Ah, the hangover. One moment you’re the king of the sesh and the next, you’re waking up with a head like broken glass and a mouth like a bag of cat litter. But have you ever wondered what actually causes a hangover? As it turns out, there are a few culprits to blame for that pounding headache and queasy stomach that you might not expect.
Alcohol
First up is alcohol. Shocking, isn’t it? But in all seriousness, alcohol does some strange things to the body. As anyone who enjoys a cheeky pint will attest, drinking eventually leads to having to ‘strain the spuds’ a bit more often than usual. And the more you relieve yourself, the more fluids and electrolytes you lose leading to dehydration.
So why does alcohol cause you to drain the ol garden hose more often? As it turns out, alcohol reduces your kidney’s ability to reabsorb water. Since it can’t be absorbed, there’s only one other place for the water to go. Or several places if you’ve had a few too many and your aim is a bit off. So, be sure to hydrate on your nights out with plenty of water.
Now, let’s talk about the headache. Oh, sweet J**** the headache! That lovely thumping in your head can be caused by a few different things but we’ll focus on the usual suspect. For starters, alcohol is a vasodilator, which means it widens the blood vessels in your brain. And when your brain gets more blood than it bargained for, it protests by giving you a headache. Throw in a bit of spinning and a slight irritation of the stomach, then you’ve got just the right combination to baptise your porcelain throne with your stomachs unholy offerings.
But what you might not know is that not all alcohols are created equal. In fact, some may affect your body more than others.
Higher Alcohols
Higher alcohols are like the unwanted house guests of the alcohol world. They show up unannounced, wreck the place, and can ruin the experience for everyone. If you’ve ever had that ‘paint stripper taste’ in your mouth after having a cheap beer or a discounted bottle of vodka, you’re already familiar with higher alcohols. They’re produced during the fermentation process and are notorious for causing more severe hangover symptoms than regular alcohols.
So why do so many large-scale breweries’ beers have higher alcohols? It’s like they want to punish your taste buds and your liver at the same time! Well, the truth is, some breweries are just too impatient. They’ll use all sorts of chemical shortcuts to get their beer out the door faster, but at what cost? Lower quality beer, that’s what. And these higher alcohols are no joke. Your body has a significantly harder time breaking down these higher alcohols as opposed to more standard alcohols like ethanol. This slow build up higher alcohol can lead to some nasty hangovers, not to mention increasing the risk of alcohol related health problems.
Brewing Methods
If you’ve ever traveled to countries like Germany or Austria and thought, “Holy schnitzel, this beer tastes better than anything I’ve had back home!” Well, my friend, that’s because even the large-scale breweries in Germans and Austria know how to brew beer the right way. Slow, steady and high-quality natural ingredients wins the race. On the other hand, if you’ve ever had a beer that tasted like it was brewed in a rush, you know the difference between high-quality and low-quality beer.
But here at 9 White Deer Brewery, we do things differently. We take the time to brew our beer the right way, using a more natural, colder brewing process that takes more time, but results in a superior product. Sure, it takes a bit longer, but we’re not in the business of cutting corners. Our beer is crafted with care and our brewing process ensures that you get a beer that’s not only delicious but isn’t trying to leave you bed-ridden the next morning with higher alcohols.
So be sure to drink plenty of water, have a full stomach and of course, go easy with the pints. As our brewing process has taught us, patience is key to enjoying a good pint.
Sláinte!
