They're talking about this on The History Channel.

Quoted: Samuel Adams today announced the release of its highly anticipated 2007 release of Samuel Adams Utopias®. By using an extended aging process and the finest all-natural ingredients from around the world, the brewers at Samuel Adams offer an uncarbonated beer with a rich, complex flavor and 25.6% alcohol by volume.
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Some would say Samuel Adams Utopias is the ultimate beer, an extraordinary beer that can be savored like an old sherry, vintage port, or fine cognac.”

Didn't know that ginseng neutralizes the toxic agents in alcohol.

Quoted: Take about 1000 mg to 3000 mg of ginseng before the party. You will be able to support the effect of alcohol better and your mind will be more focused without having to resort to a cup of coffee. Ginseng also helps the liver in its job to neutralize the toxic agents in alcohol. Ginseng accelerates the decomposition and the elimination of alcohol.

Nice.

Quoted: The wines we recommend in the $10-and-under price range are gulpable and satisfying with a modest level of intrigue.

Quoted: LUXEMBOURG glugs more than 15.5 litres of alcohol per person in a year, more than any other country.
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In America, where stricter minumum-age requirements apply, the average person drinks 8.6 litres a year.

We followed some of these rules....

Quoted: The general rules of this game are no different from any other drinking game. A drink is either a shot or a good gulp from a beer (or cider). Different events call for different numbers of drinks and all you do is watch the speech and play along. If all goes well, you'll be unconscious by the time they show the other party's response.

Yet another reason to drink a lot (well, maybe not a lot...)

Quoted: Drinking a moderate amount of alcohol each day could protect against arthritis, a study of mice has found.

What a great way to combine biking with drinking;)

Quoted: Bike the Burke Gilman and Sammamish trails to Woodinville's cluster of wineries and the Redhook Brewery. From the UW, it's about 32 miles round-trip — a full day adventure.

Came up in conversation...

Quoted: Several studies show that it doesn't matter whether you drink occasionally or frequently-alcohol consumption results in adverse effects on muscle growth. Alcohol decreases protein synthesis and affects Type II muscle fibers (the ones used in explosive kinds of activities like intense weight training) more than Type I (the fibers used primarily in endurance kinds of activities).

Also see:
http://www.montclair.edu/caps/alcoholmuscle.pdf
http://www.ironmagazine.com/article204.html

interesting. also...this is a pretty cool picture. i didn't realize monkeys could drink from a bottle in the same ways humans can.

Quoted: These and other observed behaviors strongly correspond with human patterns of alcohol use. Researchers attribute a predisposition to alcohol abuse in some monkeys and people to a combination of genetic and environmental factors.