Can you beer experts help me out

[Albionwood]

Think, most regional beers were made based on that location. Stouts tend to come from regions that are cooler in temperatures. And while today anyone and anywhere can make a stout, you'll typically see them in their seasonal form in the winter. So, they tend to be on the heavier side. Lighter lagers and wheat beers like a hefeweizen are typically designed around more warmer climates.

Not really. Guinness Stout is not a "heavy" beer, it is a light-bodied low-alcohol beer made for people who like to drink several pints in a night. (Called "session beers" in the British Isles.)
It's a common myth that dark = heavy, but there is no truth to it. Most dark beers, and all Stouts, get color and flavor from grain that is kilned or roasted to high temperatures, producing the characteristic roasty flavors (similar to dark-roasted coffees). It only takes a small proportion of the grain bill to get this result, so you can get everything from the light-bodied sessionable stouts like Guinness to the big heavy Imperial Stouts.

The seasonality of beer styles is something that has developed after-the-fact; that is, the beer styles came first and then people decided certain styles went better with particular seasons. The stories behind the development of regional styles of beer are complex and fascinating, often having to do with the local water supply or economics. (Guinness for example probably developed at least in part because the local water supply was not suited for pale ales.)

Getting back to the OP - it's hard to say what triggers migraines, but if Guinness tends to trigger them less than other beers, I'd guess it might be related to the amount of residual sugars. Guinness is a fairly "dry" beer, meaning it has relatively little unfermentable sugar in it (hence the light body). Many other beers, and all of the big heavy-bodied styles, use specialty grains to leave complex unfermentable sugars in the beer, and these can cause adverse reaction in some people (usually digestive, but also headaches and hangovers). However, it could also be any of the other ingredients; most American light lagers use a significant percentage of corn, for example, and some styles use a lot of wheat. Or it could be the hops - Guinness isn't a particularly hoppy beer.

Good luck to you! Migraines are certainly nothing to trifle with. I've only had two and that's enough for me.

 

[Hepar]

Not really. Guinness Stout is not a "heavy" beer, it is a light-bodied low-alcohol beer made for people who like to drink several pints in a night. (Called "session beers" in the British Isles.)
It's a common myth that dark = heavy, but there is no truth to it. Most dark beers, and all Stouts, get color and flavor from grain that is kilned or roasted to high temperatures, producing the characteristic roasty flavors (similar to dark-roasted coffees). It only takes a small proportion of the grain bill to get this result, so you can get everything from the light-bodied sessionable stouts like Guinness to the big heavy Imperial Stouts.

The seasonality of beer styles is something that has developed after-the-fact; that is, the beer styles came first and then people decided certain styles went better with particular seasons. The stories behind the development of regional styles of beer are complex and fascinating, often having to do with the local water supply or economics. (Guinness for example probably developed at least in part because the local water supply was not suited for pale ales.)

Getting back to the OP - it's hard to say what triggers migraines, but if Guinness tends to trigger them less than other beers, I'd guess it might be related to the amount of residual sugars. Guinness is a fairly "dry" beer, meaning it has relatively little unfermentable sugar in it (hence the light body). Many other beers, and all of the big heavy-bodied styles, use specialty grains to leave complex unfermentable sugars in the beer, and these can cause adverse reaction in some people (usually digestive, but also headaches and hangovers). However, it could also be any of the other ingredients; most American light lagers use a significant percentage of corn, for example, and some styles use a lot of wheat. Or it could be the hops - Guinness isn't a particularly hoppy beer.

Good luck to you! Migraines are certainly nothing to trifle with. I've only had two and that's enough for me.

I was definitely over-simplifying the distinctions, but just wanted to convey the idea of different beers for different scenarios.

 

[Hepar]

thank you, after doing some research I have learned that Guinness is a stout ale while most Mexican beer are lagers, so I guess nothing is similar. I guess I will try Guinness , and maybe just try a few different brews of Mexican beer and see what happens.

I do sort of feel like Guinness is the lager of stouts...

 

[mscot]

I've had terrible migraines my entire life. Varying from twice weekly to every other week or so and in intensity to the point where I'm vomitting and being taken to the ER for a morphine drip.
What has helped more than any of the drugs I've tried is a more regular sleep pattern and to cut out gluten.
I cut out Gluten last year and the only time I've had a headache since was when I tried to reintroduce it with a day of eating whatever I wanted each week (also known as Fatterday).
After three weeks I started getting headaches again so I cut out the gluten and I'm back to being headache free.

It's a giant pain in the ass but better than migraines (or spending $550/month for that new prophylactic shot)

So what I'm getting at is... Guinness is not brewed using wheat - only barley, which is a different variant of the protein and tolerable to many people. This is why some people do not get migraine with Guinness.

Sadly all the GF beers I've found are on the Pale Ale side which is not my favorite (I prefer porter/stout in winter and belgium and mexican in the summer)

TLDR; I would cut out Gluten and see if it helps. Good luck.

 

[ddnww]

I've had terrible migraines my entire life. Varying from twice weekly to every other week or so and in intensity to the point where I'm vomitting and being taken to the ER for a morphine drip.
What has helped more than any of the drugs I've tried is a more regular sleep pattern and to cut out gluten.
I cut out Gluten last year and the only time I've had a headache since was when I tried to reintroduce it with a day of eating whatever I wanted each week (also known as Fatterday).
After three weeks I started getting headaches again so I cut out the gluten and I'm back to being headache free.

It's a giant pain in the ass but better than migraines (or spending $550/month for that new prophylactic shot)

So what I'm getting at is... Guinness is not brewed using wheat - only barley, which is a different variant of the protein and tolerable to many people. This is why some people do not get migraine with Guinness.

Sadly all the GF beers I've found are on the Pale Ale side which is not my favorite (I prefer porter/stout in winter and belgium and mexican in the summer)

TLDR; I would cut out Gluten and see if it helps. Good luck.

thanks for the info. I too have been getting migraines for many years. I learned as well that regular sleep schedule, minimal stress, my diet, staying hydrated, are all key to less migraines. I eat almost no processed foods, no caffeine, no chocolate, no soda. I just recently tried working avacados back into my diet with success.

Are there beers you are able to drink without getting migraines?

Not really. Guinness Stout is not a "heavy" beer, it is a light-bodied low-alcohol beer made for people who like to drink several pints in a night. (Called "session beers" in the British Isles.)
It's a common myth that dark = heavy, but there is no truth to it. Most dark beers, and all Stouts, get color and flavor from grain that is kilned or roasted to high temperatures, producing the characteristic roasty flavors (similar to dark-roasted coffees). It only takes a small proportion of the grain bill to get this result, so you can get everything from the light-bodied sessionable stouts like Guinness to the big heavy Imperial Stouts.

The seasonality of beer styles is something that has developed after-the-fact; that is, the beer styles came first and then people decided certain styles went better with particular seasons. The stories behind the development of regional styles of beer are complex and fascinating, often having to do with the local water supply or economics. (Guinness for example probably developed at least in part because the local water supply was not suited for pale ales.)

Getting back to the OP - it's hard to say what triggers migraines, but if Guinness tends to trigger them less than other beers, I'd guess it might be related to the amount of residual sugars. Guinness is a fairly "dry" beer, meaning it has relatively little unfermentable sugar in it (hence the light body). Many other beers, and all of the big heavy-bodied styles, use specialty grains to leave complex unfermentable sugars in the beer, and these can cause adverse reaction in some people (usually digestive, but also headaches and hangovers). However, it could also be any of the other ingredients; most American light lagers use a significant percentage of corn, for example, and some styles use a lot of wheat. Or it could be the hops - Guinness isn't a particularly hoppy beer.

Good luck to you! Migraines are certainly nothing to trifle with. I've only had two and that's enough for me.

All that great info and no recommendation lol jk. thanks

 

[WallyT4R]

The guy was asking for beer advice and you teetotalers gave unsolicited off topic advice, how that’s “the best advice in this thread” I have no idea.

Lighten up, Anti-Saloon League. Or don’t, stress yourselves out idgaf.

Sorry, forgot not to disagree with a social justice warrior....my bad!

 

[ndcent]

Sorry, forgot not to disagree with a social justice warrior....my bad!

I get that snowflake lost it’s meaning with overuse and Trump proving to be the biggest one of them all, but SJW as derision is pretty meaningless as well.

Try harder, I believe in you.

 

[WallyT4R]

I get that snowflake lost it’s meaning with overuse and Trump proving to be the biggest one of them all, but SJW as derision is pretty meaningless as well.

Try harder, I believe in you.

You must really be an unhappy person. Dude, I feel sorry for you. I hope things get better for you soon. :tea:

 

[mscot]

there beers you are able to drink without getting migraines?

New Planet Beer ? Gluten Free and Gluten Removed Brewery ? Gluten Free and Gluten Removed Beer

Their session ale is actually very good.

 

[Gunslinger-13]

Most people with celiacs or other gluten intolerance can typically drink gluten reduced brews without much consequence, unless you re incredibly sensitive that is.

There are tons of breweries brewing gluten reduced beers. Essentially they are not changing ingredients, so you still brew with barley and minimal wheat, they are just adding agents that hydrolyze the gluten during the fermentation process, minimizing them to a great degree.

Do some research online. Go onto beeradvocate.com and check out your regional breweries and ask around who is brewing gluten reduced beers and give it a try.

OR drink cider instead.

 

[ddnww]

good new and bad news

Well since my post and you fine gentlemen's cultured advice, I have embarked on my journey to see if after 9 years of not a single drop of alcohol, if I am able to indulge in the consumption of a cold one.

On Wednesday night, after a taxing day at the office and a vigorous workout at the gym, I decided to try my luck with drinking a beer. I opted for the initial recommendation, and went with a Guinness draught widget can. I drank one can and after 9 years of not a single drop, I did get a little buzz off just the one beer.

Last night(Thursday), I opted for one of my favorite Mexican beers to see how that would do. I made a michelada with a Modelo Especial. Again, since I haven't drank in so long, I got a little buzz off just the one beer(although it was a tall can).

The good news:

The good news is that I did not get a bit of a headache from either beer during, after, or the next day. I believe I am able to drink again.:dancin:

THe bad news:

The bad news is that I think I may have developed a strong liking for the flavor of a stout(and possibly a porter). When I drank the michelada it was great, I took a drink of just the modelo and it was good, same normal flavor expected from a beer. When I took my first sip of the Guinness, I never remember beer tasting so good. Hard to describe the feeling of the flavor but it was great. I found myself researching and daydreaming about trying different porters and stouts. :bluejump:

 

[Hepar]

The bad news is that I think I may have developed a strong liking for the flavor of a stout(and possibly a porter). When I drank the michelada it was great, I took a drink of just the modelo and it was good, same normal flavor expected from a beer. When I took my first sip of the Guinness, I never remember beer tasting so good. Hard to describe the feeling of the flavor but it was great. I found myself researching and daydreaming about trying different porters and stouts. :bluejump:

Check out the Black Butte Porter and Obsidian Stout from the Deschutes Brewery. I think they're a couple of good ones from the more widely available "micro" brews.

 

[ddnww]

Bought these three to try.

 

[mscot]

Mammoth Brewing Company's Double Nut Porter is terrific as well. Also try Lefthand's Nitro Milk Stout and the various versions of Great Divide's Yeti

 

[Searay50]

Well since my post and you fine gentlemen's cultured advice, I have embarked on my journey to see if after 9 years of not a single drop of alcohol, if I am able to indulge in the consumption of a cold one.

On Wednesday night, after a taxing day at the office and a vigorous workout at the gym, I decided to try my luck with drinking a beer. I opted for the initial recommendation, and went with a Guinness draught widget can. I drank one can and after 9 years of not a single drop, I did get a little buzz off just the one beer.

Last night(Thursday), I opted for one of my favorite Mexican beers to see how that would do. I made a michelada with a Modelo Especial. Again, since I haven't drank in so long, I got a little buzz off just the one beer(although it was a tall can).

The good news:

The good news is that I did not get a bit of a headache from either beer during, after, or the next day. I believe I am able to drink again.:dancin:

THe bad news:

The bad news is that I think I may have developed a strong liking for the flavor of a stout(and possibly a porter). When I drank the michelada it was great, I took a drink of just the modelo and it was good, same normal flavor expected from a beer. When I took my first sip of the Guinness, I never remember beer tasting so good. Hard to describe the feeling of the flavor but it was great. I found myself researching and daydreaming about trying different porters and stouts. :bluejump:

Yee haa..... I'm a home brewer and I always have a keg of dry irish stout on hand. I call it my chocolate milk. The flavor and the the nitrogen carbonation is killer.

 

[Wigglepuppy]

Good call . . . I love a good stout, and it's tough to come by here in San Diego.

Every bar here brags about the number of taps, but it really doesn't matter if you have 100 taps if 97 of them are IPA. I have nothing against IPA and will enjoy one on occasion, but it really has become the beer (ale) of douchy beer snobs.

Cheers to your home-brewed stout!!!

Yee haa..... I'm a home brewer and I always have a keg of dry irish stout on hand. I call it my chocolate milk. The flavor and the the nitrogen carbonation is killer.

 

[Hepar]

Good call . . . I love a good stout, and it's tough to come by here in San Diego.

Every bar here brags about the number of taps, but it really doesn't matter if you have 100 taps if 97 of them are IPA. I have nothing against IPA and will enjoy one on occasion, but it really has become the beer (ale) of douchy beer snobs.

Cheers to your home-brewed stout!!!

Once a while back (when it seemed the IPA thing really blew up) I walked into a place liked that and asked for a Bud Light. When they said they didn't have one, I stormed out and screamed, "What kind of bar doesn't have Bud Light?!" It was funny to see everyone's face.