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Scroll down to see our new sections for Featured Cheese and Beer Pairing as well as our "Cooking with Beer" Recipe of the week! |
| Featured Beer and Cheese Pairing: |
St. Patrick's Day Pairing - Dry Stouts (Ex. Victory Donnybrook Stout, Cigar City Patio Tools, Shipyard Blue Fin Stout and Belhaven Scottish Stout)
Creamy Blue Cheeses and Sharp Cheddars are full-flavored accompaniments to the rich, malty flavor found in stout beers. Enjoy before or after your corned beef and cabbage
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| Featured Cooking with Beer Recipe of the Week |
#9 Chicken and Mole
Yield: 6 servings INGREDIENTS:-1/4 teaspoon ground allspice -1/4 teaspoon fennel see ds -1 teaspoon ground cinnamon -1 teaspoon ground cumin -1 teaspoon ground coriander -2 teaspoons chili powder, plus more for sprinkling on chicken -6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts salt and pepper to taste -2 tablespoons canola oil -1 onion, peeled and chopped -4 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped -1 (12-ounce) bottle Magic Hat #9 -1 cup chicken broth -1 ounce unsweetened chocolate -2 tablespoons almond or cashew butter -2 tablespoons natural, creamy peanut butter -2 tablespoons tahini (sesame paste) -1 and 1/2 teaspoons hot sauce, or to taste -orange zest, for garnish (optional) In a small bowl, mix together the allspice, fennel, cinnamon, cumin, coriander and 2 teaspoons chili powder. Set aside. Sprinkle the chicken breasts with salt and pepper and chili powder. Set aside. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F., or preheat a charcoal or gas grill for cooking over direct medium heat. Heat the oil in a skillet set over medium heat and add the onion and garlic, stirring until translucent and lightly colored, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the spices and stir, cooking gently 2 minutes. Add the beer and broth and bring to a low boil. Cook, uncovered, until reduced by half, about 20 minutes. Stir fairly frequently during this time. While the sauce is cooking, cook the chicken. Bake in a well-oiled pan in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes. OR grill over direct medium heat until no longer pink in the middle, about 8 minutes per side. OR, melt about 4 tablespoons butter in a skillet and cook over medium heat until no longer pink in the middle (about 10 minutes per side). Whatever method you choose, an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center of each breast should read 165 degrees F. Remove from heat source and set aside, covered with a tent of aluminum foil, while you finish the sauce. When the sauce has reduced, add the chocolate and stir until dissolved. Scrape the sauce into a blender and add the almond butter, peanut butter and tahini. Cover the blender (it will splash!) and puree until smooth. Add hot sauce to taste. Slice each chicken breast and serve with the sauce, and the orange zest for garnish (if desired) TASTING NOTES: The sweet, fruity finish of #9 calms the sharp spiciness and complements the dark chocolate in this 'shortcut' version of the elaborate, festive and usually time-consuming Mexican classic.
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Fresh Beer Represents:
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Avery Brewing
Ayinger
Blue Point Brewing
Boulder Brewing
Belhaven Brewing Breckenridge Brewery
The Bruery
Cisco Brewers
Clipper City Brewing
Dogfish Head Brewing
Flying Dog Brewing
Gordon Biersch Brewing
Greene's Organic
Highland Brewing
Konig
Left Hand Brewing
Orval
Oskar Blues Brewing
Magic Hat Brewing Co.
Palm
Peak Organic Brewing Co. Pennsylvania Brewing
Red Brick Brewing
Rogue Ales
Saranac Brewing
Southern Tier Brewing Summit Brewing
Shipyard Brewing
Seadog Brewing
Stoudt's Brewing
Stone Brewing
St. John's Brewing
Terrapin Brewing
Timmermans
Well's & Young's
Westmalle
Victory Brewing
LOCAL FLORIDA BEERS :
Inlet Brewing (Monk in the Trunk),
Gordash Brewing (Holy Mackerel)
Cigar City Brewing
Saint Somewhere
Tequesta Brewing
The Native Brewing Brands (ie. The Eleven, Native Lager and Thunderhead Red),
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| Want to get some Fresh Beer in your establishment? |
Adam Fine - General Manager
954-629-7971
Ray Nickolaus - Sales and New Business Manager
561-339-0004 407-375-4203 954-261-0668
Ryan Fischer - Sales : Broward County - East
954-654-4512
561-723-0373 561-847-5485 954-654-3012 Josh@freshbeerinc.com
Dave Crisafi - Sales : Miami Dade County - Midtown thru Coconut Grove and Miami Beach 305-219-4315
423-956-3991
Ian Salzberg - Minister of Beer Communications
561-876-3519
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 Charlie Sheen...Can their be a more divisive celebrity out there? Some guys love the guy, most girls hate the guy and everyone thinks he is a little bit crazy...maybe. But there is some sort of cosmic cultural shift that this guy is causing. Winning! Don't we all want to win? Who out there has some Tiger Blood? Sheening...how many different ways can you use his name to describe everything from having a few too many to being completely off your rocker? It won't be long before we invent a drinking game about him. But I digress....
One thing that I know is that if there is something that is winning right now...it is craft beer. Thanks to all of you for that. Spring beers...Winning! Limited Releases...Winning! IPAs...Winning! And right now is the biggest sheening season there is...we've got Mardi Gras to get sheened at and St. Patty's day to do some sheening as well. But make sure you don't sheen and drive....we recommend getting a cab....Charlie would. Maybe we should name a beer...Charlie Sheen?
Cheers,
Adam FineDirector of Hoperations
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New Accounts and Deals:
PALM BEACH COUNTY
ROGER DEAD STADIUM (4751 Main Street Jupiter, FL 33458) - No need to wait until the next Jupiter Craft Brewers Fest to drink some craft beer at Roger Dean, they are now serving Monk in the Trunk at all Spring Training Games. You'll be able to find it at a few locations around the stadium so if you don't see it at the first keep on looking, cause Monk is in the house!
CHEVRON (7035 West Camino Real Boca Raton, FL 33433) - This gas station now carries Arrogant Bastard, Shiner Bock, Dales Pale Ale and Magic Hat #9... I know, I know its CRAZY. With gas prices so high all over the country you might as well fill the tank half way and grab some beer instead.
SMOKEY BONES (21733 State Road 7 Boca Raton, FL 33428) - Now has Shiner Bock on draft. You know this Texas favorite is a perfect BBQ beer!
JOJO'S (13889 Wellington Trace Suite A-20 Wellington, FL 33414) - Stop by Jojos all month long for a Magic Hat Mardi Gras celebration... $3.00 pints of Magic Hat #9. Bring some beads, a mask and enjoy a pint of the not quite pale ale.
BROWARD COUNTY
PRIMO LIQUORS (4815 Southwest 148th AvenueSouthwest Ranches, FL 33330) - Is now carrying beers from Rogue, Stone, Magic Hat, and Victory. Now thats primo... yea I know that was corny but couldn't resist.
B OCEAN (999 Fort Lauderdale Boulevard Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304) - The brand new and hottest hotel on Fort Lauderdale Beach is now carrying your Fresh Beer favorites. Have some Avery White Rascal and #9 on draft by the pool as well as bottles and cans from Ayinger, Breckenridge, Native, Cigar City, Left Hand and Sea Dog.
ROK: BRGER (208 Southwest 2nd Street Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301) - Not only have they brought on Magic Hat #9 on draft but also have introduced "Beer School Mondays" happening every Monday. All craft beers are half-priced starting at 8pm. You won't find a deal like this anywhere else in town.
CROWN WINE AND SPIRITS #8 (7620 Peters Road, Plantation, FL 33324) - Has expanded their beer selection GREATLY. Stop by and check out what they have to offer.
WHOLE FOODS (7720 Peters Road Plantation, FL 33324) Now has a much larger cooler. You know what that means... MORE COLD FRESH BEER. Grab a sixer as the weather starts to warm up.
LASER WOLF ( 901 Progresso Dr Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304) - The new craft beer bar in Fort Lauderdale. This weekend they will be featuring Cigar City Patio Tools, Dogfish Head Aprihop, Red Brick Laughing Skull and more on draft. Bottles from Oskar Blues, Terrapin, Left Hand, Rogue, Avery, Narragansett, Monk in the Trunk, Cigar City, Flying Dog, Shiner and more. If you haven't seen it already, check out the New Times article about this new beer spot. STOP N SHOP (2609 East Commercial Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308) - Is now stocking up on bottles from Magic Hat, Shiner, Left Hand and Dogfish Head. Stop in n' shop for some craft brews. ATLANTIC HOTEL (601 North Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304) - Now carrying Native Lager and Victory Golden Monkey at Trina restaurant and the poolside bar. If your going to lay by the pool all day, I'd recommend limiting yourself to only a few Golden Monkeys... or not... your call. BLUEPOINT GRILL ( 5730 Seminole Way Hollywood, FL 33314) - Is showcasing Sea Dog Brewing as their Brewery of the Month for February and have added Sea Dog Raspberry bottles in addition to Sea Dog Blueberry draft. EAST CITY GRILL ( 1800 Bell Tower Lane Weston, FL 33326) - Is now offering up some craft beers including Monk in the Trunk, Dogfish Head Midas Touch, Holy Mackerel Panic Attack and Left Hand Milk Stout. VIENNA CAFE (9100 W State Road 84 Davie, FL 33324) - You know in Vienna they love great beer, well the Vienna Cafe has followed in this tradition by bringing on a delicious selection of some imports as well as American craft beers including Westmalle Tripel, Rogue Mocha Porter, Holy Mackerel and Ayinger Brauweiss.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
SANDBAR ( 6752 Collins Avenue Miami, FL 33141) - Has added Magic Hat Circus Boy, Breckenridge Vanilla Porter, Victory Golden Monkey, and Holy Mackerel Panic Attack to their ever growing bottle list.
BLUE MARLIN FISH HOUSE (2500 Northeast 163rd Street North Miami Bch, FL 33160) - Has added some new bottled beers including Magic Hat Circus Boy, Cigar City Maduro Brown, Breckenridge 471 IPA and Left Hand Milk Stout.
MICHY'S RESTAURANT (Michelle Bernstein's place) (6927 Biscayne Boulevard Miami, FL 33138) - Has added a new craft beer menu including Victory Golden Monkey, Terrapin Rye Pale Ale, Cigar City Jai Alai IPA, Konig Pilsner, Timmerman's Framboise, and Ayinger Brau Weisse.
KEG SOUTH (27591 South Dixie Highway Homestead, FL 33032) - Has just brought on some Fresh Beers and will be carrying Seadog Blueberry, Boulder Hazed and Infused, Woodchuck Amber and Magic Hat #9 plus the best wings in town...
CORAL PARK LIQUORS (9800 Southwest 8th Street Miami, FL 33174) - Is now carrying Dogfish Head and Victory Brews plus Strongbow Cider. BOUGAINVILLEAS (7221 Southwest 58th Avenue South Miami, FL 33143) - Is now carrying Oskar Blues G-Knight (formerly Gordon) and Victory Golden monkey. Ask for a Monkey Bomb!! Special Beers Being Added to Accounts:
CERVEZAS (5835 Sunset Drive Miami, FL 33143) - Has Southern Tier Choklat, Cuvee #3, Terrapin Tomfoolery, Cigar City Patio Tools, Southern Tier Backburner Barleywine and Dogfish Head Chateau Jiahu on draft!
COFFEE DISTRICT (325 NE 2nd Ave. Delray Beach, Fl 33444) - Has Dogfish Head Aprihop, Red and White, Terrapin Tomfoolery, Hop Karma, Hopsecutioner, Rye Pale Ale, Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro, Arrogant Bastard Ale, Stone Ruination and Cigar City Patio Tools all available on draft!
BX BEER DEPOT (2964 2nd Avenue North Lake Worth, FL 33461) - Has Southern Tier Gemini on tap and Dogfish Head Aprihop, Red Brick Laughing Skull, Terrapin Rye Squared and Cigar City Vuja De in bottles!
MELLOW MUSHROOM (25 S.E 6th Avenue Delray Beach, FL 33483)- Will be updating their draft lines and putting on PALM, Stone Smoked Porter, Cigar City Maduro Brown and Dogfish Head Aprihop very soon!
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Upcoming Events:
March 4th
Beer Tasting Extravaganza at Wine and Spirits Cellar (21055 Biscayne Boulevard Miami, FL 33180) from 6-9 pm to showcase their ever growing craft beer selection. Come stop by for a tasting of some Southern Tier, Victory, Cigar City brews plus some others...
March 4th
With the weather heating up, you know Spring is here which means NEW BEERS! Stop by Total Wine (14750 Biscayne Boulevard North Miami, FL 33181) from 5-7pm for a tasting of Shiner Dortmunder, Shiner 102 and Magic Hat Vinyl. Perfect time to pick out your new favorite beer to drink by the pool.
March 4th Blue Point happy hour at Fat Cat's (320 Himmarshee Street Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312) featuring a band from Blue Point, Long Island "The Ed Travelers Band" playing from 6-9:30pm and their Spring Fling seasonal along with all your other Blue Point favorites... as if Fats Cats wasn't good enough already... March 5th The Young Friends of the Historical Society of Palm Beach County and the West Palm Beach Antique Row Art & Design District will host the fifteenth Annual "Evening on Antique Row" from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm in the nationally acclaimed antiques district in West Palm Beach. Matt from Shipyard will be there to provide some brews from Shipyard and Sea Dog. The Evening on Antique Row closes Dixie Highway between Southern Boulevard and Greenwood Avenue with live entertainment, hors d'oeuvres, bicycle rides and more, allowing visitors to explore the area's 50 unique shops, each offering collections of 17th to 20th century antiques, decorative arts, period furnishings and fine art. For ticket info March 7th Southern Tier Brewery Night at World of Beer (4437 Lyons Road Coconut Creek, FL 33073) from 6:30-8:30. Come sample Cuvee #3, Choklat, Backburner Barleywine, Gemini, and more on draft! We will also have some of their year rounds beers available... Don't miss out on a killer lineup! We'll surely be there to share a few beers with ya.
March 10th
Course 1: Ale-braised short ribs over Gorgonzola palenta
Paired with Maduro Brown
Course 2: Rockstar chili with red flannel hash
Paired with Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale
Course 3: Grilled Atlantic fish tacos with scotch bonnet melon salad
Paired with Dogfish Head Aprihop
Course 4: Smoked chicken cobb burger with roasted corn + watercress yogurt
Paired with Stone Levitation Ale
Course 5: Milk Stout Float
Made with Milk Stout
A delicious lineup... we hope to see you out!
March 10th Stop by Whole Foods (2000 North Federal Highway Fort Lauderdale, FL 33305) 4pm-6pm for a tasting of some new seasonal brews. Our own Lauren Cifizzari will be serving up these Spring brews for your enjoyment including Magic Hat Spring Fever Variety Pack and Shiner Dortmunder. March 10th Like Stone? Yea we do too... You know who REALLY loves Stone Brewing Company, Bethany, our friendly Stone Rep. If you haven't yet had the pleasure of meeting her stop by Whole Foods ( 6701 Red Rd Coral Gables, FL 33143) where she'll be sampling out some Stone Brews. Time TBA but mark it down on your calendars! March 11th Whether you're a wine connoisseur, a beer buff, or simply in need of a new twist on the typical Friday night Happy Hour, Whole Planet Foundation's Wine and Beer Festival guarantees an evening of great drinks for a good cause. Stop by The Whole Foods Café (6701 Red Rd Coral Gables, FL 33143) from 6-8pm to sample some of their finest wine and beer selections. 100 percent of your $10 donation will directly support the Whole Planet Foundation! You know Fresh Beer will be there serving up some delicious craft beers for a good cause. Minimum age of participation is 21 years old. Pre-registration is not required! Visit Customer Service or call 305-421-9421 for more information.
March 16th
To get ready for St. Patty's Stop by ABC Fine Wine and Spirits (16355 Biscayne Boulevard Aventura, FL 33160) from 6pm - 8pm to try some brews that will be sure to quench your thirst in honor of Saint Patrick... No need to dye these bad boys green! For more info check out their website. March 17th Even if your not Irish you know what this day means... ST. PATTY'S!!! Fresh Beer will be pouring beers at The Bar (172 Giralda Avenue, Coral Gables, FL 33134) ALL DAY at their yearly block party. Throw on some green if you don't want to get pinched (if you are looking for a good pinch, I think you might have some bigger issues) either way we'll have some delicious beers like Victory Donnybrook Stout, Narraganssett and Magic Hat #9 on draft and of course some Strongbow Cider! March 18th If you're a real trooper and have recovered from the day before, we hope to see you out for Left Hand Night from 8-10pm at The Joint (9559 South Dixie Highway, Miami, FL 33156). Try some Milk Stout and Sawtooth poured on Nitro! There will also be plenty of Polestar Pilsner in house. Take a pint glass home with you for the first Left Hand product you buy, while supplies last!
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New Arrivals:
 
CIGAR CITY/SAINT SOMEWHERE COLLABORATION
Vuja De - Ale with Black Currants, Locally Foraged Lemon Leaves, Hibiscus, Cane Sugar and Elderberry Flowers. Designed and brewed at Cigar City in collaboration with Bob Sylvester of Saint Somewhere Brewing
SUMMIT BREWING COMPANY
Maibock- Originally brewed by monks, Bock became the official beer of May Day celebrations. In that centuries old tradition, Summit created Maibock. This malty, pale beer is brewed using Czechoslovakian Saaz hops, specialty malts and German lager yeast.
HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY
Little Hump Spring Ale - This American Pale Ale is a refreshing session beer meticulously handcrafted with a unique Highland twist. Brewed with grains from America's heartland, using Simcoe hops for bittering and dry hopped with Amarillo and Cascade for aromatics, this beer finishes crisp and clean. It is a palate pleasing seasonal experience.
RED BRICK BREWING COMPANY
Laughing Skull Amber Ale - Like a zombie that just won't die, one of the South's favorite craft beers is back. This newly reincarnated version of Laughing Skull is a full flavored Amber Ale with a crisp, clean finish that's sure to clear out the cobwebs. So crack open a Skull! You'll be glad you did.
Blonde - This American-style Blonde or Golden Ale has a light, crisp body and fresh malt flavor. Mild make blonde a great thirst quencher and the perfect introductory beer for American lager drinkers interested in exploring craft brewing.
Brown - A full bodied Brown Ale brewed with seven types of roasted malts, creating a complex flavor profile with subtle notes of caramel and chocolate. Hop bitterness, flavor and aroma are low to medium and it's color is deep garnet with a thick, creamy head.
Pale Ale - A classic American-style Pale Ale, with medium body and a slight caramel sweetness. Medium hop bitterness is perfectly balanced by the citrus like flavor and aroma of the Cascades and Crystal hops. This lovely, amber colored beer is natural for pairing with spicy foods.
Porter - Chocolate malt and roasted barley give the beer its nearly black color, subtle coffee and dark chocolate flavors and an exceptionally smooth finish.
Spring Seasonal Helluva Bock - A malty german-style lager, this brew is smooth with a low-hop flavor. It's lighter than your average bock, but it'll still knock you back quicker than an alpine gale.
BLUE POINT BREWING COMPANY
Old Howling Bastard Barleywine - Blue Point Brewing's "Old Howling Bastard," named after an infamous local character, is a strong ale with plenty of character all its own. Made with English 2 row barley and Vienna malt. Reaching an alcohol content of 10%, barleywine should be consumed in moderation. Strong malty caramel flavors are balanced by lots and lots of hops. Try this in a snifter or wineglass. The trick is to never forget that after a few glasses you may become the "Old Howling Bastard."
Spring Fling - Spring Fling Copper Ale strikes a perfect balance between the malty flavor of special German barley, and the zesty spice of fresh American hops. The exquisite blend creates a harbinger for the new season. Crisp and refreshing, Spring Fling Copper Ale means winter has passed and summer is right around the corner.
TERRAPIN BEER COMPANY
Side Project 14 Tomfoolery - Tomfoolery "Black Saison" is the latest addition to Terrapin's Side Project series of beers. Number 14 on the list, this ale boasts an uncharacteristic black color for a traditional Saison, but is just untraditional enough for our experimental mentality. Made with a silly amount of rye, wheat and black malts, this dark spicy beverage will quench the thirst of any court jester in the land. We hope you enjoy this light hearted attempt at making this traditional style with foolish brewing behavior. Spike's Brewing Words of Wisdom: Beer is serious business...what you do after consumption often times is not.
SOUTHERN TIER BREWING COMPANY
Back Burner Imperial Barleywine - Long ago, British farmhouse brewers made special ales using the first runnings of the mash. These beers, now called barley wine, are brewed in the tradition of days past. At Southern Tier this long awaited brew is placed on the back burner until the start of the new year. Back Burner Barley Wine is a celebration of things to come and things remembered. It's conceived in three small batches, using voluminous amounts of barley and hops. The process starts early in the morning and ends late into the night. We hope this rare brew reignites your spirit for another trip around the sun.
PEAK ORGANIC BREWING COMPANY
Simcoe Spring Ale - Peak loves the piney, fruity flavors of Simcoe hops. This is a classic pale ale, with a generous dry hopping of Simcoe. Because of the restrained malt profile, the hops really pop, like flora in spring.
Other returning favorites hitting the shelves:
Stoudts Karnival Kolsch, Cigar City Patio Tools, Terrapin Rye Squared, Dogfish Head Aprihop, Dogfish Head Red and White and Oskar Blues G-knight (formerly Gordon)
Coming Soon: Stone Old Guardian, Old Guardian Belgo and Victory Donnybrook Stout
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In the homeland of pilsners, therapy equals-what else?-a bath in beer.
By Evan Rail of Draft Magazine
Deep in an underground chamber, wrapped in a damp white sheet, I thought I caught a familiar scent in the air just as a jet of hot water was poured over my body. Not Cascade, not Simcoe, not Saaz. Could those be Hallertauer hops?
"They're a blend of organic Hersbrucker and Spalter Select hops from Germany, mixed with our own St. Thomas house beer," said the spa director, Dita, as her assistant doused me with another blast of hot water. And then, a mixture of the aromatic Noble hops, sticky dark lager and a hearty scoop of refreshingly abrasive bath salts was rubbed all over my legs and back-a beery full-body scrub that lasted well over an hour, in a modern Turkish bath located inside Prague's opulent five-star Augustine hotel.
Mixing beers and bathing might sound crazy, but in the Czech Republic beer baths are a full-scale trend. In mid-2006, the Chodovar brewery in Chodová Planá, not far from the German border, opened the country's first beer bath, employing a certified spa therapist to soak tourists in a blend of the brewery's beers, Czech Saaz hops and brewer's yeast. About a dozen more beer baths have cropped up around the country, offering everything from simple dip-in-and-dip-out affairs to luxuriant spa treatments. In the country's north, close to the Polish border, the Novosad Glassworks and Brewery installed its own beer baths. In the east, the Zámek Zábreh hotel offers an upscale beer bathing experience in a restored 16th-century castle. And in Czech's Gothic-spire-capped capital, beer-loving travelers can wash off the trail dust in a treatment that must be the pinnacle of Czech beer bathing: the Augustine's lavish two-hour, beer-based body scrub and massage.
The combination of suds and, well, suds isn't so surprising after all: Every year, the Czech Republic achieves the world's highest per capita beer consumption, downing about 160 liters (338 pints) for every Czech citizen, and the country is revered as the home of such immortal brewing names as pilsner and Budweiser. In addition, the Czechs have a long tradition of curative baths dating to the 18th and 19th centuries, when Old World aristocrats, luminaries and their entourages journeyed to historic spa towns like Karlovy Vary (usually known by its German name of Carlsbad) and Mariánské Lázne (a.k.a. Marienbad) to bathe in the waters to treat ailments such as rheumatism, respiratory disease and headaches. Combine beer culture with spa culture, and boom-you're soaking in it.
But other than its tangible "wow" appeal, what possible benefit could you get from bathing in beer? For full article
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American Dietetic Association Confirms Health Benefits of Beer
By Andrea Giancoli
CHICAGO, IL (Feb 2011) - While red wine is often touted as the heart-healthy libation, more evidence is showing beer has a great deal of nutrition and health-promoting qualities as well, according to an article published in the Winter 2011 issue of the American Dietetic Association's member publication, ADA Times.
"Red wine enjoys a reputation for sophistication and health benefits, but as interest in artisan brewing gains momentum and emerging research reveals unique nutrition properties, beer is finding redemption not only as a classy libation with deep roots in many cultures, but as a beverage with benefits," writes registered dietitian and ADA Spokesperson Andrea Giancoli.
February is American Heart Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness of the leading cause of death in the U.S. - cardiovascular disease. One in three adults has some form of heart/cardiovascular disease. Many of these deaths and risk factors are preventable and food choices have a big impact on your heart's health, even if you have other risk factors.
Moderate consumption of any alcoholic beverage, including beer, has been shown to increase HDL cholesterol, lower LDL cholesterol and reduce the risk of blood clotting, Giancoli writes in ADA Times. Moderate alcohol consumption has also been associated with a lower incidence of gallstones, decreased risk of type 2 diabetes and improved cognitive function in older adults.
"Beer specifically has been associated with additional health outcomes, including lowering the risk of kidney stones in men compared to other alcoholic beverages, possibly due to its high water content and diuretic effect," Giancoli writes. "Compounds in hops may also slow the release of calcium from bone that is implicated in kidney stones. Additionally, beer drinkers seem to have a more protective effect towards greater bone mineral density due to the high content of silicone in beer."
Like wine, beer is fat free. Carbohydrates, which make up about one-third of the calories in beer, mostly come from partially broken down starch. Protein, which is nearly non-existent in wine, is present in small amounts in beer - about 4 percent of the total calories. For full article
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Bitter Beer May Lead to Moral Judgment
By Wesley Griffin of Beer Universe
The most popular overarching trend in the world of craft beer over the last few years has been the growth of India Pale Ales. These hop-sters have been translated into innumerable varieties across the American beer landscape and now stand as the flagship for many breweries. As their popularity induced the explosion of Imperial and Double IPAs, the IBUs - or international bittering units - have skyrocketed in proportion. The expression that Keystone Light made famous in 90s commercials isn't something we actively seek out, but there's no doubt that our beers have become very bitter.
Recent studies suggest that bitter tastes do more than just twist our faces; they also cause an involuntary shift in our sense of morality. Kendall Erskine from City University of New York tested 57 participants, asking them to report how morally questionable a set of actions was, including borderline incest and a man eating his deceased pet. Both before the study and at an intermission, each participant was given a drink of either water, sweet juice or a bitter drink. According to the New Scientist, those that consumed a bitter drink were, on average, a striking 27% harsher in their judgments than those who drank water.
The science that links our tastes to thoughts and behavior still has a long way to go before we can determine the causality of the study's results. In an interesting twist, people who identified themselves as politically conservative were more significantly affected by bitter tastes than liberals. This led the authors of the study to question whether food preferences may have something to do with our political and voting decisions. Furthermore, should people from whom we expect total impartiality - such as judges and jurors - try to avoid bitter foods altogether? For full article
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