What is more habit-forming than lazing on a sunny afternoon and sipping at an ice cold beer? Beer is how we define ourselves. Beer spikes the senses: senses which would otherwise be dumbed down by a cup of tea.
Back in the days of stale and filthy drinking water, beer was considered the ideal substitute and was drunk by people of all ages. It is packed with so many nutrients that monks would even drink beer throughout Lent.
Today beer is a unifier and a national pastime; it is one of the markers of a culture and is heartily enjoyed as much as it ever was. Read on to learn of 20 reasons why especially we Brits love our beer…
1 It is a mildly intoxicating drug
Most beers contain only 4.2–5.5% of alcohol. But after one or two pints we’ll get a half-decent buzz and maybe a lovely drift off.
2 Buying rounds makes friends
To buy a round of beers and toast a hard-fought day brings us closer to our fellow man (or woman). That’s the reason pubs have played such a huge part in our history.
3 Beer is good for your heart
OK, within reason! One pint a day, experts say, will keep the doctor at bay and leave us 42 per cent less likely to have a coronary. Which is nice.
4 It’s very British…
But it’s also very German and the French and Spanish do a couple of very good lines. You only need to ask Jed Davies at Contain-a-Bar . The point is: it’s a cultural identifier, and we love our beer.
5 Beer is good for your bones
Aha! A study back in 2009 led to the conclusion that beer can actually increase the density of our bones.
6 Beer reduces the risk of diabetes
Dutch and Italian scientists concluded that moderate beer drinkers were less likely than non-drinkers to develop Type-2 diabetes.
7 A meeting of minds
The great social chewing gum is beer. Mildly alcoholic drink + friends = quite a bit good.
8 Beer wins wars
Actually bravery, strategy and comradeship win wars, but during the Second World War Prime Minister Churchill arranged for every solider on the front line to have eight pints of beer a week. Which helped.
9 It tastes and smells great
Beer yeasts give off fruity smells which makes the finished product all the more palatable. And a great taste has other positive effects…see number ‘16’ of our list.
10 Beer aids mental health
Again in moderation, alcohol consumption reduces stress and anxiety, according to research. Obviously, don’t overdo it.
11 It’s diverse and characterful
Look at all the beers we have in this country, and look at all the beers everyone else has! Thanks to an increase in craft breweries there are now over 2000 beer makers in the UK.
12 It’s a helluva refreshing drink
Hot day, cold beer, light flavour and gentle bubbles. Really and truly, is there anything finer?
13 Beer helps with workout recovery
Although beer dehydrates, it has more nutrients by volume than water. A Spanish study discovered that athletes recovered slightly faster with a cold beer inside them than with water.
14 It’s got history
Sumerians, Chinese, Egyptians, Romans. You name it. We’ve all been drinking beer for ages.
Competition Time – WIN – Ring Beer Bottle Opener
In honour of National Beer Day, we are giving away this cool, quirky, Ring Beer Bottle Opener in our latest competition.
How many times have you been at a party where nobody has brought a bottle opener? With this ring, you are set to become the saviour of countless forgetful partygoers in the future. From the front, it looks like any old standard silver band ring. Slide it 180 degrees however and it’s secret is revealed – it’s a mini bottle opener! You can’t lose it either because there’s no need to put it down, just keep the ring bottle opener safe and sound on your finger. It’s also a great optical illusion gimmick too because if you keep the opener itself on the underside of your hand (palm side), it’ll look like you’re opening the bottle with the magic of your bare hands – Genius, and sure to impress your friends.
Competition End Date: 13/09/18
15 Beer makes you creative
A study by the University of Graz concluded that a drink of beer removes thoughts which block creativity.
16 Its taste releases more dopamine than a sports drink
A study showed that just the taste of beer releases more feel-good chemicals into the brain than a drink such as Gatorade.
17 Beer is relatively cheap
Despite successive UK governments’ efforts to raise taxes on the national drink the cost of beer is still widely regarded as being within the means of the Everyman. Result.
18 Beer makes you live longer
OK it’s an American study but we like its conclusion: ‘moderate beer drinkers were 19 per cent less likely to die during a given time period’.
19 It protects against Alzheimer’s disease
Don’t celebrate this news with ten pints at your local. Moderate doses of beer have been said to protect the brain against degenerative disorders.
20 Stout beers are skinny
We’re not cheating when we talk about a famous Irish dry stout having less calories by volume than skimmed milk. Those, people, are the facts.
Always Drink Responsibly.
References
https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/health/9-scientific-reasons-why-drinking-beer-is-good-for-you-a2871666.html
https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a8/the-science-of-why-beer-is-so-delicious-17297163/
https://brokensecrets.com/2011/09/14/guinness-beer-has-fewer-calories-than-skimmed-milk/
If all this talk of beer is making you thirsty why not head on down to your local pub; alternatively take a look at these excellent online Beer Shops