Category: alcohol consumption

link love

beer tasting workout – train to be a better beer taster
(do they mean train to find better beer to taste, or train to be more adept at distinguishing beer flavours?)

is the craft beer boom going to go bust?
the national post seems to think so
although they do get a few beer facts wrong
like the bitterest brews in vancouver being from 35 to 70 ibus…
and “craft beer’s bold flavours appeal to the pallets of the few” is both simplistic and mis-spelled
p’shaw!  but i love that vancouver’s craft beer gets exposure in the national post

jan zeschky on howe sound brewing’s continued success
and awards at the north american brewing awards

vancouver craft beer week was good for the economy
not surprising, but nice to see some stats released in advance of the public getting a say in tasting room rules

why intelligent people drink more alcohol

dear friend

a friend forwarded this to me a couple of years ago
where it is originally from i have no idea and to be honest, i’m too lazy to try to find out!

Dear Alcohol,
First and foremost, let me tell you that I’m a huge fan of yours. As my friend, you always seem to be there when needed. The perfect gift, post-work cocktail, a beer at the game, and you’re even around at the holidays (hidden inside chocolates as you warm us when we’re stuck in the midst of endless family gatherings). However, lately I’ve been wondering about your intentions. While I want to believe that you have my best interests at heart, I feel that your influence has led to some unwise consequences:

1. Phone Calls:

While I agree with you that communication is important. I question the suggestion that any conversation after 2 a.m. can have much substance or necessity. Why would you make me call my exes? Especially when I know, for a fact, they DO NOT want to hear from me during the day, let alone all hours of the night.
2. Eating:
Now, you know I love a good meal. But, why do you suggest that I eat a taco with chilli sauce along with a big Italian meatball and some stale chips (washed down with wine & topped off with a Kit Kat AFTER a few cheese curls & chilli cheese fries)? I’m an eclectic eater but, I think you went too far this time.
3. Clumsiness:

Unless you’re subtly trying to tell me that I need to do more yoga to improve my balance, I see NO need to hammer this issue home by causing me to fall down. It’s completely unnecessary, and the black & blue marks that appear on my body mysteriously the next day are beyond me. Similarly, it should never take me more than 45 seconds to get the front door key into the lock.

4. Furthermore:

The hangovers have GOT to stop! This is getting ridiculous. I know a little penance for our previous evening’s debauchery may be in order.  But, the 3 p.m. hangover immobility is completely unacceptable.  My entire day is shot. I ask that if the proper precautions are taken (water, vitamin B, bread products, aspirin) prior to going to sleep/passing out (face down on the kitchen floor with a bag of popcorn or wherever), the hangover should be minimal and in no way interfere with my daily activities.

Alcohol, I have enjoyed our friendship for some years now and would like to ensure that we remain on good terms. You’ve been the invoker of great stories, the provocation for much laughter, and the needed companion when I just don’t know what to do with the extra money in my pockets.

In order to continue this friendship, I ask that you carefully review my grievances above and address them immediately. I will look for an answer no later than Friday 3 p.m. (pre-happy hour) on your possible solutions. And hopefully we can continue this fruitful partnership.
Thank you,
Your Biggest Fan
P.S. Please take a moment or two and note the following items below that I think may be of some interest to you.
THINGS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO SAY WHEN DRUNK:
1. Innovative
2. Preliminary
3. Proliferation
4. Cinnamon
THINGS THAT ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO SAY WHEN DRUNK:
1. Specificity
2. British Constitution
3. Passive-Aggressive Disorder
THINGS THAT ARE DOWN RIGHT IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY WHEN DRUNK:
1. Thanks, but I don’t want to have sex.
2. Nope, no more beer for me.
3. Sorry, but you’re not really my type.
4. Good evening, officer. Isn’t it lovely out tonight?
5. Oh, I couldn’t. No one wants to hear me sing

alcohol and cancer

oy vey – another study linking high alcohol consumption to developing cancer
click here for the bbc article

i have some questions about this study though
if they are blaming the sugars in alcohol for affecting our dna resulting in cancers
has anyone studied the effect of other sugars on the cancers?
could not increased cancer diagnoses be blamed on modern society’s love of all things sugar? 
when you can’t even buy canned vegetables without sugar in them i think that perhaps beer is not our biggest source of sugars
i want a double blind study!
or whatever the proper scientific term is for someone doing research on people who only drink alcohol and avoid other sugars versus the “heavy” drinkers who eat crap as well
additives, preservatives, genetically modified foods – something tells me these must cause more cancers than lovely delicious beer with only four ingredients!

and don’t even get me started on the different guidelines for what constitutes heavy drinking in men and women – could we maybe not be so ready to assume that women are tiny and men are large?
a man smaller than me can have 3-4 drinks with impunity?  while i’m only allowed 2-3?
who came up with that math?

more on this another time
because it is something i have spent a fair bit of time contemplating because of the colon cancer that runs in my family…

beer fact of the day

Craft Beer Locator Beer Fact of the Day:

When it comes to total beer consumption, the United States trails only China. However, if looked at per capita, the US drops to 13th and China doesn’t even make the list.

so where’s canada on that list???

(and p.s., the usual link to craft beer locator isn’t working, so i’ve linked to their facebook page this time…)