IT SEEMS that every week or so there is 'a report from experts' banging on about how having a glass of wine a day is actually good for you. However, there is evidence to suggest that beer is on a par with wine. It too can reduce the risk of heart disease because hops are packed with B vitamins, while beer can also help increase bone density.
Some reports (there they are again) even suggest that beers with high hop content, such as IPA, could support weight loss when taken in moderation.
All good to know at this time of year, when people are trying to be 'healthy'. Yes, it's not all green tea and steamed vegetables. Of course, some people try to cut out certain things from their diet, but that doesn't mean you have to forsake a brew or too.
For those looking to cut out alcohol, then an 'alcohol-free' beer could be the answer. However, not all beer is totally free from alcohol. Most beers which are deemed alcohol free are actually around 0.5 per cent abv.
Famed German wheat beer Franziskaner comes in an alcohol-free – or Alkoholfrei – version and is perfect for those looking to continue a relatively dry January.
If dodging calories is your thing, then you'll not want something that takes a couple of vigorous spin session to burn off. Founders All Day IPA is a cracking session IPA which provides just 147 calories in a 355ml bottle or can. Likewise, fellow US brewer Flying Dog's session IPA has 141 calories for a similar sized serving.
If this is the year (or month anyway) you've decided to go vegan, then beer is your friend. Some beers use animal-based products such as gelatin and isinglass, which is a substance derived from dried fish bladders and is used for clarification in beer. But there is now a huge number of beers which have abandoned animal products entirely and are suitable for vegans.
English brewers Moor have a great range of pale ales and IPAs, all of which are natural and totally vegan.
For those who, by necessity or choice, are avoiding gluten, then you are well catered for in the beer world, despite its reliance on grains. The Black Isle Brewery in Scotland takes great pride in its organic beers and its Goldfinch gluten-free ale is a malty, smooth ale with medium bitterness that comes in at 3.5 per abv.
And if you are looking to cut down on dairy – or more specifically lactose – the only beers you really need to avoid are milk stouts.
