Wondering about alcohol strength?

Question

I was just wondering about stronger and weaker alcohol. Like, 15% proof, 30% proof, and whatever.
What's stronger, schnapps or rum? Vodka or beer? I was just wondering which alcohols/liquors are strong and which are weaker.

Answer 1

Take the proof and cut it in half to get the alcohol percentage.

Beer and wine are by percent not proof. Beer is usually about 3.2% to about 7% or so depending on the brand and the state (or country) you live in.

Wine is usually about 7% all the way up to 15%.

Liquor can go from about 30 proof all the way up to 180 proof again depending on the state you live in and the brand and type of liquor you are buying.

Typical liquors (vodka, rum,gin, whiskey etc.) are between 70 and 110 proof.

Above 110 proof are usually "specialty" items such as Everclear (180 proof!) and Bacradi 151. (These are not even available whatever in some states).

Below 70 proof liquors are usually used as adjuncts to various drinks. Medori Melon liquor, Tripple Sec etc.

Answer 2

The trend in alcoholic beverages is usually:

beer-wine-liquor

It depends on the proof, the proof is twice the alcohol percentage. For example, a beer that is 5% will have a proof of 10.

The strength of liquor depends on the brand that you buy.
Absolute vodka has a a 70 proof whereas 110 Vodka, is 110 proof and much more stronger.

Answer 3

What will happen is that some of the water will freeze first, which will make the free alcohol content stronger. If you can get the temperature low enough, eventually it will all become solid but you will have crystals of ice embedded in solid alcohol, which may still not be 100%, so the freezing point will almost certainly be different from that quoted for pure ethanol. I have a bottle of vodka in the freezer at the moment, in which I steeped a good quantity of scotch bonnet chillis. I think the liquid reduced to about half when I froze it and filtered out the ice, so I should have something around 75% - 80% alcohol now! In the freezer which I think is around -10C, it has a syrupy consistency, so is probably not far off freezing. Believe me, you do not want more than about a teaspoonful to blow your eyes out, with that stuff! Edit: While Libby and Hailee D get all technical, I can tell you that some water freezes first, so those calculations will need modifying!

Answer 4

Depends on the proof. Proof is 2X the percent of alcohol, ie 15% would be 30 proof. Bacardi 151 is 150 proof or 75% alcohol. Beer does not "proof" but is limited by law (different in individual states) in the percentage of alchohol it can contain. 3.2% in some and 4% in others. Colt 45, Mickeys and other "Malt Liquors" do not fall in this catagory and can have a much higher percent of alchohol as can those that are refered to as "ice" brewed (usually around 5 to 7 percent).

Interesting tidbit: You will find no 200 proof alcohols as in its pure form it evaporates immediatly. The highest you will find legally in some states is Everclear which is 180 proof or 90 percent alcohol the 10 percent distilled water keeps it from evaporating.

Answer 5

the proof number translates to the percentage of actual alcohol. Example: an 80 proof bottle contain 40% alcohol.

Vodka is definitely stronger than beer, not sure about schnapps or rum.

Answer 6

if something is 30 proof it is actually 15% alcohol
so obviously if something is 80 proof it is stronger, b/c it is 40% alcohol.

there are ussually two levels of alcohol offered as far as liquors go: drugstore/grocery store ones only go up to 20proof. you have to go to a state liquor agency to get 40 proof and up.

check the labels. you can get a "cheap" rum at the grocery store that is much weaker than a puertorican rum at a state agency.

HTH

Answer 7

Any distilled alcohol (vodka and rum) will be stronger than any brewed beverage.

Beers and malt beverages are near the bottom, champagnes in the middle and hard liquors at the top.

Answer 8

percent and proof are two different measure of the same thing. something that is 15% alcohol is 30 proof. The higher the number the stronger it is.

Answer 9

how old are you % is not proof dubble your %for proof 40%alc is 80proff beer is normely 5% ice or malt beer 6-8% non alicholic beer is .5% schnapps or rum usley the same 80 proof vodka beer 1 oz of 80proff vodka is about the same as 12oz beer

Answer 10

A general rule is that the alcohol content in one 12 oz beer is equivalent to one shot of vodka or 5oz of wine. There will always be exceptions, but I use that as a guideline.

However, ounce per ounce, liquor is going to be strongest, followed by wine, and then beer.