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Beer Breakdown

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:17:12 PST

With Super Bowl Sunday this weekend, I'm sure you're planning on washing down your bowl of chili with a cold one. I sometimes call beer "liquid bread" because of all the carbs, so it's good to know that not all beers are created equally, especially when it comes to calories.

If you're watching your waistline and enjoying an ice cold brew, you'll probably want see how they compare. The numbers may surprise you. Keep reading to find out which beer contains the fewest calories.

5 Beers We're Digging Right Now

YumSugar — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 03:46:49 PST

We really love our wine series, but there's no denying that occasionally, all you want is a cold one. (OK, more often than that.) This week, we put aside our decanters and Riedel glasses in favor of a few brewskis. From a limited-edition Winter wheat to a banana bread beer, here are five fantastic brews we're totally into right now.

6 Christmas Beers We're Digging Right Now

YumSugar — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:53:06 PST

Baby, it may be cold outside, but in spite of that nippy Winter weather, we can't help but crave the Christmas cheer that comes with sipping on the frosty lip of a seasonal beer.

'Tis the season for deeper, richer ales that go with the holidays, and it seems impossible to walk by the liquor section of the grocery store without spotting a bevy of limited-edition, yuletide-themed bottles, calling out to us with names such as Santa's Butt and Rude Elf's Reserve. Who wouldn't be intrigued?

This week, we stocked the icebox with a bunch of different beers we think Saint Nick would certainly approve of. Here are five festive Christmas beers we're totally into right now.

5 Beers We're Digging This Week

YumSugar — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:12:04 PST

We really love our wine series, but there's no denying that occasionally, all you want is a cold one. (OK, more often than that.) This week, we put aside our decanters and Riedel glasses in favor of a few brewskis. From a limited-edition Samuel Adams ale to the latest cerveza to head stateside, here are five fantastic beers we're totally into right now.

5 Beers We're Digging Right Now

YumSugar — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 03:22:24 PDT

We really love our wine series, but there's no denying that occasionally, all you want is a cold one. (OK, more often than that.) This week, we put aside our decanters and Riedel glasses in favor of a few brewskies. From a Belgian tripel to a pumpkin-tinged ale, here are five fantastic beers we're totally into right now.

Savory Sight: Natty Boh Beer Cupcakes

Yum Community — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 10:35:50 PDT

Beer isn't just for drinking. It's also good for making cupcakes, like these cute mustachioed cupcakes that Eatswimshop posted in our Kitchen Goddess group.

It's Baltimore Beer Week, and while I don't really like beer, I do like cupcakes. I decided to celebrate by making cupcakes with the beer most associated with Baltimore: National Bohemian (or Natty Boh).

Natty Boh tastes similar to Corona to me, so I added some lime along with the beer in the cake batter and frosting. I topped them with Mr. Boh's mustache (made with Baltimorean Duff's black fondant). The cupcakes turned out really well - very light and fluffy, with a faint taste (and smell) of beer. See the recipe and more photos at Eat. Swim. Shop.

Share your own sweet treats and food photos in our Kitchen Goddess and Savory Sights groups.

5 Beers We're Digging This Week

YumSugar — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 13:00:41 PDT

We really love our wine series, but there's no denying that occasionally, all you want is a cold one. (OK, more often than that.) This week, we put aside our decanters and Riedel glasses in favor of a few brewskis. From a Belgian strong pale ale to a Belgian-style pale ale from Chicago, here are five fantastic beers we're totally into right now.

Tsingtao Beer: The Perfect Foil to Szechuan Spice

Anna Monette Roberts — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 05:41:58 PDT

Szechuan food originated from the Southwest part of China and is beloved for its numbing spiciness, especially due to the Sichuan peppercorns and chili peppers, both staples in Szechuan cuisine. It's easy to go overboard in hotness factor, so if you find yourself coughing and steam blowing out of your ears, whatever you do, don't reach for water or tea. Reach for a traditional Chinese beer instead.

Spicy oils will spread over your tongue and burn further if you try to wash them down with water. Many people will recommend drinking milk or eating some form of dairy, but it's unlikely that you'll find dairy in a Chinese restaurant. Plain white rice can ease some of the burn, but I find the most delicious, refreshing way to neutralize your sizzling buds is through Tsingtao Lager, a well-known Chinese beer.

Tsingtao has been in production since 1903, is the number one consumer product exported from China and the best-selling Chinese beer. Its sweet, malty flavor and cooling, crisp bubbles will cut through any overbearing spiciness and perfectly complements traditional Szechuan dishes like ma po tofu. How do you get rid of spicy flavors on your palate?

Source: Flickr User Sean Davis

Cheers! Vintage Beer Ads For Women

Annie Scudder — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 14:17:34 PDT

The marketing minds behind a new beer came up with a not-so-subtle way to sell it to women: package it in pink and call it "Chick Beer." It's not the first brewski brand to target women specifically. Advertisers are old pros at using clichés and generalizations about women in hopes of getting them to buy their hops. Let's put on our beer goggles and take a look at past female-targeted beer ads.

Move Over Wine! It's Time to Pair Cheese With Beer

Katie Sweeney — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:03:44 PDT

When it comes to pairing cheese with an alcoholic beverage, most people think of wine. However, beer is actually an excellent choice for serving with cheese. I was skeptical at first, but after attending a seminar on cheese and beer pairings hosted by the Milk Board of Wisconsin, I'm a total convert. Cheese and beer do work well together!

What makes them perfect for pairing? Well, beer and cheese have a rich joint history. The grain used to make beer on farms or in monasteries was, in many cases, the same grain that was fed to the animals that produce the cheese. Beer and cheese can also take on similar flavor profiles; both can be described as earthy, yeasty, musty, carmeley, etc. Interested in learning more about this popular trend? Keep reading for tips on how to pair beer and cheese.