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Because of what we do here at American Craft Beer – and because of people like you who read us daily – we get shipped all kinds of random promotional items to review. And one of the things that we receive constantly is hangover cure products. We’re not sure what that says about us, or about you – but we’re thinking it’s probably not the best.
So in yet another effort to help you manage your troubled lives… Welcome to ACB’s Guide to New Hangover Cure Products!
Blowfish for Hangovers – In spite of its trendy name (and its hefty price), this magic cure is no more than a mashup of two age-old hangover remedies: aspirin and a cup of coffee. And although we did find it somewhat helpful at alleviating our headache and helping us to begin crawling out of bed – we have to ask – why not just take two aspirin and spend the money you’d save by passing on Blowfish on a good cup of coffee at Starbucks? Product Grade: D+
Forgiven– This product is described as the world’s first and only alcohol metabolizer and since alcohol metabolizers are new to us, we’ll have to take them at their word. And unlike Blowfish, Forgiven is caffeine free. Basically what this product purports to do is increase the speed with which the body processes alcohol so it’s out of our bodies sooner. It also claims to maintain a healthy electrolyte balance and to be an excellent source of antioxidants and vitamin C.Basically Forgiven is a massive shot of B vitamins with some minerals (like zinc) thrown in. Did it help us feel better? We think it may have helped some. Did we feel better faster? The jury’s still out on that one. Product Grade: C
Hangover Naturals is an all-natural sucking candy made to alleviate hangover symptoms like nausea and dry mouth. Like Forgiven, it contains a battery of vitamins and minerals including vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, B6, B12, and others to help with headaches, upset stomach, dry mouth, and mild dehydration. The product comes in three soothing flavors (Ginger, Raspberry, and Lime), uses natural sugars to metabolize the alcohol in your system more quickly, and offers a boost of energy as you recuperate. Of all the hangover cures that we sampled, we found this product the most effective at alleviating that queasy stomach feeling – and that’s a big deal for us. Product Grade: B+
Klarkopf from Swiss Alpine Organics – Klarkopf comes from a Swiss organics company and this one’s a favorite. Klarkopf is specifically formulated to prevent hangovers rather than treat them after the fact. According to the company, hangovers are caused by the free radical cell damage that occurs when alcohol is broken down into a toxic compound called acetaldehyde. When too much alcohol is consumed, the body does not produce glutathione fast enough to detoxify itself before the damage is done. Klarkopf claims to work naturally by boosting the liver’s glutathione production, helping to stop hangovers before they can occur. We tested Klarkopf at this year’s SAVOR and after drinking 144 beers combined, the ACB crew rose reasonably early and lived to tell about it. Was Klarkopf the reason we all woke the next morning “feeling better than expected?” Truthfully, who the hell knows? But we fell for Klarkopf’s whole preventative and organic thing and sometimes just feeling good about what you’re taking can help. Product Grade: A-
