Live data from Hacker News

I Invented Baileys (2017)

irishtimes.com

71–80 of 120 posts

Re: I Invented Baileys (2017)

#71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Uhm, what about Guinness? The guinness brewery has been around a lot longer than 1950. Also, are you claiming there was no such thing as an Irish pub before 1980? Again, uhm, no.

I assume they're referring to the theme-park-ish "Irish pubs" in the US, rather than pubs in Ireland.

The US Irish pubs often go out of their way to seem old-world, e.g. sawdust on the floor, not something I see a lot in Ireland..

Re: I Invented Baileys (2017)

#72
I used to drink something balled a "brown bomber": chocolate milk with brandy.

No one ever took my drink since I was the only one who liked it. It was pretty high-sugar, but I think that (and the milk) helped with hangovers.

Re: I Invented Baileys (2017)

#73
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Veg oil seems like a bad call for shelf-stability. Sure you can boil off any dissolved O2 and N2 sparge the bottle before sealing it, but that only helps you until you open the bottle.

It does but as pointed out above -- once above a certain % of alcohol as long as it's emulsified the alcohol will kill any bad bacteria.

Veggie oil will go rancid without any help from bacteria.

That being said, Bailey’s isn’t that shelf stable and will likely turn into undrinkable too faster than the average veggie oil will go rancid. And veggie oil can be stabilized to some extent by adding vitamin E.

Re: I Invented Baileys (2017)

#74
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's like buying off brand "Pringles" Does anyone make worse chips than Pringles?

Pringles are not chips. They are mathematically precise reifications of idealized perfection. It has nothing to do with potatoes and binders, those are only incidental. It's all about the libidinal act of destroying perfect objects with your mouth. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oral_stage

In my case, given a fairly weak upper palate, it’s also a case of destroying your mouth with perfect objects.

Re: I Invented Baileys (2017)

#75
post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Once you go over 16% or so alcohol, no cell will grow in it. That’s why alcohol above that is distilled: the alcohol starts inactivating the yeast. Just make sure it’s pasteurized to begin with (or good source control) and it’ll stay clean. Something acts like the surfactant to keep it from separating. Probably not mustard like in a salad dressing :).

Putting on my pedantic home brewer cap: The 16% number seems a bit low. I believe there are champagne yeasts that will ferment up to 18%, and specialized "turbo" yeasts designed for fermenting high-abv washes for distilling will go up to 20%.

I can absolutely agree on the turbo yeast part. I have fermented some apples with turbo yeast and they were able to bring it up to about 21% (but with added sugar).

Re: I Invented Baileys (2017)

#76
post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Putting on my pedantic home brewer cap: The 16% number seems a bit low. I believe there are champagne yeasts that will ferment up to 18%, and specialized "turbo" yeasts designed for fermenting high-abv washes for distilling will go up to 20%.

I can absolutely agree on the turbo yeast part. I have fermented some apples with turbo yeast and they were able to bring it up to about 21% (but with added sugar).

How "recent" are the developments of those turbo yeasts though? I wouldn't be surprised we figured out how to create those only in the last century using modern scientific insights.

Re: I Invented Baileys (2017)

#78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can absolutely agree on the turbo yeast part. I have fermented some apples with turbo yeast and they were able to bring it up to about 21% (but with added sugar).

How "recent" are the developments of those turbo yeasts though? I wouldn't be surprised we figured out how to create those only in the last century using modern scientific insights.

What does that matter when they're replying to "Once you go over 16% or so alcohol, no cell will grow in it. That’s why alcohol above that is distilled"?

Re: I Invented Baileys (2017)

#79
This job just seems so alien to me. How do you get a job where major corporations just task you with things like “Come up with a new product for us. Something Irish themed. Alcoholic.“

And all you have to deliver is a basic concept? Someone else figures out all the logistics and how to deliver at scale?

How much do they pay for that? (Oh £3000 per the article. Still, in 1973 money, for a few hours work, not bad)

Re: I Invented Baileys (2017)

#80
> My dinner-party party piece for many years was to say, “Well, actually, I invented Baileys. You know, Baileys Irish Cream. I did that back in 1973.”

> Hugh looked at me with an almost earnest stare. “What would happen if we mixed Irish whiskey and cream?” he said. “That might be interesting.” He sat back and waited for a response.

Sounds to me like it was actually Hugh who invented Baileys.

Post reply on HN