Someone near and dear to me once said, "I hate beer. I don't understand why you love it so much. I have yet to find one useful thing about beer." I was shocked at first—there was actually someone out there that hated beer—then greatly inspired to change her mind.

I have found many useful ways to use beer besides drinking and I narrowed them to ten.

1. Put out a fire. It is not quite as effective as a fire extinguisher but a bottle or can of beer can perform like one. Just shake and spritz on small grill flare ups.


2. Marinate your meat. The acidity in beer makes for a great tenderizer.


3. Polish your pots. Because beer is slightly acidic, just pour some on your pots, let it sit for a while, then wipe. It makes cleaning a lot easier.


4. Clear up brown spots on your lawn. Beer stimulates plant growth and kills fungi.


5. Pass kidney stones. Beer is a diuretic that helps flush the kidneys while helping to dilate the ureters, making the passing of a stone quicker and easier.


6. Kill slugs and mice. They love beer (but who doesn’t?). Put some out in pie pans and buckets, let them have an all-nighter, and when you get up in the a.m. they are done.


7. Bug control for your backyard BBQ. A bowl of beer can lure wasp and bees away from your outdoor party.


8. Soak your feet. Make a mixture of half beer and half warm peppermint tea. Soak your dogs for 20 minutes to soften calluses.


9. Loosen rusty bolts. The acidity and carbonation helps breakdown rust.


10. Help cure insomnia. Wash your pillow cases in hoppy beer; the aroma of hops soothe your senses and will help you sleep better. Beware, though, if you have severe allergies, hops are flowers and can cause flare ups.

After taking great care to make sure my suggestions would work, I invited my mother over. I presented her with the list and watched as she read. She raised her head and said, “Well I can see you have proven me wrong. The steak smells fantastic, you put out the fire so the house didn't burn down, and the lawn looks amazing. Bravo! You have found a use for beer other than drinking.”

So now I challenge you. Can you find ways to use beer other than for drinking? I'm still perplexed on why you would want to but, nonetheless, give it a whirl—you may even surprise yourself!

Nadine Sweeten, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits beer consultant – Sarasota

Follow me on Twitter @abcbeernadines