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From: rcd@opus.UUCP (Dick Dunn)
Newsgroups: net.wines
Subject: Re: wineache (beerache)
Message-ID: <1101@opus.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 19-Feb-85 20:39:45 EST
Article-I.D.: opus.1101
Posted: Tue Feb 19 20:39:45 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 21-Feb-85 05:47:59 EST
References: <1043@tekgvs.UUCP> <387@hou5h.UUCP>
Organization: NBI,Inc, Boulder CO
Lines: 40

> But I can live with that.  What really eats my curiosity is this --
> "Why do US beers and some european lagers (eg Heineken) give me vicious
> headaches and upset stomaches if I drink any more than three?"
> (and sometimnes it can be two).  Whereas my tollerance of Molson is about
> four bottles,  of guinness is around 5-6 pints (before headaches, not before
> getting drunk) and of most English beers is also around 5-6 pints.  It appears
> to be nothing to do with strength either alcoholic or "body" -- it must be
> either something to do with the fermentation process (bottom brewed versus
> top brewed?)

Assuming that Molson's is a true ale (brewed with an ale yeast) this might
be the distinction.  Ales and lagers are made with different species of
yeasts (not just different strains), so you might be particularly sensitive
to some byproduct of fermentation that comes only from lager yeast (or from
a less aerobic fermentation).

HOWEVER, beware of using this as a criterion.  Labeling laws in the U.S.
are slightly on the far side of idiotic--a beverage may be labeled "ale"
because the law requires it based on alcoholic content, regardless of the
yeast used!

Anyone else have this same effect?  Have you tried some of the "true" ales
in the U.S., such as Anchor Liberty Ale or Sierra Nevada Pale Ale?

There's an off-chance of a reaction being tied to a particular variety of
hops, though that would be hard to test since it's hard to find out which
brewers use which varieties and most of them use combinations.

> ...  Anyone
> know of any distinguishing ingredients?  A friend suggested it might be
> rice -- any rice in Heineken or Beck's ?  Is there less rice in Molson than
> Budweiser or Miller Light? (Yes, lights are just as bad as regular beers).

Rice content may be significant in U.S. beers, but you won't find it in
German beers (as long as they're made in Germany--Lowenbrau is NOT a German
beer, for example).  Rice wouldn't be allowed by the Reinheitsgebot [unless
there's a way to malt it?!??]
-- 
Dick Dunn	{hao,ucbvax,allegra}!nbires!rcd		(303)444-5710 x3086
   ...Relax...don't worry...have a homebrew.