How about this: Ante-natal classes…for men…at their pub? No more excuses to not attending! It’s not such a far fetched idea really. Childbirth educator Donna Sheppard-Wright offers such classes in Australia, an initiative she has developed over a five year period. Her classes are appropriately titled “beer and bubs”. I can see these classes actually working, and it makes sense, as I’m pretty sure men (most at least) will feel more secure asking questions in a pub environment than at any other ante-natal class. Read more about it here.

A new beer glass fashion – beer glasses made from recycled car windshields. These glasses are hand-made, cost around $20 a pair, and have a very unique tint to them. [Visit Recycled Windshield Beer & Wine Glasses for more info]

It was after reading this that we realized we never posted this essential message – plain and simple: Think before you drink!  

We all love beer, and many find it hard to belief that one can get enough of this good thing. Unfortunately this could end up pretty bad. You may wake up the next morning to the words: “You have one phone call…”, and then you better hope you know a damn good lawyer’s number of by heart! And then there will probably be a guy sitting across from you, calling you sweetheart! And this is just the good scenario!

The alternative could be that you wake up in a comfy, silent white room with friends and family around you. They will most likely have that doubtful, puppy-eyes looks on their faces. A good looking young lady will ask you what you would like for pudding, but probably not so enthusiastically as the waitress at the bar. You’ll be comfy, only because one can’t feel much after being paralysed. A week later, if you can speak that is to say, you’ll need to make a phone call – just to phone the wife of your friend who was in the car with you, telling her…well…I don’t know to be honest. And after that call you should probably phone the family of the car you crashed into to tell them something along the same line as to why they don’t have a son, daughter, brother, sister, mom or dad anymore. 

Simple: Think before you drink. Even if you think you can get away drunk, keep Murphy’s Law in mind: Shit will happen! [see the below video: doesn’t matter how good you are, you will get caught]. So, keep good things in moderation – you’ll probably find it even more enjoyable then. Besides, as nice as the tint may be, we don’t want to drink from our readers’ wind shields…

Also read: How much is too much of a good thing?

Link to “How to make your own beer,” a step by step process. http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Brew-Beer/

We haven’t tried it out yet because we haven’t had time – exams are on hands now.  Theoretically it seems fine, and we’ve added it to our holiday to-do list. Try it out and let us know what you think and how well it works; we’ll come back to this one after our summer vac…

Read also: Beer’s Big Bang

There’s no clear line as to how much is too much, and there are too many variables for there ever to be an established rule/definition. We all tolerate alcohol differently, but there is still an individual’s own limit. Because of the many variables it is often hard for someone admit to possibly having an alcohol problem – especially if they see themselves functioning well in their own definition of the word and their view their drinking in comparison with others. Following below are guiding questions to assess the role of alcohol in your life, and possible ways as how to go about an alcohol problem. The list is compiled from several questionnaires used world wide and incorporates many of the common symptoms of alcoholism. Alcoholism is an individual’s dependency on alcohol, and the abuse thereof. Alcoholism is treatable through complete abstinence from alcohol and with help.

Answer the questions, even if you don’t think you have an alcohol problem – because very few alcoholics think they have. If you feel or suspect yourself of having an addiction, seek professional help, regardless of the questionnaire turnout.

 “Drink” in the following is defined as:

1. a single (8 ounces; 1/2 pint) glass of beer,
2.  a single shot/measure of liquor/spirits,
3.  a single glass of wine.

Questions:

Answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Lame as this may sound: The first step is admitting, so please – be honest; after all, who are you fooling? 

1. Do you crave a drink at a definite time?
2. Do you drink alone?
3. Do you drink to escape from worries or trouble or after a disappointment, a quarrel?
4. Have you ever felt like you were unable to stop drinking once you had started?
5. Do you feel depressed after drinking, feeling negative about life?
6. Do you have regret after drinking?
7. Have you ever had a complete loss of memory as a result of drinking?
8. Do you feel less efficient when working, or that your ambitions are gone? (Are you unable to do what is normally expected from you because of drinking?)
9. Do you eat very little or irregularly when you are drinking?
10. Do you lose time from work due to drinking?
11. Is your drinking affecting your reputation? (Good or bad)
12. Does drinking cause you to have difficulty sleeping?
13. Have you tried switching brands or types of alcohol, or used other plans for controlling your drinking?
14. Are you having an increasing number of financial and work problems as a result of drinking?
15. Is drinking making your home life unhappy?
16. Has a relative or friend or doctor or other health worker been concerned about your drinking or suggested you cut down?
17. Have you or someone else been injured as a result of your drinking?
18. Do you sometimes have the “shakes” in the morning, and find that it helps to have a drink?
19. Do you drink to build up your self-confidence?
20. Do you sometimes stay drunk for several days at a time?
21. Have you ever been treated you for drinking (e.g. gone to a hospital or institution because of drinking)?
22. Do you ever get terribly frightened after you’ve been drinking?

If you have answered YES to any one of the questions, it indicates a probable symptom of alcoholism and the possibility that you have an alcohol problem.

[* This shouldn’t be used as an absolute evaluation instrument. These are guidelines that should be helpful to a great extent, but for an accurate evaluation speak to professional.]

Looking towards a solution:

If you realize that you have an alcohol problem, you are already a step into the right direction. Remember that million others are in the same situation as you and you’re not alone. Which ever treatment option you plan on taking, it will require a lot of commitment on your behalf.

There are several treatment options available. Many people turn to Alcoholics Anonymous (a spiritual foundation that help people in personal recovery) as they have a long history in helping people with alcohol related problems. There are also alternatives to the AA, such as the “SMART” program, the DRA and several others. The internet has become a great medium in this respect, as it offer several online help sites. There are also self-help books and CD’s available on this topic.

Some helpful tips for a start:

• Explore treatment options and facilities before you join one.
• Speak to recovered alcoholics and read recovery stories for motivation.
• Use the internet: There are several sites and chat rooms that deal with this topic.
• Avoid situations that will lead to being pressured for a drink.

Most importantly: Take it one day at a time, and persist in the goals you set for yourself.

Sources:

[1] [2] [3] [4] 

DRA  &  SMART

In this 2 minute video a HowStuffWorks-journalist debunks 5 beer related myths. You know the myths, now get behind them. If nothing else it makes for good topics/discussion at the pub…

 http://videos.howstuffworks.com/howstuffworks/5-beer-myths-video.htm

The entry into existence process explained

As beer is one of the world’s oldest beverages and one of the most popular drinks next to water and tea, we thought it time to investigate its makings.

This article will take a general outlook on the basics of beer brewing, especially since beer is such a specialized field with hundreds of different types of beers and even more processes. Beer is fundamentally made up of four ingredients namely barley, hops, yeast and water and simply put the result of brewing and fermentation of it. Variations in the amounts of ingredients and the brewing process itself result in the wide variety of beers, each with its individual taste, color, aroma etc.

 A rough process outline looks something like this:

1          Preparatory: Malting& Mashing (preparation of barley for brewing)

2          Brewing

3          Fermentation

4          Finishing touches

The ingredients:

Barley

Barley (a grain seed that slightly resembles wheat)

Water (purified)

Hops: The hops used to make beer are the flowers of the hop vine, and are responsible for beer’s bitterness as well as its flavour and aroma.

Hops

Yeast: Yeast is the single-celled micro-organism that is responsible for creating the alcohol and carbon dioxide found in beer and also play a role in its final taste. There are two main categories of beer yeast: ale yeast and lager yeast. Ale yeast is “top fermenting”, meaning it rises near the surface of the beer during fermentation, lager yeasts are “bottom fermenting”.

Wheat, maize and rice are also widely used (in stead of barley), as there are several different types of beer (types often varying from place to place and from culture to culture) While the ingredients used are simple, the standards are high, and the process a fine art.

The process:

1. Preparatory:

Malting (of Barley)

Barley is soaked in water as to allow it to germinate. After germination begins the water gets drained of and the barley is kept at temperatures that allow for growth. During germination the seeds naturally release enzymes that convert nutrients in the seeds into sugars, and the sugars later become essential in the fermentation process. The germination is stopped at (a fine balance) the moment when enzymes are present, but before most of the nutrients are converted to sugars. The malt is then dried before it moves on to mashing.

Mashing (the process in which the enzymes are left to convert nutrients/starches into fermentable sugars.)

This malted barley grains ( ‘germination water’ drained off and the barley dry) then gets crushed to break up the kernels, and from there pass into an insulated tank where it comes in contact with the water for the second time. It is now that the already present enzymes start converting all the nutrients in the malted barley into fermentable sugars. After the conversion is completed, the new formed liquid (fermentable sugar and water mix) is drained off (from the remaining solids of barley) and recirculated so that it is filtered through the husks of the spent grains (to filter out any remaining solids).

This is the end of the mash process, and the liquid (now comprising of mostly fermentable sugars) gained through this process is now called wort (pronounced wert), and this wort now needs to go to the boiler to be brewed.

 [Meanwhile the remaining grains are “washed” by heated water (a process called sparging) to ensure that all sugars are removed. This is also where the barley grains/solids are stops being used – only the wort goes on the next process]

2. Brewing

The Wort and brewing

The wort is put into a brew kettle and hops are added. The hops added in the beginning of the process are called (logically) “beginning/boiling hops” and they only add to the beer’s bitterness, as their oils (responsible for flavour and aroma) are very volatile and evaporate. Hops added at the finishing stages of the brewing process are called “finishing hops”, and they contribute aroma and flavour to the beer.

1. Most breweries buy barley that has already been malted to their specifications.
2. The hops used are a member of the hemp family (Cannabaceae). Hops are closely related to another member of the hemp family that you may have heard of, namely cannabis (marijuana), although hops do not have the psychoactive effects associated with marijuana.
3. Beer can generally be classified into to types: lagers and ales. These are further varieties of each (e.g. pilsner, from lager). Lager yeasts ferment more slowly (and at lower temps) than ale yeast.
4. Hops act as a natural preservative.
5. Since fermentation produces a substantial amount of heat, the tanks must be cooled constantly to maintain the proper temperature.

Source List:

http://www.wisegeek.com/how-is-beer-made.htm

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_is_beer_made_and_with_what_ingredients#

http://beer-brewing.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_beer_is_brewed

http://encarta.msn.com/media_461547424/Beer_Brewing_Process.html

http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/beer.htm

http://health.howstuffworks.com/alcohol-quiz.htm

As the taps are already open and liquid gold is flowing for the third day now, we think you aught to know about the wonderful Oktoberfest.

The Oktoberfest is a famous annual Bavarian Beer Festival held in Munich, Germany. With 6.2 million visitors in 2007, it is considered the largest festival in the world. Most famous at this festival, as the name suggest, is the beer. People come from all over the world to drink great quality German beers. And as any beer lover will know, Bavaria has some of the best beers in the world. Strong brewing regulations (on for example products used as ingredients) ensures the highest quality beers as a result. Only water, hops and barley are be used to brew Bavarian beer. Several tents are set up, each associated with a specific brewery (To see the different tents visit http://www.oktoberfest.de/en/navitem/Tents/). As one can expect, more that 6 million liters of beer will be drunk this year. Also famous at the festival are the waitresses known for their charm. Other activities are also available and include eating of traditional foods (like sauges, cheeses and specially prepared meats), parades, competitions, fun fairs, open air concerts and many more minor activities.

This year is the 176th Munich Oktoberfest, running from the 19^th of September to the 4^th of October 2009. And listen to this: entry to the Oktoberfest is FREE. Price-wise, a “Mass” (one liter beer) will cost between €8,10 and €8,60, and beer will be sold from 10.00 to 22.30 on weekdays, and from 9.00 to 22.30 on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

Definitely an item worth writing in your “things to do before I die list”. This is one fest one cannot in all one’s right mind regret attending, and seems promising of great memories! If nothing else, go buy some souvenirs to say “been there, done that” (there is anything from a ‘Neckerchief’ to mugs to dirndl-shirts to paper flags to hats and so much more.)

Other interesting comments on the event:

• “This year, Oktoberfest visitors have also been asked to wash their hands frequently and take precautions to prevent the spread of the swine flu, which has already infected thousands of Germans.

• Inflation continues to hit the Oktoberfest, with the price of a traditional litre mug of beer rising by up by 30 cents to between €8.10 and €8.60 and the press warned not to film drunken bare-chested revelers.

• The warning by the organisers has angered the Bavarian journalists’ union, which has alleged “pre-censorship.””

• Read more at:  http://www.thelocal.de/society/20090919-22027.html

Worth noting:

• Even though Bavaria has one of the strictess smoking (or is that non-smoking) laws in Europe, smoking in festival tents will be allowed.
• Oktoberfest.de brought out iPhone applications to make the fest visit easier, more comfy and more fun.

So grab your jacket, get your plane ticket and go have a “lekker” cold beer!! We wish all attending a happy and joyful time.

As per usual we urge our beer-loving readers to enjoy the drink responsibly and to keep the dangers associated with it in mind.

Links:

Official site: http://www.oktoberfest.de/en/

Galleries: http://www.oktoberfest.de/en/navitem/Galleries/

Oktoberfest Program: http://www.muenchen.de/cms/prod2/mde/_en/rubriken/Tourismus/02_Oktoberfest/03_Programme_Opening/program_folder.pdf

Oktoberfest survival guide: http://www.muenchen.de/Tourismus/Oktoberfest/13108/06asurvivalkit.html

iPhone Apps for Oktoberfest: http://www.oktoberfest.de/en/article/About+the+Oktoberfest/About+the+Oktoberfest/Great+apps+for+your+iPhone/1357/

Read how Beer is made: Beer’s Big Bang

In July this year beer was the common agent of three very different people: a president, a cop and a professor. In this context it was used as an agent over which to discuss racial matters, but it soon evoked comments that ranged anything from “We agreed to move forward,” to critical journalist saying it is “the first round of an eye-opening dialogue on race that allows President Barack Obama to get back to selling his health care plan to sceptical Americans.”

Any political analyst, or as that matter anyone with basic political knowledge knows that beer in the hands of a president goes much further than that. As beer is traditionally associated with the working class (hence the Joe Six-pack vs. ‘wine’ Democrats analogy) it leaves an open question: Can beer bridge the gap between the arguable divide within the Democratic Party itself? Can beer go as far as influencing voters and thus enforcing Obama’s already strong base. Only time will tell…

For more info read:
  guardian.co.uk

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32210408/ns/politics-white_house/
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1715282,00.html

http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/07/president_barack_obama_takes_b.html