Beer Myths

[stinkyboy]

Top 10 Beer Myths



Beer Myth 1: Beat the Beer Belly with Light Beer
OK, light beers have maybe 90-100 calories, regular beers generally have less than 200 calories. A beer lover would say the difference is comparable to the difference between McDonalds and a 5 star restaurant. A dietician would tell you the difference is negligible. So unless you are drinking 300 beers a week, I would drink the good stuff.


Beer Myth 2: The darker the beer, the more alcohol it contains
Not even close. Guinness is black, and has 4.2% alcohol. The color of a beer comes from the toasted malts, which has no effect on alcohol content. Ingredients like rice syrup, honey, and corn syrup add alcohol to beer, but do not influence the color.


Beer Myth 3: Beer is ruined if warmed and then refrigerated
This can be true, if you do it many, many times, and it will happen gradually. People think re-chilling beer will cause it to be "skunked". Beer can be ruined by air, light and time. Temperature won't ruin a beer unless it's extreme. Get fresh beer and store it in dark place, and it will be fine.


Beer Myth 4: Imported beers have more alcohol than domestic beers
This comes from the way US beers reported their beers' alcohol content. The rest of the world uses "Alcohol by Volume", here is the US they used "Alcohol By Weight". Since beer weighs less than water, US beers had smaller numbers, but not less alcohol.


Beer Myth 5: The Guinness they serve in Ireland is better
It seems widely accepted that beer in "the old country" is better than what they export to the rest of the world. The brewing process is cheap, so why would a brewery risk their reputation by brewing a different beer for export? It doesn't make sense, and it's not true. With few exceptions, the beer that is exported is the exact same beer that they serve in the bar across the street from the brewery. The difference is purely freshness. It takes two weeks for a keg of Guinness to get from Dublin to your favorite bar in the states. Some beers, like Fosters, is brewed in Canada under a license for sale in the US. But it is clearly stated on the bottle when this is the case.


Beer Myth 6: Beer shouldn't be Bitter
The bitterness of a beer comes from the hops. Hops are in all beers to balance the sweet malts and to act as a preservative. Some beers have a lot of hops, like India Pale Ales (IPAs) and some beers have less hops, like Wheat Beers. Hops can give a beer complexity and add all sorts of flavors and aromas, like pine, citrus, and earthiness. Hops are why people say beer is an acquired taste, but they also make beer delicious.


Beer Myth 7: The best beers are in green bottles.
As it turns out, brown bottles protect the beer from the light much better than green bottles or clear bottles. This myth comes from when there was a shortage of brown glass in Europe after WWII. The European beers were bottled in green instead, so green bottles came to represent imports. This certainly isn't the case anymore.


Beer Myth 8: The Thai beer Singha has formaldehyde in it
It seems widely believed that Singha is brewed with formaldehyde, as is Chang beer, San Miguel, Vietnamese 33, and Singapore's Tiger Beer. The most believable explanation for this one is that Singha is much more bitter and contains more alcohol than most lagers. When American or British expatriots and soldiers were drinking beer in Thailand, they got drunk much more quickly then they were used to, and it was much more bitter flavor then they were used to. To explain this it was suggested that it contained formaldehyde. Crazy.


Beer Myth 9: Corona is Mexican Piss
In the 1980s there was a rumor that Mexican workers were peeing in the Corona tanks that were destined for the US. Certainly alarmingly disgusting... if true. As it turns out this myth was started as a result of Corona's rising popularity in the US market, and who was jealous? Heineken. This was nothing more than a rumor started by a Heineken wholesaler in Reno. It all worked out, the guy from Heineken admitted his wrongdoing, and Corona continued it's rise to popularity. But the rumor can still be heard today in bars across the country.


Beer Myth 10: Women don't like beer
Thats crazy! My wife loves beer almost as much as I do. Women have brewed more beer than men in the History of Beer. Sister Doris in Bavaria brews Mallersdorf lager. Fortunately, this myth is far from true.

[LordOpie]

If you didn't already know at least half of those, then just stick to PBR or water. Thank you.

The only one I'd never heard of was #8.

[Westy]

Beer myths I want busted

Nutritional content: Some beer company supposedtly got in hot water by the FDA by printing nutritional labels on their brews. I'd actually like to know the calorie and protein content of my beers.

[LordOpie]

Beer Myth Busters!

Thursdays
8pmEST
Food Channel 42

[BikeGeek]

I'd actually like to know the calorie and protein content of my beers.
The software I use to build recipes for homebrewing gives me approximate calories/pint. So far the lowest has been a Kolsch-style beer at 203 and the highest was a Belgian Dark Strong at 440. If you're drinking micros (4.5%-5.5% ABV), I'd suspect you're in the 250-300 per pint range.

[bac]

Beer Myth 1: Beat the Beer Belly with Light Beer
[/B]A dietician would tell you the difference is negligible. So unless you are drinking 300 beers a week, I would drink the good stuff.

Being a homebrewer, as some here are, none of these were myths for me. However, I have to take issue with this 1st one. If a light "beer" has 1/2 the calories as a real beer, it will have a SIGNIFICANT impact on the number of calories you take in, and the amount of fat you will gain. For example, if you drink an average of 3 beers/day, you'd consume an additional 2,100 calories/week. That's equal to about 2 thirds of a pound of fat/week, or about 30+ pounds of additional fat/year.

Having stated the above, I'm still not even considering light "beer". I'll drink less numbers of beer if I HAVE to, but I won't drink light "beer" .............. ever. :disgust1:

[narlus]

Beer Myth 5: The Guinness they serve in Ireland is better
It seems widely accepted that beer in "the old country" is better than what they export to the rest of the world. The brewing process is cheap, so why would a brewery risk their reputation by brewing a different beer for export? It doesn't make sense, and it's not true. With few exceptions, the beer that is exported is the exact same beer that they serve in the bar across the street from the brewery. The difference is purely freshness. It takes two weeks for a keg of Guinness to get from Dublin to your favorite bar in the states. Some beers, like Fosters, is brewed in Canada under a license for sale in the US. But it is clearly stated on the bottle when this is the case.

irish guinness has at least 3 things going for it:

1 - it's not pasteurized
2 - it's by far the freshest (kegs are 1/2 size US kegs, turnover is immense)
3 - the publicans know how to pour a perfect pint.

[pnj]

irish guinness has at least 3 things going for it:

1 - it's not pasteurized
2 - it's by far the freshest (kegs are 1/2 size US kegs, turnover is immense)
3 - the publicans know how to pour a perfect pint.

Guinness tastes much better at the brewery then anywhere else in the world. Amazingly better, infact.

[Westy]

irish guinness has at least 3 things going for it:

1 - it's not pasteurized
2 - it's by far the freshest (kegs are 1/2 size US kegs, turnover is immense)
3 - the publicans know how to pour a perfect pint.


I've been told, although possibly lied to, that Guinness is supposed to be served with a 75%/25% nitrogen/CO2 mixture and most US bars do not have this mixture correct. When served a proper pint with the correct gas as in Ireland, this alone will make it taste better.

[LordOpie]

Guinness tastes much better at the brewery then anywhere else in the world. Amazingly better, infact.

So does Coors Light, but it's still crap too.

[Westy]

The software I use to build recipes for homebrewing gives me approximate calories/pint. So far the lowest has been a Kolsch-style beer at 203 and the highest was a Belgian Dark Strong at 440. If you're drinking micros (4.5%-5.5% ABV), I'd suspect you're in the 250-300 per pint range.

Interesting but weird. Over the last few months I have cut my beer intake from several a day to a couple a week. According to your values I should have dropped my caloric intake by about 5000 calories a week, I've lost no weight short of the few pounds I normally drop after daylight savings kicks in.

[pnj]

So does Coors Light, but it's still crap too.

You've had Coors light?

I'd go so far as to say, unless you've had guinness at the brewery in ireland, you haven't had guinness.

yes, CO2 makes a difference as with how it's poured into the pint glass.

[SkaredShtles]

You've had Coors light?

I'd go so far as to say, unless you've had guinness at the brewery in ireland, you haven't had guinness.
I've had a pint at St. James Gate and it was better. But I suspect that may have been mostly because, hey - I was at *THE* brewery. :D

[LordOpie]

You've had Coors light?
We did the Coors brewery tour and tasted all the beers.

Coors Light is never better than when so fresh.

[Ciaran]

I've been told, although possibly lied to, that Guinness is supposed to be served with a 75%/25% nitrogen/CO2 mixture and most US bars do not have this mixture correct. When served a proper pint with the correct gas as in Ireland, this alone will make it taste better.

That's part of it from what I understand, though I am not sure on the ratio of the gasses. One of the other things is the quality control at the bar. In Ireland Guinness sends out it's quality team to pubs to make sure the lines are clean and that the pub is serving Guinness the correct way. I don't think they do that here. Also, most places here don't pull a pint correctly. And of course anything tastes better when served by a saucy Irish red-headded lass.

Add my voice as another who can say that the Guinness in Ireland IS BETTER than here in the States. And yes, it's BEST at the Guinness Storehouse.

http://punkduck.com/images/St%20James%20Gate.JPG

http://punkduck.com/images/Full%20Glasses.JPG

http://punkduck.com/images/Empty%20Glasses.JPG

[narlus]

ah, the dark grey skyscape of Dublin...

[MMcG]

This thread is making me thirsty for a good pint of Guinness at the Half Door on Scisson Avenue here in Hartford.

[I Are Baboon]

http://punkduck.com/images/Empty%20Glasses.JPG

I hope the half a sip left in the glass on the right didn't go to waste.

[TreeSaw]

I hope the half a sip left in the glass on the right didn't go to waste.

:stupid: We had a nice Guiness (in a Guiness pint glass) last night too :thumb:

[-BB-]

So what is the official Black and Tan?

Harp?

[mdc]

So what is the official Black and Tan?


Bass I thought ( although they are really tastey with hard cider instead of Bass- I think it's called and English Snake Bite...)

[Westy]

So what is the official Black and Tan?

Harp?


It should be a misdemeanor.

[narlus]

So what is the official Black and Tan?


Bass I thought ( although they are really tastey with hard cider instead of Bass- I think it's called and English Snake Bite...)

try ordering a black and tan (w/ Bass!) in ireland...:disgust1:

if you ignorant people really must adulterate the fine taste of guinness, i suppose that Smithwick's is the appropriate diluent.

whatever you do, don't use a british ale. it's an insult to everything irish.

[I Are Baboon]

Would a Guinness and Stella be considered a black and tan? I saw a dude order that and I was like WTF.

[narlus]

So what is the official Black and Tan?


Bass I thought ( although they are really tastey with hard cider instead of Bass- I think it's called and English Snake Bite...)

a snake bite is lager and cider, not stout.

you pillowbiters might as well be drinking shandy.

[narlus]

Would a Guinness and Stella be considered a black and tan?

that would be considered an abomination against mankind.

[I Are Baboon]

that would be considered an abomination against mankind.

There was nothing tan about it. There was a distinctive point where the Guinness ended and the Stella began.

[Westy]

a snake bite is lager and cider, not stout.

you pillowbiters might as well be drinking shandy.


No doubt, if you want two beers order two in separate glasses.

[mdc]

that would be considered an abomination against mankind.

That made me chuckle.

In all honesty every time I've seen someone order a Black and Tan it's always been Guinness and Bass (not that it makes it right). Is there even such a thing as a black and tan in Ireland? Last time I was there (10+years ago) we only drank Guinness straight up, didn't even think of ordering anything else....

[narlus]

no, the term 'black and tan' is pretty offensive to the irish, republicans anyway. it refers to the brutal british police force (due to their uniforms) who came in after WWI and suppressed the uprising of irish independence.

oops, edited the wrong post:

edit - it'd be like going to a black bar in the south and ordering a KKKocktail...

[MMcG]

no, the term 'black and tan' is pretty offensive to the irish, republicans anyway. it refers to the brutal british police force (due to their uniforms) who came in after WWI and suppressed the uprising of irish independence.

Yep - narlus is on point here.

[maxyedor]

No doubt, if you want two beers order two in separate glasses.

That's why they invented the pint glass in the first place. A quart is the right amount of beer, but say I want some Arogant Bastart, and a Bodingtons, I can get a pint of each and be set for the first part of the evening.

[skatetokil]

i'm going to go drink some beer here (http://www.thebrickskeller.com/)

Certified by the guiness book of world records as the world's largest beer list.

[SkaredShtles]

i'm going to go drink some beer here (http://www.thebrickskeller.com/)

Certified by the guiness book of world records as the world's largest beer list.
That's cool. Still doesn't change the fact that you're in DC, though. :p

[mrbigisbudgood]

There was nothing tan about it. There was a distinctive point where the Guinness ended and the Stella began.

Czechmate is a good one too.

Pilsner Urquell and Guiness. Two very different beers in the same glass.

:clapping:

[BikeGeek]

i'm going to go drink some beer here (http://www.thebrickskeller.com/)

Certified by the guiness book of world records as the world's largest beer list.
Impressive on paper, but they usually don't have half of what they list on their menu.

[BussaFrame]

Impressive on paper, but they usually don't have half of what they list on their menu.

:stupid:

[BikeGeek]

:stupid:
Did you know that if you order a PBR there, your receipt says "mullet alert" instead?

[I Are Baboon]

i'm going to go drink some beer here (http://www.thebrickskeller.com/)

Certified by the guiness book of world records as the world's largest beer list.

Their website makes children cry.

[BussaFrame]

Did you know that if you order a PBR there, your receipt says "mullet alert" instead?

Really, I never order PBR. I usually just go there and ask the waitress to bring me random beers that they enjoy. If I had to pick I would drink the same thing every time I went there.

[BikeGeek]

Really, I never order PBR.
Me either. I had an older co-worker who drank nothing but PBR...said it took him back to college.

Have you tried Rustico in Alexandria yet? They put a different cask ale on tap every week. :drool:

[BussaFrame]

Have you tried Rustico in Alexandria yet? They put a different cask ale on tap every week. :drool:

No, I will have to give this place a chance. I haven't been going out as much lately. I need to get out more, thanks for the suggestion.

[skatetokil]

Did you know that if you order a PBR there, your receipt says "mullet alert" instead?

I find the ordering of PBR at brickskeller offensive. Not to mention that for the same price there are a dozen microbrews that will satisfy your need for hoppy malty goodness.

While they are often out of their more obscure beers, I usually find I can get what I want - and if not the waitress usually has a suggestion for something in the same genre.

[BikeGeek]

I find the ordering of PBR at brickskeller offensive.
He was a 40-something hipster wannabe...probably read it was the cool thing to do.

...and if not the waitress usually has a suggestion for something in the same genre.
That's true, their waitstaff knows their stuff pretty well.

[Ciaran]

http://punkduck.com/images/blackNtan.JPG

[DH biker]

Good topic...

Guinness does taste better over there though... and they know how to pull a pint better than most of the pubs over here. They train them in young over there (12 year-olds working behind the bar, serving drinks, pulling pints (better than most bar tenders over here(please note don't take personally if you are a bartender from the US))). Some of the people over here seem to rush way to much when it comes to pouring a Guinness. Enough said.

But yeah... cool topic... anyone ever try Bulmer's Cider?