image source: www.splashnewsonline.com

Barbadian singer and actress Rihanna engages in animated conversation with her neighbors at a recent Lakers game. Careful not to spill, Rihanna – the woman sitting next to you does not look like she’d be amused.

Necessity was once the mother of invention. Take a look around any novelty store, and you’ll quickly realize that is no longer true. Nowadays, one might venture to say accessory is the mother of invention. Check out these silly gadgets crafted for the entertainment of beer drinkers everywhere.

Beer Pager

For the extremely forgetful: never misplace your beer at a party again!

Remote Control Bottle Opener

As long as you have a cooler handy, you’ll never have to get off the couch again!

Six-Pack Bike Holder

Because you’ll want a nice, warm foamy brew after you tear it up on the bike trails.

USB- Powered Handheld Beer Cooler

In case you find yourself without refrigeration or ice, but near a USB-connecting power source.

Magnetic Floating Beer Device

Okay, however useless this may be, this is actually kind of cool.

image source: www.weeklyvolcano.com

The saying, “Drink Beer, Save Water” isn’t actually quite as tongue-in-cheek as you might think. A number of breweries have started ramping up efforts to cut back on water usage during production, and craft breweries, with much smaller-scale productions, are able to do so much more efficiently than their big-name competitors. Also, when you consume beer from a keg, which is reused repeatedly and contains more beer, you’re choosing the most environmentally friendly method of consumption. So in honor of Earth Day, raise a toast to our beautiful planet with a perfectly poured craft beer from your favorite local pub.

Source: www.ajelp.com

Image source: www.pyramidbrew.com

Jumping on the craft beer bandwagon, many fine dining restaurants have beefed up their beverage programs to incorporate a wider and more interesting and impressive selection of draft beers than in the past. That means, that as beer drinkers, we gain the opportunity to pair our course selections with well-crafted beers to properly complement the flavors and textures, rather than wash them all down with a Heineken or settle for wine pairings. Your server, however, may not be as well versed in beer pairings as he is with wine, so here is a quick and easy guide for pairing fine-dining food options with beer.

Source: www.craftbeer.com

We’re halfway through the week! How about a little humor to get you the rest of the way?

image source: dining.ucdavis.edu

Want to do something good for yourself and for the planet? Join the Meatless Monday movement – it’s the pledge to cut out meat one day a week. What started as a campaign put forth by the U.S. Food Administration during World War I to help ration food for the Armed Forces has recently become a global movement to promote healthier eating and a “greener” lifestyle. Going meatless once a week is said to reduce your risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity and also preserves important natural resources likes fresh water and fossil fuel.

Read more about Meatless Monday here: www.meatlessmonday.com

image source: ohmyveggies.com

Because it’s National Grilled Cheese Day, and because it’s Friday, we’d like to share with you this drool-worthy recipe for Drunken Grilled Cheese.

Drunken Grilled Cheese
Yield: 2 sandwiches

Ingredients
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 small onion, sliced
¼ cup lager
4 slices bread
2/3 cup shredded Sharp Cheddar cheese
1 tbsp. butter
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
2. Add onion and cook 10 minutes or until softened and beginning to turn golden brown.
3. Add lager, salt and pepper to skillet and increase heat to medium-high. Cook 5 more minutes, stirring frequently, until the liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat.
4. Divide onions onto two slices of bread and top with cheese and remaining bread slices. Butter bread on each side. Cook on medium-high heat until browned, about 3-5 minutes on each side.

Recipe source: ohmyveggies.com.

We’ve mentioned some health benefits of beer already — its cold-fighting power and ability to boost critical thinking, to name a few. Turns out, beer actually has a lot more to offer the human body than defense from the common cold and a slight increase in intelligence. From heart health to disease prevention, moderate beer drinkers can actually expect to reap a number of benefits from their daily pint. The list below represents only a few of the rewards beer can bring, so have a drink and cheers to your health!

5. Longevity
A 2005 review of 50 studies performed by the US Department of Agriculture revealed that moderate beer drinkers live longer. The USDA also reports that moderate drinking prevents around 26,000 deaths a year by lowering rates of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

Source:http://health.yahoo.net

In search of a gift for the friend who has everything? Search no more. This hooded gray sweatshirt has a built-in elasticized pocket to hold a canned or bottled beverage right within reach, leaving hands free for high fives, animated gestures and grabbing more beers.

For around $25, give that hard-to-please friend the one thing he never even knew he needed! While you’re at it, snag a couple. You know you want one, too.

Buy it here: www.thingsyouneverknew.com

Image source: Frozen Pints’ Facebook Page

We can’t think of two better treats to combine than beer and ice cream. Make it gourmet ice cream and craft beer, and there is no comparison. The makers of Frozen Pints bring you just that: Craft Beer Ice Cream made with fresh, local ingredients.

According to its web site, Frozen Pints was born of a cocktail confusion! A group of friends were making ice cream, and someone spilled beer near the ice cream maker. Everyone agreed they had to give it a try — so they poured beer into the ice cream maker. The result – a pretty tasty treat.

From Peach Lambic to Honey IPA or Malted Milk Chocolate Stout, Frozen Pints has a flavor for every beer preference. Right now, it can only be found in Atlanta, so here’s to hoping the company expands far and fast!

To learn more about Frozen Pints, visit www.frozenpints.com.