What makes Stella so strong?

[Adampy]

Its like rocket fuel. Makes boys act Macho. I drink Grolsh mostly and I enjoy it. I drink stella and I dont remember it!

[qapmoc]

I may be wrong here but maybe its got something to do with the amount of alcohol in it ?

[alan30]

Stella I think is 5.2% alcohol and Grolsch 5.0% so not a lot of difference. Alcohol uptake can be affected by a load of factors, including how much you have eaten beforehand time of day etc. Also gassiness of beer can be a big factor, Stella always seems fizzier to me. Additionally the 'body' of the beer can affect alcohol uptake. If beer is 'thin' eg little malt in brew and use of additives such as rice flour to bulk up starch levels I find it has more effect than a full bodied high malt content beer. I also find that bulked up beers give me a headache more quickly. I brew my own at around 6.0% alcohol and drink real ale at 5.0% - 7.2% and always feel better than after the odd stella. Incidentally stella in europe I think is viewed as an everyday non special brand yet marketed cleverly in this country to make people think they are buying a premium beer.

[Andy008]

Stella contains a large amount of e-numbers, additives, preservatives and other such crap, so that may have something to do with it.

[Gef]

Have you got proof of that Andy?

[sophieb]

It doesn't really make them act macho, Adampy, it just makes them look really stupid! Round our way its known as 'wifebeater' and is generally a way of deciding who's company to sit in !!

[CT]

Apparently, there is a chemical in it that reacts one of two ways in people. It can either make you violent (hence 'wifebeater'), or make you sleepy. Not sure why.

[natalie_1982]

I heard once that it was the way in which it is brewed? I'm gonna go see if I can find anything out.....

Oh, and Sophie, that's what we call it too but tis also known as Stella Act-a-tw*t

[Adampy]

Am I right in thinking - Stella seems (I might be wrong) to be the favourite amongst the teens of today? Could this be

A) Because it gets them drunk a lot quicker and saves more money or

B) Becuase they are "Cool" if they are seen to be drinking it.

As it seems to be the favourite and it is so strong, could this be a root for all the violence amongest the youths of today? As many of you have said it makes people very violent.

[chinois]

As Andy said i think it has more additives / chemicals than most. I have no proof other than the fact that it smells like chemicals and gives me a headache. I see Stella as the Marlboro of lagers.