Beer... more than just a drink

Beer isn't just for drinking. Some breweries offer beer bathes. Most of these can be found in the Czech Repulic, Germany and Austria. A soothing beer bath is created by adding active beer yeast, hops and dried crushed herbs to mineral water that is heated to about 93 degrees. After you soak 20-30 minutes they will wrap you in a blanket to allow the skin to soak all the benefits.

Beer Spa Bahenec located in Czech Republic is a great site to see what a beer bath is all about.

If you viewed the site above you already that each ingredient serves a purpose. The warm water allows your skin pores to open, the hops exfoliate the skin, and the active beer yeast contains B vitamins and saccharides. This can help acne and skin elasticity.

I don't recommend you to fill a bath full of beer and soak in it. Currently the US doesn't have any beer bathes available, but if your traveling abroad I would suggest you look into it. I know I will! I have found some other interesting recipes you can do at home!

"Easy to make Beer Mask"

1 Tbsp favorite beer
1 tsp. plain yogurt
1 tsp. olive oil
1 egg
1 tsp. lemon extract
1 tsp. almond extract

Mix all ingredients together. Wet face with warm water and apply mixture to face. Allow to dry for 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water. Finish with cold water to close your pores. Enjoy!

"Beer Shampoo"

3/4 cup beer
1 cup Shampoo

Boil beer until reduced to 1/4 cup. Cool beer then mix with shampoo. Then use! This recipe can help repair damaged hair.

Hope you all enjoy!!!

Sources ~
http://www.sheknows.com/articles/812762
http://www.bathandbodyrecipes.com/bath-body-recipe-199/beer-shampoo.html

Sweet Hop Pillow Dreams

Hops are the most effective used herb in sleep pillows. The female hop cones create lupulin under there bracts. Lupulin is a powdery substance that creates a mild narcotic sedative, which can induce relaxation and peacefulness during sleep.

To make them, you would use the dried hop flower, better known for flavoring beer . You want to be sure you have a sweet hop variety, like maybe the Fuggle or Golding.

Sweet Hop Mix*

4 cups hop bracts
2 Tbs. ground allspice
2 Tbs. dried orange peel
2 Tbs. lemon balm
2 Tbs. pinhead orris root mixed with a few drops of essential oils of allspice and neroli (orange blossom)

Will fill a pillow 12-14 inches square or you can make many small filled socks. Anything you have laying around. To mild the smell of hops, if too potent add lime flowers, lemon verbena, rosemary, chamomile, lavender, rose, thyme or mint. You don't have to follow this recipe, be creative.. Think about the herbs that smell good to you and use them.

Note: Replace every 4-6 months. Stale hops release a horrible scent that may keep you awake. *

CAUTION: Two important things to keep in mind with hops! **
1. Should not be used with pregnant women because of estrogenic-like activity. **
2. Do Not use if on prescription sedatives and/or sleep medications unless instructed by physician. **


Sources -
* "Sweet dreams are made of this", Vegetarian Times, Sep 1995, Pg 83
** "Sweet Dreams herbs for sleep and relaxation", Better Nutrition, Oct 2000, Pg 62

Welcome to Hop Heaven.

In this blog, I will continue to write new and exciting ways to use hops. In today's society, most people know hops to be used for beer as a flavoring, a bitterer and a preservative. I will inform the hop enthusiast of other alternatives, such as, feed and bedding for cattle, dyes, fiber plants, oils, and many more. Each recipe I post there will be a brief history of when and where it was commonly used. Hope you enjoy!!!

If any of my viewer's have any suggestions please email me at jodie@northwesthops.com
Also, if you are looking to buy rhizomes to start your own hop garden, please check out our hop store...

http://www.northwesthops.com/