Category: Beer

The Beer Bottle Saga.

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The Beer Bottle Saga.

sha.org/bottle/beer

Dr. Wetbrain was reminiscing one day while sipping on a beer bottle. His thought drifted to the “Stubbie’s”. Beer bottles never had a tall neck at one time. It was in the 1980’s when the tall neck became popular. Twist top cap bottles were already used in the 1960’s but never got popular till much later. Thanks to the tall neck bottles. I remember using lighters and seatbelts for stubby bottle openers. Seen people using boards and their eye socket to open beer bottles. What the??!

Commercial beer bottles started in the late 1600s but were not a big thing then. Even though carrying a case of glass bottled beer is better than walking down a cobble stoned street toting beer filled bowls or large covered steins in each hand. Noted that both would have been filled from a barrel spout.

In the late 1600s these new beer bottles were made with clear glass at first. But were soon realized buy the faithful guzzlers that the beer was sour, skunky tasting after sitting in the sun for a short spell. According to scientific research ultra-violet rays damage the acids found in the hops. Thus, the brown tinted bottles. Which were made to prevent the nasty UV rays from damaging the hops. No more skunks! Green beer bottles are made, but the UV protection is not as good as the brown bottles.

Since 1975 a Japanese company called Kirin Holdings tracked the global consumption of beer. 185 million Kiloliters in 2021. 74000 Olympic sized swimming pools. Dr. Wetbrain thought the numbers would be higher. Thank you Visualcapitalist.com for 2021 data on global beer consumption in different countries.

So let us talk about divots on the base or bottom of a beer bottle. I always thought that it was the number of how many times that bottle was recycled. Which does not make sense for the bottle is molded only once. These dots or ‘heel codes’ are for production equipment to read the size of the bottle. That’s it.

Unfortunately recycling bottles is a problem where more than 28 billion bottles annually do not get recycled. It’s good to know though that the average beer bottle gets reused 15 times in its life span with a strict process of inspection and sanitation.

Beer consumption has gone through a long history from covered Beer Steins to cardboard cases of 24 bottles of beer to carry home.

Country Artists And Booze Brands.

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Country Artists And Booze Brands.

Dr. Wetbrain and Harold have been listening to a country music radio station lately. The doctor looked over to Harold and made a profound comment. “Did you notice how most of the country songs deal with beer, whiskey and pick-up trucks.

“And love.” Harold added.

“I don’t know about love.” Wetbrain replied. Of course, you don’t, Harold thought to himself.

“But we should look into how many country artists own their own brand of beer or whiskey”, Dr. Wetbrain stated.

Ends up there are plenty. Here are a few country entrepreneurs for starters.

Willie Nelson – Old Whiskey River Bourbon.

   Distilled by Heaven Hill Distilleries Inc., this 86 proof Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey was made with the thought of Willie Nelson’s 1978 song ‘Whiskey River” in mind.

This fine whiskey is aged in charred American oak barrels for 6 years. Each of the good looking ‘Old Whiskey River Bourbon’ bottles comes with a Willie Nelson’s guitar pick.

Willies drinking songs: Whiskey River, Drinking Champagne, I Gotta Get Drunk, Beer for My Horses, Bloody Mary Morning.

Luke Bryan – Two Lane American Golden Lager.

   This 4.2% lager beer was brewed in collaboration with Luke Bryan and Blue Crown Brewing in Daleville, Virginia.

Relaunching in 2020, thanks to the pandemic, Two Lane beer will be delayed and now available in early 2024.

Luke Bryan and Blue Crown Brewing are also launching a Hard Seltzer with 4 flavors – Cherry Limeade, Peach Tea, Blueberry Lemonade and Watermelon Punch.

Luke Bryan’s drinking songs: Drink a Beer, Got a Beer In My Hand, Drinking Again, Take My Drunk Ass Home.

Eric Church – Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select.

   Eric Church joined together with Jack Daniels to create Eric Church’s Single Barrel Select. A 94 proof, one-of-a-kind whiskey based on Eric’s fine whiskey taste with a hint of vanilla and caramel.

Eric Church and Jack Daniels released the Single Barrel Select Whiskey on August 3, 2020. With the pandemic, good timing.

Eric Church’s drinking songs: Drink in My Hand, Jack Daniels, Mixed drinks about feeling.

Darius Rucker – Backstage Southern Whiskey.

   Debuted in 2017, Darius Rucker, originally from Hootie and the Blowfish made his own whiskey. Backstage Southern Whiskey.

This 84% proof whiskey originated from Darius having a tradition before each show where he would have a backstage toast with all the bandmates.

Backstage Southern Whiskey made by Palmetto Distillery, South Carolina.

Darius Rucker’s drinking songs: Beer and Sunshine, Drinkin’ and Dialin’, Same Beer Different Problem, 7 Days.

Beer, whiskey and pick-up trucks, maybe the odd tractor is what most of the best country music deals with. But that is what makes the music real. Down to earth.

More country music artists and booze brands to come. Stay tuned.

 

Helpful Climate Change Tips – By Drinkers.

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   Throughout the world proud farmers are dealing with a variety of climate change issues such as drought, wildfires and these new wars are not helping either.

These proud farmers that are fighting against climate change anyway they can with the science that they have at hand. Only to feed the world. But you can only do what you can with what you have. Another drought would devastate the production of wheat, barley and other grains which would bring shortages of a grain yield to the already starving world.

Shortage of wheat and other grains would bring the prices of bread, cookies, pastries, noodles and granola bars to triple or more in cost.

Worst yet shortage of barley due to climate change would triple the prices of baby food, breakfast cereal and BEER!

   So, with that in mind Dr. Wetbrain thought of ways to help the climate change problem.

– Save on water consumption – Flush toilet on every 4th or 5th pee break. Flushing all beer pees is not needed for a gallon of good water, wasted.

– Save on plastic waste – 6 or 8 pack plastic rings for cans, collect as many as you can into a plastic garbage bag. Will be easy for recyclers to separate to the good bin. Plus save the lives of some of those poor seagulls being chocked to death by this plastic beer can holder from the dump.

  – Don’t drive while drunk! –  Save gas, fossil fuel and pollution by using an EV Uber or EV taxi or even a bus. Let us not forget the loss of a few years of your normal life from an expensive impaired charge.

– Beer or whiskey can and bottle empties – Take in all your bottles and cans to your nearest bottle depot. An investment for your next purchase of beer or whiskey.

   Dr. Wetbrain concluded. That’s all I have for helping the climate change problem for now. Perhaps more tips to come. Stay tuned.

Trivial Pursuit Game Was Created – While Drunk.

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Trivial Pursuit Game Was Created While Drunk.

“What’s the most popular cocktail in the U.S.? Do you know the answer, Harold?”

“How the hell would I know that!?”

“The martini.” The doctor replied.

“What card are you reading?” Harold asked.

“Remember playing the board game Trivial Pursuit?”

The Trivial Pursuit board game was first conceived on December 15, 1979, by two beer drinking Canadians, Chris Haney and Scott Abbott who created this world-famous board game. Created with the help of plenty of Carlsberg Beer.

Chris Haney and Scott Abbott spent 2 exhausting years thinking and writing up 6000 questions and answers for the first edition of the Trivial Pursuit game.

1200 of these board games were put together in Niagara-Of-Lake, Ontario, Canada in 1981. These games were sold in the spring of 1982.

Trivial Pursuit became popular immediately to the point where this board game sold 20 million copies in 1984! Thank you, Carlsberg Beer.

Other Trivial Pursuit Game Editions that were produced later…

– Sports

– TV Edition

– 1960’s

– 1980’s

– Baby Boomer

– Walt Disney

– Star Wars

– Lord Of the Rings

– Power Rangers (What!?)

Unfortunately, Chris Haney died by kidney and circulatory problems on May 31, 2010. Survived by his 2 wives and 3 children. Here’s a drink of Carlsberg Beer to you Chris.

Hasbro bought the board game Trivial Pursuit in 2008 for $80 million and is still going strong as the 7th most popular game of all time.

Climate Change and the Beer Shortage.

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Climate Change and the Beer Shortage.

 

“Harold you are spilling out a 1/8th of a bottle of beer! What are you doing? That’s alcohol abuse.” Dr. Wetbrain yelled.

“Spit, backwash”, Harold remarked.

“That’s no excuse. Don’t you know a beer shortage is coming thanks to climate change?” Wetbrain concluded.

Sure, the barley crop was plentiful at one time until the climate change effect came into view. Drought and heat waves are the main culprits in depleting the barley harvest. Droughts, heat waves, floods, hailstorms, grasshoppers’ migration, wildfires (smoke) all have contributing factors to climate change and the production of the most popular alcohol drink – BEER.

Severe droughts and heatwaves were highly hit in North America, UK and China. Other worst hit territories include Belgium, Ukraine, Czech Republic and Ireland.

Beer loving Ireland could triple on beer prices soon. Yikes!

All natural products like chocolate, coffee, wine and now Beer are all effected by climate change.

Sadly, Barley is one of the most heat-sensitive crops globally. What timing!

20% of barley goes to Beer. Most barley goes to feed livestock like cows and pigs. So, BBQing with a cold beer is contradicting each other. Funny!

Lots of other Barley hinderance is blamed on distribution, also the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Putin!!!

Two years ago, Ukraine produced 10 million tons of barley, only 6 million these days. Putin blowing up poor farmers fields, plus the droughts, plus shutting down ship movement in the Black Sea made a great decline in their barley distribution.

It did not help that in the middle of July 2023 Russia bombed the port city of Ukraine in Odesa destroying 60,000 tons of wheat and barley.

Oktoberfest in Munich Germany which hosts 7 million thirsty visitors will suffer from the fate of beer. Thank you climate change.

Eventually we will be paying double to triple the price for our beloved beer. Talk about inflation.

“Got that Harold! Cherish what we have. No more spilling out ‘spit, backwash and beer‘.”

Unique Whiskey Float.

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Whiskey Float Drink.

 

Dr. Wetbrain was sitting at his kitchen table looking out the window at the forest one day, thinking about the young days.

Remembering one young day learning how to make whiskey floats. Introduced by a new acquaintance. This drinking experiment started out with whiskey then escalated to vodka and white rum. This is a whiskey float drink that you would never imagine and without ice cream.

Dr. Wetbrain’s Whiskey Float.  

   You need:

  • Few medium sizes shot glasses.
  • A cheese cloth kitchen towel or a light towel will do.
  • Favorite Whiskey.

Steps:

1) Fill shot glass ¾ full of water.

2) Place the towel tightly over the shot glass.

3) With two fingers slowly push the tight towel into the glass till you reach the top of the water.

4) After slowly pour into the shot glass over the towel your favorite whiskey, rye, rum or vodka till near full. Dark rum does not work the best for the floating process due to its heavier density.

5) Then very slowly pull the cheese cloth tightly to the top of the glass. Take the cloth off and put to the side for the next whiskey float.

6) Then lift the full shot glass up to eye level and be astonished on how the whiskey sits on top of the water. Density at play.  Then shoot that glass down in one shot. You don’t even taste the alcohol, just feel the burn.

Other Whiskey Floats.  

Whiskey Ice Cream Float.

  • Place few scoops of vanilla ice cream into a tall glass.
  • Top with a splash of Cola and same amount of whiskey.
  • Drink with a straw, slurp or spoon is optional.

Beer Float.

According to Just Beer a beer float should be made with a beer that has a sweet finish. Bitter beer is not good.

  • Place a few scoops of vanilla ice cream into a tall glass.
  • Fill that glass with your favorite beer.
  • To be fancy top with chocolate shavings or whipped cream.

Ah, remembrance from youth. We spent a whole week experimenting with alcohol floats. Home for a rest after that boozing stint.

St. Patrick’s Day Green Rivers.

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St. Patrick’s Day Green Rivers.

Chicago Skylines building along green dyeing river of Chicago River on St. Patrick’s day festival in Chicago Downtown IL USA

One day Dr. Wetbrain was in the Central Hotel bar having a pint of green beer among an overpopulated drunk group of leprechauns and leprechaunettes. Yes, it is March 17th, St. Patrick’s Day. Which made the Doctor think of the green rivers dedicated to this day. The only green water I know about is the swamp I have in the back 40s and has nothing to do with St. Patrick’s Day. Here are his findings.

The most popular green St. Patrick’s Day River is the Chicago River. This festive gimmick was originally launched in 1962 with a few small boats spewing out an oil-based fluorescein green dye. The Chicago River’s fish, otters and environmentalists did not like these toxins at all. In 1966 the dying chemicals changed to a vegetable-based dye. The fish, otters and environmentalists seemed happier.

Apparently dying the river costs $133.oo/minute. Dying the river starts one week before St. Patrick’s Day with the 2 little boats spewing the dye.

Other St. Patrick’s Day green water.  

St. Patrick’s Day Trivia.    

1)  Green beer is made with blue food coloring.

2)  Corn beef and cabbage is the traditional meal for this day.

Brief history.

  St. Patrick’s Day started in the early 17th century due to the death of St. Patrick. Patron Saint of Ireland. Observed by the Catholic Church.

São Patrício – Basílica de São Patrício, Montreal – Foto: François Boulay

Conclusion.

   All Dr. Wetbrain could do in this bar is raise his green beer mug and yell out, “Here’s to St. Patrick!” Everyone drank their green beer also.

The Best History of Beer.

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The Best History of Beer.

 

     Beer must be the most ancient common denominator of mankind. Throughout history, priests used beer for religious symbolism and by doctors for medical reasons. Most have promoted it as a healthy drink, others thought it was a drink brewed from the river Styx in Hell.

Dr. Wetbrain took a swig of his beer and continued with his beer history. You know Harold, nobody knows for sure when and where beer was first brewed. Because the malting process with grain had to be worked. So, it’s a good chance the prehistoric nomads accidentally made beer from grain and water before even learning to make bread.

Picture this, a grubby nomad, hungry and thirsty from traveling for weeks on the road, realizes that in his satchel there is this frothy rotting liquid of water and grain that somehow unified at the beginning of his trip. At this very moment he thought, this should not go to waste, might even help his dehydrated, starving situation. So, he decided to gulp down whatever this pungent liquid mixture was. Suddenly, he was feeling great. No more sore muscles and all the girls and goats along his trek looked… HOT.

Now then there was Noah thinking, ‘all these stinking animals on this little boat. and for how long??’ Thinking of this he made sure that the provisions on his ark included lots of beer.

 

Through ancient drawings we know for sure that since 4000 BC, beer was drunk. Then it was called ‘Mead’. 4300 BC, recipes for beer were detailed on Babylonian clay tablets. The Babylonians eventually made beer in large quantities with approximately 20 varieties. Beer was so valued then, that it was used as payment to the workers. We do the same thing now, only we take the money route to get beer.

In Egypt, about 3500 BC, beer was a common drink and valued so much that the wealthier Egyptians were buried in their tombs with their precious trinkets and precious beer. When they saw their god at the Pearly Gates he said, “The beer is a very nice gesture…. the trinkets must go, no use for them here.” By 1600 BC, Egyptian medical texts had around 100 prescriptions calling for beer.

“Me too!” Thank you, Dr. Wetbrain.

During Medieval times beer was highly used for trading, labor payment and taxes. Really! You had to give someone part of your beer stash for tax. I don’t think so. Oh, wait. We do that when we purchase beer now. “Like 80% tax.” Dr. Wetbrain belts out.

Eventually by 1200 AD, beer brewing is firmly established commercially. Produced and sold especially in Austria, Germany, Iceland, Finland and England.

In the 1490s Columbus found North American Natives making beer out of corn and black birch sap. The question is, how long have Natives been doing this for? Long before our friend the nomad, perhaps?

 

It has been noted that in the late 1500s in England, Queen Elizabeth the First, for breakfast drank strong ale. Alright Queenie! Drunk by noon.

1620 the Pilgrim’s beer supply on their three ships was running low. That’s why they landed at Plymouth Rock. Probably heard the natives had good corn and black birch beer.

U.S. presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both had their own private brew houses.

In 1786 Molson Brewery is founded on the banks of the St. Lawrence River in Montreal, Canada. This fine beer was respectively noted as North America’s oldest beer brand.

1810 Munich establishes Oktoberfest as an official celebration with gallons and gallons of beer. “Where’s my tuba?”, Dr. Wetbrain excitedly questions.

      Beer has been around a long time and is here to stay.

 

Well, with such a variety of beers, ales, lagers, stouts and porters from all over the world. And with all the bars, saloons, taverns and night clubs, beer is here to stay. When humans move to Mars, they will have beer for that seven-to-eight month journey. And will make a batch as soon as they arrive. It’s human nature. Harold nods his head in agreement.

 

         

Dr. Wetbrain