Is this hobby killing us?

[smcinco]

I used to have one homebrew a day but took a three month break with no beer when training for a marathon. It was quite eye opening seeing how better I felt in the mornings. After the marathon I have been having one or two beers per week at night and I can definitely feel the effect in the morning. Taking a clean break re-calibrates your body to what life is like without alcohol. I then read a few articles on the carcinogenic effect of alcohol. Basically it seems that there is no safe level of alcohol as a carcinogen.

https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/alcohol/alcohol-fact-sheet

I still drink beer but am sure that it is not good for me so keep it in low quantities.

Was the realization that you weren't going to feel any better than when you woke up depressing?

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

A lot of people out there concerned about living as long as possible and doing what it takes to do that. Because of that, some people choose to moderate their consumption or cut it out entirely.

Personally, I know that I'll die someday - maybe this week, maybe in 40 years. Could be from a car accident, could be from carrots. But until that happens, I'm not going to worry too much about preventing it. I'm going to do what I can to enjoy my life in a respectable way, while not blatantly destroying my body.

As Stonewall Jackson said,
"My religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me. That is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave."

 

[TheAleRunner]

I used to have one homebrew a day but took a three month break with no beer when training for a marathon. It was quite eye opening seeing how better I felt in the mornings. After the marathon I have been having one or two beers per week at night and I can definitely feel the effect in the morning.

Dang, I usually up my beer intake during marathon training. I mean, what's the point of running all those miles if I can't have a few beers afterward?

But seriously, some days I have no beer, others I have six beers. I generally find that two is the sweet spot where I can enjoy those beers, yet still wake up feeling good for my morning 6 miler. No food or drink after 8pm seems to work for me as well.

 

[kh54s10]

I used to have one homebrew a day but took a three month break with no beer when training for a marathon. It was quite eye opening seeing how better I felt in the mornings. After the marathon I have been having one or two beers per week at night and I can definitely feel the effect in the morning. Taking a clean break re-calibrates your body to what life is like without alcohol. I then read a few articles on the carcinogenic effect of alcohol. Basically it seems that there is no safe level of alcohol as a carcinogen.

https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/alcohol/alcohol-fact-sheet

I still drink beer but am sure that it is not good for me so keep it in low quantities.

That study is flawed. All those people also ate carrots!!!

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

Funny about running and marathon training - when I was training and running 30+ miles a week, I definitely drank more. Cheers to you, but all my running friends found solace in beer, that's for sure!

 

[Anon111]

Let's not forget: people who have a hobby tend to live longer with better brain quality. I mean: we all use numbers and calculate stuff from here to Tokyo to get proper results.
Myself I don't drink before workdays. Weekends and holidays are busy hobby-days

 

[triethylborane]

I generally only have one HB per day.

Very appropriate if that pool is full of bud light.

 

[MSK_Chess]

I make pretty low alcohol beers 4-5% ABV and think of it like a health drink, all that natural goodness. No beers until after dinner.

 

[Turkeyshot]

I LOVE brewing beer and I love drinking it. I have a few of my home brews every day and there is always that nagging feeling I should cut down. Over the last 5 years doing this nothing in my annual physical blood tests have revealed any problems. I do worry though. Between all the extra calories and alcohol intake, is this hobby I LOVE killing me?

Also worrying about stuff all the time can shorten your life. Worry less, drink more.

 

[johnwpowell]

I make pretty low alcohol beers 4-5% ABV and think of it like a health drink, all that natural goodness. No beers until after dinner.

Nice!!

 

[beersk]

Very appropriate if that pool is full of bud light.

HB would be a Hopfbrau


On a serious note though, I'm more concerned with drinking and the fact that the diabetes run in my family. Alcohol is hard on the liver and pancreas, both of which are in cahoots with the diabetes. Moderation is key, but I definitely over do it from time to time and that worries me. Other than that, I think if you never drink more than 2 or 3 pints at a time, you're probably fine if you keep yourself from becoming a fatass. I ride a bike everyday for transportation, so that helps me a little...

 

[catdaddy66]

Maybe...

But, what a way to go!

 

[TasunkaWitko]

Is this hobby killing us?

No - they've been drinking beer for upwards of 10,000 years....

But, I can see where OCD probably has and probably will end up taking down a lot of us homebrewers.

 

[seatazzz]

I only have two beers each day...the first one and the last one.

 

[normonster]

... I have been having one or two beers per week...[/url]

That is one way to make a 5 gallon batch last.....a lifetime.

 

[normonster]

By saying you drink only 1-2 pints a day you're indicating that you NEVER get drunk, ever.

That has to be BS for most of us. I don't believe it. Getting drunk is the single reason most of us got into this, whether we say it or not. Not one gets in for the art or the opportunity to pair with food.

 

[Scturo]

You guys are wimps....I'm 64 and drink 3-4 HB's per day...sometimes 5-6 per day on weekends. Healthy as a horse and go to gym 3 times a week. Chill and enjoy a cold one or 3.

'Nuff Said,....I stopped reading this thread after @Brownalemikie's post.

 

[Gonefishing]

Well, not quite 100%.

6.5% of all the people who were born haven't died.

6.5% may not yet have died, but it is 100% that they will.

 

[kh54s10]

By saying you drink only 1-2 pints a day you're indicating that you NEVER get drunk, ever.

That has to be BS for most of us. I don't believe it. Getting drunk is the single reason most of us got into this, whether we say it or not. Not one gets in for the art or the opportunity to pair with food.

Most definitely wrong. I got into it for the fun. I do get drunk sometimes but that surely is not the reason I homebrew. I like being able to make a style of beer that is sometimes difficult to find locally. It is also fun to create something.

Getting hammered was never part of my decision to start brewing!!!!!

 

[Brownalemikie]

Most definitely wrong. I got into it for the fun. I do get drunk sometimes but that surely is not the reason I homebrew. I like being able to make a style of beer that is sometimes difficult to find locally. It is also fun to create something.

Getting hammered was never part of my decision to start brewing!!!!!

You do know that there are non-alcohol beer recipes available don't you? Myself, I drink beer for flavor and a mild buzz

 

[bigdawg86]

Just more science to reinforce drinking...

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/883536

 

[Lefou]

Contrary to some popular opinions and misperceptions, there are a few of us around who didn't get into this hobby to feed compulsive disorders or kill ourselves in the process with imperial "this-or-thats", hop bombs, or trendy competition winners.
If killing myself was the point, there are far faster and more efficient ways to do so. I won't go there, Ozzy Osbourne's already done that.

For me, needing to get buzzed is purely secondary to learning how to create something enjoyable, maybe even better or less expensive than what's available in the commercial market. Creative homebrewing used to be some dimly-understood, arcane process I'd never really taken seriously. It took someone else to kickstart a late-blooming, latent learning effort that I hope continues on for a while longer. Sometimes creative genius comes from simple need, but no one really needs beer - but without it, life would be pretty boring and less enjoyable.

 

[Iseneye]

That is one way to make a 5 gallon batch last.....a lifetime.

I love to brew and I give away a huge chunk of my beer to friends.

With regards to your comment regarding the main reason we all brew beer for a buzz, I disagree. There are numerous reasons for brewing.

 

[Lefou]

One of the best motivations is to share a good beer.
Appreciation is great validation for a successful effort - heck, even disgust and complaints are useful, but good feedback is even better.
I've made fusel bomb wine and acrid, sour beers simply because I didn't know any better. Those mistakes were a big part of the learning process and a foundation for better beer. That, and thanks to a lot of people willing to share, Lefou is a better-informed, smarter guy than he was a couple years ago.

 

[BeerAddikt]

By saying you drink only 1-2 pints a day you're indicating that you NEVER get drunk, ever.

That has to be BS for most of us. I don't believe it. Getting drunk is the single reason most of us got into this, whether we say it or not. Not one gets in for the art or the opportunity to pair with food.

I absolutely hate being drunk. I love that 2-3 beers-in buzz but for me it's all downhill from there. Does that stop me from continuing to drink...HELL NO...I adore the taste of beer.

Beer + My Taste Buds = A Match Made in Heaven!! :rockin:

 

[rhys333]

Meh. I brew 3.5 - 5.5% beers and drink in moderation. Sometimes one beer or no beer at all. Sometimes two or three. I bike a lot during the summer, x-country ski and walk an hour a day in winter. I'm a lean mean sexy machine and I like my beer.

 

[dawn_kiebawls]

I typically drink a 6 pack a day and I would likely drink more, but I limit myself by only refrigerating 6 bottles at a time. Is that excessive? Probably. Do I enjoy it? Absolutely! I'm sure I would wake up a little easier and not have to work so hard to stay in shape, but over all I'm healthy. Last summer I hiked the 2,200+ mile Appalachian Trail in 111 days and would have reached my goal of 99 days but I became more interested in finding breweries in trail towns (and there were a LOT) than shaving off 12 days! Anyway, if carrots don't get us, there's a long list of things waiting to pounce!

 

[kh54s10]

That has to be BS for most of us. I don't believe it. Getting drunk is the single reason most of us got into this, whether we say it or not. Not one gets in for the art or the opportunity to pair with food.

Most definitely wrong. I got into it for the fun. I do get drunk sometimes but that surely is not the reason I homebrew. I like being able to make a style of beer that is sometimes difficult to find locally. It is also fun to create something.

Getting hammered was never part of my decision to start brewing!!!!!

You do know that there are non-alcohol beer recipes available don't you? Myself, I drink beer for flavor and a mild buzz

Did you read the post that I made the reply to??

I don't need or want a non-alcohol beer.

As I said getting hammered was not an idea that I had when I decided to get into brewing. Not to say that I don't get hammered from time to time. Also, I almost always drink a couple and get a mild buzz.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Very appropriate if that pool is full of bud light.

I don't know, is bud light good enough for swimming? It's not one I'd want to drink.

 

[beermanpete]

Only one glass of beer per day, you say? Ok, then I get to choose the glass size.