One man dared.

[david_42]

Please note: In the USA all packaged foods must have nutrition labels, but it is illegal to say anything on an ale label about nutrition! One man dared. He's dead now.

Bert Grant's food analysis for his Scottish Ale

The recently deceased founder of Yakima Beverages, a famed Washington microbrewery, Bert Grant was a Canadian brewery chemist in the 1940s when the discoveries were made that beer was an ideal source of B-complex vitamins. Armed with this personal history, he had his favorite microbrew analyzed by Seibel Laboratories.

Satisfied, but not surprised, with the results, he configured a sticker containing the analysis to attach to the beer's sixpack cartons so that his customers could make appropriate decisions as do with other common foods. The lab's report included the following nutritional data in a single bottle:

calories, 145
protein, 2.24 grams
carbohydrates, 12.7 grams
fat, none
cholesterol, none
sodium, 8 milligrams
potassium, 195 milligrams

Recommended Daily Allowances
calories, 5.4%
protein, 4.0%
Riboflavin (B2), 4.6%
Niacin, 14.5%
folacin, 62.5%
pyroxin (B6), 13.9%
vitamin B12, 170.0%

 

[Brewiz]

I knew I loved that beer for a reason!

 

[Denny's Evil Concoctions]

That's because the authorities are all afraid the if beer is thought of as a food then:

A) everyone will become an alchoholic (even though beer was a food staple in Europe for centuries).
B) They wouldn't be able to tax it since most countries/provinces/states don't tax food! (which is the real reason beer is not considered a food)​

 

[david_42]

Good point on B. It may also have something to do with:

Butt lite

Provides 12% of your daily requirement of water.

 

[homebrewer_99]

No, it's more like the brewing authorities are afraid to list the ingredients...all of them...

 

[DeRoux's Broux]

Good point on B. It may also have something to do with:

Butt lite

Provides 12% of your daily requirement of water.

beer is food. i had to remember that when i lost 80 lbs!

 

[Denny's Evil Concoctions]

No, it's more like the brewing authorities are afraid to list the ingredients...all of them...

The gvt's perspective is B, but the lobbiests perspective is as you said, I guess that make it "B" and "C". Of course they infer "A".

 

[Genghis77]

Someone mentioned to me that the breweries put formaldahyde into beer as a presevative. I haven't heard about that in over 30 years. But wonder if there is any truth to that. I did see that A-B is the biggest buyer of rice in the US. So, they must use a whole bunch in their beers.

 

[Kaiser]

I did see that A-B is the biggest buyer of rice in the US. So, they must use a whole bunch in their beers.

They propably put in as much as the enzymes provided by the 2row (yes, bud contains barley as well) can handle. But I wouldn't be surprised if they also add enzymes to their mash.

Kai

 

[DeRoux's Broux]

on the brewery tour at SSaint Arnold's in Houston, Brock Wagner (owner) has a list of ingredients found in "other" commercial beers. you'd be suprised. it was like 3-5 pages long. asbestos is one that comes to mind......

i need to see if he'll give me a copy

 

[david_42]

You haven't seen anything until you read a list of what the tobacco companies put in cigs. Basically, anything that has been approved as "food" or an additive can go in tobacco without any labelling.

 

[Genghis77]

on the brewery tour at SSaint Arnold's in Houston, Brock Wagner (owner) has a list of ingredients found in "other" commercial beers. you'd be suprised. it was like 3-5 pages long. asbestos is one that comes to mind......

i need to see if he'll give me a copy

Now, asbestos is one ingredient I don't want in my beer. Makes me think insulation from the ceiling and pipes is dropping into the vats.

Like the difference between human and pet foods pertains to how many parts per million of rodent feces and bugs are in the food. The idea that food contains any is revolting. I remember in the 50's they would recall cranberries nearly every year due to DDT contamination. Then there were milk recalls due to Strontium 90. Now,it seems they stay silent about food dangers for the most part. Only thing you ever hear about is e coli.

 

[DeRoux's Broux]

well, the asbestos comes from the spring water that's used. even micron filtrering doesn't cut it.

 

[merc]

Someone mentioned to me that the breweries put formaldahyde into beer as a presevative. I haven't heard about that in over 30 years. But wonder if there is any truth to that.

There is a lot of truth to that, but I don't know of any in North America or Europe. The only ones I've had with formaldahyde were from east Asia and Africa. Singha, Sing-Gold (both from Thialand/Cambodia), Tusker (Kenya), and a few others I can't remember or am mentally blocking. It's definately an aquired taste...