Taking a Beer Break

Call me old fashioned, but I am still a hardened shirker at the idea of a beer break. I generally think time is too short to waste not doing the things you like, and quaffing decent beers is up there with, eating, sleeping and breathing......ok forget eating, it's a ahead of that, and sleep is patchy these days.

 

Isn't this why we have a zillion different styles? Stout, IPA, Gueuze and everything in between. Some beers are practically like wine, others almost like a fruity soda or an odd tasting milkshake. Unless you need to stay away from the alcohol for health reasons why stop? BTW, drinking beer is an incentive for me to exercise.

 

I'm currently in the middle of the first beer break I've had in a while. I love beer. It's one of my biggest passions and I've gained a lot of knowledge over the past few years. But a break is much-needed sometimes. For all of the reasons mentioned in the article (style overload, weight gain, exhaustion, and a thinning wallet), I just need some time to recover. I'll be back at it soon enough

 

Hear hear sludgeman, I drink beer by the truck load and still can hammer out a decent 10k in under 34mins at 40yrs, so clearly you can have your cake and eat it! More time please barman, and more beers!

 

Ah, when you get old you'll find it a bit more difficult, but I keep on hammering away.

 

This is true, hammer something, hammering anything (within reason) is good for the equilibrium.

 

I think another reason people take a break is health/illness.

I haven't had a beer in almost two weeks, as I have been fighting allergies that have turned into a sinus infection. I haven't been able to taste or smell anything, and the thought of drinking just doesn't appeal to me at the moment. The fridge is fully stocked with fresh Waldo's and Fortem, but I keep drinking water and green tea in the meantime.

Once I start feeling a bit better, I know it will be there for me when I'm ready to return.

I know others stop because of some other ailment or a combination of cross-reaction to medications that do more harm than good when mixed with alcohol.

Sure you have to respect beer, but you can't forget to respect yourself and your health.

 

I'll take little breaks, but, they're because I just don't feel like drinking that day. Sometimes, 5-10 days like that will string themselves together. Just like your body needs to recover after physical things, sometimes it will tell you to have a glass of juice instead.

 

I share the same principles haha. I make it a point to do some form of physical activity year-round, whether it's playing Mens League Baseball, Softball, or hitting the gym. Not only does regular exercise make you feel well, but it makes it so you can drink your fair share of beer and not have all of those carbs catch up to you.

 

I've thought about taking a break, but instead decided to cut out certain types of beer. Currently in the process of clearing my cellar of stouts and trading them for hops and sours. I'm just sick of stouts, I've had all the flavors (vanilla, chile, chocolate, coffee, maple etc. ) and don't get too much enjoyment of trying new ones anymore. I forsee myself at some point in the coming year moving away from beer and into wine and bourbon.

 

I, too, am in the middle of a beer break. Taking a 30 day break from booze period. It's not been as hard as I though it would be. I'm 16 days in and have already dropped some pounds, slept better, and see more money in my bank account than usual. I'm probably going to make this a once or twice per year thing. Cheers!

 

i take a beer break when i start getting sick (recently a bad cold and i had pneumonia/bronchitis/ear infection). i went about a month with no alcohol (but i had the good prescription cough syrup). if i notice i'm not getting the full aroma or full flavor of a beer, especially IPAs, i go a little while off beer and hit bourbon

 

Just got done with a two day break and I'm thirstier than ever!

 

Over halfway thru my whole30 cleanse. Beers in the fridge awaiting my return...

 

Glad to see this article posted. I try to do this a few times a year, usually coinciding before a 5K race. One point missing from the article was to detox / give your liver a break. Heres a few others - http://www.eatthis.com/dry-january-tips

 

Over the winter did a low carb diet for about 3 months during which I only drank 3-4 times and most of those times I drank bourbon or vodka. Lost 35 lbs and shrunk back to a 34 waist. I'm off the diet now, but I'm trying to avoid bread products, desserts and alcohol during the week. It's working great. I feel better and Eating high protein breakfast and lunch makes me a lot less hungry during the day. Only problem is I'm often a little too eager to start drinking on Friday afternoon. I'm playing golf tomorrow and have a new saison ( All my Tomorrows ) bomber by Great Raft )I've been wanting to try and some Stone Drink by to finish. It's easy to get ahead of yourself when you've got great tasting and high abv beers and have to wait till Friday to partake.

 

One beer break reason that was not mentioned is health or medication reasons. I've got a couple of prescriptions I need to take occasionally as needed and I'm not supposed to drink while on them. There have been times I've avoided taking the meds or come off them sooner so as to avoid impacting my ability to enjoy craft. I don't drink a lot, or even every night, but like having one when I feel like it. Unfortunately my gout is one of the afflictions, and not only is the med incompatible with alcohol, alcohol can set off a bout. If I limit myself to no more than 2 beers and only 4-5 nights a week, then I'm good.

 

I take a beer break every week, Sunday through Thursday. But then I'm old.

 

I've cut out Tu-Wed-Th for 3 weeks now and have lost a few pounds. But, I can't wait 'til Friday! Tomorrow!!!