Long time homebrewer myself. Going to spend the weekend with a fellow FReeper couple teaching them the craft. They were down a few weeks ago making a batch of Charlie Papazian's Toad Spit Stout, and will be taking them their share.
This man has tapped into an eternal wisdom that not enough people have yet - naturally made alcohol products consumed in moderation (and yes, 2 pints a day is certainly moderate enough) is a gift from God.
Charlie. [Doffs hat, holds over heart...] Charlie Papazian. The Man...
Just bottled my Christmas brew - a little different time, one of Charlie's recipes, honey, fresh ginger, orange peels, and a couple of cinnamon sticks in the boil, lotsa hops. If I read it right the final gravity tells me it's about 137% alcohol. You shouldn't drink while testing...but hey, "relax. Don't worry. Have a homebrew..."