[denny]

That's really weird about the headaches from ales.  I can't think of any logical reason when the only difference is a small variation in the yeast.  Maybe it's the particular ales?

[weithman5]

FWIW, i went straight to making lagers, but i read a lot and prepared a lot for it.
Your migraines may be caused by particular esters in the ales or something else in the process including preservatives, etc.
I had a nurse once that could drink beer, booze, white wine.  but a red wine put her in the er with migraines.

[bonjour]

beers fermented warm (ales) may develop fusels which yield driving headaches
The solution is to ferment in the mid to low 60s.
Lagers are normally fermented below this point so no problem.

[majorvices]

I have heard people say that "dark beers" give them head aches, but I always chalked that up to inexperience and/or a psychosomatic explanation.   I suppose it is possible that the higher ester (or more likely, fusel) levels in ales could trigger a migraine. That would be the most likely explanation.

I have also heard people say that draft beer gives them headaches and bottled beer doesn't. And there is absolutely no logical explanation behind that... unless it is that they DRINK more when they aren't counting the bottles.

Bottom line, beer can cause headaches. Especially when consumed in large quantities. The worse hangovers I ever get are, without question, from Belgians. Hoppy beers seem to give me more hangovers as well. I can drink bourbon all night long and never get a hangover (though I may feel sluggish).

I once heard Mr. Jackson say that the more complex the beer, the worse hangover it gave him. And he chalked it up to there bering more chemicals creating the flavors in the more flavorful beer. That makes sense to me.

[denny]

beers fermented warm (ales) may develop fusels which yield driving headaches
The solution is to ferment in the mid to low 60s.
Lagers are normally fermented below this point so no problem.

But aren't most commercial ales (which I think is what Charles was talking about?) fermented with pretty good temp control?  I guess it might help if we had specific examples of the beers that cause him problems.

[rail]

I has taken several years and several beers to figure this migraine issue. Did not understand that beer was such a complex creature!

Majorvices, I am reading Michael Jackson's book, "Great Beers Of Belgium". It has a lot of history and knowledge about some the worlds finest beers. The spouse and I both enjoy Lambic's, would love to brew a lambic but wow what a process.

I have a lot of studying to do here!

Why are beers from the big breweries stored and served out of aluminum kegs?

Charles

[rail]

Bass, New Castle, Sam Adams, Negra Modelo, most German wheat beers, just about every American made beer, other micro brewed Ales.

My body does not like foods with preservatives, high fructose corn syrup, msg's and some dextrins. Have allergies to peanuts.
Is there a connection here to the Ale's.

Charles

[bonjour]

Negra Modelo is a Vienna Lager, so not just ales.

Dextrins seems to be A common link.  All beers have them.  I didn't read the early posts, sorry.

[rail]

Negra Modelo, why do they label it as an Ale?

Charles

[bluesman]

Negra Modelo, why do they label it as an Ale?

Charles

Strange but true, however it is a lager as Fred has indicated. In fact it is listed as a commercial example of a Vienna Lager under the BJCP guidelines.  Beer Advocate lists it as a Munich Dunkel.  I've had it many times and I definitely think it falls under a vienna Lager style.

I'm not sure why they label it as a dark ale when they describe it as a lager on their website.

[denny]

Negra Modelo, why do they label it as an Ale?

Charles

Most of the time it's due to arcane state laws.  In that case, it usually has to do with alcohol content and nothing to do with the true style of the beer.

[bfogt]

It seems to me that gluten may be the more common thing here.  Light lagers may just have a low enough level of gluten not to cause a big problem.  Celiac disease is often accompanied by migraine headaches.

Try some Bard's Tale or Redbridge and see how that works for you.

[redbeerman]

It seems to me that gluten may be the more common thing here.  Light lagers may just have a low enough level of gluten not to cause a big problem.  Celiac disease is often accompanied by migraine headaches.

Try some Bard's Tale or Redbridge and see how that works for you.

You have a good point there.  Another thing light lagers have much less of is dextrins.  Or anything other than water pretty much.  Sounds like an allergic reaction.  That is a true bummer.

[rail]

In the older style Bock Beers, how are the higher protein levels achieved with higher ABV?