Okay, here is an update on the lackwit stove: A beer can cut down to its lower third and with a bit of insulation put in. Runs on alcohol. I've been using this stove this fall and like it a lot. Be forewarned that as I was in the field, I didn't have measuring or testing equipment, so the below remarks should be regarded as unscientific.

During my most recent trip to the Smokys, it was cold. In the upper 30s in the morning when I would boil water for tea and in the lower 40s in the afternoon when I would boil water for tea and dinner. At home or during the warmer months, it takes 3 cap fulls of alcohol to bring 1 pint of water to a boil for a few minutes (sterlizing). This is my tea in the morning and afternoon. By the way, there is, approximately, 1/2 Tbs in a cap. 1 Tbs is .5 oz. So, we are talking about .75 oz. If you don't want the sterilization, 2 caps suffices. In the colder temps, however (both ambient and water), more fuel was required. In fact, it took 4 caps to bring the pint of water to a boil and that was it. Similar (25%) increases in the amount of fuel necessary for cooking Mac and Cheese or Lipton's was observed as well.

While I will bring the lackwit stove along for my Turkey day romp, I may start hauling the Whisperlite during the dead-o-winter months.