CRAFT BEER AS AN APHRODISIAC: GIVE IT A TRY

JUST GIVE ME THE CRAFT BEER!

GUEST BLOG by Ashley Routson—Craftbeer.com--Humans are sexual by nature (we’re all adults here, right?). Throughout history, people have long celebrated the foods and beverages that induce lust and increase libido. Love potions of some shape or form have been part of almost every culture for thousands of years—this includes beer.

Since its conception (how’s that for a play on words), alcohol has been celebrated for its euphoric properties. Beer is not only a social lubricant—it’s also a lust-enhancing aphrodisiac that was even worshipped by the Romans. But alcohol can do as much harm on the body as it can do good. Shakespeare alluded in Macbeth that alcohol “provokes the desire, but it takes away from the performance.” All things in moderation, my friends.

When it comes to lust-inducing beverages, craft beer is king. What makes this super sexy nectar of the gods more erotic than the rest is its ability to be infused with additional aphrodisiacs like chocolate, oysters and chili peppers. Although I doubt brewers intentionally spike their beers with libido-enhancing ingredients, one cannot deny the powerful effect craft beer has on the human anatomy, both physiologically and psychologically.

So skip the Champagne this Valentine’s Day and seduce the object of your affection with one of the following aphrodisiac-infused craft beers.

Oyster Stout

Oyster Stout
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Oyster StoutAccording to legend, Aphrodite, the goddess of sexuality and love, rose out of the sea in an oyster shell, forever associating oysters with sexual desire and fertility. Oysters are high in zinc, which has been known to increase sperm count, and recently, researchers have linked the amino acids found in oysters to an increased production of sex hormones.

It might come as a shock to those unfamiliar with the style, but a handful of craft brewers actually brew with theses sexy invertebrates. Some brew with only the shells, while others opt to brew with the entire oyster, shell and all. Oyster stouts are typically dark, roasty and dry with a mild brininess.

This Valentine’s Day, get it on with a dozen oysters and one of these equally arousing oyster stouts:

--Pearl Necklace | Flying Dog Brewery | Frederick, MD

--Oyster Point Stout | 21st Amendment Brewery | San Francisco, CA

--Oyster Stout | Upright Brewing | Portland, OR

--Oyster Stout | Stewart’s Brewing Co. | Bear, DE

Chili Pepper Beers

Fiery and potent, chili peppers are a powerful aphrodisiac. Chili peppers increase heart rate and levels of endorphins in the body, as well as raise the internal body temperature. This intense combo can lead to an energy rush so pleasurable that it triggers an addiction to spicy food.

Montezuma infamously spiked his desire-enhancing chocolate drink with chilies to kick up his libido before visiting his concubines.

These days, craft brewers have been experimenting with all types of hot peppers in beers—even the palate-scorching ghost pepper. Here are some beers sure to spark your fire this Valentine’s Day:

--Ghost Face Killah | Twisted Pine Brewery | Boulder, CO

--Chocolate Heat | Hardywood Park Craft Brewery | Richmond, VA

--Chili Pepper Ale | Six River Brewery | McKinleyville, CA

--5 Vulture | 5 Rabbit Cerveceria | Chicago, IL

Chocolate Beer

Chocolate Beers

Chocolate Craft BeerOne cannot deny the wonderful powers of chocolate. Personally, I think chocolate has the ability to solve and cure just about any problem in the world. The Mayans worshipped the cacao tree because they believed it was divine in origin.

Outside of its intoxicating aroma and taste, chocolate is a natural mood enhancer and brain stimulator.

Stouts are by far the most common style to feature chocolate, but isn’t unheard of to find it in other styles. Heighten the mood this Valentine’s Day with one of these cocoa-tastic elixirs:

--Lugene Chocolate Milk Stout | Odell Brewing Co. | Fort Collins, CO

--Choklat | Southern Tier Brewing Co. | Lakewood, NY

--Sexual Chocolate | Foothills Brewing | Winston-Salem, NC

--Theobroma | Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales | Milton, DE

--Shake Chocolate Porter | Boulder Beer | Boulder, CO

Honey Beer

Honey Beers

Honey BeersInteresting fact: Honeymoon got its name from an old Viking tradition involving mead, an alcohol beverage made from honey, that the groom and bride were encouraged to imbibe.

Honey is rich in the chemical chrysin, a testosterone booster, and B vitamins, also good for testosterone.

Although honey is almost entirely fermentable, beers brewed with honey still have an exhilarating essence of je ne sais quoi. Turn your Valentine’s Day into a mini-honeymoon escape with one of these mead-esque brews:

--Honey Basil Ale | Bison Brewing Co. | Berkeley, CA

--Honey Saison | Almanac Beer Co. | San Francisco, CA

--HYVE Honey Ale | Unita Brewing | Salt Lake City Utah

--Southern Gold | Lazy Magnolia Brewing Co. | Kiln, MS

Fruit Beer

Fruit Beers

Because of their association with fertility (think seeds), many fruits are considered to be aphrodisiacs. Figs, bananas, avocados, strawberries, watermelons and pomegranates are just a few sensual fruits known to possess erotic powers.

Induce lust this Valentine’s Day with one of these fruit-infused brews:

--Strawberry Sour Ale | Cascade Brewing Barrel House | Portland, OR

--Bitch’ Berry | Great Basin Brewing Co. | Reno, NV

--Wisconsin Belgian Red | New Glarus Brewing Co. | New Glarus, WI

--Fig Saison | Ponysaurus Brewing | Durham, NC

In Closing:

Whether aphrodisiacs have true medicinal powers outside of myth and folklore remains a debate. Not debatable, though, is the magical effects of craft beer. What craft beer will you be sharing with your loved one this Valentine’s Day?

About the Writer

Ashley Routson, known amongst the craft beer community as The Beer Wench, is a self-proclaimed craft beer evangelist and social media maven on a mission to advance the craft beer industry through education, inspiration and advocacy. She is currently the “Director of Awesomeness” at Bison Brewing in Berkeley, Calif., as well as the founding editor of DrinkWithTheWench.com, BeerMixology.com and IPADay.org.

The article above appeared: http://www.craftbeer.com/craft-beer-muses/find-love-with-craft-beer-aphrodisiacs

Wait, There’s More (the other side of romance):

OK, so this Valentine’s Day isn’t one of your best.  But if nothing else the craft beer industry is inventive.  Here is a list from craftbeer.com of craft beer to celebrate splitsville.

Alimony Ale IPA | Buffalo Bill’s Brewery | Hayward, Calif. | 6.8% ABV

While this beer is no longer the bitterest beer in America, it’s still billed as “irreconcilably different.” Alimony never tasted so sweet!

Raging Bitch | Flying Dog Brewing Co. | Fredrick, Md. | 8.3% ABV

This Belgian-style IPA is a perfect post-breakup beer regardless of your gender.

Total Domination IPA | Ninkasi Brewing Co. | Eugene, Ore. | 6.7% ABV

Just relax and let the intense hop flavors of this beer dominate your senses. Thank Ninkasi (the Sumerian Goddess of beer and the brewery’s namesake) for this tasty treat.

Polygamy Porter | Wasatch Brew Pub & Brewing | Park City, Utah | 4% ABV

While it may be illegal to be married to more than one person at a time, it’s completely legal to enjoy more than one beer at a time.

Damnation | Russian River Brewing Co. | Santa Rosa, Calif. | 7% ABV

This strong golden ale may just make you forget the seven levels of hell your ex put you through.

Splitsville selection by Craftbeer.com’s Anne Fitten Glenn (her personal blog is brewgasm)