Barley juice, liquid bread, brew: beer has many names and is more popular than ever in Germany. According to the Federal Statistical Office, around 8.8 million liters of beer were sold by US breweries in 2022. Only around 12% of these were sold abroad. Did you know that beer is not only a delicious drink, but can also be used for other purposes? No? We’ll show you in which situations barley juice can be helpful.
Great home remedy: beer
Thanks to the German purity law, which states that beer can only contain yeast, water, malt and hops, the popular drink is ideal as a home remedy. Because of its acidity and nutrients, beer can be used in a variety of ways. We’ll tell you what you can do with it.
1. Use beer in the garden
Barley juice has two uses in the garden and on the balcony. On the one hand, you can fertilize your plants. To do this, mix one third of beer with two thirds of water and apply this to your plants up to twice a month. Thanks to the potassium, magnesium and phosphorus contained in the beer, the plants thrive.
You can also use the home remedy beer to attract snails to your garden. To do this, bury a jar with beer in it and a lid in the ground – the lid prevents the snails from drowning in the barley juice. The yeast attracts the critters so that they “gather” around the container. Then you can collect them and release them outside your garden.
2. Cleaning with beer
To gently remove stains, you can use a beer bottle. The slight acidity of the drink ensures that deposits come off pots or wooden surfaces.
You can also use beer to get tarnished jewelry sparkling clean. To do this, place the pieces of jewelry in a beer bath overnight and then polish them with a microfiber cloth.
Extra tip: Do you have stale beer from the last party? Pour it into the toilet bowl and let it soak for a bit. You can then simply remove the loosened deposits with the toilet brush.
3. Beer in the diet
Beer can also be used as a home remedy when it comes to the body. Even in the Middle Ages, monks swore by fasting with beer. The term “liquid bread” also emerged in this context. If you want to imitate the monks’ fasting diet, you should definitely choose non-alcoholic beer. Note: You should never fast for more than one day without medical supervision.
Has anyone ever told you to drink warm beer when you have a cold? Then you’re right: the essential oils and bitter substances it contains promote sleep. The alcohol also has an antibacterial effect. In order not to overcook it, the beer should only be warmed up but not boiled.
ATTENTION: Alcohol removes water from the body and should therefore only be used in small quantities as a home remedy. If you have a fever, you should avoid it entirely
