Expert: Ed Westemeier - 9/28/2004

Question
Hi.
What is it about beer that gives me a splitting headache the next morning? Are some beers more apt to give hangovers than others?

Answer
Sorry for the delay; I was out of touch for a few days.
The full answer is pretty long, but the short answer is yes.
One good example is Budweiser (and most of the other beers from Anheuser-Busch. There is a byproduct caused by the particular strain of yeast they use in the fermentation process that gives some people a headache. Only about 7% of the population is affected by it, but there are other byproducts in other beers that can affect other people.

I would suggest switching brands until you find one that pleases both your taste and your metabolism. Another good approach is to drink plenty of water before going to bed. That can help a lot with the hangover headache.