Alternative Uses for Your Unused Natty Light! (Part Two)

The time has come friends.

But, before we dive into my list of the 'top four alternative uses for beer', I wanted to first make a little side note.

My step-mother is also a fellow blogger. She blogs about her art and really has a beautiful thing going for her. Her blog is much more intricate and well, better, than mine so you all should really check it out.

The reason why I'm saying this is because my parents now often visit my blog and since they've started reading, nearly all my posts have been alcohol-related. I didn't even realize that until I started writing this particular post today.....they must be so proud.

So on that note, it's time for the top four uses for beer!

Enjoy.

#4. Bee Distractor

There are three things that I cannot stand in this world - Traffic, crumbs and insects. I find bees to be particularly nauseating. Thankfully this world also features beer, and it turns out bees love it just as much as we do. So, before your next backyard BBQ, put a few containers of beer around the perimeter of the yard. This way, the bees will be distracted with the beer and feel no need to come over to the party and be annoying. (No offense bee lovers. I do enjoy honey.)

#3. Hair Cleaner

No shampoo? No problem. Believe it or not, washing your hair with beer can actually make your hair shinier and also give it more body. Even though I have no idea what the hell "body" means in hair terms, I know some people strive for it and beer might just be the ticket there. Some shampoos even use beer in their product! Don't believe me? Check out this REAL (and hilarious) commercial for Body on Tap shampoo from 1978.

#2. Fight Fire

Although a real fire extinguisher might be slightly better, a beer is the next best thing to have around if something in front of you just happens to go up in flames. Shake that bad boy up and then spray onto said fire. There is even a russian beer designed to look like a fire extinguisher. The directions on the side of the bottle even show you how to effectively put out the fire!

#1. Just Drink It

This is no cheap copout ladies and gentlemen, beer actually has many health benefits; if it's consumed in moderation of coarse. According to a researcher at Texas Southwestern Medical Center, those who consume one or two beers a day have a 30-40% lower rate of coronary heart disease compared to those who don't drink. This is due to the polyphenols found in the beer. Beer features about the same amount of these antioxidants as red wine does and about 4-5 times more than white wine.

While drinking beer is obviously not a healthy alternative, to say, drinking water, let's think about all the simple benefits that come from it. It has a relaxing effect on the body that can reduce stress, it can help you sleep, it is fat-free and cholesterol free, it improves the blood circulation and well, it tastes good. (real beer that is. Sorry Natty Light but, nevermind, you guys get my point)

So that's the list. Whew, well I'm impressed. I think it's time we all raise our glasses and toast to this magnificently useful beverage.

Alternative Uses for Your Unused Natty Light! (Part One)

The reason why I'm writing this post is for my fellow college students. We're not made of money, so, many students have to make that "Do I buy laundry detergent or do I buy beer for the party?" decision. Unfortunately for our parents knowledge, it seems the latter is much more often the final decision. I figure, if students are going to purchase beer over having clean socks, then it's my job to inform my student body of some alternative uses for beer so that they can stretch their dollar just that much further.

Not long ago, a few of my buddies made one of those "two-cans-connected-with-a-string" telephones using old beer cans. This got me thinking, what are some other ways that people can efficiently use beer?

Now, being a college student, I've seen my fair share of unique uses for beer (i.e. beersicles - cubes of beer with toothpicks stuck in them or the ever popular beer lamp) but, it wasn't until I did some research that I found out just how useful some spare beers can really be.

The amount of information that I found on this subject was actually pretty breathtaking, so, instead of simply stating all the uses, I'm going to count down my top 8 list of the best alternatives (at least in my mind) for beer that I could find. I'm going to do the # 5-8 in this post and then save the final four the next post. So, without any further delay birds and gents...Here's the list!

#8. Take a Beer Bath

You may need more than just a couple of spare cans for this one, but if you can scrounge enough beers together to fill a tub, you're skin will thank you later. According to this article that I found online, the yeast and other ingredients actually work as great skin-softeners. (Note: you should probably shower after the bath. With water, that is.)

#7. Stain Removal

I'm very capable of spilling anything at any place. Thankfully for people like me, I can just use my beer to clean up! Simply pour a fresh beer on the stain, let it sit for a minute and then blot that stain right out of there.

#6. Marinating

Beer makes an excellent marinade. Not only will it add a distinct flavor to the meat, but it will also soften it up. Here's a great recipe for a beer marinade.

#5. Plant Fertilizer

For all those green-thumbs out there, this use is right up your alley. A little beer splashed around the base of the plants will provide them with extra nutrients, just make sure not to give them too much (as we all know, too much beer never leads to good things). For further interest in this use, check out this website and read Madeline Wajda's tale.

An Ode to A Fallen Establishment

Please don't tell me that any of you have forgotten about Skipper's Bar and Grill (I wanted to put a link here but unfortunately the business no longer has a website). Yes, Skipper's, the place that offered over 45 different beers, some of the finest burgers in town and above all, 25 cent drafts on Tuesday nights. That's right, there's no typo there. (Even if you're not much of a beer drinker, 25 cent drafts of anything is pretty spectacular.)

It boggles my mind that this place was closed down. Every time that I ever ventured inside the place was always packed to the walls. The people were friendly, the food was great, and the prices were very reasonable. (Did I mention yet that Tuesday was 25 cent draft night!?) But, I guess that's just the restaurant business for ya.....it's obviously no easy task.

Jackie O's has recently taken over the vacant establishment that, at one time, used to be my dear Skipper's. Jackie O's has completely renovated the inside, and turned the establishment into an annex version of their bar. This is nice for Jackie O's goers because the new venue offers a much larger stage for musicians to perform...

...I want to keep going on about the great changes Jackie O's has made to the place because I really do love Jackie O's, but I can't. I feel like an impostor every time I go inside the place now. Like one of those people who shaves their hair off then says that they've always been punk. It's just different now. If I were to go up to the bar and ask for a draft of the finest "Natural Light" (The only draft they featured on Tuesdays) and gave them nothing but a quarter....Not only would I be laughed at, but I'd probably be banned for life for such outlandish behavior. I guess it's just important to remember all the good times.

So, here's to you Skipper's Bar and Grill. The amount of smiles that you put on faces (and wallets) across Athens would take decades to count. May whomever you're serving these days be thankful and fully aware of how special you are. Bless you Skipper's, you will not be forgotten.

Delectable Doyle Heads to Jackie O's Pub and Brewery

Wishful Thinking for Warmer Weather

Delectable Doyle is not too good in the snow. I don't see how anyone could be too comfortable with what's going on outside at the moment. I love hearing people say, "but it's so pretty outside," and then no more than five minutes later, slipping and falling Charlie Brown style onto their backs thanks to the treacherous stuff. Snow (1) Appreciator of it (0).

The worst part about this new snowy abyss that some still call Athens, is that it's becoming increasingly harder for Delectable Doyle to wander about town in search for the latest and weirdest beverages. Imagine if I were to hit a patch of ice while trying to review the newest sensation. Shame on you mother nature.

Ever since the snow has hit Athens, i've been thinking a lot about warm weather. Not only does summer offer dry socks and the ability to wear shorts, but it also offers the annual Ohio Brew Week Festival. This year marks the five year anniversary of the, oh so, delicious festival.

Image courtesy of www.ohiobrewweek.com

In case you are unfamiliar, Ohio Brew Week is a week long festival here in Athens that features delectable craft beers from over 100 different microbreweries in Ohio. The festival also features beers from all over the country.

The highlight of the festival is the beer competition. Here brewers put all there hard work on the line in an effort to find out who has produced the most delectable (and http://delectabledoyle.blogspot.com worthy) beverage. Last years winner went to Arthur Richardson of New York, with his "Black hops IPA".

The festival takes place this year from the 11th-17th of July.

Image Courtesy of Google Images

Winter can't last forever and before long Delectable Doyle will have his shorts on, his socks dry and will be sipping on several fine, fine beers at this amazing festival.

Yo Pawp(aw)s!

Time to mark your calendars ladies and gentleman, the dates for the 2010 Ohio Pawpaw Festival have been announced.

The festival is scheduled for the 18th and 19th of September and will be located at Lake Snowden in Albany, Ohio. This annual fest is the largest pawpaw celebration in the entire world.

Now I know that you're probably thinking to yourself "Wow, Pat, this festival sounds amazing and I'm really excited, but...what in the hell is a pawpaw?" well loyal readers, I'm glad you asked.

A pawpaw is an exquisite fruit that is very prominent here in Southeastern Ohio. I never really experienced a fruit quite like this. It offers the consistency of a banana but the taste resembles that of a pear, a bit. Basically, it's delicious. According to the Ohio Pawpaw festival's website, chilled pawpaw was the preferred dessert of George Washington. So, first President of the United States and also a pawpaw lover, just some coincidence? Hm, well, that's for you to decide.

The reason my blog and I are so excited for this news is mainly because pawpaw's can be used to make a long list of delicious beverages. Beer seems to be the most common drinkable pawpaw creation. Jackie O's, local pub and brewery, is known for producing a highly appetizing pawpaw wheat ale. Unfortunately, this particular beer is only offered seasonally so I won't be able to get my hands on any of it until late summer. I've tasted pawpaws before, but never in the form of any sort of beverage so I'm very much looking forward to attending the 2010 Ohio Pawpaw Festival. And don't worry readers, I will be sure to be attending the annual festival with a very thirsty pallet.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia.