The Lighter Side: The Beverages of Lehigh
By: Benjamin Mumma
As you embed yourself into Lehigh’s social scene, you will encounter many beverages along the way. Here’s a look at ten of the more popular beverages you’ll see around Lehigh. While we cannot condone going against the current drinking age statute, we can educate you should you choose to ignore such an archaic and ignorant law. Without further ado, here are your top ten Lehigh beverages:
10. Root Beer – Beverages don’t have to be alcoholic! For the teetotalers in the crowd, slamming back a few Barq’s is a great way to relax. The supple taste of a good can of Root Beer is often tough to beat after a tough day of classes. Added benefit – it is the only item on this list you can find at the dining halls!
9. Wine in a bag - While your parents may not agree, there is only one way to drink wine, and that is from a bag. Though the wine bag suffers from an aversion to sharp objects, “slapping the bag” is an iconic college moment that shouldn’t be missed.
8. Natural (Natty) Ice - While the oft-rejected cousin of Natty Light can’t top the charts due to a lack of consumption, but that in no way devalues it. Natty Ice boast a much higher ABV (alcohol by volume) than Natty Light, resulting in you having to drink less of this admittedly unsavory beverage.
7. Rum and Coke – Perhaps one of the best drinks to take with you to that 7:55 class you got stuck in. With both caffeine (a stimulant) and alcohol (a depressant), a good Rum and Coke will both wake you up and numb you to the boredom you are experiencing. Additionally, when stored in an actual coke bottle it conveniently gives you some semblance of credibility when telling the friendly police officer that you “haven’t been drinking at all.”
6. “Skippy” – Skippy may be rare, but that doesn’t stop it from being awesome. For those who don’t know, a Skippy mix consists of: 1 case of Natural Light, 1 handle of Grain (or vodka in a pinch), and 1 container of Lemonade mix. It sounds counterintuitive, sure, but we promise that a proper mix will taste just like the lemonade you sold at the top of your driveway when you were a kid. Skippy is 2 – 3 times stronger than beer, and goes down easier, so be sure to drink responsibly!
5. Yuengling Lager – Should you actually become friends with some of the upper classmen you party with, they may direct you to their private alcohol stash, which will include all those beers that are actually enjoyable to drink. There’s a good chance you’ll find Yuengling in that collection.
4. Hurricanes – Representing the wide array of malt liquor’s available, the Hurricane is the best on our list. Stronger than beer, Hurricane’s do come in a convenient 40 oz container. For those hell-bent on efficient drinking practices, this saves you almost 48 seconds in can/bottle opening for the night.
3. The Ambiguous Keg – since Kegs are not allowed on “the Hill,” you’ll have to venture off campus to find your kegs. You won’t know what beer is held within, but that shouldn’t stop you from taking a keg stand – something every student should do before they leave. There have been rumors of keg stand contests being held for the freshmen of various academic disciplines at Lehigh, but we have not been able to confirm the existence of such a tradition.
2. Vodka and Anything – for hard liquors, vodka is the Lehigh way. Only the most diehard Russophiles will take their vodka straight, yet most everyone will find their favorite vodka mixer within a few short months of arrival. For starters you can try Orange Juice, Cranberry Juice, Orange Soda, Sprite, …..
1. Natural (Natty) Light – due to pure volume of consumption, The Patriot had no choice but to award Natural Light (affectionately referred to as “Natty”) the top spot in our first-ever beverage ranking. If you decide to venture out on the weekend (or a weekday), you will certainly find “Natty” wherever you go. Based on a recent study, Lehigh consumes enough Natty Light in one academic year for every building on campus to be made entirely out of the used Natty cans.
