#Low-carb craft beer

[drrexdexter]

Low Carb Beer Guide UK

Beer lovers who are watching their carbohydrate intake have reason to rejoice! Low carb beer is gaining popularity as a lighter and healthier alternative to traditional beers. In this article, we will explore the world of low carb beer, its benefits, and everything you need to know about making the right choice.

See our full Dr Dexter keto tips site here for a full keto diet guide, tips and recipes.

Introduction to Low Carb Beer

Whether you're on a low-carb diet, managing your blood sugar levels, or simply looking for a lighter beer option, low carb beer can be a great choice. With fewer carbohydrates and calories compared to regular beers, it allows you to enjoy a refreshing drink while being mindful of your health goals.

What is Low Carb Beer?

Low carb beer is a type of beer that is brewed to have a reduced carbohydrate content. Brewers achieve this by using special brewing techniques or substituting traditional grains with low-carb alternatives. The result is a beer that is lower in carbohydrates but still retains its distinct flavour and characteristics.

The Benefits of Low Carb Beer

Low carb beer in the UK offers several benefits that make it an attractive choice for many beer enthusiasts. Firstly, it allows you to indulge in your favourite beverage without worrying about the excess carbs. This can be particularly beneficial for individuals following low-carb or keto diets.

Moreover, low carb beer is often lower in calories compared to regular beer, which can be advantageous for those looking to maintain or lose weight. Additionally, it may have a lower alcohol content, making it a more suitable option for those who prefer a milder buzz.

Understanding Carbohydrates and Beer

To fully appreciate low carb beer, it's essential to understand carbohydrates and their role in beer production. Carbohydrates in beer primarily come from the malted barley used during the brewing process. These carbs are consumed by yeast during fermentation, leading to the formation of alcohol and carbon dioxide.

Popular Brands of Low Carb Beer

In recent years, many breweries have recognized the demand for low carb beer and introduced their own offerings. Some popular brands include Brand A, Brand B, and Brand C. These brands have gained a loyal following due to their commitment to quality, flavour, and low carbohydrate content.

Here are some popular brands of low carb beer in the UK along with a brief description:

BrewDog Punk AF:

 BrewDog is known for its craft beers, and Punk AF is their low carb, alcohol-free option. It offers a bold and hoppy flavour profile, making it a great choice for those seeking a refreshing and full-bodied experience without the carbs.

Adnams Ghost Ship Alcohol-Free:

Adnams Ghost Ship Alcohol-Free is a low carb beer that maintains the distinct flavour of the original Ghost Ship ale. With its citrusy and malty notes, this alcohol-free option provides a satisfying taste without compromising on taste or carb content.

Skinny Brands Lager:

Skinny Brands Lager is a popular choice for those watching their carb intake. It is a crisp and refreshing lager with a lighter body, making it a go-to option for low carb beer enthusiasts.

Thornbridge Big Easy:

 Thornbridge Big Easy is a low carb pale ale that offers a balanced blend of hops and citrus flavours. It provides a smooth and enjoyable drinking experience while keeping the carb content in check.

Guinness Open Gate Pure Brew:

 Guinness Open Gate Pure Brew is a non-alcoholic, low carb version of the iconic Irish stout. It retains the rich and creamy characteristics of Guinness while minimizing the carbohydrate content, making it a great choice for stout lovers.

Pistonhead Flat Tire:

 Pistonhead Flat Tire is a low carb lager with a distinctively smooth taste. It features a crisp and clean flavour profile, making it an excellent option for those looking for a lighter beer without sacrificing flavour.

Peroni Libera 0.0%:

Peroni Libera 0.0% is a non-alcoholic beer that captures the essence of the classic Italian lager. With its delicate balance of bitter and citrus notes, it offers a low carb alternative for beer enthusiasts who enjoy the refreshing taste of Peroni.

Heineken 0.0:

 Heineken 0.0 is a popular choice for those seeking a low carb, non-alcoholic beer. It boasts the same iconic flavour of Heineken but with significantly reduced carbohydrate content, allowing you to enjoy the crisp and refreshing taste without the guilt.

Brooklyn Special Effects:

Brooklyn Special Effects is a flavourful non-alcoholic beer with reduced carbs. It features a blend of hops and malt, creating a complex taste profile that satisfies beer lovers while keeping the carbohydrate count low.

Innis & Gunn Innis & None:

 Innis & Gunn Innis & None is a zero-alcohol, low carb beer that provides a unique and refreshing drinking experience. With its hints of oak and malt, it offers a flavoursome alternative for those looking to reduce their carb intake without compromising on taste.

Becks Blue Alcohol-Free:

 Becks Blue Alcohol-Free is a well-known low carb beer that delivers the familiar crisp and clean taste of Beck's. With minimal carbohydrates, it offers a lighter option for those seeking a refreshing beer without the alcohol content.

Sharp's Doom Bar Zero:

Sharp's Doom Bar Zero is a non-alcoholic, low carb version of the popular Doom Bar amber ale. It provides a malty and slightly sweet flavour profile while being low in carbs, making it an appealing choice for ale enthusiasts.

Estrella Galicia 0.0:

 Estrella Galicia 0.0 is a non-alcoholic beer that captures the essence of the original Estrella Galicia Lager. With its balanced taste and reduced carbohydrate content, it offers a satisfying option for those seeking a low carb beer.

San Miguel 0.0:

San Miguel 0.0 is a non-alcoholic, low carb beer that preserves the distinctive taste of the original San Miguel Lager. It provides a light and refreshing experience with reduced carbohydrates, making it suitable for those watching their carb intake.

St Peter's Without:

St Peter's Without is a low carb, alcohol-free beer that combines traditional brewing methods with modern techniques. It offers a full-bodied flavour profile with hints of malt and hop, ensuring a satisfying drinking experience without the carbs.

Budweiser Zero:

Budweiser Zero is a non-alcoholic beer with reduced carbohydrates that still captures the classic Budweiser taste. It offers a smooth and crisp profile, allowing you to enjoy the flavour of Budweiser while keeping your carb intake in check.

These brands provide a wide range of low carb beer options, each with its own unique flavour profile. Whether you prefer a hoppy ale, a crisp lager, or a rich stout, you can find a delicious low carb option to enjoy while keeping an eye on your carbohydrate intake.

How to Choose the Right Low Carb Beer

When selecting a low carb beer, it's important to consider your personal preferences and health goals. Start by checking the nutritional information provided on the label or brewery's website. Look for beers with lower carbohydrate and calorie counts while still offering the taste and characteristics you enjoy.

Low Carb Beer and Weight Loss

For individuals aiming to shed extra pounds, low carb beer can be a helpful tool. By reducing the carbohydrate and calorie intake from beer, you can create a calorie deficit and potentially support weight loss efforts. However, it's crucial to keep moderation in mind and consider the overall balance of your diet.

Low Carb Beer and Diabetes

People with diabetes often need to monitor their carbohydrate intake to manage their blood sugar levels effectively. Low carb beer can be a suitable choice for individuals with diabetes, as it provides a beer option with fewer carbohydrates that are less likely to cause blood sugar spikes.

Low Carb Beer and Blood Sugar Levels

Even for individuals without diabetes, managing blood sugar levels is essential for overall health. Low carb beer can help maintain stable blood sugar levels since it contains fewer carbohydrates. However, it's still important to consume alcohol in moderation and be aware of any individual reactions.

Low Carb Beer and Taste

One common misconception about low carb beer is that it compromises on taste. However, many breweries have invested in creating flavourful low carb options that can rival traditional beers. With a wide range of styles and flavours available, there's likely a low carb beer that suits your taste preferences.

Low Carb Beer and Hangovers

Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to unpleasant hangovers, regardless of the beer's carbohydrate content. While low carb beer may be gentler on the body due to its lower alcohol content, responsible drinking practices and moderation are still crucial to minimize the risk of hangovers.

Low Carb Beer and Alcohol Content

Low carb beer often has a lower alcohol content compared to regular beer. This can be advantageous for individuals who prefer a milder buzz or those who want to limit their alcohol intake. However, it's important to note that alcohol content can vary among different brands and styles of low carb beer.

Drinking Low Carb Beer Responsibly

When enjoying low carb beer, responsible consumption is key. Set personal limits, be mindful of your alcohol intake, and always prioritize your health and well-being. Additionally, consider alternatives such as non-alcoholic or alcohol-free beer if you prefer to avoid alcohol entirely.

Is Low Carb Beer for Everyone?

While low carb beer can be a great option for many individuals, it may not be suitable for everyone. It's important to consider your specific health needs, dietary restrictions, and personal preferences. If you have any concerns or health conditions, it's best to consult with a healthcare professional before making changes to your beer consumption.

Conclusion On Low Carb Beer

Low carb beer offers a lighter and healthier alternative for beer lovers who want to watch their carbohydrate intake or make mindful choices about their alcohol consumption. With a variety of flavours and brands available, finding a low carb beer that suits your taste preferences is easier than ever. Remember to enjoy low carb beer responsibly and make choices that align with your health goals.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can low carb beer help with weight loss?

 Low carb beer can support weight loss efforts by reducing overall carbohydrate and calorie intake from beer. However, moderation and overall dietary balance are still important for successful weight management.

Is low carb beer suitable for people with diabetes?

Yes, low carb beer can be a suitable choice for individuals with diabetes due to its lower carbohydrate content. However, it's important to monitor blood sugar levels and consume alcohol in moderation.

Does low carb beer compromise on taste?

No, many breweries have focused on creating flavourful low carb beer options that can rival traditional beers. With various styles and flavours available, you can find low carb beer that suits your taste preferences.

Does low carb beer cause fewer hangovers?

While low carb beer may be gentler on the body due to its lower alcohol content, excessive consumption can still lead to hangovers. Responsible drinking practices and moderation are essential to minimize the risk of hangovers.

Can everyone drink low carb beer?

While low carb beer can be enjoyed by many, it's important to consider individual health needs, dietary restrictions, and personal preferences. If you have any concerns or health conditions, consult with a healthcare professional before making changes to your beer consumption.

[brewscoop]

Attention beer lovers with diabetes! 🍻 Discover the world of diabetic-friendly beer with our latest article - find out how you can savor delicious brews without the sugar worries. Dive into the joys of low-carb and craft beers designed to keep your blood sugar levels in check, while not sacrificing flavor. Your journey to guilt-free indulgence starts here. Cheers to health-conscious choices! 🌟 #DiabeticFriendlyBeer

[cauldronblssd]

Morning edition -

Read on AO3

For @elucienweekofficial Day 7 - AU

Thank you to @panicatthenightcourt for helping me with a smutty idea for this fic! I hope you like it. 💚

The sound of claws scraping against the fabric of her headboard alerted Elain that her morning had begun. She groaned, covering her face with a pillow to drown out the sound of her cat’s insistent alarm letting her know that he was ready for breakfast. Faint sounds of morning traffic buzzed around her, another sign of the inevitability of the start of her day.  

Elain drowsily padded to the kitchen. She filled the coffeepot with grounds and water before turning her attention to her cat. Suri hopped up on the counter, circling her as she reached for a can of wet food, his paws tapping out a little dance. He nudged her hand with his soft cheek, urging her to move more quickly, as she popped open the putrid smelling can of wet food and dished it out onto a plate.  

The steady drip of the coffeepot began as she turned on the radio she’d bought for cheap at a thrift store. She’d rushed to buy it in excitement when her sister, Feyre, landed her first job at the station as an arts and culture reporter, insisting that it wasn’t enough to hear her voice over the online stream - she needed to hear it on a physical radio.  

Since, she’d grown into a habit of listening every morning, though her sister wouldn’t be on for another forty-five minutes. The familiar sound of her favorite news reporter filled the room, his voice smooth and low as he spoke of some bill to raise sales tax for the benefit of real estate developers.  

Generally, listening to the news would set her on edge, there rarely being anything good to say. But listening to the deep lull of his radio voice as he interviewed a city council person, serious and yet inviting, soothed her. It had become part of her morning routine, something that she looked forward to as surely as her cup of coffee. She’d tried to imagine him, from time to time, as equally handsome to match his deep velvet voice. However, whenever she tried, she remembered the droll dinner she’d been to with Feyre’s boss, a man probably four decades her senior, wearing penny loafers. She’d liked him all the same, and he’d sent her free tickets to a local jazz festival.  

Elain continued to listen absently as she drank her cup of coffee and watered the myriad of plants lining the windowsill of her kitchen. Every room of her house had a few, but her kitchen got the most sunlight, something she took advantage of by something placing green and growing on every available surface.  

She looked in her fridge, unfortunately empty of food after hosting her sisters and their friends for a movie night earlier in the week. Nesta and Emerie had been training for a marathon, and needed a constant intake of carbs to make up for it – or so they claimed as they scarfed down everything in her apartment. Her phone made a vibrating noise against the hard linoleum of her counters.  

Feyre: Good morning 😇  Elain: ...  Feyre: What, no good morning for your little sister?  Elain: How good the morning is depends on what you want, Fey  Feyre: Would you pretty, pretty please bring me a coffee at the studio?   Elain: Doesn't your work have coffee?   Feyre: Yeah and it’s very economical and tastes terrible. This is PUBLIC radio.   Elain: Isn’t your workday over in a couple hours anyway?   Feyre: Yes, but I have a date after work...  Elain: With that rich guy?   Feyre: Rhys!   Feyre: Please he’s so hot and I don’t want to fall asleep and drool.   Feyre: He’s taking me to the opera and he’s got box seats.   Elain: FINE but you’re taking me to the craft festival this weekend.  Elain: And you’re buying my beer.  Feyre: DEAL  Feyre: Iced oat-milk latte with extra foam pls 

Elain shook her head, setting her phone back down to hop in the shower. After visiting Feyre, she planned to visit the community gardens. She had a small plot with some lettuce and cucumbers growing that would need watering and her flower bed would need weeding. With that in mind, she threw on a pair of denim shorts and a loose t-shirt. She braided her hair back away from her face in hopes of keeping the dirt out of it. It wasn’t much, but she planned to just run into bring her sister the coffee and get out as quickly as possible before the afternoon sun started to kick in. Chucking on her sneakers, she grabbed her keys to head out of the house, giving Suri one last kiss on the head.  

Elain walked to the coffee shop near her house after stopping to talk to her elderly neighbor, Pam, who liked to have her morning coffee on her porch steps and chat with anyone that passed. She tended to talk for too long, but Elain didn’t mind listening. After growing up with Nesta and Feyre, she felt used to it. After hitting the walk sign at all three intersections she had to cross to get to Scythia, Elain had decided it was her lucky day.  

Elain popped open the glass door, entering the air-conditioned chill. She immediately spotted the familiar vibrant red hair of Vassa as she stepped inside. Vassa always changed her appearance, and she currently had it cut into what she assured Elain was a trendy mullet - short on the top with longer strands in the back that reached the base of her neck. Her arms, covered in brightly colored tattoos, flexed as she tamped down on some espresso.  

The room was loud, between the music Jurian always had blaring over the speakers, the screeching sounds of steaming milk, and the chatter of people seated at the tables throughout the shop. At the back, Jurian perched on their brightly colored pink couch as he crouched over a laptop screen in front of him, paperwork piled to the side. She offered him a friendly wave before walking up the counter to her friend.  

“Hey beautiful!” Vassa smiled broadly at her. “You’re not usually in here this early.”  

“I’m headed to check on my romaine, but I promised Feyre I’d bring her something at work.”  

“That’s generous of you.” Vassa quirked one eyebrow as she took the two empty glass jars that Elain handed to her.  

“She was up late. New boyfriend.” The last part she said with a conspiratorial whisper as she leaned towards the counter.  

“How’d she meet this one?” Vassa turned to look at her as she measured out the milk for their drinks. 

“Some work thing. His company donates to the station.”  

“Scandalous.” Vassa offered her a cheeky wink. “Does he have any rich brothers?” 

“Planning a backup boyfriend?” Vassa and Jurian had been together for three years, and despite their constant arguing, they never wavered, living together while also running the shop.  

“For you, dumbass.”  

Elain swatted at her. “Thanks for the lookout, but I don’t need my little sister to set me up.”  

“How about me then, Jurian knows this guy who...”  

Elain cut her off with a hand in the air. “I love you, Vass, but after you set me up with that guy obsessed with birds, you’ve lost your credibility.”  

Vassa handed her two jars now filled to the brim with coffee, the milk swirling cloudlike in the glass. “He was hot, but point taken.”  

Elain shoved a generous tip into the jar at the counter before waving to a half-distracted Vassa, already in the midst of preparing a particularly sugary drink for a teenager waiting patiently.  

***** 

The walk to the radio station where Feyre worked was long and the ice in Feyre’s drink quickly began to melt. Elain held the overfull drink carefully as she stepped towards the door of the studio. She fumbled as she reached the door, her hands full and her grip precarious.  

“I’ve got it” a familiar voice called from behind her. Against her will, Elain shivered in response. God, she was acting like a weirdo in front of this probably middle-aged married man on his way to work.  She focused her gaze on the cement pavement of the sidewalk, blinding as the sun gleamed overhead. She watched his shadow as he came closer to her.  

It took but a few long strides for him to reach her, a broad elegant hand reaching to grasp the door. His body was close behind hers, allowing her to scent the warm spice of his cologne. His wife probably bought it for him, she reminded herself. But as she watched a tendon in his muscled forearm flex with the movement, she couldn’t help but scan his unadorned hand for a wedding band.  

“Do you know where you’re headed?” The door opened, and she shut her eyes to adjust the dull fluorescent lighting. His body stepped closer to hers, the heat from his hand approaching her back without ever touching.  

Her voice squeaked when she spoke. “Just dropping off coffee.” She lifted one as if to prove her point.  

“Ah. Delivery?” He’d come to stand beside her, but Elain wouldn’t let herself to look up. She didn’t want to break the spell of his voice so close to hers, afraid of what she might find.  

God she must seem like an idiot. “OH. Uh no, actually. Just for my sister.”  

“I should have known. You must be Feyre’s sister.” She looked up, finally, forcing herself to act like an adult and not a shy adolescent who had never spoken to a crush before. She was forced to crane her neck to meet his gaze and OH.  

Lucien Vanserra was a god, easily the most beautiful man she’d ever seen. His tall frame was equally broad, the muscles of his chest seeming to strain against the smooth fabric of his checked shirt. He’d left only the first two buttons open, a professional, and yet just the hint of his gleaming brown skin underneath caused her mouth to go dry. He smiled widely at her, causing a scar over his eye to bunch at the corners. His eyes were a beautiful russet brown, mirthful as he watched her stumble for words.  

“You know her?” Elain offered dumbly.  

“Against my own will, I assure you.” He gestured one hand in front of him to indicate that they move.  

Elain’s feet felt too heavy, stuck to the ground as she struggled to recalibrate her mind. This could not be the same man who just spoke about taxes of all things. His full lips were too beautiful, his voice too sultry, to be bogged down with such tedious minutiae.  

They wandered through a hallway covered in scuffed linoleum tile, clearly a carryover from decades prior. Elain paid no attention to doors they passed or where they turned. She felt as if her world had been turned around, her mind turning to accept this new piece of information. Lucien, the man who mediated a debate for city council, who reported on the new wastewater plant, who she’d fantasized about on more than one occasion, was gorgeous and walking next to her and – Elain cursed herself, clearing her mind of her spiraling thoughts.  

It had been too long since she’d broken up with Graysen, a dry spell that had had all but turned into unwilling chastity. She feared her summons for the convent would come any day. Could one be recruited for that sort of thing? The cheerful laugh of Feyre brought her back to her senses, followed by an unfamiliar voice muttering something in response.  

Next to her, Lucien sighed dramatically. “Rhysand is here.”  

Elain bit her cheek to keep from laughing. “You don’t like him?” She couldn’t look at him, fearing the flush already forming would give her away.  

“I do, he’s just been here...a lot lately.” He looked at her with a pointed lift of his brow.  

She smirked, but said nothing. Far be it for her to reveal a torrid workplace affair her sister may or may not be engaged in. Though technically, she supposed, Rhysand didn’t work for the station, he just...sponsored it. She wasn’t sure if that was better or worse. Would Rhys pull his funding when Feyre inevitably got bored and moved on, as she always seemed to do?  

Lucien knocked pointedly on the open doorway with a sharp rap, announcing their presence before entering. What could they be doing in an office to necessitate that?  

“Feyre, a visitor for you.” Feyre turned her face towards Elain and immediately winced apologetically. Not comprehending, Elain scanned her sister, wondering if she had been caught in something scandalous after all. That’s when she saw. TRAITOR.  

Feyre stood with a large plastic cup in hand, holding some kind of sweetened drink concoction laden in caramel drizzle. She didn’t even like sweet drinks! She had teased Nesta mercilessly for her preferences, had labelled her as basic on more than one occasion.  

Elain smiled with chagrin, not letting her ire seep through in front of Rhys and Lucien. “I see you’ve got your caffeine covered.” The condensation from the glass began to drip down her hand uncomfortably. She turned towards Lucien, leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed in amusement.  

“I don’t suppose you like an oat milk latte?” He was polished from head to toe, his shirt pressed and his large black watch gleaming like the shine of his auburn hair. She became very aware of her own lackluster appearance, her shirt advertising Gwyn and Emerie’s gym that she admittedly rarely visited.  

“I’m more of a tea guy myself.” A frown began to pull at the corners of her mouth, her irritation at her sister unfairly cast in the direction of this innocent bystander.  

He smirked, stepping towards her. “But I can’t say no to a free drink.” His hand brushed hers as he took it from her hands, and she bit her lip to contain the gasp caught in her throat. She watched with lurid fascination as he lifted the jar to his lips, the clear glass allowing her to see his tongue as he licked some water off the side before taking a sip. His throat bobbed as he swallowed, and she couldn’t tear her eyes away. His eyes met hers as he pulled it from his face, their gazes locking before Rhysand interrupted.  

“Nice of you to escort her, Vanserra.” His tone implied that it was not nice at all. If Elain had more sense, she might have unraveled whatever male bravado was taking place in front of her, what tangled web her sister might be weaving. Instead, she stood dumbly, all words gone for the moment.  

“Oh, um.” she fiddled with the tail of her braid, twisting it between her fingers, “Yes, thanks.”  

Feyre cringed, as if embarrassed at her sister’s poor social skills. Normally, Elain would be the one to smooth things over, to offer whatever polite phrase a situation required.  

“Anyway, I should go. I’ve got to check on my lettuce.” God, she sounded like an idiot. Rhysand grinned devilishly, his smile revealing his unusually sharp canines.  

“Wouldn’t want to leave that lettuce unsupervised, Elain. It was nice to meet you.” Elain silently cursed him even as she had to admit he was handsome. He exuded charisma, the cut of his sweater too sharp to truly be casual. He was different than Feyre’s usual type, a challenge to which her sister would certainly rise.  

Elain only nodded before quickly exiting down the hall. Damn her and her lusty brain, she hadn’t paid attention to the direction back to the entrance at all. Each hall was the same dull gray, covered in tacky textured wallpaper from the eighties. The old scent of cigarette smoke clung to it. Elain needed fresh air, needed the green of her plants and the scent of fresh soil. Just as she was considering how ludicrous it would be to airdrop her location to her sister in an office building of all places, she startled to attention as an older person with a badge labelling them as Bryaxis, stepped from the shadows. “Exit is first door on your left.”  

Elain waved half-heartedly, “got it, thanks!” before moving her short legs at a brisker pace towards the exit. If her sister wanted coffee delivered to her desk again, she could call Nesta.  

***** 

Elain was sorting through her, admittedly cluttered, closet for a tote bag to bring to the craft fair when she felt her phone vibrate.  

Feyre: Downstairs  Elain: Almost ready, come up?  Feyre: In a tow away zone  

Goddammit. Elain reached her hand in and grabbed the first bag she could find before slipping into a pair of shoes and rushing out the door and racing down the creaky stairs. Her sister awaited her in an old Honda civic, something poppy blasting from her staticky stereo system.  

“My neighbors are all retired, you’re gonna get me a noise complaint.” 

Feyre, ever stubborn, turned up the music one octave louder. “Please, they are too busy ogling you.” Elain scrunched her nose in disapproval. “You look cute, by the way.”  

Elain smoothed out the cotton of her dress. “What did you do?” 

“NOTHING! Can’t a girl be nice to her sister?” Elain narrowed her eyes but shrugged, noting her sister taking the side street leading towards Scythia.  

“Coffee first?”  

“Always.” Elain said nothing about the dark bruise that looked like a bitemark clearly visible on her sister’s neck beneath her wavy hair.  

“Good time with fancy pants?”  

“Rhys!” She admonished her. Elain shrugged, a clear indication that she had no intention of calling him by that anytime soon. “And yes, the opera was...interesting.”  

“Interesting how?” While her sister had an artistic spirit, she’d certainly never expressed an interest in the opera before. That was more of Nesta’s scene. Feyre grinned mischievously.  

“GOD never mind, don’t tell me.” 

“Boring” Feyre scoffed, rolling up with a smooth glide to parallel park. Elain would not admit that she was impressed, that she would walk to the shop in almost any weather to avoid this very parking situation.  

“Come on, my little deviant. Coffee awaits.” Elain flipped her hair dramatically as she stormed into the coffee shop with a flourish. Vassa would side with her, she was mostly certain. She grinned as she saw her leaning across the counter, her laugh resounding throughout the small space. That smile fell short when she realized who she who was making her laugh so gleefully.  

Feyre, unperturbed, bounded up, bumping her shoulder with Lucien’s almost aggressively. Lucien didn’t flinch, his body unmoving as he glanced down at her. His mouth opened to say something to her when he turned, catching Elain in his vision. He watched her for a moment, his eyes moving up and down to take her in, before turning back to Feyre. Vassa’s own eyes widened as she looked towards Elain gesturing between Lucien and Feyre in question. Lucien caught the motion and scowled at Vassa. 

Feyre, less subtly made a gagging sound. “Him, god no!!”  

Lucien placed his hand over his heart dramatically. “Ouch, Feyre. My ego is fragile.”  

“Please, your ego is the size of the state of California.” Taking the distraction as the time to approach, Elain sidled up to the counter to face Vassa.  

"No jars to return, sorry! I’ll bring them next time.” Vassa half-heartedly gave her a stern look, before one slid down the counter.  

Vassa glanced once again assessingly before beaming a broad smile, her blue eyes shining brightly. “You’ve met Lucien as well?”  

Lucien cleared his throat. “Briefly, she came to see Feyre at work.”  

“Ah.” Vassa smiled knowingly, not seeming dissuaded from whatever she was scheming.  

Feyre looked at Lucien and then at Vassa.  “Did you tell her your dirty secret?” 

Lucien’s eyes widened and he glanced towards Elain. “What secret?”  

“You’re a tea drinker.”  

Vassa nodded solemnly. “A fate worse than death. But we keep him around for his good looks.”  

Feyre rolled her eyes. “If you say so.”  

Vassa nodded towards Elain’s empty bag. “Where are you two pretty ladies headed?” 

Elain smiled, about to explain about the macrame planter she planned on buying when Feyre chimed in, “Want to join us, Loosh?”  

She ignored the irrational spike of jealousy at Feyre’s close relationship with Lucien. Lucien, looked towards her.  

“Don’t call me that. I have plans with Jurian, if he ever gets off his ass!” The last part was yelled pointedly to where Jurian sat perched atop his pink sofa cursing at his computer. He threw up his middle finger towards Lucien without so much as a glance.  

Elain laughed, “With company like that, I can see why you can’t tear yourself away.” 

Lucien grinned as he looked her over, as if he might consider bailing on his friend after all. His eyes paused at her hands holding her empty tote bag ready to be filled with stickers and knick knacks she had no space for in her tiny apartment.  

“Nice bag.” He said it with his brows lifted and a cocky grin on his face. 

Elain furrowed her brows in consternation, wondering what could arouse such a response before she looked down at the beige bag hooked under her arm. Her face flushed with embarrassment as she stared at the I love public radio bag she’d earned for free at an event she’d volunteered at with Feyre. She reminded herself he couldn’t possibly know that it was his voice she thought about, he was just being playful.  

Still, she could have kissed Jurian when he trounced over, slinging an arm around her as he rolled his eyes at Lucien instinctively. “Are you bothering my favorite customer, Lucien?”  

“What am I then, you ingrate?” 

“A nuisance, clearly.”  

Feyre had become absorbed in her phone as she chewed on the corner of her lip. Only when the group had come to a comfortable silence did she look up. Elain stared at her drink sitting on the counter and reluctantly extricated herself from Jurian’s arm to go claim it.  

Despite having looked forward to the craft fair with her sister all week, a part of her was disappointed Lucien couldn’t come, that she might not have an excuse to see him after this. As they walked away, she found herself turning a half step back to look at him, some words lost on her lips. He too, turned to watch her, his jaw flexing as he waited for her to say something. Instead, she just turned and walked away with Feyre, squinting at the bright glare of the sun.  

**** 

Elain was lounging on the couch, Suri curled up by her feet as she half watched reality TV and scrolled through her phone. It wasn’t the most exciting Saturday night, but after a long week at work and a day out in the sun, she couldn’t bring herself to leave. Open containers of rice and tofu still littered her coffee table that she’d had the foresight to pick up on her way home, knowing she wouldn’t want to leave once she enveloped herself in the blankets on her couch.  

Her view of the recipe blog was interrupted by a text from an unknown number popping up on her screen. A spam text, she reasoned, or something equally boring from her pharmacy. Still, she opened the message and her heart skipped a bit.  

Hey, it’s Lucien  Elain: Oh, hi it’s Elain. But you knew that already ☺️  Elain: Unless you were hoping for Feyre 👀  Lucien: Talking to Feyre during the work day is more than enough.   Elain: She wouldn’t text you back unless you were Rhys, anyway  Elain: Speaking from experience here  Lucien: Good thing I’m talking to you then 

Elain struggled to formulate a response. Was he flirting with her? He messaged her on a Saturday night, which certainly suggested more than a friendly message with his friend’s sister. The idea of flirting with Lucien Vanserra both excited and terrified her. After all, this was the man whose voice she woke into in the mornings, the same voice that sometimes visited her at night in her dreams. He’d seemed charming in the briefest moments she’d talked to him at his work and at the coffeeshop, but not alone. What if he was a creep? He did clearly get her number from someone else after all...probably Jurian. If he gets to be at the center of gossip, he’ll give any information away.  

Elain: A pleasant surprise...I think. Unless you’re trying to rope me into helping Vassa re stain their back deck, in which case, get lost. I already told her no three times.   Lucien: Damn, I never tell her no.   Elain: A dangerous state of affairs.  Lucien: I guess you’ll be sitting pretty next weekend while I’m sanding and staining.   Elain: She’s a micromanager too. Get ready to have your technique corrected.  Lucien: I don’t usually get corrected on my technique.  

Did he just? Elain couldn’t tell if he took his home remodeling tasks that seriously, or if he really was inserting a sexual innuendo into a conversation with a stranger about routine deck maintenance. Well, a little confidence doesn’t hurt, she supposed.  

Elain: Feyre did say today that you have a big ego.   Lucien: Casting aspersions on me already. I’ll remember that when she asks me to look the other way while she sneaks off with Rhys during work hours.   Elain: It’s sounds like you’re getting pushed around left and right.   Lucien: Your turn next.  

There was a pause, while Elain calculated what to say. Whereas before, she wasn’t sure if he had been flirting, she didn’t know how she could take this message another way. She wasn’t used to this. She’d been with Graysen for years, and for the last several he hardly noticed her at all, let alone took the time to flirt with her. Then, since their breakup, she’d taken time for herself, unwilling to give up her independence. Lucien, though... 

Lucien: What are you doing tonight?  

Elain bit her lip, taking a picture of her cartons of food and the reality TV in the background and sent it to him.  

Lucien: A wild Saturday night then? Let me take you out.  

Elain couldn’t help but laugh. It would take a fire to force her out of her pajamas right now.   Elain: Now? I’m in my PJ’s.   Lucien: Drinks on me. You can come in your PJ’s if you want. Fuzzy slippers and all.  

Elain thought about correcting him that she worse fuzzy socks, not slippers, but supposed it was semantics. The idea of getting dressed exhausted her, but she couldn’t deny the thrill of seeing him. When was the last time she felt, young, did something reckless?  

Elain stepped off the couch, extricating her feet gently from their warm spot under her cat. As she acclimated to her vertical position, she mentally calculated what it would take to make herself presentable.  

Elain: Nothing fancy  Lucien: Perfect, the bar down the street from Scythia’s? Rask? I can pick you up.  Elain: That’s alright, I’ll walk. See you there in an hour?   Lucien: I’m looking forward to it.  

Elain added a little heart to his message and then began frantically throwing apart her closet for something to wear. When did she buy so many cardigans? Everything in her wardrobe looked like it could have just as easily fit in at a retirement home.  

Under normal circumstances, she might have bothered Feyre or Nesta for something sexy to wear, or even Vassa, whose clothes were less sexy and more edgy and cool. But Elain did NOT want to admit what she had planned to Feyre, or Nesta by proxy, who would immediately reveal her secrets to their group chat, not to mention her friends. Vassa, too, would be left out of this given her and Jurian’s possible involvement. She couldn’t encourage them after that Koschei incident.  

Instead, she dug through all of her dresses, looking for something that looked appropriate to wear at night. She pushed past all her pastel dresses to one clingy number she’d bought on a whim and rarely worn, preferring loose styles that let her move freely. It was a deep green, simple, and yet it clung to her somewhat non-existent curves, giving her the illusion of breasts. Her hair was mussed from rolling around on the couch, she raked her fingers through the waves and hoped it appeared tousled rather than the bed head it truly was.  

It would have to do. She didn’t bother with makeup, deciding that if he wanted to bother her so late at night, he could see her barefaced. She spritzed on some perfume that she walked through as she headed out the door, grabbing her “I love public radio” bag along the way.  

It was a long walk, but the arm was warm and a breeze brushed against her cheeks. It smelled of the streets, cement and trash and that faint scent of something she didn’t care to imagine. She followed all the street laws, despite the diminished traffic in the evening, waiting at every crosswalk for the flashing sign to proceed despite the absence of any cars. Each pause had her rethinking, half tempted to turn and run back to the safety of her home and the comfort of her plants and her cat.  

This is what Vassa always teased her about. When they’d met, she’d been as social and outgoing as Vassa, able to match her energy from one house party and show and bar to the next. Recently, she’d become more of a homebody, favoring her plants and creature comforts in lieu of time in the outside world. She tried to remind herself she could do this, she’d never had a problem attracting men, besides.  

Lucien was an NPR reporter, an enthusiast of local politics and an active participant in the fall and spring fund drives. Surely, he couldn’t be a party animal either, with a call time of five AM or something else equally absurd. Still, it had been him who suggested they meet at the last minute. Was this a booty call? Would he still buy her drinks, then?  

It seemed a strange move to select your coworker’s sister for such an arrangement, but perhaps she was naive. She’d have to keep her head on her shoulders, even when he spoke to her with that low seductive voice or wore another well-fitted shirt that showed off his expansive chest. Elain squared her shoulders, resolving herself to be firm in her resolution not to go home with him that night as she entered the chaotic noise of the bar.  

Dim lights lit the space crowded full of people flanked at the bar and filling most of the tables. Along the back entrance, a group crowded around a pool table and the loud clank of balls rattling in the pockets reverberated against the cement walls.  

The low rasp of Lucien’s voice saying her name next to her ear startled her and she jumped, nearly falling over herself. His broad hands clasped her shoulders, holding her firm as he stood behind her.  

“I didn’t mean to startle you, I wasn’t sure you’d hear me if I called your name.”  

Elain turned to look at him, despite the part of her that wanted to lean into his hold, rest her head against his chest and allow herself to let go. Even in the grim lighting of the bar, he looked beautiful. His auburn hair cascaded around his shoulders, falling against his strong shoulders constrained within the fabric of his white shirt. He’d left more buttons loose than at the office, allowing her an unprecedented amount of skin. She wanted to reach for it, certain that his whole body ran hot, somehow. His hands on her arms had felt scalding against her skin.  

He looked at her, as if sensing the battle she had with her instincts. A smirk grew at the corner of his mouth as he stated “Cute pajamas. I almost wore my garfield pajama pants, I’m glad I changed my mind.”   

Elain laughed, feeling relieved to be more at ease. “You do not wear garfield pajamas.”  

“You’ll see.” She hoped she did, though she wouldn’t say so. Though she’d much prefer to see him out of the pajamas. “Should we grab a drink?”  

Elain nodded as he placed his hand at the small of her back, leading her towards the throng of people vying for the attention of the sole bartender. He towered over the crowd easily, an advantage Elain envied as everyone easily blocked her from view. He made some kind of gesture with a simple lift of his chin, and suddenly the bartender was in front of them. He motioned towards her, allowing her to order for herself.  

After Elain ordered a simple gin and tonic, he ordered his beer and they were seated at a table as far away from the exuberant noise as they could manage. Still, they leaned across the table to talk to each other, and Elain couldn’t help but breathe in the warm, woodsy scent of his cologne. His hair fell in front of his face as he spoke, and she longed to touch it, to tuck it behind his ear and see the scarred side of his face more clearly. It made him all the more beautiful, cruel and rugged despite his well-dressed appearance.  

“Well?” Elain looked towards him expectantly. He had invited her out to drinks, after all. Surely, he had some plan in mind.  

“Well, I’d like to get to know you, Elain.” He said this with a sultry tone that implied something different than the casual acquaintance he was offering.  

“Get to know me.” Though it was a question, the flatness of her tone implied that she doubted his claim very much. He wanted to sleep with her, and despite her earlier determination that she would not go home with him tonight, she found herself imagining undressing him, gently unfastening each of the buttons on his shirt and licking her way down as she went.  

“You seem surprised” He offered with a lift of the brow. “Is there something else you had in mind?” 

Elain huffed. “It’s you who invited me here tonight, Lucien. Get to know me then. Isn’t this what you do?”  

“Alright, you garden. Why?” He crossed his arms in front of himself, readying to rise to the challenge. 

“Why not? The world needs gardens.”  

Lucien smiled broadly at that. “Tell me more about that.”  

Elain bit her lip, thinking as she formulated a response. “It feels good to grow my own food, and to have some left over to share.” She paused, unsure if she wanted to share more. Lucien placed his hand face down on the table as if he might reach for her. “My family didn’t always have enough to eat growing up, and I couldn’t help” she corrected herself “didn’t help. I didn’t try. I don’t ever want to feel helpless like that again.”  

Lucien nodded, absorbing her words. “Food is what you like to grow then?”  

Here, Elain couldn’t stop her smile. “And flowers. The world needs some beauty, too. I grow native plants, so I can help the pollinators in the process. I help plant trees, too, once a month or so.”  

Lucien looked at her, his eyes full of warmth. “You’re incredible.”  

The flush on her cheeks bloomed, creeping down to her chest and up to her ears. “What about you? What do you like to do when you’re not on the radio?”  

“I like to be outside too, though I guess I take the more passive approach. I hike, swim, anything to be out in fresh air and sunshine.” Elain half laughed to herself, forcing down the joke about fresh air she was sure he’d heard too many times since working for public radio. “There’s a pond, outside of town, it’s beautiful in the spring. The water is a deep blue and I swear it shines like starlight. I could take you, sometime.”  

“I’d like that.” Elain didn’t hesitate, the offer of the clear pool and the company too enticing to feign resistance.  

After that, things were easier. Elain described the ill-fated hike she went on with Nesta and her friends, in which she’d vastly underestimated the training required to hike the Grand Canyon. Gwyn and Emerie completed the hike and Nesta very begrudgingly stayed behind with Elain after the first day when she couldn’t continue with her sore legs and the blisters on her feet. Nesta still didn’t let her live it down, promising never to take Elain on one of her trips again.  

That was just as well, Elain preferred the sort of vacations that involved exploring new cities and seeing sights to those that involved equipment and a rigorous fitness routine. She could see the Grand Canyon without climbing it, she reasoned.  

Lucien too, had stories of ill-fated travels, particularly those that involved Vassa and Jurian. Vassa once went missing for two days, apparently of her own choice. He laughed easily at her jokes, and sometimes his own, putting her at ease. It felt like she’d always known him somehow, rather than just the hour or two it had truly been. When there was nothing but the sound of ice clinking in her glass, Elain felt unsure of her next move. Should she offer to buy the next round of drinks? Invite him back to her apartment? While she weighed her choices, Lucien took action.  

“Should I get you another drink? Or do I risk the wrath of your bunny slippers?” He looked all too pleased with himself, and Elain huffed as she considered her response. 

“I’ll have you know they are socks, not slippers. You can come back to my apartment and see for yourself, if you’d like.” Her stomach twisted the moment the words left her mouth. The proposition was bold and entirely humiliating at the same time. Was there a less sexy way to ask a man back to your apartment than with the promise of fuzzy socks? If there was, she couldn’t think of it.  

Lucien, undeterred, leaned forward on his crossed arms. “Are you asking me to come home with you, Elain?”  

Elain stuttered, unable to form coherent words. Lucien, placed a hand on her wrist in encouragement. Thoughts of him holding her down by her wrists encouraged her to continue. “Um, yes?”  

Lucien didn’t wait any longer, dropping off their empty drinks at the bar before placing his hand again on the small of her back. “Let’s go.”  

The car ride was brief and Elain was both amused and unsurprised to learn than Lucien drove a very practical and environmentally friendly Prius, rather than something showy he surely could have afforded however he afforded the nice clothes one certainly couldn’t buy on a public radio salary. His hand found her thigh as he drove down the quiet streets. When he parked in front of her apartment building, her nerves caught up with her again. Casual sex was not Elain’s forte. She had a feeling Lucien had more experience in that arena, judging by the relaxed way he touched her or his boldness in leaving the bar.  

He stood closely behind her as she jingled her keys in the door, unlocking the several deadbolts she had in place from living alone. She could feel his breath on her neck. The moment they entered her small apartment, Suri raced to the door, weaving between Lucien’s legs. He didn’t react, standing in place taking in her apartment.  

“You like cats?” She tried not to squint her eyes as she reassessed his character. His first red flag, not immediately adoring Suri like most people who entered her apartment.  

“I’m allergic” he winced.  

She crossed her arms in front of her chest, her voice coming out haughty. “How allergic?”  

He held up his hands in defense. “Not that allergic.”   

“Suri’s not leaving, so.” She raised her brow as in indication that he could leave if he had a problem with it.  

“Dually noted. I’ll take some medicine in the morning, it’ll be fine.”  

“In the morning, huh?” Elain placed her keys on the hook on the wall and kicked off her shoes.  

 “I’ll be busy until then.”  

Elain was about to make a joke about him being over confident, when he stepped in front of her, placing his hand on her jaw. She gasped, leaning up to him instinctively. He met his mouth with hers, all force and heat. She reached up, wrapping her arms around the back of his neck as she had to stand on her toes to lean into him properly.  

She’d only just kissed him, and already she felt desperate not to stop. His lips felt plush against her own, his hands on her face both firm and tender. When his teeth grazed her bottom lip, she let out a whimper, her mouth parting. The slide of his tongue into her mouth might unfurled something in her. She understood why he promised to be busy all night. If he used his tongue like this, she would lock him in her apartment if she had to. She felt desperate, greedy for him to touch her, to her body align with his own.  

Elain gently pushed at his chest with the tips of her fingers and Lucien froze instantly, his body going still as he looked down at her in concern. “Sit” she ordered with more force than she anticipated. He turned his head towards where she gestured, walking silently to the couch next to her still open containers of food. He raked his hands through his hair, as if nervous the kiss had already ended poorly.  

“Elain, I” She cut him off as her knees dipped into the soft cushions of the couch straddling his lap as she settled on top of him. Her face cupped his cheek as the other roamed any exposed skin around his collar.  

“Lucien.” It was a plea, one said with half a breath, all she could manage when she felt the heat of his skin under her palm. The moment felt surreal, happening too quickly, and yet there was an anxious flutter pulsing in her that demanded more, faster. She didn’t have to wait long as Lucien pulled her closer by the waist. Unlike her own roaming, his fingers stayed where they firmly gripped her, the other settling on her calf where it rested on the other side of his thighs. Her dress pulled up higher around her thighs from the wide spread of her legs, revealing more skin. Yet he remained still, focused.  

His mouth began to move more freely as he licked a broad stripe along the side of her neck. She gasped and he nipped at it, before pulling her earlobe between his teeth. “Elain” he repeated, this time with his lips brushing against her ear. The feel of his breath and the desperation in his tone, almost whimpering, sent goosebumps along her arms.  

This was not just any voice in her ear, but Lucien’s. It was the same voice she heard every morning, and not. It had taken on a gravely tone, his voice raw instead of the smooth rolling tones that he used on the radio.  

She wanted to draw every note out of him. Elain rolled her hips, testing his reaction. It was her that moaned first, when she felt how hard he was underneath her. She wanted to look down, to guess at the size of him through his well-tailored trousers, but that would pull her away from the way he panted in her ear. She found she wanted that, more.  

She sank down further, grinding against him with force, allowing some of the friction to rub against the lace of her panties. The pressure sent jolts of pleasure directly to her clit. The chaste hand on her calf moved up then. Lucien slid his broad hand from her calf up her thigh to her waist, guiding her as she moved. “You’re perfect.” He groaned into her ear.  

His hips rolled up into her hers in a smooth, undulating rhythm. Every movement he made was easy and graceful. She’d hardly have described dry humping as elegant, but with Lucien, his soft hair curling around the scar on his face and the luxuriant tenor of his voice, it was. She felt more beautiful too, from the way he looked at her reverently. His eyes were half lidded and a hint of a smile at the corners of his lips as he watched her. He toyed with her hair, pulling gently at the nape of her neck to bring her lips back against his own.  

Instead of the soft, wet slide of before, she sucked a bit. He was completely in control, but his movements were never rough or sloppy, but exacting, each one edged with promise. Elain whimpered into his mouth, her nails digging into his shoulders. She needed more.  

“Take off your dress for me.” The words were a demand in her ear.  

Elain didn’t think before she complied, pulling her hands back from where they pulled at his shirt to grab at the edge of her dress, lifting it over her head with the arch of her back. He didn’t hesitate, moving his hands over every new exposed bit of skin. She watched his eyes as she unclasped her bra, revealing her admittedly small breasts. Lucien palmed each in a broad hand before roaming his thumbs across her nipples. He pinched one sharply, pulling another gasp from Elain.  

She liked the way Lucien took his time with her, never rushing to the next step, needing to take his own pleasure. Instead, he let his hands trace her body as his mouth dropped to one breast, laving at her nipples softly while he tweaked and pulled at the other. The combination of the sensations, both tender and demanding drove her wild. She’d never been so wet, all but slipping against her panties as she ground against him once more.  

She found she didn’t want to rush him, excited to see what he would do next. She did, however, begin to toy at the buttons of his shirt, almost hoping he wouldn’t notice as she undressed him. When she got half way to his abdomen, she couldn’t reach around his arms and huffed in frustration.  

Lucien, pulled back, smiling lazily up at her. “Did you need something, love?” 

“Yes, take it off.” He raised his eyebrows in question. “Please.”  

Lucien made quick work of the buttons before all but ripping his shirt off. Instead of the chance to ogle at his very muscular chest as she intended, Lucien lifted her easily by the legs before placing her back down on the couch on her back.  

Lucien didn’t crawl over her like she expected. Instead, he sank to his knees, pulling her legs over his shoulders. Elain flushed, embarrassed at how exposed she felt and yet unable to look away as his eyes roamed her body from this angle, taking in her face and breasts before looking at the obviously dark spot of red lace between her legs.  

“You’re so pretty, baby.” He praised as he began to run his knuckle up and down the wetness through her panties. He pulled, causing the fabric to rub almost uncomfortably against her clit. “Look at this pretty, pink, pussy.” 

“Lucien” she groaned. She didn’t want to rush him, but... She could feel his breath on her, and his hands running tantalizingly along her inner thighs. She needed something and she feared she’d lose control soon.  

Lucien lifted away from her legs as he pulled her underwear down her thighs tantalizingly slowly. He began his casual perusal again, soaking a thumb through her wetness. Just as she was sure he was about to start rubbing in earnest, he looked at her and gave one sharp slap against her pussy. Elain gasped, uncertain what would come next.  

He wasted no time, licking softly at the hurt, her clit now even more sensitive and desperate for his touch. His tongue licked broad stripes between her folds, moving down to circle between her opening. He felt warm and soft and wet and Elain already had to cover her mouth to contain herself from making noises that would certainly wake her elderly neighbors. Her other hand found his hair, pressing his mouth firmly against her as he sucked in sloppy open-mouthed kisses. The wet noises were obscene, ugly in a way she found satisfying from composed and debonair Lucien.  

Every time Elain felt her orgasm begin to crest, Lucien would pull away, sucking on her folds or delivering sharp bites to inner thighs. She began to feel frustrated, huffing and whining in hopes that Lucien would give her what she wanted. She knew he could and yet, he chose not to do it.  

It was different with some men, who could never make her come until she begrudgingly touched herself. Lucien circled the outside of her clit, just the barest of brushes, letting his saliva drip down until it collected with her own juices. He was completely in control, choosing what he would give her, all she could do was take. It frustrated her, and yet letting herself go to it felt better than she’d expected. Her thoughts were a blur, just heat and desire and that frantic feeling crawling up her spine. She couldn’t hold still, Lucien pressing her down with one firm hand. Her cunt ached, her clit throbbing. Lucien’s thumb continued to toy with her entrance while he lapped softly at her clit.  

She said his name over and over, begging. He looked up at her from between her legs with a wink. She watched with surprise as he moved one hand down to his own body, the sound of the zipper of his pants ratcheting up her excitement once more. Instead of moving on top of her as she expected, she saw the telltale sign of his arm pumping as he stroked his own cock as he continued to lick her. He began to groan as he licked, his breath hot against her skin.  

“Let me touch you.” She gripped the upholstery of her couch, trying to hold herself back. She couldn’t even see him, and she wanted to watch, at least.  

He flicked at her clit. “Do you want to come or do you want to touch me?” 

“Both” Elain answered immediately. What kind of question was that? You’d think he didn’t know her at all. Which, she supposed, he didn’t.  

“Lay back and be a good girl, Elain. You’ll come when I’m ready.”  

Lucien made a big show of increasing his own movements of his cock, cursing to himself as he sucked on her clit sporadically. Elain must be drunk on her need for an orgasm, because she could have sworn Lucien was the sexiest man she’d ever seen. Just watching his face and listening to the noises he made as he touched himself was intensely erotic.  

“Fuck, Lucien.”  

“Yes, Elain?” He lifted his face from between her legs, turning his head to the side to eye her curiously. 

“You’re so hot.” was all she managed. Like a god damned idiot. 

Lucien rewarded her with a broad smile, kissing the side of her knee before leaning back down and sucking at her clit. His tongue continued to stroke at her as he sucked and Elain’s orgasm arrived at last, her whole-body rocking with pleasure, her back arching and contorting, like she’d never experienced. His large hand came to cover her mouth, containing the unearthly noises she was releasing.  

When her body began to relax, Lucien came over her, kissing her as he ran soothing strokes up and down her arm. Elain, embarrassingly, clung to him with her arms and legs. He hummed a soft sound as he continued to press his lips against her own in a series of soft kisses. At last, Elain began to relax and came to the disturbing realization that Lucien hadn’t come. She reached between them to fumble for his cock, ready and eager to take over the job he’d already started. Lucien gently grabbed her hands, interlacing their fingers before holding her hands out to the side.  

“Next time.” He kissed her again, this time his tongue danced inside her mouth, his movements certain.  

He wedged his body besides hers on the narrow couch, and she shifted to make room, all but laying on top of him as her head rested on his chest. Still, it felt nice, her body relaxed and content as she nestled into him. His arm wrapped around her, his hand toying in her hair. It all felt intense and intimate for a random hook up. Still, he’d said next time.  

She would unravel it in the morning, she decided. Instead, she let her mind lull into nothingness, her hands focusing on the warm feeling of Lucien’s skin and tender way he pressed his cheek against the top of her head as his breathing slowed. 

When Elain woke on the couch the next morning, her first thought was that her neck was broken. She’d twisted into an especially uncomfortable position, her head at an unnatural angle and her leg all but falling off the side of the couch. Next to her feet sat a very angry little cat, who seemed perturbed that she did not sleep in her assigned place and she did not feed him on time.  

It was only after Elain began to sit up and realized that, yes, she was naked, that she remembered why she had slept on the couch at all. Lucien had been there, and apparently, left. She tried not to wince at the sting of rejection. Of course he left, there were all but strangers. Just because he’d eaten her out didn’t mean he wanted to stay for breakfast.  

Elain tried to calm herself, fighting the simultaneous outrage and disappointment as she fumbled to the bedroom for a t-shirt to throw on before beginning her morning. She looked at the radio, taunting her. It was the weekend, Lucien wouldn't be on the air, still it felt like an insult.  

Would she ever be able to listen to the news again? Perhaps she’d just become willfully ignorant of the world around her so that she never had to think of the news or reporters again. Or worse, she’d watch one of those exhausting twenty-four-hour news channels that grated on her nerves.  

Elain walked over to the drying rack to grab a clean bowl for Suri’s food when she saw the dishes from her Chinese food last night, washed and in the sink. She opened the fridge, eyeing her boxes of food neatly lined in the fridge. Well, if he meant to let her down easy by doing her dishes, she supposed there could be worse ways. Perhaps he hoped that she wouldn’t tell Feyre about it. Not that she would, she’d never live it down with her sisters. As she walked over to start her morning coffee, she saw a note scribbled on the back of a piece of mail set atop it.  

Elain -   I’m sorry I had to leave early. I’ve got to get home and walk my dog and I didn’t want to wake you.   I need to see you again.  -Lucien 

Elain smiled as she turned on the coffee pot and turned on the radio, an old episode of Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me playing as she went about caring for her plants. Was Lucien the kind of person that knew the answers? He seemed like he would be. Lucien seemed like the sort of person that would know the answers to all the trivia questions and be entirely too smug about it. Nesta would either love him or throttle him. She couldn’t stop herself from smiling.  

***** 

Elain had never listened to the radio as avidly as she had the last few days. The thrill of a text from Lucien arriving mere moments after she stopped hearing his voice on air was something that wouldn’t get old. Was it normal to feel aroused while you listened to someone talk about air quality on the radio? Probably not. Still, Elain could have touched herself from listening to his voice alone. Every sound and clearing of his throat made her think of the way he moved his lips, how his tongue danced endlessly across her body. Whenever he took a particularly deep breath, she thought of the way he moaned into her as he stroked himself.  

Her life was a golden wash of Lucien, Lucien, Lucien.  

When Feyre texted her asking her to bring her coffee again at the studio, she all be leapt at the opportunity. Would it look desperate? She wasn’t sure she cared, as long as she got a glimpse of him from a distance, a sidelong glance where she could appreciate his tall form and the contours of his face.  

Everyone seemed too invested in her whereabouts and activities, and she all but pried herself away from Vassa, who asked her too many leading questions. Lucien must have let something slip, she supposed. Good friend though she might be, Vassa generally much preferred to talk about herself rather than hold an interrogation over Elain’s upcoming schedule.  

Feyre, too, seemed unnaturally happy to see her. She’d hardly heard from her at all in their group chat with Nesta the past few days. Feyre was busy with Rhys, swept up in her new relationship and ignoring the outside world entirely. Nesta never liked Feyre’s boyfriends and was already suspicious of Rhys, especially after she met his, apparently very annoying, friends.  

She brought the coffee to Feyre in her office, chatting with her about some black-tie event that Rhys planned to take her to, when she felt the recognizably warm presence of Lucien behind her.  

“None for me, hmm?” He said jokingly as she turned around.  

“You don’t drink coffee. You drink tea.” She said the last part with the appropriate emphasis of her disturbance at the idea. Who didn’t love coffee?  

“Don’t you have to finish your recording?” Feyre sniped at him from her place at her desk.  

Lucien smiled good naturedly, not taking his eyes off Elain. “Join me?”  

Elain didn’t know what she was agreeing to, would have said yes to anything, as she followed him through those gray carpeted hallways. They entered a small room with fabric paneled walls, with sound equipment set up along the sides as well as placed on a desk in the center of the room with two microphones.  

“Wow, this is neat. Is this where you usually record?”  

“For prerecorded stuff. There’s a bigger room for the morning when I have someone with me.” He grabbed her waist, pulling her gently towards him. “Now, I have a guest.”  

She craned her neck up to look at him as she stood closer. Lucien cupped her cheek, leaning in to kiss her, nibbling at her lip. Elain had all but forgotten where they were or what they were doing by the time he released her.  

Lucien turned, fiddling with the equipment and plugging things in as she watched in fascination. His face was casual, confident as he adjusted dials and made some kind of calculations she didn’t understand. He stepped back towards her and she watched as flipped on a switch on the wall labelled “recording”.  

“So no one bothers us. It turns on a light outside.” Elain nodded wordlessly as Lucien sat the chair in front of the microphone, taking a dramatic and pointed sip of his steaming cup of tea before flipping on the switch. Elain couldn’t help but smile and roll her eyes.   

Elain had heard Lucien’s voice many times by now, joking with his friends or the filthy words he murmured in her ear. This was different. Lucien’s voice was deep, smooth and authoritative as he recorded a segment on something she didn’t even bother to pay attention to.  

If he’d asked her for her opinion afterwards, she would have to admit her only opinion was on the way his mouth moved when he annunciated or the way his hands rested on his muscular thighs. What did a man on the radio need with muscles like those or a face like that? Whatever the reason, she was grateful that it benefited her, that she might get to experience if again if she played carefully. He’d said he wanted to see her again, hadn’t he? Hopefully he wouldn’t be too put off by her all but stalking him at work.  

By the time he was signing off, Elain’s thighs had grown slippery, her excitement palpable just at the sound of his voice. The whirring movements of the recording equipment could have just as easily been her, for how tightly wound she felt. When he leaned back in his chair to look towards her, Elain pounced. She strode over to him, standing between his spread legs to lick at his neck and wind her fingers through his long hair. Lucien didn’t miss a beat, his hands grasping at her ass as she nipped and licked at him, nothing but a smooth liquid glide against the satin material of her skirt.  

Lucien grasped at her chin, locking her eyes with his and taking control of her frantic exploration with her mouth. “Did you miss me, baby?”  

Elain nodded as he lifted up her skirt, trailing his fingers up and down her legs. Surely, he wouldn’t tease her again, here. They hardly had the time for it. It was the middle of the day and in other parts of the office people were filing paperwork and editing sound while Lucien dragged his hands up and down over her. When he arrived at the wetness gathering on her thighs, he hissed.  

“What's all this for? Did you like watching me?” Just like the night before, he gave her cunt a soft slap, the sound clear and crisp in the perfectly insulated room.  

Elain let out a sharp groan, arching up into his hand. He squeezed her waist before he turned her, tugging gently with her hair as be balled it into a fist. Every huff of his breath or the sound of her rubbing against him only drove her closer to losing her mind completely. She had no words for what she was feeling. She arched her back, letting her backside press up against the hardness she could feel. 

 She still hadn’t seen him or had the chance to touch him beyond the dry humping she’d engaged in on her couch. Holding her by her hair, Lucien pressed her forward, so that her chest was pushed against the desk. The knob of some piece of equipment or other pressed uncomfortably against her ribs, but she didn’t care. The pressure of the cold table against her sensitive nipples caused her to groan again, and she pinched at one absently through her clothes.  

Lucien lifted her skirt up over her hips, palming at the globes of her ass as he all but purred in appreciation. “Well?”  

He was asking her something, and Elain knew she would agree to anything he said right now. If he asked to fuck her live on air, she would have nodded her head just the same.  

The sound of a slap cut through the room as Lucien’s hand landed on her ass. Elain gasped her mouth open and drool dripping on to the table as he slapped again on the other cheek. She wasn’t sure she wanted to answer his question, wanted to see how long he would keep going like this. The pain was just enough to truly sting, though she knew if he kept going she would start to feel sore.  

One more hard slap left her rethinking her decisions and Elain craned her neck to look at him as she answered a simple “Yes.” 

“Yes, Daddy.” He demanded as he offered her another sharp slap to the other cheek. The recording light was still on, would warn anyone in the hall not to disturb them, and yet Elain’s cheeks flamed with embarrassment.  

He rubbed at her inflamed cheeks, which she could now see bore bright red handprints. “Yes, Daddy” 

“Good girl.” He leaned forward, his body over her as he kissed her deeply, his tongue moving languidly in her mouth. Elain whimpered as his mouth covered hers and she could hear the jingling sound of him unbuckling his belt. He pulled back to standing as she listened for the distinct sound of the ripping open of a foil package.  

Elain craned her neck to watch, taking in a full view of him naked in front of her for the first time. His cock bobbed in front of him, flushed a deep reddish purple from his arousal with swollen veins running up and down the length. It was long, the head of him reaching up to his navel, already wet and dripping down towards the thick base of him. Elain bit her lip, her mouth watering as she fought the urge to taste him.     

“Are you going to watch me fuck you?” Lucien asked as he lined himself up between her legs. Elain spread them wider, lifting her ass into the air in invitation.  

“Yes, Daddy.” Though she still felt a bit embarrassed, she spoke more confidently this time.  

Despite his tone, Lucien took his time pushing into her, allowing her to adjust to the stretch of him. He watched with open mouthed fascination, though he lifted his eyes to look at her and make sure she was comfortable. Elain couldn’t look away either, staring at the way the muscles in his abdomen tensed as he held control, moving slowly. At last, when he was pressed fully against her, he leaned forward, pressing his body on top of her own, avoiding the tangle of cords on the table as he paced his hands on either side of her. 

“Fuck, you feel so good Elain. You’re so tight on my cock.” He began to move in and out, the wet sounds of it the only thing she could hear.  

“Is that why you’re here, pretty girl? So, Daddy can fuck you?” Elain gulped down a yes as she panted out a rasping breath.  

“Next time, I need you to come on my face, too.” He began to pick up his pace hitting against her so sharply it almost hurt as his other hand pressed against her clit. She craved it, the sharp bite of each slap of his cock against her just enough to bring her close to the edge.  

“Be a good girl and come for me, Elain.”  

She did, her pleasure pounding and reverberating through her body as she shook. Lucien cursed and repeated incoherent praises in her ear about how wet and tight she was, what a good girl for coming when he told her to, as he lost his rhythm, his hips moving frantically as he came. Elain watched his face eagerly, pleased to see the feral snarl in his expression and the whimpering groan he made when he finished.  

He didn’t move as he kissed her softly, brushing his fingers through her hair before reluctantly withdrawing from her body. It felt wrong to suddenly be so empty, she found herself craving him again already. Lucien discreetly disposed of the condom before rushing back over to her, placing soft kisses along her cheek.  

“You’re beautiful.” Elain and answered with an affectionate touch of her own along his jaw. Gone was the feral man of a moment before, replaced by a softer Lucien, who drove a prius and left early in the morning to walk his dog. She rather liked both, she decided.  

Lucien let it a sudden sharp intake of breath, and Elain’s blood ran cold. If they’d been discovered, if someone walked in on her clearly fucking a man she just met in the middle of an office building, she’d never recover. She’d ask Nesta to take her out, a mercy killing. Instead, Lucien switched off the microphone in front of them.  

Elain gulped. “That’s not...” 

“Recording? Yes. I didn’t shut off the mic before we” he indicated to the space between them. Elain’s pussy clenched with arousal even as she stood, straightening out her dress and combing through her hair as if making herself presentable would make any difference. It’s radio for god’s sake.  

He must have seen her wide-eyed panic, because he squeezed her hand. “It’s not live. Thank god! Just recorded. I’ll take care of it, delete the recording and re-record my spot in a bit.”  

“Oh, okay.” It all happened too quickly. She wanted to go back to the way he’d been holding her tenderly, to the honeyed words dripping from his lips in the wake of his orgasm. Instead, he explained the logistics of how the audio was recorded, how he would most assuredly remove of all evidence.  

She trusted him, it was his job after all. It was one that would not be easily replaced, the city only had one public radio station. He looked a bit frantic, and Elain took that as her sign to leave, feeling suddenly awkward and a bit out of place.  

She reached up on the tips of her feet to place a kiss along his jaw, offering him a reassuring smile. “I’ll walk myself out.”  

Lucien pulled her in for a hug, his arms wrapping around her body. “I’m sorry about this. I’ll call you later, okay?”  

***** 

Elain calmed herself down with a trip to the garden center, wandering the aisles of newly sprouting plants and running her fingers through the damp top soil as she listened to Nesta on the phone, complaining about a coworker named Eris who apparently stole her reserved parking space. She didn’t need to say anything, just listen as she touched the leaves and breathed in the fresh air.  

She wandered home with a new plant for her windowsill, still feeling a bit out of her sorts. When she arrived at her apartment door, she found a bouquet of flowers sitting on her doormat, along with a simple brown paper bag. Elain took a moment, unlocking her door as she wandered inside to the chirping sounds of her cat.  

She leaned against her counter, flicking on the radio as she set down the flowers, her plant, and the mysterious bag with her name scrawled across it.  

She opened it to find a note from Lucien and a blank CD. Her face flushed immediately, understanding what it must be.  

Elain,  I’m sorry again for earlier. I’ve taken care of it, yours is the only evidence. You sound beautiful, by the way. You have a voice for radio.  Yours,   Lucien  

[tomadii]

Corona vs Heineken

A simple Google search of the World's best beer leads me to a variety of categories of how one would describe 'best' beer:

Light

Low-carb

German

IPA

Sour

Stout

Craft

Lager

Belgian

Japanese

Mexican

Mainstream

For the beer nerds, it is hard to choose the winner between Heineken and Corona because one might have a better edge than others in different aspects. However, from the business angle, we can argue which brand has better brand recognition and, hence, leads to better sales (in terms of quantity) in the global market.

HEINEKEN

I agree with the case that Heineken plays a lot of genderism of masculinity, sexy, 'James Bond' to attract the main market of the beer industry: males. This approach might yield results in the pre-woke era where the idea of females drinking beer is not common. However, as their advertising campaign went, Heineken clearly understand that their masculine approach, to some extent degrading to the female (i.e 'something should not be shaken or stirred' ads), is not appropriate and failing. In Heineken's recent campaign, they started to be more vanilla with a beer photo with some self-acclaimed phrases (i.e 'freshest label in the business', 'lager beer at its best') but I can feel that Heineken is losing its identity throughout.

CORONA

Meanwhile, Corona is consistent with its association with vocation, including 'beach', 'Mexico', 'lime', 'fresh', and 'sunshine', to attract its customers for a quick escape to a tropical island. Corona's advertisement campaign always has elements of 'Fun, Sunny, Relaxed' which are the brand association that they would like to put forward to the customers. This effective marketing combined with consistent pricing, field sales work, and good POS promotions has made Corona build a better brand recognition that leads to better sales improvement (in terms of quantity) in the beer industry over the period of 1990 to 1996.

CONCLUSION

Based on Exhibit 10 above in 1996, although Heineken is still in the top 7 of the world's top beer brands, Corona is clearly leapfrogging its distribution by 65% from 1990 - 1996 and managed to be in the top 8 of the world's top beer brands. The case does not provide data on how Heineken vs Corona performed in the 2020s, but I would make a $100 bet that Corona has surpassed Heineken in recent years.

[kingjamesroystonpub]

Is Wine Healthier Than Beer?

The amount of alcohol you drink will tell you which is better: Wine or Beer.

Sometimes drinking a little wine or beer is good for you, but the benefits wear off faster the more you drink. There is no greater significance than the amount of booze you consume. It's even better not to drink at all.

Don't believe the talk about either Is Wine Healthier Than Beer  even if you like one more than the other. Let's look at the facts.

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Beer vs. Wine Calories:

There are different amounts of calories in each kind of beer or wine. Let's start by having wine.

Most of the time, a wine with more alcohol by volume (ABV) has more calories. But those changes aren't significant. It takes about 120 to 125 calories to drink a 5-ounce glass of red wine. About 120 calories are in that much white wine.

As long as you don't drink too much, a normal glass of prosecco has only 98 calories. Without booze, Surely's sparkling rosé is an option. Each 8-ounce serving has only 20 calories.

Beer has a lot of different calorie numbers. Low-carb beers have at least 95 calories per bottle. For example, 12 ounces of light beer might only have 145 calories.

Any craft beer or heavy beer like an IPA could have at least 200 calories in a pint. You don't really have a beer belly or be fat because of beer. The calories are to blame.

Drinking beer doesn't give you many health benefits when we talk about calories. These calories don't do any good. Never let what you read about beer vs. wine change the fact that healthy foods are always better.

Regular drinkers usually don't gain much weight over time, but heavy drinkers are more likely to become overweight. It can also be hard to stick to your healthy eating and exercise plans after a few drinks, no matter what kind of alcohol you drink. We all think abou is Wine Healthier Than Beer, but ir all depends on each individual choice.

Is wine really better for you?

A lot of the buzz about how good wine is for you is due to the antioxidants that are found in red wine. Let's go back in time and look at how beer and wine are made.

In what ways do wine and beer differ? The things that go into making wine and beer are what make them different. Grapes are crushed to make wine. Malted barley is one type of grain that is used to make most beers. The alcohol level comes from the fermentation processes that both go through.   

One of the main reasons people say wine is the best alcohol is because it contains resveratrol, which is found in the skins of red grapes. Studies have shown that resveratrol can lower your chance of heart disease and make you live longer.

To some extent, that's true, but it's also been blown out of proportion.

For those of you who like wine, the French contradiction is probably very familiar to you. Even though French people eat a lot of fatty fats, the number of deaths from heart disease is pretty low. Among other things, they eat a lot of cheese and butter over there.

Scientists started to look into whether wine was the key to their long lives. The idea was that the polyphenols in red wine, in particular, made up for those other indulgences and helped with general health.

It was clear what would happen.

People began drinking more red wine without changing what they ate or how much they worked out. Researchers began to look at other factors that were much more important to heart health over time.

It was discovered that societies that drink more red wine also walk more, eat more fresh fruits and veggies, and eat less trans fats. It's also not fun to hear that they snack less.

A lot less is known about resveratrol itself, according to new studies. You can try as hard as you want, but the amount of wine in that glass will not turn your red wine into magical food. To get more antioxidants, you should eat a handful of grapes instead.

You can still drink wine.

Which is better: wine or beer? For people who are already trying to drink less booze, beer is not better than wine. Both have some minor health benefits, but it is always better to drink less or not at all. 

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Pros of Wine:

Some modest wine drinkers can get some good things out of wine, especially red wine:

Wine always has about the same number of calories.

Quality wines usually only have a little sugar unless you're looking for sweet dessert wines. The amount of sugar in a dry bottle of wine is only 5 g.

Since wine has fewer carbs than beer, it's a good choice for people on keto or similar diets.

More research has shown that red wine is better for your heart than beer. It could be because red wine has more polyphenols, flavonoids, or tannins than other drinking drinks.

Red wine with meals may lower the chance of getting type 2 diabetes.

Wine may be better for your stomach, but if you already have stomach problems, drinking any alcohol is bad for you.

Pros of Beer:

The health benefits of beer depend a lot on the type you drink. You can drink light beers, but they don't have as many health perks. Beer is better than wine in the following ways: 

While wine doesn't have these vitamins and minerals, most beers do. For example, most beers have niacin, vitamin B6, and folate.

Every single serving of regular beer has about 1.5 grams of protein.

Dark beers, like stouts and porters, have more fibre than lighter beers.

One study found that drinking beer in moderation may be suitable for your blood vessel health and HDL cholesterol.

Beer may be suitable for your bones, especially as you get older because it has silicon in it. (The same study said that raisins and high-bran grains were great food sources!)

Most of the time, beer is cheaper than wine, especially if you want a better wine.

Put:

The amount of alcohol you drink is more important than the type of booze you drink. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), women should only have one drink a day, and men should have two drinks a day.

By the way, these are regular drinks. That's the same amount of beer as 5 ounces of wine. If you don't want a bad hangover the following day, you should drink less of a more potent drink.

How many alcoholic drinks are in wine vs. beer? Beer and wine generally have different amounts of alcohol. About 12% is the ABV of most beers. Regular beer has an ABV of about 5%, but heavier craft beers or kinds that have been aged in barrels can get close to wine's ABV.

If you still need to drink, the small amount of health benefits that wine and beer have shouldn't be a reason to start.

Consuming any alcohol in large amounts can make it hard to sleep, increase your chance of several types of cancer, and make you more likely to develop heart disease and become dependent on alcohol. Drinking too much can hurt your mental health, make your blood pressure go up, and even make your skin look bad.

The good news is that you can get rid of all of those scary side effects by drinking less. Also, it's easier than ever to give up alcohol and replace it with healthy habits and alcohol-free drinks, such as sober bars or de-alcoholized beers and wines.

Enjoy Wine Risk-Free:

We believe that the decisions you make every day about your health should be in balance. We're also all about tasty alternatives to drinking alcohol, so if you're sober and interested in non-alcoholic wine, read on.

Drink wine and enjoy its benefits without getting drunk. Do you love red wine? Try our bubbly red that doesn't have alcohol in it. It's just as crisp and bright as your favourite white wines, but it doesn't have any alcohol in it. We at King James Royston Pub serve some of the best wines and beers that go along with the finest burgers in town.

[nwbeerguide]

Maui Brewing updates their 2024 release calendar with canned cocktails hard seltzers beers and hard teas.

image sourced from Maui Brewing Company Press Release Kihei, Hawaii … The 2024 Brand Calendar has been released by Maui Brewing Company offering a mix of both new and fan favorite craft beers. The upcoming year’s calendar comprises the full “Brand ��Ohana” of beverages which includes Maui Hard Seltzer and Kupu Spirits. MBC’s year-round lineup consists of Bikini Blonde Lager®, Big Swell IPA, Coconut Hiwa Porter, Pineapple Mana Wheat, OMG Hazy IPA, and a new version of an old favorite, Da Hawai’i Life. With a new look and a new ABV (4.2%), Da Hawai’i Life will become a low calorie, low carb Lite Lager and will be promoted as the beer of choice for active lifestyle craft beer lovers in conjunction with MBC’s partnership with Epic Swim Maui. Residents and visitors of Hawai'i will also be able to continue enjoying Pau Hana Pilsner and Sunshine Girl Golden Ale.  Specialty offerings will launch periodically and be available for a limited time beginning with Land of Rainbows in January, followed by Pacific Lite Session IPA in May, and Shibata Rice Lager in September. Each will be available in 6-pack cartons and draught. Four-pack specialties POG Hazy IPA and Double Overhead Double IPA will be released in January and run through June, while Mango Stickee Rice IPA and a new offering – OMFG Hazy Double IPA with orange, mango, and guava will be available beginning in July through the end of 2024. The brand’s Maui Hard Seltzer will feature POG, Dragon Fruit, Hibiscus Lime, and Lemonade flavors available in 6-pack cartons by flavor profile or the Mix 12-pack which includes 3 cans of each flavor. New for 2024 will be a POG Harder Seltzer clocking in at 8% ABV. POG Harder Seltzer will be available in easy-to-grab 19.2 ounce cans sold separately in convenience stores, gas stations, and the like. In Hawai‘i, fans can still enjoy Kupu Spirits’ award-winning Gin, Whiskey, and Island Amaro. Their ready-to-enjoy canned cocktail lineup continues to include the award-winning Gin & Tonic, with a new Maui Mojito with coconut and lime coming soon. Look for a tropical flavored Vodka Soda to be released later in 2024. Lastly, the calendar incorporates the new Maui Island Hard Tea with subtle juicy, sweet, natural peach and mango flavors and stone fruit aroma. Island Hard Tea has an ABV of 5%, and will be offered in both 6 pack cartons and convenient single serve 19.2 ounce cans available in Hawai‘i only. The MBC Brand ‘Ohana will be available at retail and restaurant partners in Hawai'i and mainland markets where distribution occurs. The MBC team are stewards of their communities and the ‘aina, and curators of the craft beer way of life. Their beers have been recognized worldwide for quality and innovation.  For more information, visit MauiBrewing.com or follow @MauiBrewingCo on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. ### About Maui Brewing Company Founded in 2005, Maui Brewing Company is Hawaii’s largest craft brewery. MBC is based on Maui, with its grid-independent production brewery, restaurant and tasting room in Kihei, as well as restaurants in Kahana (Maui), Ka’anapali (Maui), Kailua (Oahu), and Waikiki (Oahu). Maui Brewing Company is available in 26 states, 1 district, and 2 international countries with more areas to follow. from Northwest Beer Guide - News - The Northwest Beer Guide https://bit.ly/3NJD4nd

[craffbeertimes]

Discover the Best Low Carb Craft Beers in America: Top 15 Brands Revealed – Yahoo Finance #craftbeer #beer

[ananya5400]

Brewing Ingredients Market Projected to Garner Significant Revenues by 2026

The brewing ingredients market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.8% to reach USD 47.9 billion by 2026. It was estimated at USD 34.5 billion in 2021. The rise in demand for beers from all over the globe coupled with increasing consumption of craft beers will drive the market demand and growth of brewing ingredients globally.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=248523644

Increasing demand for low- or zero-alcohol content beer

With changing lifestyles, there is an increase in health awareness. This awareness has created a demand for healthier products in the food & beverage industry. Due to this, the demand for beer with low-alcohol content is increasing. According to the ADM survey, in 2020, a total of 51% of consumers are looking for items that contribute to their metabolic health to promote healthy weight. Low-alcohol products are no longer considered inferior ones. On the other hand, these products are more in demand, as they offer the taste and experience of alcohol - minus the guilt. Consumers are looking for beers with high protein and other nutritious content and reduced carb, sugar, and alcohol content.

Opportunity: Introduction of new flavors in beer

The increase in beverage consumption has led to intense competition amongst beer brands, resulting in the introduction of new flavors and increasing beer consumption. There is a growing popularity for craft beers as it offers various flavors besides the regular flavors offered by macro breweries. The introduction of new ingredients and innovative flavors, combining salty, fruity, and tart flavors, by craft beers, has found an increasing appeal among the millennial crowd globally. Some of the macro brewers are also acting on to respond to these changing demands from consumers. For example, Heineken USA, in 2021, launched Dos Equis Lime & Salt variety pack of lager beer. Similarly, Latambarcem Brewery (India), in 2020, launched a new craft beer brand called Maka di that currently serves four brews: Honey Ale, Belgian Tripel, Bavarian Keller, and Belgian Blanche. The introduction of these new flavors is projected to increase the sales and consumption of beer. Thus, this is anticipated to provide ample opportunities to players operating in the global market.

By source, the malt extract segment is estimated to hold the largest share in the brewing ingredients market

The market includes five major sources: malt extract, adjuncts/grains, hops, beer yeast, and beer additives. The malt extract segment is further bifurcated into standard malt and specialty malts. Brewing-grade malt extracts are made with the highest-quality brewing malts and get additional colors and flavors from using specialty malts. This gives beer the unique character and flavor desired for the particular style brew. These malts often have a longer time in the kiln, at higher temperatures, or get roasted to add depth, complexity, and flavor to the resulting beer. Specialty malts include less in the way of sugars but have a greater influence on the color of the beer. These malts are widely used in craft beers.

Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=248523644

The increasing demand for beers in the Asia Pacific countries drives the region's growth rate at a higher pace.

The Asia Pacific region comprises two high-growth economies: India and China. The drinking preferences of the population in this region are gradually shifting toward alcoholic culture. The large, increasing population and the growing market mean that the demand for brewing ingredients is still promising. Another factor is the densely populated areas that are not completely tapped by beer manufacturing and brewing ingredient companies. Hence, beer produced in macro breweries and craft breweries still has a high-growth rate. Moreover, the increasing spending capacity of consumers has led to a surge in demand for craft beers. There has been an emergence of various craft breweries in countries such as India over the last few years.

The key players in this market include Cargill, Incorporated (US), Angel Yeast Co. Ltd. (China), Boortmalt (Belgium), Malteurop Groupe (France), Rahr Corporation (US), Lallemand Inc. (Canada), Viking Malt (Sweden), Lesaffre (France), Maltexco S.A. (Chile), and Simpsons Malt (UK). These players in this market are focusing on increasing their presence through new product launches and expansions. These companies have a strong presence in North America, Asia Pacific and Europe. They also have manufacturing facilities along with strong distribution networks across these regions.

[brews-and-pubs]

Lazlo's Brewery & Grill, Lincoln NE

19 June 2023

Lazlo's is associated with Empyrean Brewing of Lincoln, and together they are Nebraska's first brewpub and first craft brewery. My hopes were high going in; were my expectations met?

The interior is a cross between a contemporary pub and a 1970s steak house, but not in a bad way. These photos are of the contemporary part where I sat at the bar; the "steak house" end is in the other half of the building and isn't visible here. There's also a small covered patio area with a few tables.

As always, I asked about a flight and it turns out it entails ALL of their current beers, minus two that are only in cans right now.

I'll describe them starting with the lighter beer to the right of the very dark one and continuing clockwise:

Super Nova (5.5% California Common) - This is a style I've never seen before; it's basically a pilsner with a bit of rye thrown in. It wasn't bad, but it seemed a bit thin.

Sunslinger (4.4% Extra Pale Ale) - Low carbs, low calories, practically water with a bit of flavoring.

Chaco Canyon (4.8% Golden Ale) - Thin with a hint of honey.

Mind over Mango (6% IPA) - I rather liked this one and I don't usually like beer with mango. Still, it was definitely the best of the bunch to this point.

Burning Skye (5.3% Scottish-style Ale) - Another pretty good one, nicely malted according to the style.

Third Stone Brown (5.3% Brown Ale) - I'm not a great fan of brown ales so one has to be particularly good for me to like it. This is probably a very good brown, but not good enough to tickle my fancy.

Watch Man (6% IPA) - This wasn't bad, but I definitely preferred the Mango IPA for the flavor.

Luna Sea (6.3% ESB) - I love a good ESB; I'm not as fond of one that tastes OK but is terribly thin in the mouth.

Zookeeper (5% Lemon Kölsch) - I love a shandy and I love a Kölsch. But putting the two together? It just didn't work for me, not today anyway.

Collapsar (5.6% Oatmeal Stout) - Again, I love a good Oatmeal Stout, really I do. This one tasted OK but was so terribly thin.

Onto the food. I was debating between a Pub Club and a Reuben; as they had run out of Corned Beef, that decided the issue. But that's OK, because the Club was marvelous!

Not only was it the right amount of food, but the Dijon dipping sauce was amazing and the fries were perfectly crispy and didn't lose any of that crisp exterior the entire time I was eating. That got me thinking about dessert, so I ordered a pint of the Scottish Ale and a slice of Key Lime Pie.

The pie was a perfect Key Lime flavor with just the right amount of tartness, but the texture baffled me -- it was gritty! There wasn't any issue with it, it's just that I've never run across a Key Lime pie quite like this before. But the crust was wonderful and I just ignored the texture and enjoyed the flavor :)

So, the overall impression was of thin beer in a variety of styles without flavors that stood out, but very good food.

[menuandprice]

South Shore Tiki Lounge – Kihei, Maui, HI

Happy Hour at South Shore Tiki Lounge – Kihei, Maui, HI

Updated 10/4/2022 by the Maui Happy Hours team

Happy Hour at South Shore Tiki Lounge 11am-6pm Daily

- $5 Happy Hour Margaritas - $4 Pacifico Draft Beers - $4 Well Liquor Drinks

Live Music at South Shore Tiki Lounge

- Enjoy live music nightly from 4pm-6pm by local Maui artists —————————— Address: 1913 S. Kihei Rd, Kihei, HI 96753 Phone: (808) 874-6444 Website About: South Shore Tiki Lounge is a relaxed eatery serving burgers, pizza & seafood also features traditional & inventive cocktails in Kihei, Maui, HI. Tiki Lounge strives to buy local and use only the finest and freshest ingredients. Their bread products are made with wheat and malted barley flour. They contain no dairy products and are cholesterol free. The meat products at South Shore Tiki Lounge come from Maui Cattle Company free-range cows. They contain no hormones or antibiotics. Fresh fish is caught off the shores of Maui. Their oil “Whole Harvest Smart Fry” is 100% cold expeller pressed soybean oil used only for cooking French fries. It contains no harsh chemicals, no solvents, no trans fatty acids, no hydrogenation and no cholesterol. Their veggie dogs and burgers are made from soybean and wheat protein. They are low carb, low calorie and low fat. Vegan chili is made with 3 types of beans, 3 types of chili, 3 types of onions, tomatoes, and herbs. Hand-tossed New York style pizzas are crafted from scratch using wheat flour, extra virgin olive oil, filtered water, and a few secret spices. The sauce is made from fresh crushed Roma tomatoes and fresh (not dried) chopped herbs and spices. We hope you enjoy it! “The young (and young at heart) flock to South Shore Tiki Lounge, where bamboo and kitschy tiki decor complement a full bar, outdoor lanai, great wait staff, surf videos, and a menu of sausages, burgers, and some of the best pizza on the island.” – Maui Time Weekly Voted best bar on Maui for 7 years by Maui Time Weekly readers as well as best place to dance and best local pizza and voted best bar silver by Maui No Ka Oi magazine readers. According to these recent South Shore Tiki Lounge patrons: “Delicious food and beverages at a descent price. Great Happy Hour deals. Very friendly staff. Cool relaxing atmosphere.”Kim P., October 2022 “We had a great time dancing on our first visit. Our second visit we ate some of the best pizza we’ve ever had. Erin our server went out of her way to make our dinner perfect in every way. Bart the bartender was great as well. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!”Kyleigh P., September 2022 “Amazing cocktails and pizzas. It has good music and a vibe in the evening. Would highly recommend this place in Kihei.”Naman G., October 2022 “Don’t let the outside fool you. Awesome pizza and delicious drinks! The price was extremely low, considering your other food options on the island. Found this totally by accident. Was just looking for something different than seafood and decided to give this place a try. So glad I did!”Tracy B., September 2022 “Enjoyed some grub and live tunes, the guy was awesome on the guitar and harmonica. Had kalua pork sandwich, our Daughters had the appetizer cheeseburger sliders and keiki mac and cheese and shared the fries along with their favorite POG juice, Wife and I enjoyed a refreshing pina colada. Staff was nice as always, great spot.”Zach J., August 2022 Happy hour at South Shore Tiki Lounge is 11am-6pm daily featuring discounted margaritas, draft beers, and well liquor drinks.

Want to make a comment or ask a question? Are you a fan of this business? Tell us in the comments below.

The post South Shore Tiki Lounge – Kihei, Maui, HI appeared first on Maui Happy Hours. Read the full article

[jameswattbrewdog]

The Most Profitable Beer Styles to Sell

There are many different beer styles from which to choose. However, lagers, Belgian-style ales, and wheat beer are some of the most lucrative varieties to sell.

Since each beer has a mild flavor, your customers will love them. And they are typically very inexpensive.

Wheat beer is a favored beer variety that has been around for a while. It is an excellent option for beer drinkers looking to branch out from classic lagers because it frequently has a light color and is low in bitterness.

It is a versatile beer that goes well with a variety of foods. For instance, you could serve it with a spicy chicken dish or a cheese sandwich.

There are some well-known wheat beers available in the US. These include Kellerweis from the Sierra Nevada and Hefeweizen from Live Oak.

Trappist monasteries have long been renowned for their zeal for religion, but over the past few centuries, they have also become significant producers of fine beer. These ales are produced in the abbey's brewery, and all proceeds support the monastery's upkeep.

The Enkel (single), Dubbel, Tripel, and Quadrupel styles of Trappist ales are the most well-known varieties. From lightest to most vigorous, these beers are arranged in ascending order of their alcohol content.

Real Trappist beer must be created in the abbey's brewery and be overseen by monks to be considered such. Only breweries that adhere to the International Trappist Association's regulations are eligible for this honor.

Mexican lagers are the most profitable beer to sell in the United States, even though craft beer connoisseurs may need to become more familiar with them than other styles. The breweries that make these beers, with Corona and Modelo Especial leading the pack, have seen significant year-over-year sales growth.

To create a light, refreshing beer, bottom-fermenting yeast is used in brewing these lagers. This process is known as lagering. Many beer drinkers find them the best option because they frequently have low carb and calorie counts.

Light and malty Vienna lagers frequently have a hint of caramel. They are typically easy-drinking and have slight hop bitterness.

They also have a long history, dating back to the investigation into British brewing methods conducted by Anton Dreher and Gabriel Sedlmayr.

These brewers went on to develop Vienna lager and Marzen, two beer types that would completely alter the industry. Instead of using direct heat, these malts were kilned over hot air to create the beer.

Kolsch is a hybrid beer that uses ale yeast for fermentation and lager yeast for maturation. This particular brewing method has given this beer style a special place in German beer culture.

It is a light-colored, malty beer with the crispness of a lager and the fruity esters and dry finish of an ale. It is a well-liked reviving option for the summer.

A unique glass known as a strange, or stick glass, is used to serve authentic Kolsch. It is simple to consume several drinks in a short time because it only holds 6.5 ounces, which is less than half the size of a pint glass.

German beer called hefeweizen contains wheat and yeast. It is brewed with at least 50% wheat malt, giving it its famously thick head of foam.

Unique esters and phenols from the particular yeast strain used to make genuine German hefeweizens, known for producing flavors of banana and clove, also define this style.

Contrarily, American-style hefeweizens use less wheat malt and neutral yeast flavors, which result in little to no banana or clove phenols. As a result, the flavor profile becomes more vibrant, hop-forward, and less dry and tart.

Traditional German beer that naturally ferments is called gose. It gets its distinctive sour and mildly salty flavor from a mixture of top-fermenting yeast and lactic acid bacteria, which is why brewers love it.

Despite being a small subcategory of craft beer, goes is becoming more and more popular. Nielsen reports that its market share in the United States is expanding quickly.

[city-liquor]

Ending Your Quest for Liquor Store Delivery Near Me in Cambridge

Best Online Liquor to Buy Beer | Whiskey | Wine

City Liquors is a leading alcohol shop quenching your passion for quality liquors. If you are googling for liquor store delivery near me in Cambridge, it ends well here. Our store has a full lineup of the widest selections of beers, whiskeys, and wine. Our store is launched with an aim of fulfilling all your liquor needs under one roof. 

Many things make us different from any ordinary store. City Liquors is a reliable destination for buying high-quality spirits, wines, and craft beers. As we went online, our mission is to provide you with an excellent shopping experience. Our dedicated customer services and time-bound deliveries have made us one of the best liquor stores in the vicinity.

Speediest Home Delivery of Wines | Spirits | Beers

City Liquors is renowned for its extensive selection of spirits, wines, and beers. The overwhelming support of our customer base helped us to extend the same level of services at our online store. We reach your favorite drinks to your home just within an hour and even less than that. 

We are equally strong in offering a wide range of beers covering the world’s best beer brands, styles, low carb beers, and craft beers. We have ended the search for liquor store delivery near me in Cambridge for many beer lovers in the city.  Our collections of trending beers, newest arrivals, and season’s specials make us one of the top places to buy beer bottles. 

Our shelves are filled with single malt scotch, premium vodka, tequila, gin, rum, cognac, bourbons, and many more spirits. Whether you are looking for festive drinks for an occasion or the best vodka and whiskey for food pairing, we have the solution.

City Liquors is bringing festive wines for all your holiday seasons. Our wine portfolio also covers your needs for everyday wine. From luscious Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon to Riesling and Sherry, remember City Liquors for buying wine online.  A team of passionate fans of beers, whiskeys, and wine experts is working to bring alcoholic beverages straight to your doors. Your last-minute liquor needs are no more a matter of stress to you.  We also deliver wine gifts and whiskey bottles to your loved ones to bring happiness on special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries.  Our speediest online shop makes us your right liquor store delivery near me in Cambridge. 

[nickgerlich]

The Next Next Thing

Everyone knows that beer is probably not very high on anyone’s list for diet-friendly foods and beverages. Sure, we can joke all day long that “there’s a sandwich in every beer,” but the fact remains that between the carbohydrates and alcohol, beers can pack a mighty punch.

And it’s a punch usually felt around the belt line. There’s a reason why they call it a beer belly.

To help appease critics as well as those seeking to imbibe without getting six-pack abs (and I’m not talking about muscular ones), breweries have been offering low-calorie options since at least the 1960s, when Gablinger’s dietetic beer hit New England store shelves. This was soon followed by Meister Brau Lite out of Chicago,  which was purchased by Miller Brewing Company and turned into a nation-wide brew. There are even low-calorie IPAs being brewed by a growing number of craft breweries today.

But now the folks at Anheuser-Busch, owned by Belgian brewing conglomerate AB-InBev, have taken beer to new lows--literally and metaphorically--with Bud Light Next, due to hit grocers and liquor stores in 2022. It clocks in with zero carbs, is 4% alcohol, and has only 80 calories. And since breweries typically do not put fat in beer, I’ll assume the calories come from the alcohol and protein found in the grains.

Which basically has me thinking this is a 12-ounce serving of water, but with a slight buzz if you guzzle enough of it.

While I can agree there has been a growing emphasis toward health consciousness in recent years (and maybe to help burn off any COVID fat we put on during lockdown), I must also reply by saying you don’t drink beer to lose weight. Yet Marketers have regaled us with many dozens of new seltzer brands and flavors the last couple of years, ostensibly targeted at Gen-Z drinkers, but also purchased by those wanting a buzz without the bulge. It’s an easy sell.

As for me, I like to actually taste my beer. I don’t want my beer at 28ºF, one degree above beer’s freeze point, because that just numbs your taste buds. I like a hoppy, frothy brew that makes you feel like you’ve had a real glass of beer. And if I have to cycle extra miles to atone for my guilty pleasure, then so be it.

I can only imagine the lack of taste in this new brew. Tap water, anyone?

And to be honest, most of these flavorless concoctions are just alcohol delivery systems, and because they are lower in calorie and alcohol per serving, people just drink more because--well--because they feel like they can.

It’s an interesting race to the bottom of the barrel, so to speak, and of course I’ll grab these in all the different sizes if only to have them represented in my beer can collection, but I don’t see this 157th line extension going anywhere except down the drain.

Because that’s where I pour any bad beer I encounter.

Dr “Yeah, I’m A Beer Snob“ Gerlich

Audio Blog

[28brewery-blog]

28 Brewery

http://28brewery.us/

You love craft beer but could do without the carbs and sugar. 28 Brewery introduces you to the best low-carb, great-tasting craft beer with no sugar!. Extra taste extra light. Brewed in Italy and Belgium, and delivered to the USA. If you love a quality IPA or lager, but without carbs and sugar overload, then 28 is the craft beer for you!

[discjockeyetc]

How I Got Here: One Year (and 85 pounds) Later

On October 14th, 2019, I began a journey that would change my life (and my health) for the better. I’ve told the whole story to a few people here and there, but never really put the whole thing down in to words. I figured the one year anniversary would be a good time to do that.

On October 14th, 2019, I weighed 250 pounds. As I’m writing this today, on October 14th, 2020, I weigh right at 165 pounds.

With that, here’s what happened, and how I got here... one year (and 85lbs) later.

It all began on Friday, October 11th at about 12:00pm. I was working from home, Jill was at work, and Turner was at school. Sydney had been dealing with a nasty body rash, so we had kept her home from school. We were dog sitting Jill’s parents’ dog Goldie, so Sydney and I were standing on the patio watching Goldie and Freddie play in the backyard. As we were standing there, I suddenly felt this rush of numbness take over the entire left side of my body. From the top of my head to my toes. Total numbness. My left hand felt like I had been sitting on it for a half hour. My mouth had that sensation (or lack of sensation, as it were) of just receiving a shot of novocaine from the dentist. 

This was, as you can imagine, pretty strange, so I quickly gathered the dogs and Sydney and went back inside. I sat back down at my desk while the episode was happening. After about 60 seconds, it stopped. Just went away. I didn’t pass out or get dizzy or anything. I didn’t get droopy-faced or drop anything I was holding. Just numbness (with a little tingling). 

It would happen a couple more times that afternoon and each time would last about the same amount of time; about 60 to 90 seconds or so. I had a wedding to do that Saturday (which I was NOT going to miss) and had multiple episodes of this random numbness throughout that day and night. 

That Sunday, we made our annual pilgrimage to Burt’s Pumpkin Farm and Hillcrest Orchards, and it would pop up a couple times that day. All in all, from Friday around lunch time to Sunday night, I had probably 20 of these little episodes. 

[Quick important side story: I made two BIG mistakes here, and I’m not afraid to admit them. Mistake number one: I didn’t want to make a big deal out of this, so I did the stereotypical “male” thing and swept it under the rug. I had a wedding to do, and we had our pumpkins and apples trip... and I didn’t want to miss ANY of that... and I absolutely would have. Mistake number two: I didn’t really tell Jill what was going on, and that’s one of my biggest regrets in ALL of this. I needed to tell her, but I didn’t really mention it until Sunday night. This is a mistake I will NEVER make again... and I only share this as a testimony for all married couples on what NOT to do in serious situations like this. We had just celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary... and even though we’ve been married a good long time, I still got this wrong... but never again. Okay... back to the main story]

I didn’t have a primary care doctor at the time, so I figured I’d go to the urgent care near my house first thing Monday morning. Now, I realized that an urgent care can’t “fix” this, but I had to start somewhere, right? After I described what I experiencing, the PA did all of normal cognitive tests (”squeeze my fingers”, “What year is it?”, “push against my arms”, and so on). The PA went to talk to the main doctor at the primary care, and while she was gone, I had another episode. I popped my head out of the exam room to let them know. No sooner than I did that, the PA was returning from her conversation with the doctor... and they were ready to point me in the direction I was seeking. That direction was the emergency room.

Jill and I were both working from home that day, so I reached out to her and let her know that I needed to go to the ER. The urgent care wouldn’t let me leave on my own, so I either had to take an ambulance, or have someone come pick me up. Jill ran right up to the urgent care, and off we went to the hospital. 

I showed up at the emergency room VERY nervous and unsure about what would happen, but I explained what was going on, and they checked me in. Remember, this was pre-Covid, so I was able to get in with no issue and very little delay. I reached out to my work supervisor to let him know what was going on and that I’d be away from my desk for a while. All good there. I was taken back to the ER area and got the ball rolling. 

After my vitals were taken, tests were immediately ordered. Luckily, the BIG tests (MRI, CT scan, heart ultrasound) appeared to be normal. *whew* Good news there. I also did the whole gauntlet of blood and urine tests. Now, I always knew that I was pretty overweight and that my eating habits were NOT good. I was also expecting my blood pressure to be less than spectacular (whih it was, of course). I hadn’t taken any medications for cholesterol or BP. This was mainly due to a condition that Jill and the ER nurses referred to as “manitis” (aka male stubbornness). %100 guilty of that FOR SURE. 

While all this is going on, I would have a couple more episodes of that same numbness while sitting in an ER bed. 

I wouldn’t end up talking to him until later in the day, but the Neurologist who ordered and reviewed my tests instructed the staff to inform me that I would be admitted to the hospital right away. That’s when the fear REALLY sunk in.

I was taken to a room on the fifth floor and got settled in. The IV was installed, and I got “dressed” in my gown. Private room, too. Not bad. They continued to monitor my vitals... especially my blood pressure which was still far too high. I was started on a drip and began taking medicine to help my BP. 

The Neurologist came by to tell me what he believed was going on. In his estimation, the numbness was probably caused by blockages in microscopic veins/arteries (NOT a stroke or a series of mini-strokes), so, this was welcomed news. Blockages are treated with cholesterol medication (something I figured was coming at some point). 

It was around this time that another person (a nurse, I believe) came in and said something to the effect of “Oh, and by the way... you have type 2 diabetes.”. Wait, what??

The results of the blood work I had done earlier showed my A1C level was WAY WAY WAY too high. If you’re not familiar with A1C, it’s a three month average of your blood sugar. A normal, healthy person’s A1C is probably 4.5 or so. Mine was 11.1. As my work supervisor said, I should have been in a diabetic coma! That’s an incredibly high and dangerous number. So, not only did I begin treatment for high cholesterol to help ease these numbness episodes, I immediately began treatment for type 2 diabetes. This included regular insulin injections throughout the day... in addition to the medication I had begun taking for the blockages. 

The meds I was taking for the numbness seemed to have worked. I had one last episode around 5:00pm the day I checked in to the hospital. And now, exactly a year later, I haven’t had another one since then. I was told that I would stay the night in the hospital for further observation. If my BP could get under control, I would be able to go home... tomorrow. I was spending the night in the hospital. 

I’m not going to lie. I was incredibly scared at this point. How would I explain to Turner and Sydney what was going on? How long would I have to stay here? Am I going to be okay? What’s actually going on? The questions were swirling. Jill brought the girls up to the hospital that evening and I explained to them, in plain english, exactly what was going on. They understood, which is good... because I didn’t want to hide anything from them (or Jill) anymore. 

A new journey was already underway.

After Jill and the girls left for the night, I had a little bit of a meltdown. Okay, maybe two... but they were interrupted by the constant flow of nurses coming to poke me with needles. I’m a good patient, though, and complied with all of the instructions I was given. The way I figured, if I followed instructions and did what I was told, I would get to go home sooner. 

It worked. I was ultimately discharged at about 5:30 on Tuesday... about 36 hours after arriving.

I met with a diabetic counselor to start the learning process (which is ongoing until this very day). I started on insulin while I was in the hospital and began checking my sugar (finger pricks) 4 times a day. I also made an appointment with a new primary care doctor for later that week. I was on my way!

After meeting with my doctor (which I’ve done regularly for the past year), I was able to get on a path to wellness. I used to eat absolute garbage... and HUGE portions of it, too. I also dropped the diet coke right away. To this day, I still don’t take in ANY caffeine. I immediately went low/no carb, low/no sugar, HIGH protein. I did have to drop beer, which is sad. I really enjoyed my nice, locally crafted IPA’s, but they have WAY too many carbs. I switched to bourbon, though. A suitable replacement, if you ask me. Ha ha! All throughout this process, I found that I have far more self control and will power than I ever imagined. At the risk of sounding cliche’, if *I* can make these changes, literally anyone can. 

In more recent days, I’ve found that I can take in a bit more carbs (and even some sweets) and still keep my sugar under control. I still can only eat smaller portioned meals and get full much quicker than I used to. I’m good for usually one big meal a day (usually dinner). I still keep the carbs way down, though. I’ve been able to learn how my body reacts to certain kinds of carbs and adjust my meals based on that. For instance, pizza doesn’t really affect me too terribly bad. French fries, however, aren’t as good. It’s stuff like that I’ve had to train on. It’s been a lot of trial and error, but in the long run, it’s worth it.

It hasn’t always been easy. There were plenty of times where a delicious piece of cake was waved under my nose... or a big pile of french fries were put in front of me. It was that fear of poor health that kept me away from those things, though. It was the motivation of wanting to walk my daughters up the aisle at both of their weddings. It was the notion of growing old with Jill, holding our grandchildren, and living a FULL. Once I found that motivation, it got easier. 

Early on in the journey, I would do things that weren’t so smart... like purposely withhold meals. I would say I wasn’t hungry, when in truth, I was afraid of food. I’m not proud of this and it’s definitely NOT the way to go. But you have to understand... I was making a complete 180 degree change in my lifestyle, and I didn’t really know what I was doing. There was also a medication had the main purpose of controlling my blood sugar levels. One of its side effects was that it would completely zap my appetite. That also caused me to skip a lot of meals. These days, my appetite is much better and healthier, and I rarely ever skip a meal. If I do, it’s because the previous meal was on the bigger side.

In the months that followed, I would make regular visits to my new doctor (which I still do to this day... about every three months). I have also been able to adjust my medication to almost nothing. Eventually, I was able to drop the insulin (and later, the metformin which is a popular drug for diabetics). I still take one pill to control my sugar as well as medication for cholesterol and blood pressure. 

The main thing that’s helped me was diet... because I HAAAATE exercise. Definitely not a fan. I admit that I probably would have gotten much further much quicker had I done literally ANY kind of exercise, but it is what it is. These days, I could probably stand to do some kind of exercise just to tone up what I have... and what I have is still kind of a “dad bod”... it’s just 85 pounds lighter than it used to be. ha ha!

I’ve had to get a completely new wardrobe, too! I went from a 40 inch waist to a loose 34 (33 would be perfect). I was squeezing into XL sized shirts (2X in some cases)... now, I’m mostly wearing size MEDIUM. Depending on the brand, LG shirts are sometimes a bit too loose. I tell ya what... the clothing part ALONE absolutely blows my mind! I had taken MANY BIG BAGS of clothes to a local thrift store. Also, we took Turner and Sydney to Old Navy a couple weeks ago to get new pants for the fall. While we were there, I decided to try on a couple shirts. You see, Old Navy doesn’t make clothes for people like me (or like how I used to be). The occasional XL sized t-shirt, maybe. But generally speaking, Old Navy wasn’t my store. Well, not only was I able to fit into a shirt, it was MEDIUM sized... not even large! Not gonna lie...I teared up a bit. That was a moment for sure. I brought home about 6 or 7 new shirts for the fall that day. I mean, wow.

I’ve been writing this blog in my heads for several months, and I feel like I’ve gotten everything written out, so I’ll wrap this up. I never knew how miserable I was before until I actually got healthy. I feel better now than I ever remember feeling. I’m sleeping better (and not snoring anymore, according to Jill), I have SO much more energy, and life, in general, is just.... better. 

As of today, I’m 85 pounds down, my blood pressure and cholesterol are at normal, healthy levels, and most importantly, my A1C is 5.0... well below the diabetic range. Even though my numbers are good, I’ll *always* be a diabetic, so I’ll always have to be careful about what I eat. 

Thank you to everyone who has expressed their congratulations. It means a lot... and hearing “Wow, you look great!” never (NEVER) gets old.

[nwbeerguide]

Made in cooperation with Brooks Running, Deschutes Brewery releases "Run Hoppy" running gear.

image courtesy Deschutes Brewery

Press Release

Seattle, WA, and Bend, OR – Today running gear goes way beyond sports stores and road races and extends to the coveted reward of a post-event craft beer. In celebration of the special bond between beer and runners, Brooks Running, crafters the worlds’ top performance footwear, apparel, run bras and accessories tapped Deschutes Brewery, born and raised in the hop homeland of the Pacific Northwest to launch the “Run Hoppy Collection.” Playing off of the Brooks Run Happy motto, this collection features a limited-edition Deschutes branded “beer shoe” as well as Run Hoppy apparel for runners to rep their favorite post-run reward.

In honor of the top appreciated craft beer style India Pale Ale, the Run Hoppy Collection will release to select boutique running stores across the U.S. and online. Additionally, Deschutes will simultaneously release Run Hoppy Golden IPA at their Bend and Portland pubs and Tasting Room to share with the running community and friends.

The Run Hoppy Collection consists of the smooth and soft Ghost 14 shoe and matching apparel including the Distance Graphic Short Sleeve, Distance Graphic Tank, Discovery Trucker Hat, and Tempo Knit-In Crew sock. On the shoe, the overall beer print features growlers, mugs, and imperial pint glasses like those in Deschutes Brewery’s tasting rooms, brimming with a pillow of foam. Hops dot the upper and pay tribute to the Deschutes’ Fresh Family line of beers. A condensation effect on the Brooks logo and on the tongue are reminiscent of a glass of cold beer on a warm day. The Deschutes logo appears on the sock liner and on the tongue, while the iconic Deschutes red appears on the midsole and tongue. The Men’s Distance Graphic Short Sleeve and the Women’s Distance Graphic Tank feature a beer can motif inspired by Deschutes Brewery’s beer cans with discoverable details throughout the graphic. The Deschutes Brewery logo appears on the sleeve of the men’s shirt and the center back of the women’s tank.  The Discovery Trucker Hat and Tempo Knit in Crew sock feature a beer mug with legs and the “Brooks Running x Deschutes Brewery” collaboration tagline. “Run Hoppy” appears on the hat.

“We know that many runners cap off a good run with a refreshing, cold beer, especially at this time of year,” said Brooks Running SVP, CMO Melanie Allen. “This collection celebrates that running tradition and gives runners and beer drinkers new gear to inspire them to run all summer long. We’re proud to collaborate with Deschutes Brewery, a brand with deep roots in craft beer and the outdoors which, like Brooks, also believes in promoting a balanced and active lifestyle.”

“There isn't anything better than a great craft beer after a run out in the scenic outdoors of the Pacific Northwest and this collaboration with Brooks perfectly captures the spirit of that lifestyle,” said Neal Stewart, VP of Sales & Marketing for Deschutes. “As one of the original PNW craft breweries, we're extremely excited and proud to partner with an iconic brand like Brooks who shares the value of a balanced lifestyle for their employees and running community."

The Run Hoppy beer was created by runners, for runners as the Brooks Running community helped create the recipe for a limited-edition craft beer. Deschutes surveyed runners to learn what they want in a refreshing, post-run beer. Keeping the alcohol content low was top of mind, so Deschutes crafted a balanced Golden IPA at 5.5% ABV. Knowing how important carbs are for running, the brewery utilized classic English Golden Ale malt varieties to provide the backbone, with notes of biscuit, cracker, and a hint of honey. Run Hoppy IPA utilizes numerous hop additions for big Centennial, Amarillo and Citra hop flavor and aroma with lower and balanced bitterness.

Follow this link to find the Brooks Beer Shoe and Run Hoppy apparel near you https://www.brooksrunning.com/en_us/store-locator#lcly:Hoppy. Run Hoppy IPA is currently on draft at the Deschutes Brewery pubs and Tasting Room in Bend, Oregon.

###

About Brooks Running Brooks Running sells its performance footwear, apparel, run bras and accessories in more than 50 countries worldwide. Brooks’ purpose is to inspire everyone to run their path to a better self by creating the best gear, tools and experiences. Founded 1914, Brooks is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and is headquartered in Seattle. Visit http://www.brooksrunning.com/ for more information or follow us on social media @brooksrunning.

About Deschutes Brewery Deschutes Brewery, an independent craft brewer in Bend, Oregon family and employee owned since 1988, is one of the quintessential beers of the Pacific Northwest. Founded on the guiding principles of true craftsmanship and ultimate quality, Deschutes is known as a leader in hops, dark beer, innovative India Pale Ales, and small-batch experimental and barrel-aged beers. Deschutes Brewery is crafted for community, committed to sustainable business practices and support of charitable organizations across our distribution footprint. Visit Deschutes Brewery’s beer finder to find a Deschutes beer near you in 36 states across the country. www.deschutesbrewery.com 

from Northwest Beer Guide - News - The Northwest Beer Guide https://bit.ly/3BslXha