Man up? Are you kidding me? Unless you've been living in a cave, you've no doubt seen the numerous TV commercials currently being aired by Miller Lite exhorting young men to "man up". Not only are these ads insulting, they are just plain stupid. By appealing to the male genders' sense of masculinity, Miller thinks it will guilt guys into drinking Lite because when their friends see them drinking some other generic light beer they will think they are unmanly in some way. They then proceed to recount the perpetrator's perceived injustice to himself and all men alike and threatening to revoke his "man card" if he errs one more time. You know the formula, three strikes and you're out.
The problem is that real beer drinkers are real men who don't give a shit what other guys think. They'll drink ales, stouts, IPA's and whatever else tastes good to them. And that's the way it should be. Hey, this is America, and no-one should be chastised for drinking what they like, even if it is dark and mysterious looking. And if you're really that concerned about your weight, you probably shouldn't be drinking anyway! But just for kicks, let's take a closer look at a few beers and their respective calories to see what all the fuss is about.
I've got a 12oz. bottle of Miller Lite in front of me and the calorie count is 96. Definitely on the lower end of the spectrum if you're one of those "manly" men who are watching your waistline. Let's say you pick up a six -pack and guzzle it down during the game, total calories– 576 . Not bad, about a quarter of what your daily caloric intake should be according to most doctors. Because the alcohol content is lower you can drink more, get less intoxicated, and make up the difference in pizza. Since it doesn't really taste like anything, it doesn't matter. What a plan!
Now let's look at a few real beer alternatives to the legions of lightdom. Beck's, for instance is a fine German beer which actually has a flavor that can be defined and enjoyed and is only 143 calories. Another popular beer that is quite drinkable is Stella Artois. At 154 calories a bottle, it's still within the realm of responsible drinking. OK, so I have a preference for imports, big deal. If you want to be patriotic and support the efforts of locally owned small American businesses, there are literally thousands of craft breweries worth your quaffing time and hard earned greenbacks. Anchor Steam's original ale is always tasty and is only 153 calories per 12 ounces. In the Chicago area, Goose Island and Three Floyd's are some you should check out. If you're skiing out in Colorado, you'll find Breckenridge and Red Hook on tap nearly everywhere you go. Headed for LA? Most likely, Sierra Nevada and Lagunitas will vie for your attention. But I'm not playing favorites here, so here's my point. You can still have your cake and eat it too. Or in this case, have your beer and drink it without feeling guilty. Just do the math and you'll see the beauty in the logic of drinking good beer.
Example: One six pack of Lite = 576 calories
Four bottles of Becks = 572
Four bottles of Anchor Steam = 612 calories
So give or take a few swigs, you're looking at roughly the same amount of calories. And in my opinion, you're having a much better experience both socially and tastefully. Sip more, talk more, chug less. Remember, it's all about the quality of an experience, not the quantity. So stop following the herd, and start making smart decisions when it comes to your brewski.
An infamous beer blogger once said – " Life is too short to drink crappy beer ". I couldn't agree more.
Bottoms up, and all the best!
