Sorry Ben, But Beer Doesn’t Love Me

A few months ago, I wrote a blog called “Ben Was Right... Mostly” about a quote accredited to Benjamin Franklin regarding how beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. That post also was about how I had discovered that I could no longer drink beer as it makes me extremely sick. Several people have suggested I try gluten free beer, or ciders, as a substitute. Alas, as of yesterday, I’ve surmised that even those options are closed to me. I recently went golfing with a friend; and event that, in the past, involved drinking beer more than it did actually playing golf. Knowing that I couldn’t drink beer, I bought a 16oz can of Mike’s Hard Lemonade instead. The end result was not pleasant.

By the time I got home, I had a horrible headache and felt nauseous. I went to bed at 4:00 in the afternoon, thinking I just needed a nap. I didn’t get up until 5:00am this morning. During that thirteen hours, I tossed, turned, threw up, and generally felt miserable as hell.

I really wish I knew for certain what happened that I can no longer drink beer, or even beer-like beverages, without getting so sick. It’s odd that I can drink liquor and mixed drinks without becoming so incapacitated. I would think, logically, that it should be the other way around, considering the much stronger nature of whiskey, rum, and vodka.

Whatever the reason, it’s become clear that I shall never be able to enjoy the simple pleasure of a cold beer again, I’m afraid.

~ JC

Ben Was Right... Mostly

“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” - Benjamin Franklin

Now, I don't know if the above quote is accurate or apocryphal, but I have to agree with it wholeheartedly. Beer has been around for thousands of years, believed to date back to as much as 6000 BCE. I really do like beer. In the past year I've become a bit of a beer snob, even, preferring imports and micro-brews to the more common domestic brands.

Unfortunately, and to my dismay, I've recently discovered that I can no longer drink it. The last few times I've enjoyed a nice cold brew, or two, I've awoken the next day to nausea, headache and just generally feeling like total shit. Now, naturally, I'm sure you're first thought is, “Well, you drank to much is all and had a hang over.” I'd agree with that except that it just happened yesterday after having one beer on Friday night. One, and maybe a half. So, not even two beers, and not even a buzz resulted in me being in bed sick all day the following day. Compare that to my being able to have several mixed drinks (Whiskey and Diet Cola or Rum and Diet Cola being the most common), which I tend to make rather strong without having the same sickness the next day and the conclusion ends up being that it's not the amount of alcohol, but something else within beer that's making me sick.

I hate that beer has become something I can no longer enjoy. It's certainly cheaper than liquor and there are so many different varieties that I was hoping to try. I have no clue what it is about beer that makes me so sick, I just know it makes me a little sad that I can no longer enjoy this blessing from God.

~ JC