Taking a Beer Break

Starting a 30 day break today. For all the reasons mentioned (money, weight/health) but also for a mental break. I spend a lot of time just thinking about beer and tracking down every single new local IPA that's released. I need to remind myself that it's ok if I miss a Grimm/OH/Singlecut/etc release.

 

I finally read this article and it totally made me look at my current cellar situation as well as looking in the mirror at my used to be beach body! I am taking a break from buying and trading beer for a while. When both my cellar and body fat slim down I'll be back in the game. Cheers! #craftbeerlife

 

Anytime I want to take a break from fancy beer, I just go and read the trading boards and forums; That pretty much makes me hate beer enough to be more than content with the Sierra Nevada Pale Ales, Cuvee Renes and FW barrel aged shelfies of the world.

New money beer culture is my anti-beer weapon of choice.

 

I haven't had much beer this week but it's all been IPAs, it gets to be a drag to a point. I'd rather have a simple AAL today, but were flying out tomorrow so I'm not buying any more beer. Shipping a box home though, got some Kbs/ Rainstorm/ Summerstorm.

 

I've gone a beer break as part of a low carb diet. I also went through a period of rapid weight gain because I wanted to try a new beer every day.

I've settled in now, and I drink 3-4 beers a week. That's it. I make them good beers. More beer than that just isn't healthy for me. I may break the rule for a special occasion, but will be right back at it. I'm currently ridding my cellar of all imperial stouts and barleywines, and when they are gone I think that will be the end of them. Maybe a couple a year.

 

Taking 30 days of for an upcoming match, but have some double crooked tree and founders carmagedon waiting for me in the fridge!

 

It's always a good idea to take a break from beer,- or drinking- every now and again....that is unless your doctor has asked you not to!

 

While I understand the arguments made by people against taking a break now again, (A break can be a week btw). This is why I am for a break now and then. All the reasons above, weight being the biggest I hit my 26th birthday in October of 2016 weighing in at 293lbs and 6"1... I took a break where I drank once per week and I am now sitting at 250lbs. Life can be too short for sure, but there is more to life than beer and when you walk half a mile and feel pain from doing so... I would rather taste the same amount of beers and live to 90 than be the guy who drank 7 days a week and lived to 50.

Then comes the dollar factor. The amount some of us spend on beer every week we could travel the world times over in the end. Don't get me wrong I love trying new beers but I also love to travel. To me it would be a waste to neglect travelling just to try every beer I came across.

A 3rd reason I will bring up here. I found my way into the social media platforms other than BA used by beer lovers by accident looking for a place to take photos that wouldn't bombard my facebook with beer photos. Since finding places like instagram and twitter I have made numerous other friends who are beer lovers, Met up with some of them on brewery tours, Had "Beersaints" mail me beers, and gotten free beers and glassware from breweries. With all the free stuff I get more than enough beer to take a break at times just to let my head clear before diving in head first again... which I always do and will do.

These are just my reasons why I think taking a break can be good. I love this industry and always will love it but sometimes a break is definitely in order. Cheers!

 

I recently started brewing kombucha and when I am in the mood for a break from beer I switch to kombucha.

 

Outstanding article... agree a 100%. I am currently on a workout and weight reduction program and have cut my beer intake. Don't get me wrong... I love beer and it loves me so much it likes to stick around my mid-section. No beer during the week and modest consumption on the weekend goes a long way to losing weight and enjoying those times you can "cheat" :-)

 

Of course I take beer breaks. When I'm asleep at night.

 

I went on a 2 month sober patch due to health issues. When I came back to it beer tasted extra sweet at first as I also abstained from sugar for the most part. After the release of kbs I've refound my love of dark beer. But I did lose weight and needed the break from beer for sure.

 

One other reason not mentioned is for Lent or other religious reason.

I'm not terribly religious but did give up alcohol for Lent one year and I will say that it's rewarding to put your mind to something and being able to have the willpower to do it.

 

I've never tried taking a break, but find beer most enjoyable when I limit it to 6-13 ounces a day. It's an accent, not the main course.

 

Just ended my 30 day break. Was definitely worth it for all the reasons listed above. And I gotta say, that first beer after 30 days was just wonderful.

 

I take a beer break daily, its call sleep. LOL. Seriously though I tend to not drink during the week and limit it to weekends due to work, so that is a nice balance for me where I never feel the need to stop for an extended period. I do have some if in the mood after work but as a whole its minor just because I wake early and need a clear head.

 

I always have homebrews on tap, which makes it that much easier to pour a beer or just a half beer. However, that half beer usually turns into 5 half beers. I found myself drinking a couple beers every night. I have finally implemented beer breaks during the week. When I find myself drinking daily I take a break Monday- Thursday. I've enjoyed the breaks and find myself waking up more
Mornings to ride my mountain bike and being in better shape to ride.

 

I buy a six-pack a week. This allows me to enjoy a beer a night. (Sometimes none at all, occasionally two.) Given what I have read about a beer-a-day helping prevent heart disease, I don't worry about a beer break for health reasons. The junk food that accompanies beer, though, is a bigger problem for me.

Also, I frequently buy variety packs. This helps prevent burnout on any given type.

If I am really tired or dehydrated on any given night, I will pass on beer, but I usually don't take a break for more than a day or two.

Additionally, my consumption level doesn't hurt my wallet.

 

A few weeks ago I got off my "beer break" that last somewhere around a month. I've always been a fan of cocktails, but got on a bit of a cocktail kick after reading a fantastic book dealing with the matter.

Even when i'm my regular beer swilling self, I try to limit my drinking during the week days; usually a day or two and one beer a night at most. A few days separating beers makes it that more exciting when, at the end of a long week at work, I get to dig into a six-pack of deliciousness.

Bottom line is, if you feel like you're not "excited" about beer anymore, take a break. It's still going to be here when you return (I damn well hope so anyway).

 

I know this doesn't count as a beer break, but I went about a week without drinking IPAs. They're my favorite style but I was being to feel the palate fatigue. The pros...I got to reconnect with other great styles and the IPA tasted amazing once I came back to it.
As for a total beer break? I might try that this summer as we are traveling to my wife's home country, in Eastern Europe, that has crappy euro Lager.