There has been a lot of debate on the beer boards about whether beer is negatively affected if it is packaged in a can. The truth is, despite what some know-it-alls say, once you pour it into a glass you can’t tell the difference.

In fact, if anything cans are better than bottles for three reasons. First, cans are less prone to breakage. Secondly, they are lighter – so it costs less to move them around. Thirdly, cans protect beer from harmful UV rays better than glass. And fourthly … well, cans are just better ok?!

Ok, ok, so in the name of science I got a six-pack of bottled Pilsner Urquell and a four-pack of canned Pilsner Urquell. I poured them into glasses and tasted them both.

The result? They taste the same. I drank one, then the other. Then I tried it again. And again. And then one more time, just to be really sure.

My wife was walking by while I was doing this, and asked me what on Earth I was doing. I explained it to her, and she graciously volunteered to help taste. She drank my beer until it was gone and confidently announced there was no difference.

A part of me suspects she was just thirsty and wasn’t really all that interested in my little experiment. Sometimes she doesn’t share my zeal for this stuff.

Of course, there is another side to this. Glass is more enjoyable to drink out of than metal. Since many people drink out of whatever the beer is packaged in, this might also explain why many beer snobs prefer bottles to cans.

Not us. We’re civilized Drunks, so we pour our beer into a glass the way we’re supposed to.

All-Grain brewing simply means brewing beer straight from grain instead of using pre-made barley extracts. It is considered to be an advanced form of beer brewing that most brewers don’t attempt until they have made several successful batches using extracts

If you are considering making the jump to All-Grain Brewing, then this week we are going to get into the concept of the “Mash”.

Mashing is the process of extracting simple sugars from barley. This is the first step in the process of brewing your own beer directly from grain, and most brewers consider it the most important..

Want to know more? Read our article: All-Grain Homebrewing Instructions: The Mash

If you have been homebrewing for a while and you are using extracts, then you are probably a little curious about all-grain brewing. What is necessary to make the leap? Is it really as difficult as it seems?

As usual, the process of brewing your own beer from grain is much less complicated than many brewers would have you believe. But it does require some specialized equipment, and that’s what our first all-grain article is about.

Read our article on All Grain Equipment for Beginners.

I was driving on I-70 with a friend of mine last week when I saw it - the New Belgium beer truck. And that was when it dawned on me that if I was going to hijack any beer truck, this should be the one. Right here, right now… Read our Review of New Belgium’s 2 Below

Our second installment in our “Winter Brews” beer review is the Samuel Adams Winter Lager.

If you happen to live in a part of the country that doesn’t usually have a very good beer selection, then the Sam Adams offering is usually a good bet, and this one is no exception.

The beer is a wheat lager, and it really delivers on taste, body and texture. This is a great beer! Read our review of Samuel Adams Winter Lager.

Or, better yet, buy a six pack and try it yourself!

I’m pretty sure I played super quarters when I was in college. I think that’s why I can’t remember any of the Thursday nights of my sophmore year.

It probably would have been better if we could have tried playing the game with something other than Icehouse sometimes.

Ahhh the memories…or lack thereof.

If you would like to get a nice game of super-quarters going at YOUR house, here are the instructions:

www.drunkmansguide.com/games/super_quarters.php

We have decided to start our “Reviews” section here at Drunk Man’s Guide. That means that each week we will feature a new beer, liquor or wine and give you our honest opinion.

The rating scale will be in beers, and the scale goes like this:

	5/5 is a “Must Try” beverage. This is a rare rating that we will only bestow on the most deserving beverages. You should definitely try these.
	4/5 is a “Damn Good” beverage. If you see these in the store, then you can’t go wrong with a 4/4 beverage.
	3/5 is a “Good” beverage. This is worth buying - especially if it is on sale.
	2/5 is an “OK” beverage. Keep it is someone gives it to you, but don’t buy it. It’s ok to regift a 2/5 beverage, but only to someone you don’t care about, and who doesn’t know much about alcohol.
	1/5 is a “Only Drink it On A Dare” beverage. Don’t drink this beverage even if it’s free. Use it to marinate meat, or distill it for fuel; but only drink it if you are getting PAID to drink it.

Our first review is of a really good beer that we knew we wanted to include in a review as soon as we tasted it. The beer is called “Snow Plow” by Widmer Brothers, and it receives a 5/5 rating. Definitely seek out this beer and try it. Especially if you like stouts.

Since it’s a seasonal, who knows how long it will be on store shelves. View our review of Snow Plow here: www.drunkmansguide.com/reviews/snowplow.php

This is, of course, Super Bowl weekend. So, we aren’t going to yuck it up with a bunch of fancy-pants drinks. If you’re watching the game, then you don’t want to be busy shaking up cocktails. This weekend, it’s beer.

How to make a Beer

Ingredients:
1 Can or Bottle of Beer

Directions:
Open your can or bottle of beer and pour into glass. Consume. Repeat.

I’m happy to announce that we have created a newsletter for the Drunk Mans Guide that will be released every Friday. Each issue will feature the Friday 5 o’clock Cocktail, along with informative sections on mixed drinks, beer, homebrewing, reviews, and of course, our jokes and quotes.

 We will also be having some contests and product giveaways coming up, so make sure you join the newsletter so you can be aware when these things happen!

How do you sign up?

Just visit www.drunkmansguide.com and put your email address in the box on the upper right of almost every page.

I found this pic of an excellent Beer Pong table on this guy’s MySpace Page. While there are some commercially available beer pong tables, you really have to tip your beer to someone who takes the time to produce craftsmanship like this. I do appreciate his dedication.

If you are not familiar with Beer Pong, then never fear. We at the Drunk Man’s Guide have put together a little Beer Pong rules page for you. Now, this is one of those situations where everyone has their own rules, so make sure everyone is playing by the same rules before you start.

How to Play Beer Pong

We will also be adding more Drinking Games to the Drinking Games section over time, so if you are into drinking games, then be sure to check back often.

Mixed Drink You Might Like: Mojito