New Releases
The Good & The Not So Good
By Mike Lerchenfeldt
Beer is the most widely consumed fermented beverage in the world, and based on data from the Brewers Association, Michigan ranks sixth in the nation for the number of craft breweries. Which means this fall and winter we should be ready for numerous tasty new beer releases such as Oktoberfest, Pumpkin, Amber, Stouts, Porters, Wet Hop, and Big IPAs.
New Releases
Brown Iron Brewhouse, in Washington Township and Royal Oak, will be releasing its Eisenfest, an Oktoberfeststyle beer. Also watch for a pumpkin beer and bourbon barrel-aged gingerbread stout. According to Ben Stump, digital marketing and brand specialist, “We are able to analyze trends to see what the consumers want. We then can brew and craft beers around those upcoming trends.”
Cadillac Straits Brewing Company, in Madison Heights, will be releasing MadisonBrau, an Oktoberfest ale along with a pumpkin ale and Christmas cookie ale. Gary Marshall, owner and head brewer said, “I believe it’s important for small nano breweries like us to be innovating constantly. Our customers have a million other places they could go, so we need to give them new things to try to entice them to return – and we have to do them well.”
Dragonmead Brewery, in Warren, will be releasing Devil’s Knight, a pumpkin ale brewed with pumpkin, brown sugar, molasses, and spices. Also, watch for Jul Ol Ale, a Norwegian winter warmer.
Good For You or Not?
Many beer ingredients are good for you. They include hops, fermented cereal grains — such as malt — or fruits which often contain antioxidants and beneficial organic plant compounds, such as folate (the natural form of vitamin B9). According to Manda Geiger, assistant brewer at Dragonmead Brewery, “Craft beer tends to have higher levels of antioxidants, proteins, and vitamin B. We tend to not filter or pasteurize, so that allows for higher levels of those things not being stripped out.”
While it may be surprising, when consumed in moderation, the ingredients in these craft beers can potentially be good for you and there is growing interest in studying the potential health-related effects of beer consumption. For example, a study published in the journal, Behavioral Brain Research, found that a moderate amount of craft beer may help with preventing dementia due to a compound in hops that can guard against oxidative stress. Another study published in the journal, Nutrients, found that moderate beer drinking may lead to improved bone mineral density, preventing osteoporosis.
A study published in the journal, PLOS ONE, found that moderate beer drinking increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL or “good” cholesterol) levels, lowering rates of cardiovascular disease. Another study published in the journal, Age and Aging, showed that moderate alcohol consumption increased HDL levels, which could lower risks of inflammation.
Being Responsible
Keep in mind connecting health-related benefits with moderate alcohol consumption is controversial and studies are conflicting. And, craft beers can have higher alcohol concentrations. Th e United States Department Health and Human Services recommends no more than one alcoholic drink for women and two alcoholic drinks for men, per day. Jef Smith, owner and founder at Loaded Dice Brewery in Troy, said, “I have found as a brewer and brewery owner, I must be completely aware of drinking beer responsibly. There is the obvious reason that if something happens when I am here, I need to be in the right state of mind to handle it.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are long-term health risks associated with excessive alcohol consumption, including such as stroke, liver disease, digestive problems, and weakening of the immune system. So while gulping down your favorite brews do as Mom has said all these years – everything in moderation!