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Hang on, no hangover?

Chris Shanahan

Apple Thief William Pear Cider and The Little Brewing Company Mad Abbot Dubbel.
Apple Thief William Pear Cider and The Little Brewing Company Mad Abbot Dubbel.Supplied

We were once told we could avoid dehydration and hangovers if we followed every drink with a glass of water. It didn't work. Nor did the other folk remedies, even Berocca tablets when they became popular in the 1980s.

So we read recent reports of a hydrating beer with scepticism. Researchers, led by Griffith University associate professor Ben Desbrow, modified two commercial beers. When they replaced some alcohol in each with electrolytes, they found the beer hydrated drinkers one third better than normal beer.

Desbrow commented that the findings might result in beer that reduces one of the risks of unsafe drinking - dehydration. From this, some commentators drew a connection between hydration, or lack of it, and hangovers, which raised hopes of a hangover-free beer. But if ever there is one, it'll be available exclusively from the tooth fairy.

Apple Thief William Pear Cider, 330ml, $4.15

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Apple Thief is a Batlow brand making ciders from local fruit - in this instance, William pears. The colour is pale and while the aroma is light, the slightly sweet palate delivers delicate pear flavour and tart acidity. It's all-natural, they say, and definitely tastes like pears.

The Little Brewing Company Mad Abbot Dubbel, 330ml, $8

From Port Macquarie comes this deep brown ale, modelled on a style developed by Trappist monks in Belgium in the 19th century. An opulent, malty, fruity, high-alcohol style (6.9 per cent), with fresh acidity and quite low on bittering.

Chris Shanahan

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