Tribute to Beer - An Amazing Beverage

Are you aware of the amazing benefits, extraordinary uses and remarkable ways we can use Beer?

Purely in the interest of schience, I have been reshearching the benefits and ushes of Beer. Let me tell you what I have learned as a schientific reshearcher.

You already know that drinking beer – in moderation – can be a pleasant pastime. Bud - excuse me - but did you know about its many significant health benefits? Here are a few complete with fascinating bits of beer trivia:

> Pass a Kidney Stone. You may have noticed that beer can be a strong diuretic. It helps flush your kidneys and bladder. Doctors tell you to drink water or cranberry juice if you have a kidney stone or a bladder infection. But beer also works. Here’s the medical explanation according to the ER Director of Central Florida Regional Hospital. “Beer helps dilate the ureters which may help you pass a stone quicker and easier. Plus the alcohol will take the edge off the pain.” Caution: do not drink beer if taking antibiotics or pain medications. The drugs become useless and you can make yourself sick.

Beer Fact: Anheuser-Busch is the largest brewery in the US.

> Calm an Upset Stomach. A highly carbonated beer helps to settle your stomach much like 7-Up, Sprite, or ginger ale. I don’t have medical evidence to support this but people tell me it works. Caution: if you have an ulcer or gastritis be aware that alcohol can inflame that.

Beer Fact: Many actors started out as bartenders: Sandra Bullock, Bruce Willis, Tom Arnold, Chevy Chase, Kris Kristofferson and Bill Cosby are a few.

> Stop the Pain of a Sore Muscle or Pounding Headache. An effective ice pack is a frozen or very cold can of beer. Hold the can – unopened – against whatever body part hurts. You can wrap a frosty can against the back of your thigh with an Ace bandage. Or strap it near your elbow after playing tennis. Metal beer cans transmit the cold very rapidly. Caution: make sure there is some fabric between your skin and the beer can to avoid frostbite.

Beer Fact: To keep your beer glass or mug from sticking to your bar napkin, sprinkle a little salt on the napkin before you set your glass down.

> Soothe Tired Feet. Pour a couple of cold beers into a bucket and soak your aching feet. Ice-cold beer with lots of carbonation can be soothing for tired feet.

Beer Fact: Molson, Inc. is the oldest brewery in North America.

> Cure Insomnia. The book, The Beer Drinker’s Bible, states that some women buy hops – used for brewing beer – to sew it into pillows. They claim that the aroma is a sleep aid that helps babies with colic. Caution: be careful if you or your child have allergies.

Beer Fact: The first brewery in America was built in Hoboken, NJ in 1642.

> Stop Snoring. All you need is a pocket T-shirt and a 6-ounce mini can of beer. Put the can in the pocket and fasten it with a safety pin. When you go to bed, put the shirt on backward. That’s because research shows you are more likely to snore when lying on your back. The can will prevent you from rolling over.

Beer Fact: Monks brewing beer in the Middle Ages were allowed to drink five quarts of beer a day.

> Lower Your Blood Pressure. Put a handful of dried hops or hops pellets (available at any home-brew store) in a coffeemaker and brew them with hot water. It produces a bitter tea that can bring your blood pressure back to normal within 10 minutes by dilating the capillaries. Caution: this is not a replacement for medication.

Beer Fact: The longest bar in the world is the 684 foot long New Bulldog in Rock Island, IL.

> Massage Yourself. A wonderful and inexpensive massage tool is a full can of beer. Take your shoes off and roll a can under your foot. Or put one in the crook of your back or between your shoulder blades and lean back against a wall. Roll it around as you do so. It will loosen up muscle tissue encouraging blood flow to the area.

I know you have probably heard of Bathing in Beer – it makes your skin soft. Bud - I mean - but, are you aware that you can use beer to:

> Shampoo Your Hair. Beer is the cure for dull-looking, listless hair. Here is how you use it. Put one cup of beer into a small saucepan and bring it to a boil over medium heat. Let it reduce until there is 1/4 cup left. This removes the alcohol, which can dry your hair. Let the beer cool and then mix it with a cup of your favorite shampoo. Pour it into an empty shampoo bottle and wash and rinse as usual. Your hair will have new shine and luster.

Beer Fact: Samuel Adams Triple Bock is the strongest beer in the world with 17% alcohol by volume. The strength is achieved by using champagne yeast.

> Tame Wild Hair. Just a few drops of beer is all you need. It is sticky enough to subdue any sudden uprising on your head or eyebrow that you spot in a mirror. Just wet your index finger and you can easily slick it down. Think of it as Miller Mousse.

Beer Fact: To get rid of the foam (head) at the top of your beer, stick your fingers in it.

> Put Out a Fire. If a fire extinguisher is not available, grab a can or a bottle of beer and. simply shake and spritz. This works on small grill flare-ups because beer is mostly water. (I have heard that some people carry an emergency can of beer in their car in case of engine fire. Or at least that's what they tell the state trooper.)

> Loosen Rusty Bolts. Pour some beer on them and wait a few minutes. Watch as the carbonation helps to break up the rust.

> Polish Pots. The manager of the Idaho Brewing Company uses beer from spent kegs to put a shine on his copper top tables. You just pour a little on, let it sit for a while, then wipe it off. Because of its acidity, it does a good job and also works well on copper-bottomed pots and pans.

Beer Fact: In Japan, beer is sold in vending machines, by street vendors and in the train stations.

> Catch Mice. Mice are avid beer drinkers.You can trap them by setting out a few small pails or bowls of beer with a small ramp leading up to the lip. The mice will be attracted by the smell, hop in, drink their fill, and then be unable to climb out. Caution: do not tell the SPCA about this method.

> Kill Slugs. Slugs, like mice, seem to have a fatal attraction for beer. Buy a few wide-mouth glass containers and fill them one third of the way with cheap beer. Bury the jars 15 feet from your garden or whatever else you want to protect. Make sure that the rims are almost level with the surface of the ground. The slugs will find the traps, drop in, and drown. What a way to go!

Beer Fact: Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) was elected in 1932 because of his promise to end Prohibition.

> Clear Up Brown Spots on Your Lawn. Spray either home brew or Rolling Rock (both are chemical-free) on those annoying brown spots on your lawn. The fermented sugars in beer will stimulate plant growth in your lawn and at the same time kill the fungi.

> Marinate Meat. Beer is slightly acidic and that makes it an excellent meat tenderizer,This allows you to enjoy leaner cuts that otherwise might be too tough. Beer also won't alter the meat's flavor as much as wine- and vinegar-based marinades do.

Poke a few holes in the meat, put it in a Tupperware container or a large re-sealable bag, and add beer. Marinate in the refrigerator for a few hours or, better yet, overnight. Caution: do not drink the marinade.

Beer Fact: Bavaria still defines beer as a staple food.

> Make Beer Barbecue Sauce. Ingredients are:
1 medium Spanish onion, diced
1 medium banana pepper, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp capers
5 ripe tomatoes, diced
1 small can tomato paste
1/3 cup each wine vinegar, olive oil, soy sauce, brown sugar
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 Tbsp each Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, honey, Dijon mustard, horseradish, oregano
2 Tbsp fresh ground pepper
1 tsp cumin
Dash of ground clove
12 ounces amber ale or porter
Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan and boil for 10 minutes. Lower heat and simmer about 4 hours until thickened. Cool and refrigerate for 24 hours so the flavors can meld. Then baste everything but the cat with it.

Beer Fact: The portable beer cooler was invented in Australia in the 1950s.

> Steam Clams or Mussels. Fill a large steamer pot with equal parts water and beer, then bring to a boil. Steam the clams or mollusks until their shells open. You will find that the beer imparts a nice flavor.

Beer Fact: If you collect beer bottles your are a labeorphilist.

> Boil Shrimp. Open three 12-ounce bottles of Yuengling Premium or a comparable mild pilsner and pour them into a large soup pot. Wait for the beer to go flat (about 2 hours), then add 1/4 cup Old Bay Seasoning and 2 tsp ground turmeric; it will turn the shrimp a rich yellow. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and then cook for 5 more minutes.

Meanwhile, rinse 2 pounds of extra-large raw shrimp in cold water and drain. Add them to the pot and stir. Cover and cook for 5 minutes, no more. Quickly remove the shrimp.. Serve immediately with cocktail sauce and, you guessed it, more beer.

Beer Fact: The first United States Marine Recruiting Station was in a bar.

> Bake Beer Bread. Here's a healthful, foolproof recipe for high-fiber beer bread from the book 'Tailoring Your Tastes.' Ingredients are:
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp baking powder
1/4 cup ground flaxseed
1 tsp each salt, dried basil, dried rosemary, thyme
1/2 cup unsalted sunflower seeds
1 Tbsp cooking oil
12 oz beer, at room temperature
Mix all the dry ingredients. Add oil and beer. Stir until dough is just mixed. Put dough in a greased 9x5x3-inch loaf pan. Bake at 375 F for 45 minutes or until nicely browned. Remove from oven and let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes. Remove from pan to cool some more.

Beer Fact: Bourbon is the official alcohol of the United States, by an act of Congress. Many people have attempted to have that overturned in favor of beer instead throughout the years.

> Cook Rice. Rinse 1 cup jasmine rice in water. Do it twice more, then drain well. Next, put the rice into a medium-size pot and add 12 ounces of beer – a nut-brown ale works well. Bring the mixture to a boil, turn the heat to low, and cover the pot. Simmer for 20 minutes, then remove from the stove and cool for an additional 10 minutes. The rice won't be lumpy, and it'll have a nutty flavor.

Beer Fact: The oldest known written recipe is for beer.

> Roast Drunken Chicken. Buy a few medium-size whole birds and a six-pack of beer. Drink half a can of beer, cut off the top third of the can, and add 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper, 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 2 Tbsp liquid crab boil, and 1 tsp creole seasoning. Then insert the can into the chicken and place it in a secure, standing position on the grill. As the brew boils, it'll intoxicate the bird with flavor. Takes about 1 hour.

Beer Fact: Beer is a source of B- complex vitamins.

> Scale Fish. Nail or glue three or four beer caps to a sturdy piece of wood that's roughly 6 inches long, 1 inch wide, and 1/2 inch thick. Make sure that the caps are in a straight line and the serrated edges are facing out. Then start scaling those fish.

Beer Fact: The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock because of beer. They had planned to sail further south to a warm climate, but had run out of beer on the journey.

> Build Your Next Home. Earthship is a house in New Mexico that has walls built with empty beer cans and concrete. Instead of using forms for the cement, builders put down alternating layers of mortar and beer cans. You can use the same process to create retaining walls for gardens and other landscaping.

> Build a Plane. Duane Mathis is just plain plane-crazy. A pilot and aircraft aficionado, he started building model airplanes out of beer cans in 1984. Now, at his Web site (bcair.com), he sells the plans for 22 different models of beer-can planes, including vintage tri-wings, helicopters, Warhawks and planes that can actually fly.

And my favorite piece of trivia:Tossing salted peanuts in a glass of beer makes the peanuts dance.Trust me!

© Copyright BJ Rakow, Ph.D. 2011, 2013 Rev. Author, "Much of What You Know about Job Search Just Ain't So."