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Tag: Beer

  • American Man Vows to Drink Only Beer for 46 Days of Lent

    While many Christians are giving up meat, alcohol and other vices for Lent, one man has vowed to consume a liquid-only diet of just beer.

    Del Hall, who works for a brewing company in Ohio in the US, is set to drink an assortment of beer for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for more than six weeks until Easter Sunday.

    The beer aficionado told Fox 6 News he took inspiration from German monks in the 17th century who swore off solid food in favour of a diet of homemade hearty bock beer for the 46 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday.

    Mr Hall said people “think I’m crazy” but the army veteran admitted he was used to pushing past mental barriers and taking on unthinkable feats.

    He is keen to prove to himself this latest challenge is possible.

    “I’ve run a full marathon before, 26.2 miles [42km]. I’ve done… big challenges, but this seems very daunting, so I’m just curious if I’m up to the challenge if I’m gonna be able to do it or not,” Mr Hall, of Fifty West Brewing Company, said.

    What is Lent?

    For Christians, Lent is a holy time of sacrifice that begins on Ash Wednesday – a day after Pancake (or Shrove) Tuesday.

    It is a six-week-long event marking a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for Easter.

    It usually means giving up certain pleasures to emulate the sacrifice Jesus made when he entered the desert for 40 days.

  • Ancient Brewing Resumes at Belgian Abbey

    Grimbergen has revealed plans to build a new microbrewery inside the walls of Grimbergen Abbey near Brussels, which will combine modern techniques with brewing traditions from ancient books. Pictured is Father Karel Stautemas, subprior at Grimbergen Abbey, who is studying to be a brewer to join the microbrewery team.

    (CNN)Connoisseurs of Belgium’s world-renowned beer will soon be able to taste a range of special brews made according to recipes that have been sitting untouched in the archives of Grimbergen Abbey for more than 200 years.

    Monks at the Norbertine abbey recently delved into a collection of books that was almost destroyed by a fire during the French Revolution. They uncovered details on how Grimbergen beers were brewed in the past — the last time in 1798.
    Its name is probably familiar to beer-lovers since Danish giant Carlsberg has a licensing deal to produce a beer known as Grimbergen for the international market.
    But now the brothers of the abbey, which is located near Brussels, want to brew the original beer themselves. They are combining ancient traditions detailed in books — some dating back to the 12th century — with modern techniques to craft limited-edition batches.
    “Beer has always been part of life in the abbey and we are proud of the beers we have today,” the Rev. Karel Stautemas, subprior at the abbey, said in a statement.
    “We’ve really enjoyed reading more about past brewing traditions in the pages of these ancient texts. We’ve spent hours leafing through the books, which are written in Latin and Old Dutch, and have discovered ingredient lists for beers brewed in previous centuries, the hops used, the types of barrels and bottles, and even a list of the actual beers produced centuries ago.”
    Karel will undertake additional formal brewing training to help with the production himself.
    The books were saved by the monks when a fire ravaged the abbey in 1798, destroying it for the third time. They knocked a hole in the library wall and secretly funneled about 300 books to safety before the blaze. The microbrewery, which will be inside the abbey and will feature an on-site bar and restaurant, will open to the public in late 2020 and is projected to produce about 10,000 hectoliters.
    One of the new brews is the limited-edition Grimbergen Triple D’Abbaye, which has been aged in whisky barrels for five months, a technique similar to those used in the production of Belgian beer back in the 1500s.
    “To begin with, the beer is aged in French oak barrels, which were previously used for bourbon and whisky, and yeast is added to give it a slight refermentation. During this time, the coriander, fruity and spicy phenolic flavours decrease allowing the malty, sweet, vanilla flavors from the whiskey barrel to infuse itself,” reads an official description of the beer.
    The Triple D’Abbaye has notes of malt, vanilla, and sweet flavors from the first barrel, supported by subtle, smoked notes from the second, the description says. All with an underlying note of spiciness and a high alcohol content of around 10.8% – so better not imbibe too much.

  • Do Drinkers Live Longer?

    The issue of whether or not drinking alcohol is beneficial to your health is a contentious one with alot of conflicting research, some suggesting that moderate consumption can extend life by benefiting the heart and others suggesting that there is no safe alcohol levels.

    Moderate drinking which is described as between 2 and 7 glasses of wine a week, has been shown to ward off depression and the same study also revealed that heavy drinking is a risk factor for depression.

    However now there has been a large scale study -The Health and Retirement Study (HRS), described as one of the most indepth studies on alcohol consumption and death risk in the USA, presenting findings of a 16 year follow-up period.

    The results show that moderate and occasional drinkers have lower death rates than non-drinkers.

    The study found that people who didn’t drink at all actually had higher mortality rates.

    Find out more about the study at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325676.php

  • Melbourne to Host Good Beer Week in May

    If you love your beer you won’t want to miss the latest Good Beer Week, famous for beer and food pairings.

    From 10 to 19 May, Good Beer Week will return to Melbourne and a number of events will be taking place around the city and Victoria.

    Events will take place at Queens Victoria Market, East Elevation and Blackhearts & Sparrows will host a Seasonal Beer and Wine Feast, the Diner and Stone & Wood Vegetarian Degustation, Revolver Upstairs’ Beer and Noodle Night Market to name a few. Bad Shepherd Brewing Co. will also host three different beers and vegan food experiences.

    For more about the events visit: https://www.hospitalitymagazine.com.au/good-beer-week-returns-to-melbourne/

  • The Difference Between Cheap and Expensive Beer

    With all the options out there for beer it can become an overwhelming decision, especially when deciding how much to spend to get a good one, and are the expensive ones even worth the price tag? In this video a beer expert guesses between a cheap beer and a more expensive variety. Let’s see if he can even taste the difference.

  • US Study finds Small Amount of Pesticides in Wine

    An American public interest research group has discovered a small amount of glyphosate in some beers and wine.

    Glyphosate is a pesticide or weed killer.

    The study investigated 5 wines and 15 beers and found trace amounts of the poison in them. The study examined popular wines like Miller Lite, Budweiser, Corona, Heineken, Guinness, Stella Artois and Coors Light.

    While the pesticide levels discovered were not dangerous, they are concerning.

    The World Health Organisation has said glyphosate can cause cancer however the amount discovered in wine and beer are below what the Evironmental Protection Agency considered a health risk.  Source: https://wgno.com/2019/02/26/pesticides-in-your-alcohol-study-finds-trace-amounts-of-glyphosate-in-some-beers-wines/

  • If You Suffer from Type 2 Diabetes Here’s The Alcoholic Drinks You Should Avoid

    If you have type 2 diabetes or know somebody who does, here’s the alcoholic drinks you should avoid,

    While you can still enjoy a drink, you must be cautious about how much you drink and what you drink.

    According to health experts, people with type 2 diabetes should avoid low sugar beers and cider which are often referred to as diabetic drinks because while they may have less sugar, they also have more alcohol. Just one low-sugar beer can apparently raise your blood alcohol level substantially.

    Also avoid low alcohol wines because they usually pack more sugar than normal wines.

    Beers, ales and ciders are also bad for you. These may increase your blood sugar levels exceedingly because they contain carbs.

    Instead opt for spirits, dry wines and Prosecco which contain less carbs.

    Also make sure the mixers you opt for with spirits are sugar-free.

    Read more at https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1084767/type-2-diabetes-diet-drinks-avoid-low-alcohol-wine-low-sugar-beer-cider

  • The Low Calorie Alcoholic Drinks That Won’t Bust Your Diet

    If you want to enjoy a drink but don’t want to crash your diet, here are the best low calorie alcoholic choices,

    1. Vodka – vodka or tequila generally have a low calorie count and a low amount of sugar and zero carbs. Mix it with ice and water or sparkling water to keep the calories down.

    2. Dry white wine with low alcohol content – high-alcohol and sweet wine will have more calories than a dry, low-alcohol wine.

    3. Light beer – a lighter beer usually has around 98 calories, making it a good low calorie option.

    4. Mojito – Made the right way, a mojito can be low in calories. Make the low calorie version with 30ml of white rum, lime, mint, ice and soda – around 100 calories.

    See more at https://www.bhg.com.au/low-calorie-alcoholic-drinks

  • Drinking Too Much? Here’s What to Do!

    If you’ve noticed you’re drinking a little too much when you’re out for the night or at a social gathering there are some things you can do to rein in your drinking, for your health, safety and reputation.

    It is recommended that we do not exceed 2 standard alcoholic beverages a day but sometimes we can find ourselves drinking a little too much on any one occasion. In this situation we can,

    1. Start to drink slowly. This is important because it helps you drink more mindfully and aware of your drinking. It also helps you recognise your limits.

    2. If you haven’t finished your drink, don’t let the host or your mates pressure you into accepting a new one. You can often lose track of how many you’ve had.

    3. Don’t expect an alcoholic drink to quench your thirst. If you’re thirsty, drink water or juice instead.

    4. Make sure you eat before you drink and alternate one alcoholic drink with one non-alcoholic drink.

    Follow these tips and you’re sure to enjoy your night out way more.

    See more at https://www.thesundaily.my/style-life/zest/a-glass-half-full-how-to-avoid-drinking-too-much-alcohol-KB407783

  • Low-Alcohol Cocktails to Enjoy Throughout Summer

    If your resolution is to drink more responsibly this year, you may want to opt for more low alcohol cocktails that can be enjoyed throughout Summer and even into Autumn.

    Some of the best low alcohol cocktails include

    • low alcohol beer
    • Rosemary and bitters mimosa
    • Riesling spritz
    • Mojito mocktail
    • Vermouth
    • Aperol Float

    Read more at: https://www.abc.net.au/life/low-alcohol-cocktails-and-drinks-for-summer/10627708