Healthy Beer?

Apparently, even beer producers are trying to capitalize on America's health craze. A new Forbes article recently enlightened me about Stampede Light, a brew that claims to offer an extra boost of vitamins and nutrients:

Many of the 2,500 runners who completed the race between Dallas and Fort Worth at the annual Texas Stampede for Children's Medical Center Dallas last November were surprised to get a cold beer at the finish line. The pitch: "It's a beer with added vitamins--to help you recover faster." At that event entrepreneur Lawrence Schwartz and his helpers passed out 240 bottles of Stampede Light, his vitamin-fortified brew.

Beer with vitamins? The race was one of 21 events Schwartz will hit in Texas, Florida and Wisconsin this year to market Stampede Light, enhanced with thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine and folate. Stampede is sold in 1,000 stores, including Whole Foods, where it is also offered up for shoppers to sample. "We're going to groups that find a benefit in the product--people like us," says Schwartz, a nutrition-and-fitness buff who heads Stampede Brewing Co. in Dallas.

Puh-leeze. Hop-heads know that all beer is actually chocked full of vitamins.

So next time you down a pint - Stampede Light or not - remember: It's delicious and nutritious.