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12 Most common beer myths exploded

December 16, 2008 by legendsofbeer

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA         Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy

–Benjamin Franklin

Beer gets a bad rap. It’s blamed for so much of society’s ills, when it should be celebrated as one of the finest beverages created.

There are a number of persistent myths and urban legends about beer that are passed around that unfairly distort the facts and confuse beer drinkers.

At LegendsOfBeer.com, we’d like to set the record straight and explode 12 of the most common beer myths, for once and for all. So take a read of these myths and the truth behind them and start spreading the good beer news!

Photo by elkojote

Myth #1: The Guinness served in Ireland is different to the rest of the world

Actually, the Guinness served in Ireland is most likely the same as that served in Boston or Berlin. However, many people will attest that Guinness simply tastes better in Ireland, which is why the myth spread. There’s a certain amount of sentimentality in this myth, but when you dig into it, most of the reasoning is pretty circumstantial.

There are a few reasons why it may taste better in Ireland – most likely freshness and rapid keg turnover (a pub in Dublin will serve the freshest Guinness in the world) – but the actual product is not any different to the black stuff served around the world. Also, a Guinness drinker in Ireland is guaranteed to have their drink poured correctly in Ireland than in some parts of the world, which will have an impact on the quality of the experience.

 

Myth #2: Lite beers will help you lose weight

On average, a lite beer will have 90-100 calories, while a regular beer might have under 200. In the grand scheme of things, lite beers will contribute very little to your dietary goals, and considering their typical lack of taste, you’d be better off drinking one or two regular beers.

 

Myth #3: Dark beers are stronger in alcohol

The color of beer has no relation to its alcohol content. For example, Guinness, one of the most popular dark beers has an alcohol volume of 4.2%, while several light-colored Belgian beers have alcohol content of 8%+.

 

Myth #4: Corona beer contains urine

This was a nasty rumor claiming that Mexican brewery workers were relieving themselves into the beer. Allegedly, the rumor was spread by a Heineken distributor and was only refuted following a lawsuit by Corona.

 

Myth #5: Imported beers are stronger than American beers

Traditionally, American beers measure their alcohol content by weight, while many other countries (across Europe and in Canada) measure by volume. The alcohol by weight figure will always appear lower than the alcohol by volume – for example, 4% ABW = 5% ABV, hence the myth creation.

 

Myth #6: Beer should be served ice-cold for best flavor

This is an unfortunate myth perpetuated by the major commercial breweries – especially for their lite beers. The fact is, flavor typically diminishes when beer is served ice-cold. It may make for a thirst-quenching, refreshing beverage, but often bears little resemblance to traditional beer. Several beers are, in fact, best served much closer to room temperature or slightly cool and are considered undrinkable when icy cold – such as Guinness and many of the traditional English ales.

 

Myth #7: The best beers have green bottles

Another myth that circulated imported beers. Brown glass is the best color to protect beer from light, which is why most beers are bottled with it. A shortage of brown glass in Europe during the last century led to many breweries using green glass to bottle their beer – therefore, green bottles represented imported beer for many years and people incorrectly assumed the color indicated a better beer.

 

Myth #8: “Beer before liquor, never sicker – liquor before beer, in the clear”

This is common drinking advice shared but not scientifically true. In reality, alcohol is alcohol, and the overall quantity you imbibe will determine your resulting (in)sobriety or hangover. Drinking beer before drinking hard liquor may prolong the onset of inebriation. However, it won’t ultimately matter whether you drink beer first or last; it’s the quantity of alcohol that does the damage.

 

Myth #9: You can’t get a hangover from drinking organic beer

If only being eco-friendly was this rewarding! This myth is based on the idea that organic beer is cleaner or purer than other beer, but there’s no existing proof that it manages to avoid giving hangovers when consumed in sufficient quantities.

 

Myth #10: Beer will raise your cholesterol levels

Beer actually contains no fat and no cholesterol! Perhaps this is one reason that Guinness was originally advertised as good for your health.

 

Myth #11: A good beer must be high in alcohol

Many people unfairly associate low alcohol with low flavor. There are plenty of poor quality beers that are high in alcohol content, and the opposite is also true. Some of the famous Belgian and German beers have traditionally high average alcohol content – perhaps 8% or 10%. However, the alcohol content is only one feature and doesn’t necessarily account for the good taste. In England, many of the best mild ales have alcohol content of 4% or less – resulting from a higher tax on stronger beer. Of course, the advantage is finding good-tasting, lower alcohol beers is that you can drink more of it!

 

Myth #12: Beer kills brain cells

Possibly the most damning of all beer myths, and we’re happy to explode this for you. An Australian study has determined that beer is not responsible for killing brain cells as was once thought.

 

Sources:

  • http://www.snopes.com
  • http://www.thatsthespirit.com/en/blog/default.asp?Display=15
  • http://thedrugguy.com/?p=75
  • http://www.thenibble.com/reviews/nutri/matter/2006-01.asp
  • http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22048081-23272,00.html

Are there any other myths or urban legends about beer that you know of? Share you thoughts by leaving a comment below!


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Posted in Beer Fun | Tagged beer, corona, debunked, guinness, myths, urban legends | 174 Comments

174 Responses

  1. on December 16, 2008 at 7:34 pm Taubin

    Thank you for bringing to light the myth about beer needing to be served cold. I often get strange looks from people when I ask if I can get a warm Guinness at the local pub.


  2. on December 16, 2008 at 9:27 pm william

    Thank you. I love a good, home made brew served at the right temp.


  3. on December 16, 2008 at 9:29 pm Jerry

    “An Australian study have determined that alcohol is beer is not responsible for killing brain cells as was once thought.”
    Ironic.


  4. on December 16, 2008 at 9:31 pm keithd

    Actually, myth #12 is true – at least for South/Central America, unless the practice has changed very recently.

    Guiness makes a syrup in Ireland that’s shipped to a local contract brewer to be mixed into Guiness sold there.

    Would have happened in the US if it weren’t for Irish immigrants (bless their souls!) raising cain about getting the Real Deal.


  5. on December 16, 2008 at 9:32 pm guy

    I like that your one about killing brain cells has two typos. Classy


  6. on December 16, 2008 at 9:33 pm typoink

    Saying Guinness in Dublin is the same as everywhere else is a bit misleading. According to the Guinness folks as of ’05 (when I took the “brewery” tour), the Guinness served in many countries is made at satellite breweries which can allow for slight variations in the beer. Until recently (they said), a lot of US Guinness was brewed in Canada. Now the US stuff is all from the main brewery.

    For my part, I thought it tasted slightly different in Ireland than in the States, but it was a subtle difference at best.


  7. on December 16, 2008 at 9:33 pm keithd

    Ooof! Too many near-room temperature brews killing my brain cells! (or is it my lysdexia flairing up?)

    Meant myth #1 is true – not #12.

    Friends don’t let Friends post drunk.


  8. on December 16, 2008 at 10:01 pm Myths About Beer | Clickedd.com

    […] Click here to read the rest VN:F [1.0.6_327]please wait…Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast) beer, myths […]


  9. on December 16, 2008 at 10:21 pm Randomarrow

    Yoiks, I was gonna post about Bradour being the heartiest brew available from the North American Brewing Area but I think I’ll just settle down with my Schooner and let the dust settle. But I do have one lament however. Madison Avenue has infected Canada big time and the country has given up the Stubbie, arguably the best beer delivery vessel ever devised short of the keg for the US Long Neck. So now, whatever your favourite brew your first gulp will be too warm and will irrecoverably cloud your perception.
    Anyway, I’m just sittin here on my farm a few miles south of the line and hoping that my Quebecois amies get it together cause sure as shootin the US never will!

    Randomarrow


  10. on December 16, 2008 at 10:25 pm legendsofbeer

    @guy – Oops! Thanks for pointing that out – fixed typos now.


  11. on December 16, 2008 at 10:27 pm SalmonEater

    Myth #5 has some misleading information. I have yet to see an American beer that has its alcohol measured by weight. Perhaps your source is outdated?

    Myth #9 is funny. Whoever thinks this is true needs to be taken out back and beaten with a hose.


  12. on December 16, 2008 at 10:47 pm onephoenix

    No, it does taste different IN Ireland (Guiness) but of course that is to be expected…you don’t think us micks are gonna send all the best stuff do ya’? Also as far as the “room temperature” thing you are overlooking the obvious, “room temperature” in Ireland for 8 Months of the year runs about 45 degrees TOPS unless you are sitting next to the radiator or your fireplace (that has that nice peat smell to reflect what your drinking…Guiness)


  13. on December 16, 2008 at 11:15 pm Rational Alchemy » Beer Myths Exposed

    […] Legends of Beer presents 12 myths about beer and why they are untrue. Onward! Most common beer myths exploded! […]


  14. on December 16, 2008 at 11:16 pm Raul

    Homebrewed, or Unfiltered beer will reduce the chance of you getting a hangover. One of the major causes of hangovers is a b vitamin deficiency, but unfiltered beer has yeast in it, which has very high levels of vitamin B, therefore reducing your deficiency and preventing hangovers.


  15. on December 16, 2008 at 11:19 pm Dave

    Beer Before Liquor…..

    I’m pretty sure carbonation increases the efficiency of absorption into the stomach, increasing how quickly one can get drunk. Liquor before beer is sometimes considered “safer” because of the fact that if you put hard alcohol into your stomach after consuming a carbonated beverage it will be absorbed faster than the other way around… So in one sense, yes alcohol content is the supreme factor, the order in which they’re consumed COULD in fact make a difference.


  16. on December 16, 2008 at 11:30 pm 12 Things You Think You Know About Beer | The Blog of Record

    […] Refuting some common myths about beer. […]


  17. on December 17, 2008 at 12:08 am Markus D

    The fact about beer best served cold just depends on your mood. If you really want to taste it, just ask for one “off the shelf” (as we call it in Belgium). Once you’ve tasted it and decided you like it, you ‘d best have a couple out of the fridge. Cold beer is more refreshing.

    A hangover is always worse when you drink ‘dark’ alcohol (whiskey, beer) then when you drink ‘clear’ alcohol (wodka). It’s because of all the particles in there that are not alcohol or water.

    And about the Guinness: it’s just that there are different kinds of Guinness. There’s out of the keg, out of a bottle and out of a can. They have distinctly different flavours. I for one love Guinness freshly poured, but I hate the can and bottle version.

    And about the dark beer containing more alcohol: with Belgian beers is generally the other way around. Trippels (triple fermentation beers) are mostly blond, while dobbels (double fermentation) are mostly dark. Compare for instance: Westmalle (dobbel and trippel) and Leffe (donker and blond).


  18. on December 17, 2008 at 1:13 am Beerman

    SalmonEater, until recently, all beers sold in the United States listed their alcohol content by weight, not volume. This is why many western States have 3.2% by weight laws (which is 4% by volume). Elsewhere in the world, and other types of alcohol in the United States, have always (in modern times) used alcohol by volume ratings.


  19. on December 17, 2008 at 1:18 am Jack9

    While beer will not raise your cholesterol levels, it has a similar effect. Alcohol stresses the vascular system and alcohol (partially metabolized sugars) embeds itself in the actual fatty deposits (like cholesterol) along your “pipes”, exaserbating the volume reduction. You’ll find people going into prolonged tachychardia after angiograms, angioplasty, etc. due to the body having to absorb these chemicals. This can add unnecessary danger to relatively safe procedures. It’s a serious danger pre-bypass and post-op. YMMV

    // I like beer


  20. on December 17, 2008 at 1:22 am Reality

    The liquor before beer thing; the idea is about the mindset you’re in once you’ve switched types of beverage. The logic behind the statement, in reality mind you, is that once you’ve had enough beer, it becomes a lot harder to distinguish how much liquor you’ve had. When the opposite is the case it’s not as easy to drink 10 beers as it is 10 shots.

    Don’t drink and derive.

    Also, beer does kill braincells, though oxygen is guilty of the same.


  21. on December 17, 2008 at 1:38 am Some Guy

    No offense, but yer wrong on a few points there mate.

    First regarding #1, Guinness DOES taste different in Ireland for a couple of reasons. The first, as mentioned above, is that they sell syrup which is mixed in other breweries.

    The second reason is Ireland does not require beer to be pasteurised. In America, all beer must be pasteurised, so after its brewed there is goes through a process which is left out in Ireland.

    You can even get unpasteurised milk in Ireland (and other parts of Europe), which you can’t buy in America.

    Also, per your #5, again, it looks like you got the wrong information mate. Certain states like Virginia, N. Carolina, and some of the others in the south have laws restricting alcohol content of domestically brewed beer. The Bud or Coors you buy there only has 2.4, wheras the same beer bought in other states will have 3.2. This law does not effect imported beer, as the state government can’t regulate imported beer, so many imported beers DO have higher alcohol content in some states.


  22. on December 17, 2008 at 1:48 am legendsofbeer

    @Some Guy – I wasn’t aware of the pasteurisation process in the US; thanks for the information. As for #5, yes, you are correct that there are specific laws for domestic beers in a few states; for the purpose of the blog post, I was speaking generally for the overall US, where there is no set rule.

    @Jack9 – Although beer doesn’t contain cholesterol, I’m still an advocate for enjoying it in moderation! Thanks for adding the detail about how the alcohol takes effect.

    @Beerman – I have noticed this change myself and wonder why American beers use the ABV value instead of ABW… does anyone know? Certainly, it’s better for consumers who can make easier judgments between two different beers (and should avoid any confusion over alcohol content).


  23. on December 17, 2008 at 2:27 am Tony Kiernan

    RE: Guiness, from a UK point of view.

    Not until the early nineties could you get draught Guiness most places. What we had was the godawful Export stuff. Christ that was rank. So, it was different in Ireland as in a completely different product. These days, though it all comes from St Jame’s Gate.

    The freshness (and knowing what to do with it) thing is what I think, too.


  24. on December 17, 2008 at 3:01 am Daniel

    I don’t think “beer before liquor…” is supposed to imply that the same sequence of drinks can get you more or less ill if you permute their order. As I understand it, it’s an injunction against taking a rapid series of shots while drunk, which is something I would never do sober but invariably end up learning I had done the previous night after a long night of drinking.


  25. on December 17, 2008 at 3:16 am lalo

    Disagree completely with #1. Guinness is better in Ireland. In America it’s watery and bitter, here it’s thick as a milkshake and sweeter.
    It is even different in the North than across the border and from pub to pub.
    The most amazing thing about it is you can drink as much as you want and never lose your manners and won’t have a hangover. Maybe a little tired, but not sore.
    I know this from experience and from people I’ve met. I once drank 20 plus pints of Guinness woke up the next day fresh as a daisy.


  26. on December 17, 2008 at 4:02 am 12 Most common beer myths exploded « LegendsOfBeer.com « Mountain Republic

    […] via 12 Most common beer myths exploded « LegendsOfBeer.com. […]


  27. on December 17, 2008 at 4:10 am betman

    Myth 4 is a joke, no?


  28. on December 17, 2008 at 5:09 am Sagadon

    Myth #8: “Beer before liquor, never sicker – liquor before beer, in the clear”

    You are mythtaken.

    Total miss on this one. It has nothing to do with inebriation or drunken-ness. It is a saying that reminds people with weak stomachs that carbonated beer followed by non-carbonated alcohol will make you feel sick. Whereas if you drink non-carbonated alcohol first, and then follow with beer, the feeling of sickness does not prevail.


  29. on December 17, 2008 at 5:27 am MadCityMac

    Corona only TASTES like somebody pissed in it!


  30. on December 17, 2008 at 5:34 am Rob Adler

    Very very good points. That brain cell aspect sure was widespread, heard it in college a lot.


  31. on December 17, 2008 at 5:34 am momsword

    There are 365 different kinds of beers in Belgium 😉
    and there is a pub where you can drink as many different kinds as you can. I only got through 25….


  32. on December 17, 2008 at 6:16 am Jackson

    Did you do any research at all for this article or did you just write down what you thought was true? There’s actual science behind myth #8. The body does not absorb alcohol as effectively at concentrations over 30% and will actually increase mucosal production in response to high concentrations, thereby decreasing absorption rates. In other words, if you start with beer and start doing shots, you will absorb more alcohol than if you do some shots and switch to beer.


  33. on December 17, 2008 at 6:19 am Old Iron

    I have actually found that the Guiness in Nigeria (PLEASE don’t ask why I am here right now, it’s a long story) tastes different than the stuff I have had in the U.S. Someone told me that it was due to molasses used in the brewing process.

    Just thought that I would put that out there.


  34. on December 17, 2008 at 6:36 am Hoppy

    This is such a “heady” conversation about beer, when do we get to drink some?


  35. on December 17, 2008 at 6:52 am Benoit from Ottawa

    One thing that also mustn’t be forgotten is that there are different varieties of Guinness*: Draught, Extra Stout (the original) and Foreign Extra Stout. At least if the Guinness site (http://www2.guinness.com/en-CA/Pages/site-map.aspx) is to be believed. B.

    *Not to say they’d all be available…


  36. on December 17, 2008 at 7:21 am Need some education in your day? « New url, same alcoholism

    […] by Diana under beer, teh internet, websites | Tags: beer, myths |   Check out this link: the 12 most common beer myths (and the truth about them). […]


  37. on December 17, 2008 at 7:39 am Charlie

    #1 is true.

    In Ireland, Guiness is pumped through the tap lines with Nitrous Oxide, while in the USA we use plain old CO2.

    People in Ireland laugh a lot.


  38. on December 17, 2008 at 7:49 am Barbeerian

    You missed one myth – that quote at the start of your article was never made by Ben Franklin!
    http://www.beerinfood.com/Franklin.html


  39. on December 17, 2008 at 7:54 am FoodMojo.com » Popular beer myths, debunked

    […] Read more… […]


  40. on December 17, 2008 at 8:25 am Googor

    What about the myth that once cooled, bottles or can of the stuff can not be warmed and recooled without ruining the flavor? I would think that within reason, like on the way home from buying he stuff, one would be okay. Am I right or wrong?


  41. on December 17, 2008 at 8:25 am legendsofbeer

    @Jackson – the ‘myths’ in this post come from a variety of sources, but I didn’t make them up (if I had, I’m sure I would have created some very outrageous ones). Thanks for your explanation on alcohol absorption. For the ‘beer before liquor’ myth, I’m not expert, so I used the information from http://thedrugguy.com/?p=75 and http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/Controversies/20060414153759.html as research. If their assumptions are incorrect, then I am happy to learn something new.


  42. on December 17, 2008 at 8:27 am Wednesday Web run (you can’t stop him, you can only hope to contain him) - Brent's Blog : Burlington Times News

    […] before taxpayers save it? – Gas tax will stay the same for the first six months of 2009. – Beer myths debunked. – Photos from the riots in Greece. – Thirty ways to electrocute yourself. – 2008 mug […]


  43. on December 17, 2008 at 8:41 am Scotty McTavish

    Owned a bar in the 90’s in Baltimore, MD, USA – we used Nitrous Oxide for our Guiness on draught as provided by the local distributor and it was served at room temp.


  44. on December 17, 2008 at 8:49 am Mapes

    “lalo
    The most amazing thing about it is you can drink as much as you want and never lose your manners and won’t have a hangover. Maybe a little tired, but not sore.
    I know this from experience and from people I’ve met. I once drank 20 plus pints of Guinness woke up the next day fresh as a daisy.”

    Lalo – are you sure it was the NEXT day?


  45. on December 17, 2008 at 9:37 am Keith

    Guiness is not dispensed with CO2 here in the US. It is dispensed with “Beer Gas” which is a 2/3 nitrogen (not nitrous oxide) and 1/3 carbon dioxide – the same stuff that is used in Ireland. Since nitrogen is not very soluable in beer, the pressure can be cranked up to 30 PSI so that the beer can be pushed through the special faucet that has a restricter plate in it – which pulls the CO2 out in very fine, creamy bubbles.

    It also is not shipped as a concentrated “syrup” around the world to be reconstituted, that is just silly.

    This article is correct regarding Guiness. The taste perception is entirely because it is fresher there. Go to the home base for any of your favorite beers and see for yourself. Fresh beer tastes different than beer that has been shipped around the world.


  46. on December 17, 2008 at 9:41 am zythophile

    Charlie – “In Ireland, Guiness is pumped through the tap lines with Nitrous Oxide

    Jeez, if that were true, every Irish Guinness drinker would be constantly giggling – N2O is laughing gas. You mean nitrogen, mate …

    Tony Kiernan – “Not until the early nineties could you get draught Guiness most places. What we had was the godawful Export stuff. Christ that was rank. ”

    I don’t know what alternate world you were living in, but draught Guinness, two ‘n’s, was pretty much available throughout Britain in THIS reality from at least the mid-1970s.

    Oh, and what Barbeerian said – it’s one of the biggest bweer myths that Benjamin Franklin made THAT quote – he didn’t ….


  47. on December 17, 2008 at 10:01 am 12 Most Common Beer Myths

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  48. on December 17, 2008 at 10:01 am Beer myths debunked « Greg Lohman’s Awesome Blog

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  49. on December 17, 2008 at 10:07 am Mike

    Hmmm, not very scientific. Just because it says that things are a myth. I can understand all the rumour stuff, but the one point

    Myth #10: Beer will raise your cholesterol levels

    Misunderstands the science behind how body cholesterol is created. I’m sure in the 100’s of posts someone has already stated that. Most of the cholesterol on your body is produced in the conversion of carbohydrates. Only a minor percentage of your total cholesterol is from dietary cholesterol.


  50. on December 17, 2008 at 10:19 am I Personally Disprove Myth #12 « Professor Wagstaff

    […] if they continue to post reviews of beers I’m curious about trying. In the meantime, this post debunking numerous beer myths is pretty […]


  51. on December 17, 2008 at 10:25 am Garret

    This is oddly similar to this post made over a year ago:

    http://premiumbitter.blogspot.com/2007/10/beer-myths-bested.html


  52. on December 17, 2008 at 10:30 am O'Maolchathaigh

    Yes, indeed, would that it were true that beer doesn’t effect an increase in your cholesterol or fat levels. It contains an awful lot of carbohydrates, which, if not burned up right away, like any other calories, get converted to cholesterol and fat. In fact, beer guts are nearly irreversible, as the beer permanently affects the elasticity of the walls of the cells in our bodies, once they are stretched out of all proportion like that.


  53. on December 17, 2008 at 10:35 am Kimberly

    “Beer before liquor, never been sicker” is actually about pacing yourself. If you’re nursing a beer, that’s different from knocking back a shot. If you start with liquor and switch to beer, your body has a chance to absorb all the alcohol from the shots before you finish too many beers. If you start with beer and switch to liquor, you won’t feel the full intoxication until long after you’re done swigging – and you can’t stop absorbing what’s already in your stomach. Unless nature intervenes, which is where “never been sicker” comes in…

    Overdrinking, as you said, is the actual problem. But this little rhyme is a good way to remember to pace yourself, so please don’t knock it.


  54. on December 17, 2008 at 10:43 am wanderingjustin

    Corona might not contain urine, but it tastes like it does!


  55. on December 17, 2008 at 10:57 am this buddy of mine

    Corona might not contain urine, but it tastes like it does!

    Naah, but it is considered charitable to deposit a good amount of piss in a buddies’ corona if he orders one…the douche


  56. on December 17, 2008 at 11:03 am Sacramento Website Design

    Thanks for the great article. My wife started making beer about two years ago and I think between then and now, we had heard them all.

    We designed a website for a local brewmeister out here in Sacramento. I will have to set up a feed on his site that links to your article. Thanks again.


  57. on December 17, 2008 at 11:12 am So fresh...so clean

    Regarding Guinness tasting better in Ireland:

    I agree with freshness. I personally have visited a handful of my favorite breweries and their hometown bars (Bell’s, Sierra Nevada, Full Sail for example) and can honestly say they ALL tasted better the closer to the kettles. I hate to say it but even Coors. My parents live in Golden, Colorado and I have to admit, Coors Golden tastes pretty damn good on tap at the Buffalo Rose or the Aces High, but I can’t stand it otherwise.

    As for the pasteurization, Michael Jackson states that draught Guinness is flash pastuerized in Irish AND American markets.

    And hangovers? Often they are caused (or at least greatly amplified) by dirty, dirty beer lines. Bacteria and yeast buildup in lines can have an immense effect on taste and your ability to feel ‘fresh as a daisy’ the next day. You’d be surprised how many bars only clean their lines a few times a year. I can taste it immediately. If your favorite bar isn’t cleaning their lines at least every two weeks you’re not getting the best pint for your dollar.

    Just sayin’ is all….


  58. on December 17, 2008 at 11:14 am sgottahurt

    Hallelujah to Number 12!

    Now if the same thing can be found about smoking pot…


  59. on December 17, 2008 at 11:17 am myra36

    great article. the part about pouring Guinesss correctly is especially true. i once sent a pint back in waterloo. i don’t know the bartender did it, but the beer had no “head”!
    🙂


  60. on December 17, 2008 at 11:30 am Brian White

    Myth #1 is incorrect. It is different. It’s unpasturized.


  61. on December 17, 2008 at 11:42 am Shawn

    It’s interesting that you lead off a myth-exploding blog with a Ben Franklin quote he never said. It has always sounded nice though.

    Secondly, Guinness does taste different depending on where you drink it. Consider that in South Africa it has seven percent alcohol!

    Good work on the others though.


  62. on December 17, 2008 at 11:43 am thornpa

    A tad snobby, I know but Guinness is not black it’s red. I only know that from the brewery tour.

    A good pour can take 3-4 minutes. That’s probably why it tastes better at a bar with a knowledgeable bartender, i.e. Ireland, than elsewhere.


  63. on December 17, 2008 at 11:56 am The good beer news « Projects & Ponderings

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  64. on December 17, 2008 at 12:31 pm Take a break « Hans’ Learning Journey

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  65. on December 17, 2008 at 12:51 pm topviet

    LOL. I did not know about these myths.


  66. on December 17, 2008 at 12:55 pm zachstaska

    Good show, now do something about the myth that alcahol is possibaly the most dangerous of the commonly abused drugs and the one about drunk driving and how many people it kills.
    Those are myths, right?


  67. on December 17, 2008 at 12:55 pm inkedjewell72

    As a beer lover and former micro-brewery employee, I must thank you for telling the truth…FINALLY!! Naivity is no longer an excuse!


  68. on December 17, 2008 at 12:59 pm Brilliant!!! Beer myths! « mindGrazing

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  69. on December 17, 2008 at 1:03 pm touchingtheelephant

    i generally dislike high alcohol beers 8% and over, they taste pretty awful to me.


  70. on December 17, 2008 at 1:07 pm David

    Thanks for the myth busters.

    The best beer I have ever had it an English ale at the Owl Town Pub in Peine, Germany.

    Great site.


  71. on December 17, 2008 at 1:24 pm legendsofbeer

    @zachstaska – No; drunk driving is not a myth, it’s just stupid.


  72. on December 17, 2008 at 1:37 pm joelmanning

    thanks for the myth-debunking. most people made the corrections i was going to make so i won’t bore anyone with reiterating them.

    but, regarding myth #6, no one mentioned the fact not only does beer taste better when it’s cool/room temperature rather than cold, it is also more physiologically enjoyable. when you drink ice cold beer the beer warms up in your stomach releasing the carbonation which makes you feel bloated. when the beer is warmer than fridge temperature it’s smoother and easier on your stomach.

    i think this myth has to do with the idea that a beverage needs to be cold to be refreshing–the lie that all the cheap, crap american lager manufacturers push so successfully. if you don’t like the flavor of beer and just want something cold, then go ahead and drink those pathetic excuses for beer. it’s like the idea of refrigerating red wine to take the bite off! gimme a break, if ya don’t like the bite drink kool aid!

    cheers!


  73. on December 17, 2008 at 2:17 pm cyber5

    Guinness
    Specifications of the Various Types of Guinness

    Draught Guinness
    Ireland & North America
    OG: 1039 (9.75 Plato)
    Alcohol: 3.4% abw, 4.2% abv
    BU: 45
    Colour: EBC – 130

    “Draught-flow”
    Canned “Pub Draught Guinness”
    Similar specifications as the Draught Guinness, above.
    Alcohol: 3.3% abw, 4.1% abv

    Bottled Guinness (U.S.)
    This is an “Extra Stout”
    Alcohol: 4.8% abw, 6% abv (although one poster noted that they had seen 5.6% in their promotional materials. Michael Jackson reports these figures.)
    BU: 50+

    Continental Guinness
    Draught and bottled
    Alcohol: “a little more than 4 percent by weight, 5 by volume” (MJBC p 181)

    “Strong” Bottled Guinness
    OG: 1073 (18 Plato)
    Alcohol: 6% abw, 7.5% abv
    BU: 50+

    Guinness Extra Stout
    England, according to Eckhardt
    OG: 1052 (13.2 Plato)
    Alcohol: 4.4% abw, 5.5% abv
    BU: 50
    Colour: 9.5 Eckhardt’s Scale
    ( This would translate into something around or over 50 SRM and about 130 EBC)

    Guinness Extra Stout
    Ireland, according to Jackson
    Bottle conditioned
    OG: 1039 (9.75 Plato)
    Alcohol: 3.4% abw, 4.2% abv

    Bottled Guinness
    Ireland
    “Similar” specifications as bottle conditioned
    OG: 1040
    Alcohol: 3.5% abw, 4.3% abv
    Contents: Pale malt, flaked barley, roasted barley, English and American whole hops (RADA)
    Note: This may be the same beer as the previous listed entry.

    Foreign Extra Stout
    This is a blend of Guinnesses
    OG: 1073 (MJPG91)
    BU: mid-60s

    Guinness Extra Stout
    Ireland in 1901, according to Eckhardt
    OG: 1075 (18.2 Plato)
    Alcohol: 6.3% abw, 7.9% abv
    BU: 90 (!)


  74. on December 17, 2008 at 2:25 pm ian in hamburg

    Canadian walks into a bar in the States and orders a beer.

    American says to him, you’re not from around here, are ya?

    Canadian says no.

    American says hey, what do you think of our beer?

    Canadian says I think you should call it Love in a Canoe.

    American says Love in a Canoe? Why should we call it that?

    Canadian says because love in a canoe is fuckin’ near water, and so’s yer beer.


  75. on December 17, 2008 at 2:43 pm Nick

    Thank you. I got massively pissed after reading this.


  76. on December 17, 2008 at 3:21 pm Rua MacTírean

    cyber5 doesn’t seem like much fun….


  77. on December 17, 2008 at 4:30 pm sandeep verma

    HELL YEAH…..LETS HAVE A BEER BASH


  78. on December 17, 2008 at 4:44 pm Drink up! 12 Most common beer myths exploded - Home Brew Forums

    […] up! 12 Most common beer myths exploded 12 Most common beer myths exploded LegendsOfBeer.com They saved the best one for last. __________________ Primary-Chocolate Spiced Ale, Rye Ipa, […]


  79. on December 17, 2008 at 4:48 pm Pete

    Myth #8: Beer Before Liquor, Never Sicker; Liquor Then Beer, in the Clear is usually meant to refer to the behavior of the drinker under the different scenarios, not the effect of the alcohol.

    If I drink three beers, then switch to Tequila, I am more likely to drink 8 shots of Tequila. But if I have a shot or two of Tequila, then limit myself to beer, I may only have one, two or three beers.


  80. on December 17, 2008 at 5:09 pm Dara

    Too bad I think that beer–any kind–smells like urine 😛 And the taste isn’t all that great either. But that’s just my humble and insignificant opinion 😛


  81. on December 17, 2008 at 6:32 pm Colin

    Wait that line about Guinness being ruined being served ice-cold. WTF? Guinness Draught is to be served “Extra Cold”


  82. on December 17, 2008 at 6:33 pm sakume

    I’m still going for my Wild Irish Rose and Guinness. Reason being, I like the taste of Wild Irish Rose’s Wild Grape wine and the bold flavor of a hardy Guinness, though I do prefer my alcohol to be ice cold, Guinness is one of the only beers I drink and will drink it either ice cold, or room temp.


  83. on December 17, 2008 at 7:01 pm foodyall

    Awesome blog! I loved this… packed with lots of interesting info =]


  84. on December 17, 2008 at 7:15 pm calzro

    Lets drink a beer…….


  85. on December 17, 2008 at 7:28 pm Aleta

    I love it when I meet someone that doesn’t like beer. I think “Goody! More for me.” Seriously keeping writing about beer. It deserves the attention and respect.


  86. on December 17, 2008 at 8:08 pm Marylin

    What about the myth that beer makes everyone look beautiful? hehehe


  87. on December 17, 2008 at 8:13 pm JH

    This article sucks. It had some good points, but some of it is just plain wrong.

    There’s the utter idiocy in claiming that it’s a myth that alcohol increases cholesterol, just because it contains no fat or cholesterol in it. Clearly you do not understand how the liver works. It does increase cholesterol.

    And anyone who fawns over Guinness so much doesn’t know squat. Sure, it’s not bad, but it’s still tasteless macro garbage. Maybe name-dropping it impresses people who don’t really care about beer.


  88. on December 17, 2008 at 8:48 pm Likwid Bred - Home for Beer Enthusiasts » 12 Most common beer myths exploded « LegendsOfBeer.com

    […] 12 Most common beer myths exploded « LegendsOfBeer.com. […]


  89. on December 17, 2008 at 8:49 pm The Truth Squad

    “Myth” #12 is not a myth. Beer does kill brain cells/shrink brain volume, the evidence is right here: http://archneur.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/65/10/1363

    I’d love to see your supposed source that you couldn’t even bother to post.


  90. on December 17, 2008 at 8:49 pm Land of Sky Blue Waters

    Just as a point of clarification on alcohol content, certain states allow far above the 3.2 standard mentioned above. In Minnesota, 4.0 is standard, with 5.0 and 6.0 not being uncommon.


  91. on December 17, 2008 at 9:10 pm Use of CO2 instead of N affecting Guinness taste

    I would say that part of the reason why Guinness tastes better in Ireland is that there are tighter regulations on how the beer is served. Most American beers on tap are forced through the lines and further carbonated by the use of carbon dioxide gas. Guinness and several other beers are formulated to use a nitrogen gas instead. As a means of cutting cost, many American bars will incorrectly hook a carbon dioxide hose to Guinness kegs instead of paying extra for the nitrogen tanks thereby changing the texture and taste of the beer. I’ve sadly worked in a couple of bars that did this, and the distributors let them get away with it because they didn’t want to anger the bar owners.


  92. on December 17, 2008 at 9:13 pm Ahhhh, Beer! « Mountain Republic

    […] via 12 Most common beer myths exploded « LegendsOfBeer.com. […]


  93. on December 17, 2008 at 9:17 pm audioairport

    beer=good


  94. on December 17, 2008 at 9:40 pm triplicani

    Is there any myth that can be shattered about beer and a diabetic?

    I am beer lover but unfortunately also diabetic!


  95. on December 17, 2008 at 9:45 pm Laadeedaa. « Deena Jo - Loving Learning Living: Life.

    […] I found a cool website tonight, very interesting. Can’t wait to enjoy a nice cold one! Legends of Beer! […]


  96. on December 17, 2008 at 10:39 pm gameditor

    Great post, congratulations!


  97. on December 17, 2008 at 11:10 pm The Fine Art of Eccentricity · Dear Mom, Having a riot of a time in Greece, Love: Me.

    […] common beer myths exploded […]


  98. on December 17, 2008 at 11:19 pm Bier « Der alltägliche Wahnsinn

    […] Dezember 18, 2008 in Sonstiges | Tags: Bier Lesen! […]


  99. on December 18, 2008 at 12:34 am Natalie

    Beer is beer to me… lol
    I am not a beer kinda girl though, but i do enjoy a nice cold one once in a while to chase down a shot! 😛


  100. on December 18, 2008 at 12:51 am rendmc

    Is there any myth that can be shattered about beer and a diabetic?

    I am beer lover but unfortunately also diabetic!

    Yes you can drink beer and not worry!

    How Straub Beers Measure Up

    http://www.straubbeer.com/process.htm


  101. on December 18, 2008 at 1:08 am Mythes over bier « De blog van Bzz

    […] Lees meer… […]


  102. on December 18, 2008 at 1:11 am Reem Saied

    Best blog I’ve read all day 🙂 Cheers.


  103. on December 18, 2008 at 1:24 am whatmenthink

    yay for beer!


  104. on December 18, 2008 at 2:20 am sjwilson627

    I don,t know who made the myth about green bottle beer because heineken beer nasty as hell it taste like bitter spit.


  105. on December 18, 2008 at 2:20 am J32

    >>Lite beers will help you lose weight<<

    I was really laughing hard when I read this. You made my day 😀 .

    Anyway I found your article very interesting. A lot of things I didn’t know about beer. Thanks


  106. on December 18, 2008 at 3:56 am robscott2007

    Why did they invent Guinness Extra Cold? Its because people drink it – so whether or not it SHOULD be drunk like that, that is how people are drinking it.


  107. on December 18, 2008 at 4:27 am LegendsOfBeer On Beer Myths « Batches Brew Blog

    […] To find the answers to these important questions and more, click here. […]


  108. on December 18, 2008 at 5:31 am Scott

    Spot-on with #6. If your tastebuds are shocked by ice-cold beer, how is one to really get a sense of the flavors? Or, as you suggest, is that the whole point of the ‘drink it ice-cold’ marketing behind many of the tasteless lager brands that encourage this? What are they trying to hide by numbing people’s buds into a stupor? That the beer is in fact – tasteless?


  109. on December 18, 2008 at 5:38 am » Blog Archive » 1 Week Till There’s Wrapping Paper Everywhere!!

    […] Myths about Beer?! […]


  110. on December 18, 2008 at 6:21 am Miturile lui Berilă « un blog xpirat

    […] decembrie 18, 2008 de xpirat 12 lucuri pe care le ştim despre bere şi un post care ne contrazice […]


  111. on December 18, 2008 at 6:26 am Wrath

    “A tad snobby, I know but Guinness is not black it’s red. I only know that from the brewery tour.”

    Just ’cause you toured the brewery doesn’t make you a smart guy.

    It’s definitely black, given by it’s EBC rating of 130. When you look at light through it, you’ll see red/ruby hues but it is BLACK.

    Oh, and Ben Franklin didn’t say “beer is proof God wants us to be happy.” (quote at beginning of article) That’s another myth.

    Good article though!


  112. on December 18, 2008 at 6:27 am Me12

    Good blog, but you messed-up on #9. Not sure what the hell “organic” beer is, because really all beer is organic. How could someone make a beer that isn’t?!? What isn’t more organic than water, barley, hops and yeast? Yes, some beers contain rice, corn, wheat, etc… still organic.

    But I digress. Unfiltered beer with a bit of active yeast provides the body with vitamin B. Ever hear of Brewers Yeast? Yep, will definately help prevent (or at least lessen) your hangover.


  113. on December 18, 2008 at 6:57 am Jima

    Oh, Guinness.

    To all those who think it’s better in Ireland, please do a bit of research into the subject before you spout your ill-informed nonsense!


  114. on December 18, 2008 at 7:03 am Rachel

    I LOVE the last one, as I’m sure everyone does.


  115. on December 18, 2008 at 8:13 am Stephanie Azzarone, President, Child's Play Communications

    Uh, Ben Franklin was talking about wine, not beer.


  116. on December 18, 2008 at 8:29 am Geladi

    Awesome .. Great info indeed …


  117. on December 18, 2008 at 8:40 am shaaakspsyco

    Dab aa dee de dam beer, beer, beer!


  118. on December 18, 2008 at 8:43 am BondBloke

    Re: myth#1 whilst I agree with this to a certain point you are neglecting the treatmen of the Guinness, most places outside of Ireland I have ordered it it has been pulled like an ordinary pint, and this makes a hel of a difference to its taste. It has to be pulled properly, and that means taking three, yes 3, minutes, that’s 180 seconds, to pull the pint giving it time to settle and breathe, and any Irish barman worth his salt will tell you to take a seat and he’ll bring it over… Pulled properly it really is worth the 3 minute wait…


  119. on December 18, 2008 at 9:02 am Beer myths « Spontaneously Combusting Onions

    […] Beer myths In honor of the fact that I’m about to be able to buy a six-pack legally, here are some myths that have been busted about beer: […]


  120. on December 18, 2008 at 10:21 am Bruisin' Ales Beer Blog

    […] 12 Most Common Beer Myths […]


  121. on December 18, 2008 at 10:57 am mf_hibbard

    “In America, all beer must be pasteurized,”

    That is not true, there are plenty of american beers that are unfiltered and unpasteurized. Let’s not start new myths.


  122. on December 18, 2008 at 11:07 am The Plunge «

    […] reading some blog, and realizing beer tastes better if served at room temperature, i passed hard liquor to test their […]


  123. on December 18, 2008 at 11:13 am Nicholas

    Thanks for the great post! I am an unabashed beer drinker and am glad to see these myths busted (that’s not trademarked is it). My only comment is with myth #8 “beer bofore liquor…” I’ve noticed that if drinking liquids ov varying consistancies and sugar content ect can cause me to get an upset stomach. Although the order consumed really isn’t a big deal to me mixing the types of drinks is.


  124. on December 18, 2008 at 11:40 am mydismalswamp

    #8 missed the point. Gotta agree with sagadon on this one.

    The teqilia analogy was pretty spot on as well.


  125. on December 18, 2008 at 11:49 am Joewell

    Thanks for the article, good to know it doesn’t kill brain cells, good to know it doesn’t kill brain cells, kill brain cells.


  126. on December 18, 2008 at 11:51 am David McCrory

    Another interesting fact about beer is that it was a primary drink for the Pilgrims who first came to America. Fearful of the local water, usually men, women and children all drank beer (and wine) rather than water for the most part. It hasn’t always carried the social taboos that are sometimes attached to it today.

    http://www.fermentarium.com/content/view/267/55/


  127. on December 18, 2008 at 12:18 pm Revvy

    The funny thing is that they started the piece with one of the greatest beer myths of all…

    “Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy”

    –Benjamin Franklin

    Wrong!

    From Maureen Ogle’s Book, Ambitious Brew, the story of American Brewing.

    “In recent years, beer drinkers have worn t-shirts decorated with a quote attributed to Ben Franklin: “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” Just one problem: Franklin didn’t say that. It’s a mangled version of another Franklin quote about the pleasures of wine. In a 1779 letter, he wrote that the rain that fell on vineyards and transformed vines into grapes for wine provided “a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy.”


  128. on December 18, 2008 at 12:32 pm ThatGuySteve

    Fantastic. Way to bust through some ignorant myths.


  129. on December 18, 2008 at 12:39 pm legendsofbeer

    @Revvy – thanks for the clarification; a number of other people have pointed this out too. What a pity if Benjamin Franklin didn’t say it, but he was thinking in a similar direction, considering his views on wine!

    @Everyone…. Thanks for all the informative and passionate commenting from everyone! I didn’t expect the post to get such a heated reaction. Keep in mind, this is a light-hearted list of myths; just because some of the myths are not well known doesn’t mean people didn’t believe them. I am happy to stand corrected on some of the fact-checking out there, although from the comments, it looks like there is some doubt over a couple of ‘facts’. I’ll let people read through the comments and judge for themselves.


  130. on December 18, 2008 at 1:45 pm When Giants Meet

    Hehe great post! I was questioning the Myth #5. Because it seems like its the case when I’ve drank Presidente beer in Dominican Republic, and then here it’s not the same. But it can be the same thing you mentioned…Freshness.


  131. on December 18, 2008 at 2:17 pm ian in hamburg

    Got another beer joke for you guys.

    After a Beer Festival in London all the brewery presidents decided to go out for a beer.

    The guy from Corona sits down and says “Hey Senor, I would like the world’s best beer, a Corona.” The bartender dusts off a bottle from the shelf and gives it to him.

    The guy from Budweiser says “I’d like the best beer in the world, give me ‘The King Of Beers’, a Budweiser.” The bartender gives him one.

    The guy from Coors says “I’d like the only beer made with Rocky Mountain Spring Water, so give me a Coors.” He gets it.

    The guy from Guiness sits down and says “Give me a Coke.” The bartender is a little taken aback, but gives him what he ordered.

    The other brewery presidents look over at him and ask “Why aren’t you drinking a Guiness?” and the Guiness resident replies “Well, if you guys aren’t drinking beer, neither will I.”


  132. on December 18, 2008 at 2:19 pm coopgeek

    What about the one where Jesus turned water into beer, a few weeks before the more famous wine miracle. It was even more popular than the wine, but the next morning everyone was like, “who was that dude? does anyone remember his name?” And so it never made it into the written record.


  133. on December 18, 2008 at 2:25 pm raginggenius

    I am a Christian and I drink beer 🙂


  134. on December 18, 2008 at 4:02 pm Mike Rozos

    OK, I still say wine is better, but as I type this I’m drinking a fresh glass of Heineken.

    I must myth bust your myth busting:

    1. In Ireland people are less likely to bitch and moan about their Guinness not being served at 33 degrees, thus it DOES taste different here.

    2. Lite beers WILL help you lose weight because if you drink them you more likely belong to a demographic more likely to die from crashing a Chevy Camaro into your cousin’s Chevy pickup after consuming 48 lite beers (1 serving).

    3. Dark beers actually… Nevermind, this one’s right. They are not higher in alcohol. Dammit!

    4. I took the trouble to study Spanish just so I could confirm that Corona DOES in fact contain urine because the water used to make it is from Mexico. As far as Mexican workers peeing in it, I don’t think they would do that as they respect beer too much.

    5. Imported beers are worse than American beers, on average, but certainly not stronger. Hell, those people make chocolate out of sugar beets, they sure wouldn’t bother to put plenty of alcohol in their beers!

    6. OK, this one is right, too. Damn! Beer does not need to be ice cold. But light beer should be, because it sucks.

    7. Green bottles suck, so I suppose this Myth Buster is right, too. I even buy my beloved Heiney in the mini Keg thing so it won’t be skunky.

    8. This Myth Buster is right also. Generally, most tasters would tell you it’s better for flavor to graduate to stronger beers, wines, or liquors over the course of an evening.

    9. Orgasms do cause hangovers, especially if they’re in your beer!

    10. Damn! Another correct one! But why hasn’t anyone marketed “Fat Free Beer”? The dummies who drink light beer would buy it by the gallon, regardless of the flavor. “King Cobra, now Fat Free!”

    11. Some very good beers are high in alcohol. Note that Molson XXX tastes better than regular Molson. But I suppose this is mostly myth. Can I be one third right?

    11. If beer doesn’t kill brain cells then why can’t I think straight when my boss tells me to work? I rest my case…


  135. on December 18, 2008 at 4:06 pm Mike Rozos

    P.S. Some pretty cool comments by the people posting here!

    The laughs inspired my reply!


  136. on December 18, 2008 at 4:23 pm gatkin09

    I agree. Cells beer brain not kill. Drink every day I, no with me problems.

    Cheers!


  137. on December 18, 2008 at 4:28 pm nostawetan

    It’s really nice to see that beer has made it to the hot post link in word press. This is a nice article. I have always especially enjoyed the myth that dark beers are stronger in alcohol than lighter beers. The distinction that you make between Guinness and Belgians is exactly one that we’ve made on our site. The late Michael Jackson made that same distinction as well. Not to pimp out our site, but I’ve written an article that specifically deals with myth #3.

    thankheavenforbeer.com

    Here is the specific article:

    http://thankheavenforbeer.com/2008/09/07/whats-your-beer-made-of-part-iib/


  138. on December 18, 2008 at 5:03 pm legendsofbeer

    @nostawetan – thanks for the feedback; I’ll check out the link on your site, sounds interesting!


  139. on December 18, 2008 at 6:07 pm But is it a myth that beer is better than Jesus? « Audible Smirk

    […] that beer is better than Jesus? December 19, 2008 Twelve myths about beer are exploded in this post. But is the hypothesis that beer is better than Jesus a myth that needs exploding as […]


  140. on December 18, 2008 at 7:23 pm mike

    All interesting facts I never knew. Very nice.


  141. on December 18, 2008 at 8:55 pm jenkwok

    werd, that’s totally true. gross about the corona though – i NEVER heard of that rumor! i always swore by the beer before liquor idiom, but i can see how it’s mumbo jumbo. it could just be also that people tend to chug beer v. sip liquor.


  142. on December 18, 2008 at 9:55 pm The Braintrust

    Left out that Women find you more attractive after 12 beers


  143. on December 18, 2008 at 9:58 pm Tumbleweed

    Charlie, only uneducated bar owners in the US would pour Guinness using CO2, as a bartender in several bars, we use Nitro on all stouts. But then again, I live in Colorado.


  144. on December 19, 2008 at 4:29 am Friggin Abandoned » Blog Archiv » Sailing & Ailing

    […] ripe old age of 120, thank you very much. Let’s cap this linkdump with a post debunking the 12 most common myths about beer. Oh, and great news, Myth #12: Beer kills brain cells! Great. Now I want a beer… […]


  145. on December 19, 2008 at 6:45 am Dan Cheek

    Since most of the light beers taste like urine, it’s no wonder their makers would want them served “ice cold”. It all makes sense, now!


  146. on December 19, 2008 at 7:01 am Melissa

    Actually, if you look at the research, there is no good evidence that fat or cholesterol are bad for you, aside from “triglycerides” which are related to sugar consumption, and trans-fats and hydrogenated oils. It takes some digging to review the research and the findings, but lots of low-carb forums have done that research already if you don’t feel like trawling pubmed.org for a few weeks.

    The real problem is elevated insulin from consumption of the super-concentrated carbs that make up our diets. That’s what puts the Beer in Beer Gut. If we had been meant to eat grain, we’d be able to pull it out of the ground and chow down.

    Yes, Virginia, you CAN lose your beer gut.

    Beer is a food and that’s how the ancients used it. Also a source of water in places where water itself was full of things that would make people sick if they drank it plain.


  147. on December 19, 2008 at 11:28 am Solutions for a Rainy Day « DC Striving

    […] out the post on the 12 most common beer myths! My favorite is number six- a teaching I have heard many times from my dad, of […]


  148. on December 19, 2008 at 1:01 pm CleverClinician

    Beer is truly a gift of God (she is clever) and is a staple of my everyday (well almost everyday) dietary plan. I’m loving this beer legend explosion. Has anyone tried Dogfish Head’s 120 MIN IPA. I’ve had it once on draft….Yuuuuummmmyyyyy.


  149. on December 19, 2008 at 7:15 pm myths about beer « Adam Glendye

    […] myths about beer well, i like micro-brewing beer. it is pretty much awesome and i have some friends who do a great job at it. so, in light of people’s strong opinions… i thought i would link to 10 myths about beer. Myths about Beer […]


  150. on December 19, 2008 at 8:23 pm getin2it

    Thanks for the 12 myths about beer. I will add you to my blog list because this site is cool. My sports blog will be a good fit for this. http://www.getin2it.wordpress.com


  151. on December 19, 2008 at 8:25 pm Fay

    Guinness Draught is the exact same product in Ireland and North America. It is all brewed at St. James Gate and all Guinness Draught in North America (in a pub, bottle, or can) is imported from Ireland. (Other varieties of Guinness, such as Guinness Extra Stout, are not necessarily the same.) Any taste difference would have to do with freshness, how the product is served, and perhaps sentimentality. 🙂

    As for the rest of the world, I can’t confirm that.


  152. on December 19, 2008 at 8:49 pm Rose G. Knight

    Cheers!


  153. on December 19, 2008 at 11:03 pm Mike

    Baloney! I know for a fact that the Guinness that could be bought in the US was very different from that sold in Europe at least, Germany to be specific! The only version available in the US in the early to late 80s was Guiness Stout which was very different, and no where near as good, as the beer that my Army buddies and I used to down in Mannheim and Heidelburg – it had nothing to do with freshness – it wasn’t the same beer/ale!


  154. on December 20, 2008 at 5:20 am Perm

    I was hoping to see Myth #13 on the list, too —
    “Drinking beer gives you a fat gut.”

    Because, quite honestly, the oft-touted “beer gut” has much more to do with consuming mass quantities of unhealthy pizza, fast food, junk food, etc. (think late-night college) than the beer itself.

    I HATE that myth.


  155. on December 20, 2008 at 12:49 pm nostawetan

    Yeah! Dogfishhead 120 min I.P.A is good. I don’t think that I’ve had it on tap. I’ve got a bottle that I’m trying to age to see how it chages. It will probably be better (with age) in the bottle than on tap simply because of the time factor. I am interested to taste it on tap because some beers do taste pretty different. Once again, we wrote a little on this very topic. Check it out, if you want. http://thankheavenforbeer.com/2008/09/29/bottle-vs-tap/


  156. on December 20, 2008 at 12:51 pm nostawetan

    By the way, the comment left by Dara about all beer smelling like urine…I bet you would like the smell and taste of something like a Framboise.


  157. on December 20, 2008 at 1:21 pm Brew or False? « Metallic Pea

    […] Ten Beer Myths Exploded […]


  158. on December 20, 2008 at 7:54 pm y8

    Thanks. All the best for you :d


  159. on December 22, 2008 at 10:53 am Mick

    zachstaska wrote on December 17, 2008 at 12:55 pm
    Good show, now do something about the myth that alcahol is possibaly the most dangerous of the commonly abused drugs and the one about drunk driving and how many people it kills.
    Those are myths, right?

    What a douche bag. First, learn how to spell if you want to appear to be credible. Second, lets all take responsibility for our own actions and not abusing alcohol. Thats all.


  160. on December 22, 2008 at 5:58 pm Kate

    Thank you so much for myth # 6 – as an English person living in New Zealand, I get sick of people slagging off English beer as warm and flat. If it’s so awful you have to kill off the taste, go ahead and freeze it. Otherwise, near-to-room-temperature (as you put it) is the way to go. I’ve linked to your blog.

    http://crouchinggiraffe.blogspot.com/2008/12/happy-birthday-him-outdoors.html

    Cheers!


  161. on December 24, 2008 at 2:14 am Jefferson

    I particularly like your myth #8 “Beer before liquor, never sicker – liquor before beer, in the clear”.

    In Belgium (Dutch speaking part) we say: “Wijn na bier is plezier, bier na wijn is venijn [wine after beer is fun, beer after wine is venom” meaning start off easy and “build your way up” as far as alcohol %age is concerned.

    So we have exactly the opposite myth! Very funny considering (I quote some PhD because he puts it in way better English than I would) a glass of white or red wine, a bottle of beer, and a shot of whiskey or other distilled spirits all contain equivalent amounts of alcohol.

    You can read about it here, or see a visual representation of the comparison of multiple drinks (in oz.):
    http://www.standarddrinks.com/tool.asp


  162. on December 25, 2008 at 4:16 pm Top Posts « WordPress.com

    […] 12 Most common beer myths exploded Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy –Benjamin Franklin Beer gets a bad rap. It’s […] […]


  163. on December 26, 2008 at 4:13 pm nostawetan

    Yeah Kate! You’re right about the flat and warm thing, when it comes to people’s thoughts about beer. I always drink beer at room temp…with a couple of exceptions. People don’t realize the natural (and gentle) carbonation that comes from the cask conditioning process. We’re all about changing people’s conception of Ales, Lagers, etc. We’ve especially started talking about different styles of beer lately. I can tell you as an American that many American’s taste in beer is deplorable. For those who are interested in a discussion about styles of beer, check out these links.

    http://thankheavenforbeer.com/2008/12/10/style-series-an-article-for-what-ales-you/

    http://thankheavenforbeer.com/2008/11/06/style-series-what-is-the-difference-between-a-lager-and-an-ale/

    http://thankheavenforbeer.com/2008/12/22/style-series-pale-ale-india-pale-ale/


  164. on December 27, 2008 at 12:32 pm legendsofbeer

    @nostawetan – Thanks for the links. I think there’s a big need for more information about the different types of beer. The difference between ale, lager, etc. is often hard to grasp, hence, people don’t consider them as unique categories of drink, each with different ways of ideal storage and consumption.


  165. on December 30, 2008 at 9:52 am seen around blogdom « ken stoll—aka recovering self-help junkie

    […] For those of you who have any interest in beer and the health benefits associated with beer drinking (don’t laugh), check out the Legends of Beer blog—12 Most common beer myths exploded.  […]


  166. on December 30, 2008 at 11:37 am fiendobeer

    To the poster above who said it’s required for everything in the U.S. to be pasteurized – not true. Most craft beer is not pasteurized. If it were then bottle conditioning could not take place because the yeast would have been killed off by the process.


  167. on January 6, 2009 at 4:21 pm MattSF

    Colin wrote: “Wait that line about Guinness being ruined being served ice-cold. WTF? Guinness Draught is to be served Extra Cold” … you are referring to the canned version with the draft “widget” device. The idea is that for that thing to work properly, the beer must be cold. so take it out of the fridge, pop it open, pour it into a pint glass and then wait a few minutes before drinking it.

    JH wrote: “This article sucks. It had some good points, but some of it is just plain wrong. Theres the utter idiocy in claiming that its a myth that alcohol increases cholesterol […] And anyone who fawns over Guinness so much doesnt know squat. Sure, its not bad, but its still tasteless macro garbage. Maybe name-dropping it impresses people
    who dont really care about beer” … you, sir, are the one spouting the idiocy. Guinness Stout is considered -the- Dry Stout example, and when consumed fresh and at the right temperature, is sublime. Sure you can brew a really nice Dry Stout at home or in a microbrewery; but to call Guinness ‘garbage’ smacks of spending too much time writing your beer blog. You’ve lost your perspective… not every beer needs to be Triple-Malt Imperial Super Hop Gueuze. Get back to basics, son.


  168. on January 7, 2009 at 2:16 pm Weekly Beer News | beer-centric

    […] 12 Most Common Beer Myths Exploded – Great blog post explaining away all those things we have heard about for years.  Let’s call them Beer Wive’s Tales. […]


  169. on February 3, 2009 at 10:04 am Maya Rasheed

    Beer kills brain cells? It always makes me smarter. Great Post, will lead to endless pub conversation.s


  170. on February 3, 2009 at 12:14 pm Ten Great American Organic Beer Brews | The Blog of Record

    […] Ten best American beers made with ingredients free of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Just don’t expect them to be free of hangover. […]


  171. on February 6, 2009 at 4:55 pm Brian

    ehh… having a French beer at home in Dublin ’cause our ‘Government’ just killed the F..ken Celtic Tiger and us common folk can’t drink in the pubs no more. So if you are mad enough to pay about a MILLION dollars to see this hole… you can sit in the empty pub with the sad American sitting in the corner by himself… ’cause we are wont be there till somebody with a second brain cell and a death wish takes over this basket case of a country….

    Thank GOD I had a beer before writing that… I had feel so much worse earlier today.

    … ohh, and if you lost your job recently, then get off this site and keep looking for something that will really help you… we are not the cause, just the result.

    Cheers to ya all…


  172. on February 23, 2009 at 6:23 pm guy

    dude – #1 is bogus.

    guinness has their dry stout – and a foreign stout they export that has more alcohol and malt. they are different.

    what up?


  173. on May 26, 2009 at 10:27 pm Patrick

    I was always told that beer in clear bottles contained formeldahyde for preservation purposes. Beer in colored bottles didn’t need protection from light.


  174. on June 10, 2009 at 10:09 am Gryndyl

    Another common beer myth is the Ben Franklin quote you start the article with. The actual line, from a letter Franklin wrote:

    Behold the rain which descends from heaven upon our vineyards, there it enters the roots of the vines, to be changed into wine, a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy.



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