Quote Originally Posted by Aqualung View Post
After being diagnosed with a low red blood count I've been on the FourPure Big Milk Stout (for medicinal purposes obviously) and reckon that every can must be the equivalent of half a box of iron tablets or gnawing on some rusty old railings. I'm old enough to remember the old women in early Coronation Street drinking Milk Stout so it must be good.
Not quite an old wives tale but perhaps rather exaggerated. Mackeson ("and by golly it does you good") used to be recommended for nursing mothers and even given out in maternity homes, but I suspect only had much effect on the malnourished. There is indeed iron in beer; a pretty small amount compared to daily needs but there really is more in dark beers than light (Scientific proof here). You would need to drink quite a lot to make a substantial difference though. Well that's one excuse...