at 2 degrees C??? How can you even taste anything? They can serve you horse p*ss and you still won't taste the difference at that temperature...

Same with white wine - if it's at 10 degrees it's fine, but som people actually put it into freezer!!!

kleeblatt

Kids go out to crush ice in the creek every winter. Nothing new in Switzerland.

bettyk

When we lived in Vienna, you could only buy ice cream in the summer and iced drinks were extremely rare. I was told by a local friend that Austrians felt very cold foods/drinks were bad for your health. I must say I really thought that was strange.

nytraveler

A gazillion people buy bags of ice cubes or crushed ice every day - usually for outdor BBQs, picnics, day at the beach or similar - when the regulation 4 trays of cubes in their fridge just aren;t nearly enough.

bratsandbeer

Just remembering back to different World Fairs in the USA and how Americans consumed so much ice with their drinks. It surprised a lot of countries who never planned for the amount of ice Americans would want.

I like ice in everything. Frozen margaritas especially!! Or on the rocks!!

We take plastic ice cream containers and make ice in our freezer so we have plenty of ice.

adrienne

<< Otoh Coca Cola tastes "best" at about room temperature, maybe a little less. >>

Warm Coke is what you take for a stomach ache (not that I would do that since I'm not a Coke fan).

Logos - you want some black market Mike & Ike's?

clevelandbrown

As I recall, beer and ale in England was served at room temperature. And when I made my own, I always drank it at room temperature; you can taste it better.

I seem to recall that many years ago, many Europeans thought using ice was unhealthy, except for sprains, etc.

michele_d

Last year in Rothenburg we went to a little restaurant for dinner. We ordered 2 waters and when they came, there was ice in them! Quite a surprise for sure, after having been traveling for two months with hardly an ice cube in sight.

We were beaming from ear to ear. I said shocked, "Look, there's ice!" The waitress practically cracked up. She was so sweet. Each time she filled our water she brought more ice...it was like Christmas. The other waitresses got quite a kick out of it too. Those crazy Americans, they must have thought, frozen water makes them happy.

I guess it comes down to what you are accustomed to. At home we use ice in all our drinks. It is just a given.

logos999

>you want some black market Mike & Ike's?
Yes, if you know a good not too expensive source of all kinds of "frank'n'food" genetically engineered candy that would be great. Made by Mars and others.

Not too long ago, they dicovered a few "Butterfingers" at a gas station, later raided by police. I believe "Butterfingers" have disappeared completely from the market.

http://www.netlink.de/gen/Zeitung/1999/990714.htm

spassvogel

Use to buy crushed at the Tankstelle but glad I can get it there now.
Need to cool champagne Only for parties - the regular bottle fits in to the fridge ;-)

SV

logos999

Funny, you noticed it too. . I was thinking what's inside this new and rather big thing that's standing there...
Ice cream? No, ice, only ice.

tcreath

I'm an American and apparently in the minority because I rarely use ice. I usually specifically ask for my drinks without ice in restaurants. The water or iced tea or soft drinks are already cold anyways. And I rarely drink Coke, but when I do I prefer a nice, warm can. For whatever reason its the only way I can drink it. We never have ice cubes in our house unless we are expecting visitors, and we often forget to make ice and end up having to buy the bags. I have no problems traveling around Europe without ice.

kerouac

At our café in Paris, we sold the beer extremely cold in the hot months and somewhat less so in the winter. Ice was unlimited upon request; after all, the ice machine was churning it out all day. We did not get very many requests.

Most Europeans do not want their beverages diluted. But there's no reason to be surprised that Americans do -- they want everything half strength. Just look at their coffee.

bilboburgler

in the Uk we sell mashed potato. Unbelievable

hhildebrandt

Travelling in Germany and feeling a need for ice, ask for it at a gas station. Also a good place for buying food and drinks, when other shops are closed.

Cholmondley_Warner

As I recall, beer and ale in England was served at room temperature.>>>

Noooooooo!

For the last bloody time it's seved at cellar temperature.

That's quite a bit colder than room temperature.

It means you can taste it.

Hooameye

Cellar Temp: 12C/53F.

Otzi

In other late breaking news, Europeans are now using toilet paper.

bilboburgler

In civilised parts of the world toilet paper is not used as people have learnt to wash their bottoms in running watr. Unfortunatly in Europe and America this is just a dream as they insist on not having clean bottoms.

Still I understand that during the Crusades Saladin didn't mind fighting the christians; but the smell...

Weird aint it