Hop allergy! I'm allergic to bullshit

Allergic to hops?

Because of this allergy I get a little watery eyed when my friend, Cocktail Sauce, reminds me for the 10,000th time that she is allergic to hops.

....No, she doesn't want to try the new DIPA I got imported from the states.

And yes, she'll come hang out. But when we get to the beer shop/reggae bar and I face the ordering selection in triumph, "what shall we get?!" She politely seeks out a cider.

Oh, right... fuckin hop allergy. What did you do in a past life to be cursed so? I mean, gluten free people are one thing but, as Nutwood from Kentucky so eloquently stated, "if it doesn't have hops, it isn't beer."

More than just a choking hazard...?

Is there really such a thing as being allergic to hops?

Unfortunately yes. It isn't bullshit and it isn't just Asain glow (or mild alcohol allergy), it is a real allergic reaction to hop pollen and it can have some nasty effects. In fact, it turns out you can be allergic to nearly all the essential elements of beer but Cocktail Sauce is 99% sure it's the hops.

What are the symptoms of hop allergy?

Usually hop allergies are fairly mild. Which is the reason Cocktail Sauce will often 'try' the beers I forgetfully bring along as my "I'll bring the drinks," party contribution.

If Cocktail Sauce were to habitually do hop the way that I do she could potentially break out in a skin rash, develop a painful sinus problem coupled with swelling of the mouth and tongue which could possibly lead to anaphylaxis, a life-threatendng whole-body reaction that causes trouble breathing and swells the throat. At which point I would have to call the emergency line (what's 911 in France?) and inevitably have to put down my beer.

Bummer to the max.

What to do if you're allergic to hops?

Avoid hops.

Take non-drowsy Benadryl or another antihistamine to relive some of the allergic reaction symptoms.

Try herbed or spiced beers as they are the widest range of styles that omit the hops.

Drink cider. But why drink cider when you could follow this step by step Champagne Cider guide and make that it yourself!

What to do if you aren't allergic to hops?

XOXO

Then check this shit out:

• 10 hop flavors you should know - Draftmag


• Oregonians are hop crazy! - Here is the Hood River Hops Fest's fresh hop beer selection


• SMaSH Beers for Hops Learnings - BrewDudes do BIAB (brew in a bag)!

Are we taking beer too serious?!

With things like Louisiana State residents not being able to purchase cold beer and Budweiser changing Brazilian law, I can't help but get a little joker faced when I see craft beer people getting petty about beer.

Today I received this message from an unnamed fellow beer blogger:

"Hey, that’s my photo. You’ve copied it from my blog. Please take it down."

I dig it man. That beer porn is important to you. And if it were a picture of your wife, with all her bubbly glory in a high resolution close up, then yeah sure by all means, give me the "hey, that's mine!" message. But, your site was cited and commented on, the picture isn't trade marked and, it isn't like I'm making big bucks off this blog. I'm not upset. I took the post down. It was a shitty old post that I had completely forgot about. What does grate me is this serious approach to selfishness with beer.

People die every day over beer related disputes.

There are folks out there torturing small fuzzy tree animals to make poop bean infused beer, yuppies are paying $120 bottle for shaved truffle pilsner and Africans are making some serious sociological and economical changes with beer. Yet things like beer name disputes are headline news: Godzilla (Mechagodzilla to be specific) kept from stomping around New Orleans beer cans!

Beer is serious in a lot of ways and a lot of people depend on it. Including yours truly. The business of beer drinking and production incompasses many aspects of human life so how about we start this whole world peace bit with some hand to can to hand.

If nothing else, then give me a high five for extending a link to your beer blog, bro.

NOTE TO ALL MY READERS :

You have free reign to use anything from my site in any way you effing like so long as you credit me.

Beeririously.

Sharing is caring! If not our actual cans of beer, then at least the beerographic snap shots we post on the internet.

XOXO

Been trying new beer lately?

I know you have

Kevin Spacey knows. I know. No way of getting around it. Us beer folks have an attraction to beers we've never tried before. You know what I mean.

Blame Untappd for handing out badges, or bbc for touting the health benefits, but nothing can keep my hands from turning into bottle magnets with I see an uncategorized brew.



My friend pulled out these highbrow looking brews she had picked up in Bretagne and, although I immediately deduced from the labeling that they were commercial grade crap, I had to touch them. What are the ingredients? When was it bottled? And, what's the alcohol content?

One of the main things that keep me trying new beers that I know I'm not going to like is that the alcohol content isn't worth the palate assault. I'd rather drink shitty wine at a dirty bar than sip on low grade beer. Call me enterprising.

After giving the bottle a full examination, I dropped my beer snob barrier (it's not like all beers need to sheep shit smoked) and progressed to the tasting.

Also known as, getting drunk.

Nearly all the beers my generous hostess pulled from the cooler were over 7% abv. And since I don't actually use Untappd, I don't remember that much about em.

For you, my dear friends and readers, I'll try to give you some details about the Britt brand beers that I tried (to remember):



Gwiniz Du is 5.4% abv something or other which is made from the black buckwheat that is used in Bretagne to make black crepes. Which are delicious, so that's why I remember that, naturally.



Golden Dremmwel Bio is an organic 7.7% abv belgian style blond which didn't taste organic at all.

Celtika is an 8.8% abv lager, which has a very metal label. The devilish character on the front resembles the pro/antagonist in one of the best computer games of all time : Dungeon Keeper 2!

There were more I'm fairly sure, or just repeats of these ones but since you've seen the alcohol percentages I was swillin on, so I'm sure you can understand my lack of note taking ability. I had to touch them. I had to try them. Now that I have, I won't likely do it again.

Have you tried any new beers lately? Leave me a comment and I'll see if I remember having tried it. Or... if I don't remember.

XOXO

In other news:

• Educate yourself! -> About beer in Indiana state, with this half hour long documentary


• Wish I was there! -> Bar discounts beer as goals are made for Germany vs Brazil match. 50 cent beers anyone?


• For Shabbat-> Drink a He'Brew


• It's the small things -> Rats cause emergency shut down of UK brewery. Oh rats.

HopZine and Tasting Nitch in Scotland

While galavanting around the Scottish landscape, gathering crew members for my #BroDogs4Life team, I convinced Rob over at HopZine to film a video with me. Mostly because I found a beer with a dangly goat on it and I wanted to force him to JUMP CUT ME!!

Check it out.

The Beer :

Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock

The Bar :

CASC

The Bar, might I add, is one of the coolest joints in town (aside from BrewDog, of coursey) with a walk in cigar humidor, lovely craft beer selection and friendly knowledable staff (who know lots of dirty Scottish jokes!) If you're in the area, don't miss it!

Dig into more of my adventures from the BrewDog hosted event in Aberdeen by checking out my recent post on the event. Don't forget to scroll to the end and listen to Jonny from The Craft Beer Channel serenading his beer.

Who shall I collaborate with next?

XOXO

Working with beer quacks @ Le Supercoin

Le Supercoin

in Paris's 18th district is not only a pretentious people free zone that houses a grand collection of local French beers but it's also my most recent beery place of employment.



Coin in French means quack.

Us super beer coin-coins have been gobbling up some of the newest beers from our French super team :

• Nouveaux Mondes - Brasserie du Mont Saleve (Rhones-Alpes) 8%  Nose of passion fruits and mango, the smells persists onto the taste with a nice round bitterness. It is all rather sweet and super balanced. Double IPA - 4€ 33cl


• La 11 - Collabortaion of 11 brewers from Ile de France for Paris Beer Week 5.5% A blonde beer that is super dry but very fruity, herbatous on the taste and delightfully bitter. (each of the 11 brewers added brought a different hop strain to add!) Hoppy pale ale - €4 33cl


• Orange mécanique - Brasserie Sainte Crucienne 7% A soft fruity and perfumed nose with light hints of floral honey, clove and caramel malts. The taste is agreeable with a fine texture. Agreeing with the smell, honey and caramel malts are present in a nicely balanced, simple beer. Amber ale - €4 33cl


• Rêve d'étoiles - Brasserie Bendorf (Alsace) 5.8% A dark super hoppy beer with a nofruity nose, rounded taste and a fnishe that is very hoppy.  Black IPA - €4 33cl / €9 75cl


• Triple Hot - Brasserie Thiriez (Nord-Pas-de-Calais) 5.5% Nice body .. Blonde with a nose of ginger, not sugary but close to a candy, with a little bitter on the f inish and a an after taste of spicey pepper. Hoppy blond - €4 33cl

Among the mass of craft beers are a mix of people. Local's drinking diablo menthe  (7up with mint syrup) or espressos, FIFA fanatics, friends after work, beery types who prefer long stem glass ware, occasional expats and Claudia.

[caption id="attachment_2858" align="alignnone" width="640"] Claudia and Me being professional coin-coins[/caption]

We get the coolest people and the craziest in at Supercoin. Some sit around taking photos of their beer and others order mojitos at midnight (more on my hatred of mojitos in French later). I've heard people conversing in nearly every major global language, but yet the feeling of being at a local pub persists.

What Supercoin has over other Parisian beer bars is a real sense of Cheers. Everyone here might not know your name (which is likely a good thing) but they do trust you to pay your tab without leaving a credit card and they aren't going to cut you off if you drink too much. Come - be drunk - be quacky - mind your own self and have an everyday pub experience with outstanding French artesanal beers.

Check out the website for menu and event updates, like the facebook cuz your cool or follow on twitter to keep in the know!

5pm-2am Tuesday to saturday (last call at 1:30am) - 5pm-midnight Sunday - Closed Monday



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