Healthy Beer, Sad Heart
Categories: Featured, General beer discussions
Written By: beer_scientist
My little brother just sent me a link to “the best” beers to drink on the Men’s Health website. They list 40 beers, with Bigfoot by Sierra Nevada as number 40. It has something like 330 calories. Best beer to drink on the list? You guessed it, MGD 64. So, the best is the the worst? Is that it, now? Of course, the fundamental issues in the article is more along the lines that a couple of beers is actually good for your health, so here is beer without the flavor and calories in lieu of a better life.
Let’s think about this: the top beers listed are light lagers/pilsners. Guinness makes the list as a better 136-calorie beer, but there is little on the list besides lagers and a couple of stouts and other English Ales. Of course the Bigfoot Barley-wine is going to be one of the heaviest on calories. It’s a big beer that is supposed to have a fair amount of residual sweetness–hence sugar, hence calories. But it’s unique and an experience that is outside what is essentially the same beer listed over and over (especially the “good” ones).
Don’t get me wrong, I run 3 or 4 times a week, do pull-ups, push-ups, dips, stomach exercises and a plethora of other healthy actions. I watch my diet and eat meals that are optimal for health. I love being fit and have a good quality of life, as far as my health is concerned. I do love the health benefits of beer. Here’s the thing, though. I eat less meat than I used to, but when I do eat it, I eat a rib-eye or filet over cubed steak. Why? I want to taste it. I want the caloric intake. I want a memorable experience. What do you want when you eat a meal? Insipidity? Commonality? Pedestrian experience? I didn’t think so. I think (or I wish) that we are all Epicures in our hearts. Not the snotty variety, just those who appreciate goodness. Am I wrong?
Life is a long journey of some very forgettable experiences. Day to day life can be a drag at times. Ever said, “Same shit, different day” (or expressed that sentiment)? I know I have. Life is too short to be drinking flavorless beverages. Maybe cutting out loaded nachos or including a good beer as a daily part of one’s caloric intake is a more viable solution than dumbing down our taste buds. That’s my take and solution to Men’s Health’s approach to beer. Better beer is actually way worse in the case of the Men’s Health list.
Calories? That’s the sticking point? If I take in some extra calories while drinking good beer, then I’ll just have to deal with that. Worst case senario is that I die a couple of years sooner or carry a bit extra weight. I’d rather live now than live longer but not really live at all. What about you?
February 4th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
UGH!!! I couldn’t agree with you more. Very well put. I’d much rather have to run three miles to justify every couple of beers than to drink mindlessly (and palatelessly) any day of the week.
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February 4th, 2010 at 12:18 pm
Thank you for saying that. I’m always like…ten more minutes run will take care of that caloric intake. Thanks for stopping by we hope to see you some more.
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February 4th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
Additionally, basing this rating purely on caloric intake is silly. It completely ignores other benefits of beer. For instance, stronger beers tend to have more nutritional value than a light lager. Think whole grain wheat bread vs. white bread.
Taking the Men’s Health logic to the extreme, a diet of celery and water is best for us all.
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February 4th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
Funny, I also read a beer list from the same magazine a couple years ago…in that article “best” meant quality, not low cal. They touted the health benefits of antioxidants in a good flavorful beer. Check this one out, its similar to what I remember reading…http://www.menshealth.com/men/nutrition/food-for-fitness/healthy-beer/article/a9ce8fec5d1b7110vgnvcm10000013281eac
And my favorite beer is in there, Tapistes Rocheforte 8!
Mike you’re right, its about quality – not quantity. Moderation. However, when it comes to beer I don’t think you will die a couple years earlier…but you’ll lower your risk of cancer! So that’s pretty cool.
MGD 64! Puh-lease! Might as well drink tonic water.
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February 5th, 2010 at 6:41 am
Everyone has their own definition of ‘best’. I imagine that the Bud Select 55 will be next year’s ‘best’ beer!
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February 5th, 2010 at 10:55 am
@Tex. That’s exactly what I was driving at with calories, except you did add a good point. Antioxidants in darker beers are a consideration. You added another nice dimension to this post. That’s why I like our readers so much…you guys (and gals) add to the conversation.
@Kirk. That goes for you too. Thanks for pointing out the article that they did about beer with taste. Rochefort 8 is my favorite Trappist, so that’s a cool commonality that we have. Cool! Cancer free sounds like a good future.
@Scott. You’re probably right. I wish that such a beer never existed.
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February 10th, 2010 at 9:00 am
I will take the extra calories for a better beer drinking experience. I can just exercise a little bit more, or not have fast food that day or week. Active people usually need more than 2200 calories a day anyway. Another way to look at the beer arguement is this… How many more beers are people drinking in one sitting off that list of 40? Most of the beers on that list, you could argue that people are having 2, 3 or even more? I know when I want a good beer, I am good with 1 or 2 in one sitting. So how many more calories and I really comsuming by drinking less in quantity of something that tastes exponentially better?
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beer_scientist Reply:
February 10th, 2010 at 9:57 am
@Rich. Good point. I didn’t mention it but I think the list is really about being able to drink more and not get fat. People know that they can knock back 5 MGD 64 for one Bigfoot.
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