Dark Beer: Good News For Us...and Dogs!

John D. Folts, PhD, professor of medicine and director of the coronary thrombosis research laboratory at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, reports that dark beer is rich in flavonoids, which are powerful antioxidants. Ie. good for the heart! "It's about color. The rich flavonoid content makes red wine more heart friendly than white wine and purple grape juice a better choice for toddlers than white grape juice," he says. Folts presented his dark beer-light beer study at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2003. Folts and his colleagues fed dark and light beer to dogs that had narrowed arteries in their hearts, similar to the narrowing observed in people with heart disease. Only dogs fed dark beer had less stickiness of their blood clotting cells, says Folts. This was true even though the blood alcohol level in the dogs was the same. Thankfully, he is currently conducting similar tests in humans. In that study, volunteers drink two bottles of either light or dark beer a day. Early indications are that dark beer again is more active at fighting blood clots than light beer, he says

Beer, Dogs and Charities

Looking for something to do on the weekend with your 4 legged friend ? 

A great annual event happens each year in Oregon. The Brewers Memorial Ale Fest which benefits Dog charities of Oregon, will take place May 18-20,  2012. A $10 admission fee gets you a Festival Mug and 3 taster tickets. Approximately 3500 people are expected and close to 1,000 of their doggy friends.

The festival was created in memory of Rogue Brewmaster John Maier’s faithful companion Brewer, who passed away May 2006. Brewer grew up in the brewery and eventually rose to the rank of CEO of Rogue Ales. The dog-friendly brew festival is held inside the Rogue Ales Brewery and includes 50+ Microbreweries, Live Music, Doggy Musical Chairs, Dog Wash, Dog Dancing and Celebrity dog look-alikes (Rin-Tin-Tin, Lassie, Benjy and of course, Brewer).

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