I'm not much of drinker; it's something that I only do in social situations, like an after work meet-up or a house party.
When I do drink, I almost always choose beer over wine because not only is it cheaper, the portions are much more generous. Plus, I don't have to spend an obscene amount of time reading through a list of complicated French, Spanish and Italian words.
Also, it's been scientifically proven that beer has plenty of nutritional benefits, and some of them are even better than what wine can offer us.
With that said, here are 10 ways in which beer is better than wine.
1. Beer is packed with nutrients
As with any other alcoholic drink, it's best to enjoy beer in moderation. However, you can feel better about drinking it because it can do wonders for your health.
Since beer is made from barley, hops, and wheat, it is chock-full of healthy nutrients, including vitamins, niacin, riboflavin, fiber, and zinc.
It also contains antioxidants, according to the Journal of Nutrition and Biochemistry.
The average bottle of beer usually contains 92 grams of potassium, 48 milligrams of phosphorus, and 14 mg of calcium, which are all important components of a healthy diet.
Studies have found that beer can actually lower blood pressure, prevent Type 2 diabetes, help with weight loss, and even improve brain function in older adults, thanks to the B vitamins and folate.
Additionally, Xanthohumol, a major ingredient in beer, has been shown to be effective in reversing the damage done to the body by high-fat diets.
2. It's an affordable drink
In some parts of the world beer is even cheaper than water!
Although that is not the case here in America, you can still get a better bang for your buck when you choose beer over wine or other alcoholic drinks.
A 24-pack of domestic beer will cost you under $25 in the most expensive states, and under $20 every where else.
Even if pricier craft beers and European imports are more up your alley, you'll still pay less than $5 per bottle, Beer Snobs shares.
Chances are you'll be hard-pressed to find good wine in these price ranges.
3. You can pair it with everything
Sometimes it doesn't matter what kind of wine you pair with your meal, but if you really want to enhance your dining experience, finding the right pairing will make a huge difference.
Still, unless you're a wine enthusiast or a sommelier, it can become too much work trying to find the perfect pairing. This is why I prefer beer to accompany my meals.
Whether you prefer a coffee-like stout or an amber with caramel notes, rest assured that you'll have an easier time finding one that matches well with your favorite dishes and desserts.
4. It's great for your heart
For as long as I could remember, wine is usually the booze that gets the credit for being good for your cardiovascular health.
Sure, wine does have a positive effect on your heart, but that doesn't mean that beer should be placed on the back burner.
Recent studies have shown that beer may be just as heart-healthy as wine. In fact, moderate beer drinkers were found to have a 42 percent lower risk of heart disease compared to non-drinkers.
The ideal amount to keep your heart in shape is one pint per day, as long as it contains no more than five percent alcohol by volume.
5. Beer has a rich history
We see different forms of wine represented in ancient history-themed films, documentaries and television shows, but beer rarely makes an appearance.
But did you know that beer has been around for more than 5000 years?
Although it's hard to attribute one person or culture with inventing barley beer, archaeologists found what is believed to be a fragments of a jug coated in beerstone at Godin Tepe, which is located in the central Zagros Mountains of Iran.
It is believed that the fermented beverage used to be flavored with dates and olive oil instead of hops, and even the children drank it as part of their daily diet to provide them with extra nutrients.
6. It'll help your kidneys
Kidney stones are extremely painful, so cheers to never having to pass them again.
Although there's still a lot of research to be done, according to a recent Finnish study, each bottle of beer you drink lowers the risk of developing kidney stones by 40 percent.
How does it work?
The hops in the beverage slow down the rate at which calcium, an excess of which can cause kidney stones, is released from the bones.
Beer, a diuretic, contains high water content and this helps clear out the kidneys.
7. It's easier to find good beer
You may need to go out of your way to find a winery, but these days, accessing a local brewery is easier than ever.
Thanks to a massive federal tax cut brought on by the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act, business is booming for breweries.
Of course, quantity doesn't equal quality, but you'll without a doubt find a local beer to call your favorite sooner than you can find a local wine that satisfies.
8. It's also easier to make
Making good beer is by no means a simple process, but it's much easier when you compare it to the wine-making.
Wine requires a lot of attention to details like the weather, soil, pH levels, and grape maturity.
Beer on the other hand, follows a pretty standard procedure. As long as you have the right equipment (beginner kits are available online), you can even brew it yourself at home!
The best part is that you can get as creative as you like and the result is usually well worth the work you put in.
9. It's the perfect social drink
There are a lot of reasons why beer is a better social drink than wine.
Firstly, it's cheaper and readily available. You're likely to find more pubs than wine bars in your area, so you're likely to go out for a pint with your pals or colleagues than go for a wine tasting session.
Secondly, researchers have confirmed that beer does make people more sociable.
A Swiss study found that those who drank beer in social settings were instantly happier and more talkative when compared to another group of participants who were given non-alcoholic beer.
"This is an interesting study confirming conventional wisdom that alcohol is a social lubricant and that moderate use of alcohol makes people happier, more social and less inhibited when it comes to sexual engagement," said Professor Wim van den Brink, former chairman of the ECNP scientific programme committee.
10. Finally, you can it have ice-cold
After a long sweltering summer day, chances are you don't crave ice-cold wine. A cold, delicious beer is the thing that will bring you sweet relief.
Whether you're at a cottage, sports event, picnic, or having a BBQ in your backyard, it's beer, not wine, that is more likely to make an appearance.
If you're ever in the need of a drink, but it isn't cold enough, there's an easy trick that'll help speed up the cooling process.
Instead of just placing the bottle in the fridge or freezer and hoping for the best, try wrapping a wet paper towel around before you let it cool.