Quote:
Originally Posted by Kitsa
wow, allergic to beer! I've never heard of that one. What component?
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I know, I sound like a nut, but I do have personal data to back it up.
I was a beer-hound in college and grad school, downing pitcher after pitcher of good, bad and indifferent stuff. My favorites, however, were the dark, hoppy ales and bitters (and Guinness, which defies classification). So, the first two times I went to Britain, that's primarily what I drank.
Then, in 2000 I went a third time to the UK, and picked up my habit of drinking the native bitters, although this time, we went to Wales and also explored the western part of England (where previously we had only stayed in and around London). By the time I hit Portsmouth, I was unable to sleep, being continually stuffed with what seemed like cement in my sinuses. The last three days of my vacation, I stayed away from the bitter and .... the cement went away.
Back in the states, I took to drinking my honey wheat ale again when the same GOD DAMNED THING HAPPENED. I was pissed. I paid a lot for that case. So, after giving all the good stuff away, I tried some "Miller Lite" figuring that even a beer wuss could handle that.
I was wrong.
Happily, I discovered that the sensitivity did not extend to all grain beverages, as I could drink Bourbon, Rye, Scotch, Irish and American whiskey with ease (and relish). So I'm guessing I developed a sensitivity toward hops - it is the only thing that makes sense to me.