The BDS? Cenosillicaphobics.

Cenosillicaphobia is the fear of an empty glass. Belgium (a country the size of Ohio) provides the BDS with more breweries per capita (100) and more brands (almost 500) than any other nation on this floating keg called Earth. Prohibition lasted 13 agonizing years, 10 months, 19 days, 17 hours and 32 1/2 minutes (but who was counting). And the Thumbmaster who ruled our universe? He's real. Before the advent of thermometers, brewers tested the temperature of their maturing brews with their thumbs; too cold and the yeast wouldn't grow, too hot and it would die. Hence the term "rule of thumb" which the BDS bastardized into the legendary Thumbmaster.

Most Expensive Beer In The World: "Tutankamon". It's prepared according to the recipe recovered by a group of University of Cambridge archaeologists from Queen Nefertiti's Temple of the Sun in Egypt. It'll set you back $52 a bottle and is produced in a numbered, limited quantity.

Start 'Em Young: In Germany, you can get beer ice cream that's sold in popsickle form. However, its alcohol content is lower than that of traditional beer. Sorry, kids.

Don't Think About It: Beer, as all alcoholic drinks, is made through the fermination process caused by bacteria feeding on yeast cells. The bacteria then defecates and that bacterial excrement is called alcohol. Bottoms up!

We'll Take Two: The world's strongest beer is Samuel Adams Triple Bock. It's has reached the mythical status of 17% alcohol by volume. To obtain this level, however, they had to use champagne yeast. Not that we care.

Now That's Quality Control: According to The Code of Hammurabi of ancient Babylonia, (1750 B.C.), a merchant could be put to death for diluting beer.

Herr Beer: Beck's Beer is not only Germany's top exporterd beer, but it also accounts for 85% of all German Beer exports sold in the United States.

Smart Beyond Our Years: An 18-year study by the National Institute on Aging found that 50-plus men who consumed a drink a day during middle age scored significantly better on cognitive tests later in life than did non-drinkers. They also found themselves lying in a ditch without pants on several occasions but, because their cognitive tests were better, they typically remembered how they got there.

Practice Makes Perfect: There are 19 different versions of Guiness.

They Bring The Magic: The Budweiser Clydesdales weigh up to 2,300 pounds and stand nearly 6 feet at the shoulder.

Not Even A Christmas Card To Say Thanks: Nearly one of every two beers sold in the United States is an Anheuser-Busch product. In 2002, A-B sold over 100 million barrels of beer in the US.

Atkins My Ass: A 12 oz. typical American pale lager actually has fewer calories than 2% milk or apple juice.