The Beer Guy

Hopefully by now, the pain of the Packers' loss to that team from New York has begun to subside and you can get on to more important things -- such as deciding what beer you'll be drinking for Super Bowl XLII.

While ice-cold Miller Lite is important to have on hand while watching any sporting event, here are some additional ideas.

Team vs. Team, Beer vs. Beer
Make an own off-field match-up by pitting beers from the opposing teams' home states against each other.  From New England, Sam Adams Boston Lager is a clean, crisp beer that balances sweet malt and slightly hoppy, bitter flavors.  Challenging the Boston beer is JW Dundee's Honey Brown Lager from Rochester, New York.  This incredibly drinkable beer has slightly sweet malt flavors that are followed by a hint of hops and honey.  Pair the variety of tastes with foods that bring out their flavors, such as spicy nachos or a savory spinach and artichoke dip.  Take a poll and determine the winner!

Act Like You're in Arizona
Forget the weather.  Crank up the thermostat a bit and enjoy a few warm weather beers like fans at the big game in Arizona will do.  Miller Chill or High Life and Corona Extra or Corona Light can help bring a little Southwest flavor and complement dishes like enchiladas and fajitas.  Also, consider serving some Just-You-Wait-Until-Next-Season Salsa.

Well, we're nearing the end of the month, so I thought it would be fitting to check in on the most common New Year's resolution - the pledge to be more healthy - and how beer can help you keep that promise.  

Many of us have gone on diets, joined gyms and cut out unhealthy behaviors - but that doesn't mean you need to give up beer.  In fact, medical research has found that moderate beer consumption can improve health, ward off disease and increase brain activity.  New studies proving additional health benefits of consuming beer continue to emerge.  And that's news worth drinking to. Here are some recent findings

Hops for Heart Health
Last year, a team of doctors at Germany's Innsbruck Medical University found that beer offers anti-inflammatory effects that may reduce cardiovascular risk.  The authors note that "this might be connected with the calming effect of beer," and that beer promotes "the availability of the 'happiness hormone' serotonin."  Simply put, the happiness a pint or two brings us can have a "beneficial impact on coronary heart diseases."  A few especially hearty beers to try include Leinenkugel's Red, Bell's Brewery Amber Ale and Capital Brewery Maibock.

Beer and Your Brain
Finally, evidence that beer makes you smarter.  A couple years ago, researchers from University College in London found that drinking alcohol, even in low amounts, might be associated with higher cognitive abilities, particularly for women.  The study found that drinkers performed better than non-drinkers on a battery of tests designed to measure intellectual ability.  "Moderate consumption could be a proxy marker for good mental and physical health ...  both of which are related to good cognitive performance," noted the astute authors.  Some great beers to ponder all of this over include Sam Adams Boston Lager, Berghoff Pale Ale and Corona.

Beer Beats Water
Earlier this year, professors at a Spanish university released findings from a study that found that beer might be more effective than water at re-hydrating the body after working out.   After strenuous exercise in 104 degree heat, the study's subjects who drank beer were had slightly better levels of hydration.  Some brews that would serve as a great reward for pumping some iron or running a few laps include Heineken Premium Light, Miller High Life and St. Pauli Girl Lager.

Your Bones Need Beer
Two recent studies found that moderately drinking beer may prevent the bone disease osteoporosis. The first study, published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, found a striking relationship between the intake of dietary silicon and bone mineral density in the hips sites of men and pre-menopausal women. The second study, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, shows that beer, in particular, is a highly-bioavailable source of dietary silicon.  The silicon found in beer, which increases the strength of the bone, comes from the husks of grains used during the brewing process. Lift a glass of Paulaner Hefe Weiss or Lakefront Riverwest Stein to healthy bones through beer.

More Good News
In addition to all of these benefits, beer has no fat, cholesterol or caffeine.  Beer also contains significant amounts of helpful nutrients and vitamins, such as magnesium, selenium, potassium and vitamin B.  Another healthy advantage to beer is that you don't have to drink it to reap the benefits - you can also cook with it.  Try substituting a stout or porter for oils and sugars in marinades.  Or you can swap out the wine and use beer in stews, soups and sauces.  And in baked goods, beer ads moisture but has few calories.  The options are endless.

Looking around on a night out, you'll notice people enjoying beer in a variety of oddly shaped glasses.  Some are short and wide; others are tall and slender.  Some may even have stems.

The reason for these different glasses is simple: depending on what kind of beer you're drinking, the glass shape can affect its aroma as well as how the head forms and sits, both of which ultimately affect the beer's flavor.  To get the maximum flavor from whatever beer you're drinking, use glassware that fits the style.  Here's a quick guide to grabbing the right glass.

Pints are the universal beer glass.   There are two main types: the 16-ounce and the 20- ounce "Imperial," which has a slight bulge near the top.   Use these for stouts, ales and porters. They're great for Bell's Expedition Stout or Anchor Steam Porter.

The tallest option is the wheat beer or weizen glass.  Obviously, this one is meant for wheat beers like Hacker-Pschorr Weisse or Paulaner Hefe Weiss.  Its tall shape provides room for the fluffy, thick head to cap off and trap the beer's aroma.

The pilsner glass is for beers like Miller Lite or Pilsner Urquell.  It looks a little like a Weiss glass but is smaller and lacks the curvature.  These glasses are made to showcase the beer's color and effervescence.

The stein is used more for function than anything else.  The handle makes it great for those of us who like to sing and dance with our beer.  I think true German beers, like anything from the Hofbrau Brewery, taste best from a stein.


The Goblet or Chalice is meant for heavy beers.  The goblet is usually delicate and long-stemmed while the chalice is thick-walled and heavy.  Some are even etched on the bottom, which attracts carbon dioxide and provides a stream of bubbles to maintain a nice head.  Next time you order a Lakefront Bock (available beginning in early January) or a Great Lakes Commodore IPA, try it in one of these.

The flute resembles a champagne glass, just bigger.  This one is preferred for fruit beers like Leinenkugel's Berry Weiss.  The narrow shape maintains carbonation and makes the strong aromas stand out.  They also display lively carbonation and the beer's sparkling color.

Other beer vessel oddities are the Tulip, meant to capture flavor by making room for large foamy heads, and the Snifter, which promotes the aroma of strong ales, much like liquors its served in.  Either of these would be great for a beer like Capital Brown Ale.