beer

Kicking back with a beer isn't that easy when your diet doesn't include gluten. But with more and more people adopting gluten-free diets, many companies are making beer that's free of wheat, barley, rye, and malts. If you're avoiding gluten and are also watching your weight, check out the calorie counts of common gluten-free beers.

*Carb amounts included if available.

Keep reading to see the rest of the gluten-free beers.

Whether you're Irish or not, many of us will be celebrating St. Patrick's Day by knocking back some Jameson whiskey and a pint or two of Guinness — and don't forget the Irish soda bread! Before you start feeling too bad about the alcohol and carb overload, you'll be glad to know that all those ads from the 1920s that read "Guinness Is Good For You" had some truth to them.

Researchers from a University of Wisconsin study discovered that drinking Guinness reduced blood clots and the risk of heart attacks. Like red wine and dark chocolate, and unlike other beers, Guinness also contains immune-boosting antioxidants. Some other reasons you may want to enjoy a pint of beer on St. Patty's Day: better bones, weight management, and a better memory. This is not a license to go out and get blitzed though. As always, everything is better in moderation, but if you end up kicking back a few too many, check out these hangover cures.

Source: Flickr User Stijn Debrouwere

Creating the perfect black and tan can be hard. If you've never tried to make one, be sure to try it out at home first with no guests to serve. Once you have the technique down, you'll have no trouble trying to re-create this layered beverage for your friends.

There are two different techniques to build the perfect black and tan; I recommend trying both out to see which works best for you.

Pull out your pint glass and slowly pour in the Bass by titling the glass to avoid too much foam. Once the glass is half full, open the Guinness and once again tilt the glass. With a steady hand, pour the Guinness down the side of the glass verrrry slowly.

Another great technique is to pour the Bass into the glass with little to no foam, just like before. Hold a large spoon upside down over the glass and very slowly pour the Guinness over the back of it. Pouring Guinness over the back of a spoon slows the flow of the beer.

Voilà: two ways to pour the perfect black and tan. Still not sure you have it down? Just keep reading for more tips!

Photo: Lauren Hendrickson

With St. Patrick's Day a week away, I went off in search of a timely tipple to enjoy over the weekend. I found a number of drinks that called for ingredients like vermouth and hazelnut whipped cream; they sounded delicious, but rather contradictory to the rowdy spirit of St. Patty's.

I finally landed on a Guinness milkshake. It embodies the boisterous beer drinking of March 17, with a nostalgic nod to youth. The combination might sound questionable, but I promise that the frothy, chocolaty Guinness is the perfect foil for sweet vanilla ice cream. For the single step recipe, read on.

St. Patrick's Day comes with green food and a whole lot of Guinness beer. If you want to find exciting ways to incorporate this stout into your cooking, you're in luck. We've rounded up our favorite recipes that incorporate Guinness, from beef stew to ice cream.

Irish Onion Soup	Guinness Ice Cream	Black and Tan Cocktail
Guinness Milkshake	Irish Beef and Stout Stew	Chocolate Stout Cake

If you've been known to enjoy a pint or two, then chances are, you'll be raising a glass this month in honor of St. Patrick. But 'fess up: between all that Guinness and red ale, do you know what you're really imbibing? For those who don't, we're here to educate you. It's true that unless you're a science fiend, home brewer, or brewing aficionado, it can be confusing to wrap your head around the different beer varieties — especially since they're all made of water, malted barley, yeast, and hops.

For the most part, beer can be broken down into two major categories. Learn what they are — and their defining characteristics — when you keep reading.

While many of us will be imbibing in merriment on St. Patrick's Day, it's important to keep the booze out of reach of your pet. Just as it does in humans, alcohol causes damage to an animal's brain, central nervous system, and liver, but since pets are much smaller than us, the effects can occur faster and more intensely and even lead to death. If your pet gets their paws on your bevvie, watch them closely for coordination problems, the inability to walk or stand up, drowsiness, vomiting, increased urination, and slowed, shallow breathing. If they display any of these symptoms, get them to a vet right away: these are signs of alcohol poisoning! But the best cure is to avoid it altogether: the luck o' the Irish may not be on your pet's side if he ingests that unattended Guinness.

Source: Flickr User celynek