Good news, beer lovers. You may soon be able to drink a cold one without getting too dehydrated.


Australian researchers say they've created a hydrating beer[1] by adding electrolytes -- a common ingredient in sports drinks. That way drinkers can enjoy their alcoholic beverage, which is known to dehydrate[2] , while still staying refreshed.


However, don't expect the hydrating beer to contain the same amount of alcohol as your average brew. In order to achieve the feat, researchers also had to reduce the alcohol content.


The team from Griffith University's Health Institute recently tested the idea by modifying the ingredients in four different varieties of beer: two commercial, one of average strength and one light brew. Researchers noted that the alterations did not effect the taste of any of the beers.


"Of the four different beers the subjects consumed, our augmented light beer was by far the most well retained by the body, meaning it was the most effective at rehydrating the subjects," Ben Desbrow[3] , an associate professor who led the study, said in a released statement[4] .


The altered light beer was also one-third more effective at hydrating drinkers[5] than a normal beer. As some have pointed out, this extra bit of hydration during drinking could help ward off hangovers[6] , which are caused by a combination of factors, but primarily dehydration[7] .


Desbrow published the results of his hydrating beer research[8] in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism earlier this year, but beer fans will likely have to wait for the electrolyte-filled brews to hit shelves.


In the meantime, there's always the just-add-water beer concentrate[9] from Pat's Backcountry Beverages. Just make sure you hydrate while you enjoy the concentrated brew.



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