Beer bellies – Officially a myth
Posted on August 12, 2009 by Hogshead : 158 views
A recent study by European scientists has now dispelled the myth of the beer belly. The article below originally appeared as part of the BelgianShop WeekLetter 1388 (www.belgianshop.com).
A new study has dispelled a myth that consuming beer inevitably leads to developing a so-called beer belly, NHS communicated on July, 6.
German and Swedish scientists have discovered that the so-called ‘beer belly’ is not caused by consuming alcohol – but more to do with genetics.
This cohort study looked at beer consumption, weight and body measurements in almost 20,000 people on two occasions over an average of six years. It found that increased beer consumption over time was linked with increased waist circumference, particularly for men. However, once a person’s overall weight was taken into account, the significance of these associations disappeared. This suggests that any weight gain from beer is distributed all over the body, rather than being concentrated around the waist.
The research was carried out by M Schutze and colleagues from the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrucke and Fulda University of Applied Sciences, Germany, and the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. The study was funded by German Cancer Aid, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, and the European Union. The study was published in the peer-reviewed medical journal European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
This cohort study aimed to investigate gender-specific associations between beer consumption and waist circumference (WC), and to challenge the commonly held belief that a ‘beer belly’ is caused by drinking beer. Obesity that is centred around the abdomen is said to be one of the strongest cardiovascular risk factors.
In total, the EPIC study involved 27,548 people between 35 and 65 years old who were recruited between 1994 and 1998. This analysis was based on 19,941 members of this cohort (62% of whom were female) who had information available on their beer consumption and waist circumference. Alcohol consumption over the past year was assessed at the beginning of the study using a food frequency questionnaire, and then reassessed at follow-up about six years later.
The researchers gave men and women different categories of beer consumption. For example, in women the highest category of consumption of 250ml/day or more was considered ‘moderate’, while in men 250 to 500ml/day was considered ‘light’; 500 to 1000ml/day ‘moderate’; and anything above this level was considered ‘heavy’. At the beginning of the study, body weight, hip and waist circumference were measured, with any change in these measurements assessed at follow-up. In their analyses, the researchers used statistical models to look at changes in waist circumference for each beer consumption category, while also taking into account concurrent changes in body weight and hip circumference in order to monitor the site-specific effect of beer. They also looked at how changes in beer consumption affected changes in waist circumference. Age, smoking, education, physical activity and several other chronic diseases were also taken into account by the researchers.
The authors conclude that excessive beer consumption leads to a gain in waist circumference, which is closely related to concurrent overall weight gain. This study does not support the common belief of an effect of beer specifically on the abdomen, i.e. the ‘beer belly’.
The best way to keep weight down is by eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and keeping alcohol consumption at low to moderate levels, experts advise.
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Tuesday night out
Posted on July 29, 2009 by H : 240 views
Went for a little walk round last night and tried a few pubs not been in for a while:
Crown & Mitre – excellent pint of Milestone Hoptimism, well kept and the barmaid serving clearly knew what she was doing. They aim to keep 2 milestone beers at anytime as well as John Smiths Cask. Might be worth holding a meeting there?
Malt Shovel – closed???
Post Office – Black Sheep which was OK, and Bombardier.
Also went into the Castel & Falcon – fantastic pint of Blue Monkey Evolution & Dognobbler by err, somebody else.
Everywhere was very very quiet.
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LocAle & Weinfest beer list
Posted on June 22, 2009 by Hogshead : 270 views
The beer menu for Newark’s 1st LocAle and Weinfest is now available.
Event held in the Castle grounds, 26th-28th June. Opening times:
Friday 6pm – 11pm
Saturday 12 – 11pm
Sunday 12 – 6pm
Free entry, souvenir festival tankards £2 each.
BREWSTERS DECADENCE 4.4%
BREWSTERS HOPHEAD 3.6%
BREWSTERS CHEVAL MORT 4.0%
CASTLE ROCK HARVEST PALE 3.8%
CASTLE ROCK TRENT BRIDGE 20/20 DOUBLE VISION 4.0%
CASTLE ROCK SCREECH OWL 5.5%
CATHEDRAL RED IMP 4.3%
CATHEDRAL MAGNA CARTA 5.0%
CATHEDRAL FESTIVAL ALE 4.8%
CAYTHORPE ONE SWALLOW 3.6%
CAYTHORPE DOVERBECK 4.0%
CAYTHORPE STOUT FELLOW 4.2%
GRAFTON SHOWMAN’S GROG 4.0%
GRAFTON BLONDIE 4.8%
GRAFTON SUMMER BLISS 4.5%
MAGPIE FLEDGLING 3.8%
MAGPIE BEST 4.2%
MAGPIE OLD COCHIN INN 4.6%
MAYPOLE MAIBAUM ALT 4.8%
MAYPOLE FLANAGANS EXTRA STOUT 4.5%
MAYPOLE GATE HOPPER 4.0%
MAYPOLE OLD LION’S ALE 3.9%
MILESTONE LIONS PRIDE 3.8%
MILESTONE SHINE ON 4.0%
MILESTONE RASPBERRY WHEAT BEER 5.6%
OLDERSHAW CASKADE 4.2%
OLDERSHAW OLD BOY 4.8%
OLDERSHAW REGAL BLONDE 4.4%
POACHERS JOCK’S TRAP 5.0%
POACHERS SHY TALK 3.7%
POACHERS MONKEY HANGER 4.5%
SPRINGHEAD CHARLIES ANGEL 4.5%
SPRINGHEAD NEWARK CASTLE BROWN 5.0%
SPRINGHEAD SURRENDER 3.6%
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Short Bennington
Posted on May 29, 2009 by sennuki : 173 views
I’ve just returned from a short trip to Long Bennington (Nottingham post codes, Lincolnshire council, Newark CAMRA zone), arguably one of the most quintessentially English villages in our region. Wide main street, good local facilities, and 3 pubs which in the past have catered for the different tastes and pockets of the residents and visitors.
Time to get controversial:-
The Wheatsheaf – Guest ales off, barrel behind the bar under blanket pressure hadn’t “got anything in it yet”(!?!?!?), John Smith’s cask had a vinegary taste of unclean pipes, giving that authentic barrel-bottom quality I remember from growing up in Newark.
The Royal Oak – Marstons’ beers (have we decided to boycott these yet?). I went for the seasonal Jennings (Honey Bole, served by a really nice landlady), which promised so much; but I’m sorry, it was DEAD. Can’t blame the Chief Exec for that.
The Reindeer – cost aside, Green King aside, our last chance for a decent pint was a pint of Abbott – but the barrel died on the previous pint. So, Bombardier, or a return to JS cask? You decide.
I would absolutely love to be positive writing this, so I will be – I had a great night in great company, all the pubs were selling real ale and all were really quite busy. Selling out of beer is a good thing! Having variety available is even better! But the beer was either unbelievably bad, or uninspiring before tasting. Utterly demoralising after.
It seems to me that the village is trying to keep the outside world from entering. Ever seen “The Village” film? For goodness sake LB, let the beer in !!!
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1st LocAle & Weinfest this June.
Posted on May 26, 2009 by Hogshead : 212 views
2008/9 sees the 25th anniversary of the very successful twinning link between Newark and the German town of Emmendingen in the Black Forest. Emmendingen is the largest town within the Breisgau wine producing area which contains approximately 30 different wine producers.
Each August the fruits of the vine and the labours of the growers are celebrated during the Breisgau Weinfest held in the Market Place and streets of Emmendingen over four evenings. During a visit to the Weinfest in 2006 members of Newark Town Council and Newark Twinning Association had the idea to recreate the Weinfest in Newark in some way. It was decided to hold the First Newark Wine Festival as part of the 25th anniversary celebrations.
Newark CAMRA, Newark Town Council, and Newark Twinning Association have teamed up to bring you the First Newark LocAle & Weinfest in the beautiful setting of Newark Castle Grounds. CAMRA will be hosting a selection of LocAles which, as the name suggests, is ale produced locally – within 20 miles, in fact.
More details at: http://www.newarkwinefestival.co.uk/
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2009 Beer Fest gallery.
Posted on May 26, 2009 by Hogshead : 187 views
Photo’s of the 2009 Beer festival have been uploaded to our gallery here.
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Chairman Dunc rocks da house!
Posted on May 26, 2009 by Hogshead : 171 views
Is there no end to Duncan Neil’s talents? Branch chairman, beer festival organiser, carpenter, and now rock singer. Dunc got up with the guys from Natural Born Boogie to perform an old classic for the closing number of the Newark Beer Festival on Sunday afternoon.
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Two days to go…
Posted on May 20, 2009 by Hogshead : 162 views
to the 14th Newark Beer Festival. In the big Tent by the Trent, Riverside Park, Newark.
Friday 22nd
10.30am – 10.30pm
Saturday 23rd
10.30am – 10.30pm
Sunday 24th
12noon – 6.00pm
Entry at the door is just £5. Card carrying CAMRA members pay only £1.50. Full beer list posted below, or on the web site.
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