The Importance of Beer in Ireland

I started reading The Search for God and Guinness: A Biography of the Beer that Changed the World, and ran across this quote about why Guinness is so popular in Ireland: It is there at births, weddings and funerals, all of the hallmarks of life.

"Beer is not simply a means of drunkenness nor is it merely a lubricant to grease the skids to sin. Beer, well respected and rightfully consumed, can be a gift of god. It is one of His mysteries, which it was His delight to conceal and the glory of kings to search out.  And men enjoy it to mark their days and celebrate their moments and stand with their brothers in the face of what life brings."

--Stephen Mansfield

Beer Quotes

‎"The Church is near but the road is icy. The bar is far away but I will walk carefully." Russian Proverb

"Anyone can drink beer, but it takes intelligence to enjoy beer." – Stephen Beaumont

Beer Quotes

"Bad people drink bad beer. You almost never see an empty bottle of Rochefort tossed onto the side of the road." -Dave Cooks

"Beer is like porn: you can buy it, but it is more fun to make your own" -Anonymous> (Thanks, Aaron)

"Why is American beer served cold? So you can tell it from urine." -David Moulton

Cliff Clavin's Theory of Beer

"A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. When the herd is hunted, the slow and weak at the back are killed first. The speed and health of the herd keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members.

"In the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as its slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. Naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first.

"In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. That's why you always feel smarter after a few beers."