Think you know all about your beer? Beer, the third-most consumed beverage in the world, can actually be healthy! What? *gasp* Yes, I’m not joking. Of course, I’m not encouraging you to down more beers to the point of a hangover. But, you might just want to hang on to your beer bottle and hop on the following facts.
- Who’s up for a glass of warm or hot beer? Yes, you read that right. For many of us beer drinkers, it’s the norm to consume chilled beer. What’s more interesting is that there are even specific temperature ranges that indicate how the different types of beer should be served. For example, light beers should be served at 40-45 degrees Farenheit. Others like imperial stout should be at least 50 degrees Farenheit.
- Did you know that there is a valid degree course that lets you pursue beer studies? When I saw this, my immediate reaction was ‘What? Seriously?’ If you’re really into India Pale Ale (IPA), why not take up and end up with an honest Honours in beer fermenting and related studies at a leading university in Colorado.
- Also known as brewsters, the very first batch of professional brewers consisted of women. Historically, in the days of Pharoah-ruled Egypt, women were the ones responsible for brewing beer ironically for the enjoyment mainly by men. However, due to changing social norms and the demands of modern economies, the brewing and selling of beer were primarily taken over by the masculine gender. It is like a world of male brewers to the near exclusion of the fairer sex.
- If your anxiety was ever caused by an empty glass of beer, you may have cenosillicaphobia. That’s perhaps why in some countries, it’s socially acceptable to ‘double-fist’ your drinking buddy just like ‘yum seng’ with a glass in each hand without fearing a prolonged break in enjoying the drink.
- Historically, water, with high mineral content, in Ireland’s Dublin area was considered perfect for making Stouts like Guinness. The main component of beer is… hops (nope), malt (nope)….. but the plain natural resource of water. Surprised?
- Ethanol has other useful properties (if you weren’t under the influence or getting high during Chemistry class :P). The intoxicating agent works as a great solvent. It also functions as a strong antiseptic. Additionally, ethanol is popularly used as a biofuel in more than 64 countries across the globe.
- Beer drinkers, how do you store your bottles of beer? If you’ve always stored them vertically or upright, good for you! If you place them lying down, chances of oxidation and contamination from the cap are higher.
- Calcium is not the only mineral required for healthy bones. In fact, researchers indicated in a 2010 study that beer has the capacity to prevent osteoporosis if drank moderately.
- If you happen to be in Eastern Europe and would like a bath like no other, you might want to explore the established beer wellness company. Soak your body in beer brewing ingredients for about a boozy half hour. Apparently, the benefits of doing so include the opening up of skin pores and improved blood circulation.
- The US authorities prohibit beer advertisements that portray any form of consumption of alcohol. Besides being a marketing strategy, it is also to discourage underage drinking. If you’re familiar with US history, there was a time when the country imposed a ban on the production, sale, transportation and importation of alcohol. When the ban was lifted, beer corporations felt that their products weren’t worth the blitz. Therefore, actual drinking was not shown in the advertisements.
So, beer isn’t that bad after all, huh? With the Malaysian government’s decision to impose a higher alcohol tax, it is only wise that we drink in moderate amounts.
SOURCES:
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/beer
https://www.kompulsa.com/chemical-properties-ethyl-alcohol-ethanol/
http://biofuelsassociation.com.au/biofuels/ethanol/ethanol-use-around-the-world/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/25/national-beer-day-american_n_4158683.html
http://www.chodovar.cz/id1037cz-prava-pivni-lazen.htm
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/things-you-didnt-know-about-beer_us_560ece9be4b076812701e2c7
http://www.factswt.com/did-you-know-that-according-to-us-law-beer-commercials-arent-allowed-to-show/
https://beerandbrewing.com/VNN4oCYAAGdLRZ-I/article/how-women-brewsters-saved-the-world
http://www.esquire.com/food-drink/drinks/a13075/warm-beer-7161290/
http://www.soci.org/News/Press/press-beer-bone
http://www.fshn.chhs.colostate.edu/students/undergraduate/fermentation-science/program-overview.aspx
