After an exhaustive round of statistics and conjecture, let's get to the pleasurable side of drinking this great brew. Beer drinkers are often quite definite about the glass from which they will drink. Some love the copper/brass steins; others prefer a clear pilsner, collins or the beer goblet; still others like the squat beer mugs.

I think it's nice to be able to see the rich golden colour and the rising effervescence as one drinks. For a thick, foamy head (German style), pour the beer straight down the middle of the glass from about one inch above the rim. Otherwise, tilt the glass and pour down the side, then straighten as it fills.

A chilled glass of beer on a hot summer day is about the best thing that can happen to anybody. It is a great refresher and the perfect accompaniment to almost any kind of food. There are some who think its bitter taste is foul and drown it with lemonade. And voila, a `shandy' is born. Apart from shandy there are some interesting combinations with beer and some strange ones. Highly recommended come beer and gingerale; beer and tonic; even beer and cola.

A beer chaser with a shot of whisky or Southern Comfort is terrific if lethal. And if that wasn't enough, there's `Skip and go Naked' a combination of 60ml vodka, some sugar syrup, juice of a lemon over 3-4 ice cubes in a collins glass topped with chilled beer. Add a shot of gin to that and you've got `Hop, skip and go Naked'! Howzzatt?!! Check out some more cocktails in our recipes section - Beer coff, .. , …