Homebrewing

The thought of home brewing has been this little buzz in the back of my head for a number of years.  That little buzz has gotten louder since this blog's conception.  I was recently in a home brewing store, yes they exist, inquiring about a good brewing book.  The store manager suggested that I pick up "How to Brew" by John J. Palmer.  So I did.

I must admit that the book is not disappointing.  The book is broken down into 4 sections and covers everything you need and would ever want to know about brewing. Some subjects discussed, in detail, are malts,boiling and cooling, yeasts, fermentation, conditioning, and priming and bottling.

This is a must have for anybody wanting to take up the craft of home brewing.

cheers!

Youngs Double Chocolate Stout

The wife and I were at dinner last night when this gem caught my eye.  It was the only stout on the list that I haven't tried.  I order it and a few minutes later our waitress returns.  I make the pour and am immediately hit with a chocolate aroma.

It seemed to melt out of the bottle filling up the glass at a slow rate and topping off with a two finger width head.  After sitting there for a second admiring this creation, I take a drink.  Very delicious.  The beer had a smooth chocolatey flavor with almost no aftertaste.

This is a must try for any dark beer lover.

Cheers!

BBQ Nachos

My buddy Michael and I just returned from watching the Hurricanes have the playoff door shut on  them by the Bolts. Obviously we were disappointed with the game's outcome, but still had a great time at the game especially the BBQ nachos, oh, and the craft beers.

These were not your average nachos.  Their appearance was similar to regular nachos, but with a twist.  Pulled beef brisket was piled on the nachos, then the cheese was poured on top.  It is the best game food that I've ever eaten.

Pictured with the nachos is a Torch Pilsner (left), Foothills Brewery, and a Southern Pale Ale from Natty Greene's Brewery.  We also had another of Natty Greene's finest ales, Buckshot Amber.  Our post game venture was Sweetwater Brewery's 420 Extra Pale Ale at the Backyard Bistro.

A good night with great food and craft beer.

cheers!

Drink to Your Health

Health benefits of wine have been well documented over the years.  Unlike their counter part, the health benefits from beer have barely been examined mainly because it was associated with unhealthy habits such as smoking and binge drinking.  Recently, that tune has changed primarily due to the popularity in craft beer.

Research this past decade has shed a new light about the effects of beer on your health.  Moderate amounts of beer, 1-2 per day, have been proven to be good for your heart, brain, kidneys, bones, and cancer.  The research is summarized below:

Heart

"Alcohol raises levels of ‘good' HDL cholesterol.  It also has anti-clotting effects, which keeps blood vessels clear and healthy," says Arthur Klatsky, MD.  Researchers found that one to two beers a day reduces fibrinogen levels, a protein that helps promote clotting.

Brain

One classic New England Journal of Medicine study, which analyzed the drinking habits of about 11,000 women over more than 15 years, found that those who had up to one drink a day had a 20 percent lower risk of brain function decline (as measured by memory and other cognition tests) than nondrinkers. Alcohol intake may protect blood vessels in the brain and also lower stroke risk.

Kidneys

Finnish researchers found that men who drank beer had a 40 percent lower risk of kidney stones to those who drank other types of alcohol. The benefit may be due to beer's high water content. It is believed, not proven, that beer's hops may also help prevent kidney stones by slowing the release of calcium from bones.

Bones

Beer is a major source of silicon intake in the US leading to denser bone minerals. “Silicon is present in beer in the soluble form of orthosilicic acid (OSA), which yields 50% bioavailability, making beer a major contributor to silicon intake in the Western diet” "Silicon helps stimulate bone-building cells, and the estrogenic effect of alcohol also has a protective quality for bones," says study author Katherine Tucker, PhD, professor of nutritional epidemiology at Northeastern University in Boston. Which brew boasts the most silicon? Try an India Pale Ale. A 2010 University of California Davis study found that IPAs had the highest levels of the mineral.

Cancer
A Portuguese study revealed that marinating meat in beer can eliminate 88% of carcinogens cause by frying.  Researchers believe that sugars in beer help prevent formation of cancer-causing compounds known as heterocyclic amines (HCAs).  Other research in the US believes some compounds in beer may prevent colon or prostrate cancer (the study results are not available).

This gives a new meaning to “Drink to your health.”  I for one enjoy reading something positive about beer because for years I’ve heard how bad beer was for you…not any more.

Cheers!

Resources

www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010.../w-rrl020310.php

http://www.everydayhealth.com/healthy-living/0315/tap-into-beers-health-benefits.aspx

http://www.forbes.com/2008/03/14/beer-drink-health-forbeslife-cx_avd_0317health.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/08/13/earlyshow/health/main518587.shtml