Making Beer Better

What could be more perfect for summer holiday than burgers and hot-dogs from the grill served with beer. Serve it all outside to families frolicking in the shade of a big leafy back yard Maple tree. The wives however, sometimes turn their noses up at that delectable elixir, beer.

Here is a list of possible solutions to make the beer taste less bitter, or different and hopefully more likable for the women flok. Who knows, the guys might even decide that they enjoy an herb beer for a change.

Fresh herbs are available in most supermarkets in the produce aisle. They can be added by the sprig (a two or three inch stem) to your glass of beer;

Sage,
Rosemary,
Horehound,
Lavender with grated orange rind,
Lavender alone,
Ginger root grated,
Grated ginger root with grated lime rind,
Ginger with honey and lime juice,
*A half-teaspoon or more of any berries, crushed into the bottom of the glass,
*A half-teaspoon or more of honey,
A twist of fresh ground or cracked black pepper,
*Cassias syrup, one teaspoon or more (this is the syrup of black currents),
*Grenadine syrup, one teaspoon or a bit more to taste,
Freshly grated lemon rind,
Freshly grated lime rind,
Freshly grated orange rind by itself,
Rosehips, about a teaspoon full, crushed.
A slice of orange, twisted to release both the juice and the rind's oils.

You might want to try growing your own herbs in a sunny window or on your porch or patio ledge.

Crush or bruise the fresh herbs with the heel of a spoon into the bottom of the empty beer glass then add the beer. For the syrups and honey mixes, fill just a quarter of the beer glass with the honey or syrup. Stir the syrup or honey into the beer mixing it well before you finish filling the glass with beer. This will create a pleasantly colored frothy head on your glass, a frothy pink, "Beer Grenadine," is bound to get the wives interested and ti has a sweeter taste, the cassias syrup will produce a more blue/purple look.

You might try mixing your beer with one third juice or with tea;

Orange juice,
Cranberry Juice,
Grapefruit juice,
Lime juice,
*Grape juice, either white or purple
Your favorite herbal tea.

Just fill the glass one-third full with juice or tea, then fill rest of the glass with beer. The list of additives is only limited by your imagination and your refrigerator's contents. You might put a sprig of herb in with any of the other juices or syrups too.

Add sack races, wheel barrow races, a water balloon, some chocolate and graham crackers with some roasted marshmallows for s'mores as dessert and you have a perfect summer days holiday.

* - These additives will sweeten the beer, making it less bitter.

What ever you drink, please drink responsibly and remember do not drink and drive. Thank you and have a fantastic summer barbecue.