12 Most common beer myths exploded
December 16, 2008 by legendsofbeer
Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy
–Benjamin Franklin
Beer gets a bad rap. It’s blamed for so much of society’s ills, when it should be celebrated as one of the finest beverages created.
There are a number of persistent myths and urban legends about beer that are passed around that unfairly distort the facts and confuse beer drinkers.
At LegendsOfBeer.com, we’d like to set the record straight and explode 12 of the most common beer myths, for once and for all. So take a read of these myths and the truth behind them and start spreading the good beer news!
Photo by elkojote
Myth #1: The Guinness served in Ireland is different to the rest of the world
Actually, the Guinness served in Ireland is most likely the same as that served in Boston or Berlin. However, many people will attest that Guinness simply tastes better in Ireland, which is why the myth spread. There’s a certain amount of sentimentality in this myth, but when you dig into it, most of the reasoning is pretty circumstantial.
There are a few reasons why it may taste better in Ireland - most likely freshness and rapid keg turnover (a pub in Dublin will serve the freshest Guinness in the world) - but the actual product is not any different that the black stuff served around the world. Also, a Guinness drinker in Ireland is guaranteed to have their drink poured correctly in Ireland than in some parts of the world, which will have an impact on the quality of the experience.
Myth #2: Lite beers will help you lose weight
On average, a lite beer will have 90-100 calories, while a regular beer might have under 200. In the grand scheme of things, lite beers will contribute very little to your dietary goals, and considering their typical lack of taste, you’d be better off drinking one or two regular beers.
Myth #3: Dark beers are stronger in alcohol
The color of beer has no relation to its alcohol content. For example, Guinness, one of the most popular dark beers has an alcohol volume of 4.2%, while several light-colored Belgian beers have alcohol content of 8%+.
Myth #4: Corona beer contains urine
This was a nasty rumor claiming that Mexican brewery workers were relieving themselves into the beer. Allegedly, the rumor was spread by a Heineken distributor and was only refuted following a lawsuit by Corona.
Myth #5: Imported beers are stronger than American beers
Traditionally, American beers measure their alcohol content by weight, while many other countries (across Europe and in Canada) measure by volume. The alcohol by weight figure will always appear lower than the alcohol by volume - for example, 4% ABW = 5% ABV, hence the myth creation.
Myth #6: Beer should be served ice-cold for best flavor
This is an unfortunate myth perpetuated by the major commercial breweries - especially for their lite beers. The fact is, flavor typically diminishes when beer is served ice-cold. It may make for a thirst-quenching, refreshing beverage, but often bears little resemblance to traditional beer. Several beers are, in fact, best served much closer to room temperature or slightly cool and are considered undrinkable when icy cold - such as Guinness and many of the traditional English ales.
Myth #7: The best beers have green bottles
Another myth that circulated imported beers. Brown glass is the best color to protect beer from light, which is why most beers are bottled with it. A shortage of brown glass in Europe during the last century led to many breweries using green glass to bottle their beer - therefore, green bottles represented imported beer for many years and people incorrectly assumed the color indicated a better beer.
Myth #8: “Beer before liquor, never sicker - liquor before beer, in the clear”
This is common drinking advice shared but not scientifically true. In reality, alcohol is alcohol, and the overall quantity you imbibe will determine your resulting (in)sobriety or hangover. Drinking beer before drinking hard liquor may prolong the onset of inebriation. However, it won’t ultimately matter whether you drink beer first or last; it’s the quantity of alcohol that does the damage.
Myth #9: You can’t get a hangover from drinking organic beer
If only being eco-friendly was this rewarding! This myth is based on the idea that organic beer is cleaner or purer than other beer, but there’s no existing proof that it manages to avoid giving hangovers when consumed in sufficient quantities.
Myth #10: Beer will raise your cholesterol levels
Beer actually contains no fat and no cholesterol! Perhaps this is one reason that Guinness was originally advertised as good for your health.
Myth #11: A good beer must be high in alcohol
Many people unfairly associate low alcohol with low flavor. There are plenty of poor quality beers that are high in alcohol content, and the opposite is also true. Some of the famous Belgian and German beers have traditionally high average alcohol content - perhaps 8% or 10%. However, the alcohol content is only one feature and doesn’t necessarily account for the good taste. In England, many of the best mild ales have alcohol content of 4% or less - resulting from a higher tax on stronger beer. Of course, the advantage is finding good-tasting, lower alcohol beers is that you can drink more of it!
Myth #12: Beer kills brain cells
Possibly the most damning of all beer myths, and we’re happy to explode this for you. An Australian study has determined that beer is not responsible for killing brain cells as was once thought.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
real quick
joe and matt have been here for a few days. I'll expand on their stay(tomorrow probably) as well as what else has been up. Beth drew a really cool picture/logo for the SD Punks For Presents. Still workin on some events...
ps- we got a SWEET sewing machine(and by we I mean Beth) and a gnarley 8 foot work table for all of our artistic needs. looking forward to the creative season....
ps- we got a SWEET sewing machine(and by we I mean Beth) and a gnarley 8 foot work table for all of our artistic needs. looking forward to the creative season....
Thursday, December 11, 2008
New Blog idea
Ok, I've decided that instead of just writing whatever is currently on my mind I am going to start posting a quote or lyric that has some depth and then either give my opinion on it or tell you what it means to me. Hopefully this will end up being a learning experience for both of us. Please be sure to give me some sort of feedback!! I think that will be just as important as my actual post because if you read my blog I care about your opinion.
TODAY I WILL POST SOME LYRICS
Taken from "Folding The Pages" by Smoke or Fire
"Everybody's hell looks different.
It changes shape, but it never goes away.
In a classroom there's a child with thoughts
of death on his mind.
In a hospital there's an old man looking
back on his life. And I wonder why some
people see the beauty, while others see
the pain."
I like these lines a lot because it really puts the fragility of life into perspective for me from the "big picture" mindset. The first point of view is the "child with thoughts of death on his mind". How many of us have either had suicidal thoughts of our own or dealt with a friend/loved one who was going through a rough stretch and had us worried about their safety? I think back on my early teenage years and feel so lucky to have gotten out with myself and everyone I care about intact. So many people are not that lucky though, and I wonder if they had a chance to go back now and talk to the person they lost (acting as the "old man looking back on his life") maybe they would know how to put things in perspective and help that lost person get through their problems without giving up on themselves.
I also appreciate this thought from the stand point of Joe as the writer. "I wonder why some people see the beauty while others see the pain". Everybody sees both beauty and pain in their lives, but it is really up to the individual to decide what they are going to focus on. This line shows the concern he has for people who can't see the big picture(either temporarily or permanently) and I definitely relate to that concern when I find myself talking a friend though hard times. You want to remind them about better times or do something that will make them feel good, but no matter how great of a thing you do for that person, it is up to them to acknowledge that the world isn't against them and that there is still something worth living for.
TODAY I WILL POST SOME LYRICS
Taken from "Folding The Pages" by Smoke or Fire
"Everybody's hell looks different.
It changes shape, but it never goes away.
In a classroom there's a child with thoughts
of death on his mind.
In a hospital there's an old man looking
back on his life. And I wonder why some
people see the beauty, while others see
the pain."
I like these lines a lot because it really puts the fragility of life into perspective for me from the "big picture" mindset. The first point of view is the "child with thoughts of death on his mind". How many of us have either had suicidal thoughts of our own or dealt with a friend/loved one who was going through a rough stretch and had us worried about their safety? I think back on my early teenage years and feel so lucky to have gotten out with myself and everyone I care about intact. So many people are not that lucky though, and I wonder if they had a chance to go back now and talk to the person they lost (acting as the "old man looking back on his life") maybe they would know how to put things in perspective and help that lost person get through their problems without giving up on themselves.
I also appreciate this thought from the stand point of Joe as the writer. "I wonder why some people see the beauty while others see the pain". Everybody sees both beauty and pain in their lives, but it is really up to the individual to decide what they are going to focus on. This line shows the concern he has for people who can't see the big picture(either temporarily or permanently) and I definitely relate to that concern when I find myself talking a friend though hard times. You want to remind them about better times or do something that will make them feel good, but no matter how great of a thing you do for that person, it is up to them to acknowledge that the world isn't against them and that there is still something worth living for.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
An old friend posted this on facebook...
Dear Red States....
>
>
> We've decided we're leaving. We intend to form our own
> country, and we're taking the other Blue States with us.
>
>
> In case you aren't aware, that includes Hawaii, Oregon,
> Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and all the
> Northeast. We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation, and
> especially to the people of the new country of New California.
>
> To sum up briefly: You get Texas, Oklahoma and all the slave
> states. We get stem cell research and the best beaches.
>
>
> You get Ken Lay. We get the Statue of Liberty. You get
> Dollywood. We get Intel, Apple and Microsoft. You get WorldCom. We get
> Harvard. You get Ole' Miss. We get 85 percent of America's venture
> capital and entrepreneurs. You get Alabama . We get two-thirds of the
> tax revenue, you get to make the red states pay their fair share.
>
>
> Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22 percent lower than the
> Christian Coalition's, we get a bunch of happy families. You get a
> bunch of single moms.
>
> Please be aware that Nuevo California will be pro-choice and
> anti-war, and we're going to want all our citizens back from Iraq at
> once. If you need people to fight, ask your evangelicals. They have
> kids they're apparently willing to send to their deaths for no purpose,
> and they don't care if you don't show pictures of their children's
> caskets coming home. We do wish you success in Iraq, and hope that the
> WMDs turn up, but we're not willing to spend our resources in Bush's
> Quagmire.
>
> With the Blue States in hand, we will have firm control of 80
> percent of the country's fresh water, more than 90 percent of the
> pineapple and lettuce, 92 percent of the nation's fresh fruit, 95
> percent of America's quality wines (you can serve French wines at state
> dinners), 90 percent of all cheese, 90 percent of the high tech
> industry, most of the U.S. low-sulfur coal, all living redwoods,
> sequoias and condors, all the Ivy and Seven Sister schools, plus
> Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Cal Tech and MIT.
>
> With the Red States, on the other hand, you will have to cope
> with 88 percent of all obese Americans (and their projected health
> care costs), 92 percent of all U.S. mosquitoes, nearly 100 percent of
> the tornadoes, 90 percent of the hurricanes, 99 perc
> ent of all
> Southern Baptists, virtually 100 percent of all televangelists, Rush
> Limbaugh, Bob Jones University, Clemson and the University of Georgia.
>
> We get Hollywood and Yosemite, thank you.
>
>
> Additionally, 38 percent of those in the Red states believe
> Jonah was actually swallowed by a whale, 62 percent believe life is
> sacred unless we're discussing the death penalty or gun laws, 44
> percent say that evolution is only a theory, 53 percent that Saddam was
> involved in 9/11 and 61 percent of you crazy bastards believe you are
> people with higher morals then we lefties.
>
> By the way, we're taking the good pot, too. You can have that
> dirt weed they grow in Mexico .
>
>
> Peace out, Blue States
>
>
> We've decided we're leaving. We intend to form our own
> country, and we're taking the other Blue States with us.
>
>
> In case you aren't aware, that includes Hawaii, Oregon,
> Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and all the
> Northeast. We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation, and
> especially to the people of the new country of New California.
>
> To sum up briefly: You get Texas, Oklahoma and all the slave
> states. We get stem cell research and the best beaches.
>
>
> You get Ken Lay. We get the Statue of Liberty. You get
> Dollywood. We get Intel, Apple and Microsoft. You get WorldCom. We get
> Harvard. You get Ole' Miss. We get 85 percent of America's venture
> capital and entrepreneurs. You get Alabama . We get two-thirds of the
> tax revenue, you get to make the red states pay their fair share.
>
>
> Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22 percent lower than the
> Christian Coalition's, we get a bunch of happy families. You get a
> bunch of single moms.
>
> Please be aware that Nuevo California will be pro-choice and
> anti-war, and we're going to want all our citizens back from Iraq at
> once. If you need people to fight, ask your evangelicals. They have
> kids they're apparently willing to send to their deaths for no purpose,
> and they don't care if you don't show pictures of their children's
> caskets coming home. We do wish you success in Iraq, and hope that the
> WMDs turn up, but we're not willing to spend our resources in Bush's
> Quagmire.
>
> With the Blue States in hand, we will have firm control of 80
> percent of the country's fresh water, more than 90 percent of the
> pineapple and lettuce, 92 percent of the nation's fresh fruit, 95
> percent of America's quality wines (you can serve French wines at state
> dinners), 90 percent of all cheese, 90 percent of the high tech
> industry, most of the U.S. low-sulfur coal, all living redwoods,
> sequoias and condors, all the Ivy and Seven Sister schools, plus
> Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Cal Tech and MIT.
>
> With the Red States, on the other hand, you will have to cope
> with 88 percent of all obese Americans (and their projected health
> care costs), 92 percent of all U.S. mosquitoes, nearly 100 percent of
> the tornadoes, 90 percent of the hurricanes, 99 perc
> ent of all
> Southern Baptists, virtually 100 percent of all televangelists, Rush
> Limbaugh, Bob Jones University, Clemson and the University of Georgia.
>
> We get Hollywood and Yosemite, thank you.
>
>
> Additionally, 38 percent of those in the Red states believe
> Jonah was actually swallowed by a whale, 62 percent believe life is
> sacred unless we're discussing the death penalty or gun laws, 44
> percent say that evolution is only a theory, 53 percent that Saddam was
> involved in 9/11 and 61 percent of you crazy bastards believe you are
> people with higher morals then we lefties.
>
> By the way, we're taking the good pot, too. You can have that
> dirt weed they grow in Mexico .
>
>
> Peace out, Blue States
Monday, December 8, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
YESSSSSSSSS
FINALLY!!!!!!!!!
edit: apparently this is OFN. how I missed this, I have no idea. I've been keeping an eye out for quite some time now...
oh well, I'm stoked!
Thursday, December 4, 2008
running
i dont know why the beginning of a run always seems like the biggest pain in the ass ever, but finishing one up is one of the best feelings you can have. i have such a weird cycle of getting in really good shape and then throwing myself away, but I'm back on a positive track after a couple months of boozing. I have an interview with a catering company this afternoon...i'm not thrilled on the idea of more "temporary" work, but money is money and I'm glad to be getting any chance.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Smoke or Fire
Fuck I can't get over how hard this band rips. Stoked to see them again
I've been in transition lately, but I'm transitioning out of it...
I'm still on the job hunt, though I talked to my Temp agency yesterday and the company I worked for a few weeks ago wants to fly me up to San Francisco next week for some work(cool!).
I start drilling with my new National Guard unit this Saturday. I'm pretty bummed about cutting me hair, but I hope I'll meet some good people and maybe score some leads on a full time job.
This Christmas is going to be kind of hard since I won't be home again. It'll be way better than being in Kosovo, and at least I'll be with Beth and Scott!
I know the solution to my little downer phase is getting a job, so at least I know that I'm working on pulling myself up and eventually I'll find a good fit for myself.
I definitely need to get on with my christmas shopping/making. I have to start getting creative about this...
I really miss my friends from Richmond. I know this has a lot to do with me being weird. I'm really pumped on the people we've met here, but there is never going to be a way to fill certain holes. I just need to find a way to get over that.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
Camping this weekend
We went to Idyllwild, CA. it was fun. i still don't really feel like blogging.
sorry for the downer posts lately...
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