To Beer, with love

“Beer is living proof that God loves us.”

Ben was such a smart man and I’m assuming he loved beer.
I love beer. Not just any beer though.
I’ve never been the Budweiser type and have a tough time figuring out how in God’s name this brew ever received the moniker “King of Beer”.
The Prince of Beers? Maybe. The Duke of Beers? Ok. But the King?
I guess when you spend as much as Anheiser-Busch does on slick advertising you have to get something for your money. The Coors Light twins would be thanks enough for me…
Any beer drinker worth their salt knows that Bud can quench the thirst, but like a sixth-grade crush it leaves you looking for a relationship that’s more substantial and worthwhile.

Some brands that have made it to my ever growing “worthy” list”:

• Rogue (especially the Mocha Porter)

• Newcastle (a most consistent brown ale)

• Guinness (at only 125 calories you can drink up boys…)

• Allagash (the Tripel is simply astonishing at room temperature)

• Magic Hat (not an everyday brew for me. My wife likes the #9 with essence of apricot)

• Samuel Adams (Boston Ale and Cream Stout are good friends but the Sam Light tastes like moose piss, IMHO Right now I’m sipping a new Winter Lager, the jury is still out. First impressions are favorable)

• Samuel Smith (Oatmeal Stout. I don’t really need to say anything else, do I?)

• Bass Ale (Never has a little red triangle meant so much to so many)

• Pete’s Wicked Ale (I put this on the list because 10 years ago Pete’s was putting many microbreweries to shame. I loved this stuff. The bottled version was good but the draft was a total religious experience. Since the brand got sold this beautiful brown ale has transformed into a skunky,
  wimpy and sad excuse for a beer and got scratched from my list immediately. Shame on you, Pete. I loved you, man&hellip
• Anchor Steam (a micro from the West Coast. The Christmas Ale continues to amaze me.)

A few interesting Beer facts:

Before the advent of thermometers, brewers tested the temperature of their maturing brews with their thumbs: too cold, and the yeast wouldn’t grow, too hot, and it would die. Hence the phrase “Rule of thumb”

Cenosillicaphobia is the fear of an empty glass.

When knocking one back, each swallow should leave behind "Brussels Lace," a term describing the head that clings to the side of a glass. Brussels lace is a strong indicator that you're drinking a fresh, natural beer.

An American scientist, Fred Stevens, has discovered cancer-fighting properties in the micronutrient Xanthohumol, which is found in hops.
The compound, which helps to give beer its aroma and flavour, is believed to help to prevent breast, colon, ovarian and prostate cancer cells.

Dr Stevens, from Oregon State University, said: "Research on Xanthohumol's properties is just exploding at this point. It is one of the most significant compounds for cancer chemo-prevention that we have studied, and the only way people are getting any of it right now is through beer consumption."

Next time you reach for a brewski, think extraordinary. You may be pleasantly surprised and ultimately be doing your health a big favor.

~m

~ by ~m on November 19, 2005.