The Mystery Of Tears And Beers: An Intriguing Mix

There's a Tear in My Beer is a country song by Hank Williams, recorded by Big Bill Lister and later re-recorded by his son in 1988. The song is about drinking and crying. Interestingly, the term beer tears has been used to describe the act of crying about anything that remotely bothers someone after a few drinks. In addition, Job's Tears is a grain native to Southeast Asia that is traditionally consumed for its medicinal properties and is also used to make beer.

Beer tears refer to crying about anything bothering you after drinking alcohol

In addition, alcohol also impacts the part of the brain responsible for rational thinking, called the prefrontal cortex. This is also where most of our decisions are made, which is why some people become more reckless after drinking alcohol. When this part of the brain is impacted, emotions that are usually kept in check can be brought to the surface more easily. As a depressant, alcohol can amplify any emotions we are feeling. For example, if someone is already feeling sad or angry, they might find that after drinking alcohol, they feel even sadder or angrier.

On a biological level, alcohol also impacts the body's natural serotonin and endorphin levels, which are known as the body's feel-good chemicals and are essential for regulating our overall mood. When anything impacts these chemicals, including alcohol, mood swings can appear, and tears may flow. Alcohol can also make it harder to regulate emotions. You might start drinking to forget what's on your mind, but once the initial boost wears off, you might end up wallowing in those feelings instead.

Drinking can also lower inhibitions, so if you've been trying to keep some difficult emotions, like sadness or anger, under control, they may come flooding in when you drink. This can lead to a tricky cycle. You might begin drinking more regularly to feel better or forget about those unwanted emotions and memories. However, increased alcohol use usually won't help and will likely worsen negative mood states and physical health.

Beer tears can be caused by a sad song during a drinking binge

It's not just beers that drink tears—sometimes, beers cause tears! While it may sound like an oxymoron, beer tears are a very real phenomenon. So, how can a drinking binge lead to tears?

The Science of Tears

Before we delve into the reasons behind beer tears, let's understand what tears are and why we cry. Tears are mostly composed of water but also contain salt, fatty oils, and over 1,500 different proteins. They serve to lubricate and protect our eyes, keeping them comfortable and healthy. There are three types of tears: basal, reflex, and emotional. Basal tears are always in our eyes, providing constant protection and nourishment. Reflex tears are produced when our eyes are exposed to irritants like smoke or onion fumes. Lastly, emotional tears are produced when we experience intense emotions, such as sadness, happiness, or even gratitude.

Beer and Tear Production

Now, let's explore the connection between beer and tears. Alcohol consumption is known to contribute to dry eyes, a condition where the eyes don't produce enough tears or the quality of tears is compromised. This can lead to symptoms like a gritty feeling, redness, or blurry vision. Alcohol has dehydrating effects on the body, and since it is a diuretic, it leads to more fluid loss than intake. This dehydration can extend to the eyes, causing the tear film that protects the eye's surface to become unstable due to a lack of moisture. Additionally, alcohol interferes with tear gland function, reducing tear film volume and deteriorating its structure. As a result, individuals may experience discomfort, such as a gritty or burning sensation in their eyes.

The Emotional Factor

Apart from the physical effects of alcohol on tear production, there is also an emotional aspect to consider. Drinking alcohol can lower inhibitions and intensify emotions. During a drinking binge, individuals may find themselves more susceptible to feelings of sadness or nostalgia. This heightened emotional state, combined with the potential physical discomfort of dry eyes, could create the perfect storm for tears.

The Power of Music

Now, let's introduce the element of music into the mix. Music has the power to evoke strong emotions and has been known to move people to tears. According to a study by researchers Katherine Cotter, Paul Silvia, and Kirill Fayn, 89.8% of participants reported experiencing feelings of crying while listening to music. The study also revealed that individuals could be grouped into two categories: those who felt sadness and those who felt awe. Those who ranked high on the neuroticism scale tended to experience sadness, while those scoring high on openness to experience felt awe.

The Perfect Storm

Combining a drinking binge with a sad song can, therefore, increase the likelihood of tears. The alcohol may physically affect tear production, causing dry and irritated eyes. Simultaneously, the lowered inhibitions and heightened emotions induced by alcohol can make individuals more susceptible to the power of music. A sad song, with its ability to evoke strong emotions, can then act as the trigger that releases the built-up tears.

So, the next time you find yourself shedding a tear during a drinking session, remember that it's not just the beer drinking the tears—sometimes, the beer causes the tears!

Job's Tears is a grain used in cocktails and to make beer

Job's Tears is a cereal plant native to Southeast Asia. The edible part of the plant is its soft-hulled grain, which is dried before being sold. The grain is used in cocktails and to make beer.

Job's Tears is also known as Chinese pearl barley, coix seed, yulmu in Korean, yi mi in Mandarin, hato mugi in Japanese, and coix lacryma-jobi. The plant is usually cultivated as an annual crop and grows 1 to 3 meters tall. It features jointed stems with long, flat leaf blades, and its seeds are enclosed in hard, shiny, tear-shaped structures.

In traditional Chinese medicine, Job's Tears is believed to have cooling and diuretic effects. It is prescribed for various ailments, including eczema, diarrhoea, and even cancer. The grain is also gluten-free, making it a popular alternative grain for health-conscious consumers.

When used in cocktails, Job's Tears adds a sweet and nutty flavour. It can be simmered with water and sugar to create a creamy and nutty drink or turned into a syrup. Bartenders also use Job's Tears to sweeten cocktails like the Coix Solero, pairing it with light citrus, soft fruits, and coconut.

Additionally, Job's Tears has been used in brewing beer for thousands of years. It can be fermented to create alcoholic beverages similar to baijiu in China or soju in Korea. Modern brewers are also experimenting with using Job's Tears as a gluten-free alternative to barley in beer-making.

There's a Tear in My Beer is a country song by Hank Williams

"There's a Tear in My Beer" is a country song written by Hank Williams and recorded by Big Bill Lister in 1952. Hank Williams penned the song during one of his Nashville sessions in 1950-51. However, his publisher and producer, Fred Rose, was not fond of references to alcohol in songs. Lister, who had opened shows for Williams, needed a drinking song, so Williams gave him the demo he had recorded.

The song was later re-recorded by Hank Williams Jr., his son, in 1988, over four decades after it was written. The re-recording was made possible by electronic merging technology, which allowed Hank Williams Jr. to duet with his late father. The music video for the song combined television footage of Hank Williams Sr. performing with new footage of his son, making it appear as if they were playing together. The video was a critical and commercial success, winning Video of the Year from the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music. It also won a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Collaboration.

The lyrics of "There's a Tear in My Beer" tell a story of heartbreak and loneliness, with the narrator expressing their sorrow through drinking and shedding tears into their beer. The song has become an enduring classic in country music and has been covered by other artists, including Brad Paisley and Lee Rocker.

The phrase "there's a tear in my beer" has also entered the popular lexicon, often used to describe the act of crying while drinking, usually due to sadness or emotional distress. This phenomenon of "beer tears" is a well-known occurrence, with people drinking to cope with their emotions and sometimes finding solace in their beverage of choice.

Crying in your beer refers to drinking alone after a breakup or falling out with friends

"Crying in your beer" is an idiom that refers to drinking alone and feeling sorry for yourself after a breakup or falling out with friends. It is often used to exaggerate the idea of someone complaining or expressing self-pity. The phrase is used to tell someone to stop complaining because their problems are not that important. For example, if someone is "crying in their beer," they might be lamenting a breakup or feeling lonely after a falling out with friends. The image evoked by this phrase is of someone seated at a table with a beer in front of them, crying and having their tears fall into the beer.

The phrase "crying in your beer" is also used more generally to describe someone who is an unhappy drunk and begins to cry about anything that is bothering them. This could include crying about an ex-partner, or even something as minor as spilling a drink on oneself. In this sense, the phrase is used to describe the act of drinking and becoming emotional, to the point of tears, about one's problems.

The idiom is often used in a joking or teasing manner, but it can also be considered mildly disrespectful or mean. It is meant to make light of someone's complaints or sadness and to encourage them to stop complaining. Overall, the phrase "crying in your beer" is a colorful way to describe the act of drinking and feeling sorry for oneself, often after experiencing some form of setback or disappointment.

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