Ales and Ailments

flu3I’ve been down with the flu for the past few days.  It was good times, with body aches, headaches, chills, and other unmentionable symptoms.  I laid around all Saturday playing XBOX (Arkham Asylum is the best game of the year, by the way), and by Saturday night I was feeling a little bit better.

The plan wasn’t to drink anything but water, but then my wife opened an interesting beer that I just had to try.  Which led to a bottle of Arrogant Bastard, followed by a couple of Storm King Stouts.  So I was binge drinking with the flu.  Smart, huh?

I’m not sure why, but in my mildly delirious flu state, I was the champion of all beer drinkers.  Nothing seemed to have any effect on me, beyond making me forget I was sick and reminding me how much I love good beer.  I didn’t feel tipsy or buzzed or blitzed.  I was just hanging out with my wife, watching a movie and guzzling beers. With the flu.

The next day I was a little worse for the wear, though.  Whatever gains I had made on Saturday were wiped out and Sunday was back to feeling rotten.  It didn’t really feel like a hangover, but it was hard to tell if I was feeling the virus or the beer.  So I curled up on the couch and watched my Jets beat the Texans while I sipped water.

But has that ever happened to you?  Have you ever suddenly been able to drink like you have a hollow leg for some unknown reason (flu or otherwise)?  Or are you smart enough to stay away from the good stuff while your feeling less than your best?

Categories: Beer

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Author:Jim

Craft beer nerd, frequent beer blogger and occasional home brewer.

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2 Comments on “Ales and Ailments”

  1. September 15, 2009 at 3:23 pm #

    I lost my hollow leg years ago! Thankfully, I’ve avoided the flu so far, but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t want to drink beer while I’m feeling crappy like that. Hope you’re feeling better!

    • Jim
      September 15, 2009 at 9:41 pm #

      Thanks, Scott; I am feeling better. I didn’t set out to drink beer, it just kinda happened. I agree it’s dumb to drink anything when you’re sick, that why I was planning on water. Oh well.

      The beer that got it all started was a Dogfish Head Theobroma. Even with my sickness-suppressed palate, it was clear that it’s one really amazing beer. A historic brew, too. Really complex and interesting. Started with a tiny tasting glass which I refilled several times. Can’t wait to try it once I get my sense of taste back up to snuff.

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