I used to love beer, like really love beer. Then 14 months ago something devastating happened to my relationship with this most coveted of beverages: I got pregnant. After nine months of abstaining from drinking, I was excited to have a taste of my precious Garrison but something had changed, I had decided to exclusively breastfeed my son. No bottles, no pumping, nada. So what did that mean for my penchant for hops?
The jury is out on breastfeeding and occasional alcohol consumption, and there's a plethora of outdated information still circulating. I know that friends thought I had a problem when I'd ask to "just smell" their beers, and I was sick and tired of catching dirty looks when I'd steal a sip of my husband's beer. In fact, I'd read that beer stimulates milk production. If I'd just fed Max, I didn't see anything wrong with having a drink. I wasn't planning on demolishing a two-four or hitting up Power Hour or anything, just a social beverage. I was understandably worried about my return to the beer world after the champagne incident at Christmas where I'd had two sips and felt right out of 'er. These delicious beauties have helped make my transition back to the beer world smoother.
Prince Edward Island Brewing Co.'s Beach Chair Lager tastes like Olands to me, and that's a good thing. My hubby and I split one while I cooked supper one night and it was incredibly pleasant. Plus it's only 4.5 percent. A great everyday beer.
I hated stout before I had Max. Now Garrison Martello Stout (4.8 percent) is like a delicacy–a real sipping beer after a long day. I could sit down in my wingback chair in my library with some dark chocolate and my drink and unwind. (I don't have a wingback chair or a library, but I could totally put on some sweatpants and sit on the couch perusing Pinterest while drinking one and hoping the baby doesn't wake up.)
North Brewing Co. (formerly Bridge Brewing) gets mad mommy points just for being a presence at the East Coast Momma Collective Winter Fair. I like Gus' Ale (6.5%), and when you're done drinking it the bottles look really sharp as kitchen decor.
Although it's not local, I want to give a shoutout to Brewdog Dead Pony Club–by the looks of it, this is quickly becoming the most popular beer on earth. At only 3.8 percent mommies needn't worry about their milk getting too boozy.
If you're worried about getting your wee one more than milk drunk, time it for when they've just fed and are out for the count and have yourself a brew. Yes, you can always pump (I'm just way too lazy), or abstain altogether, but a responsible drink here and there while breastfeeding shouldn't send people running for the hills. A word of advice though, I've heard that babies have no respect for hangovers whatsoever. Bottoms up, mommas!
