Showing posts with label World Cup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label World Cup. Show all posts

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Spain - More Euro Pale Lagers!

I could only think of two beers from Spain when I started this endeavor... San Miguel and Estrella.  Both are rather unappealing pale lagers in the true Euro macro fashion.  Like one blog I read said... "When one thinks of Spain one normally thinks of wine or bullfights, but very rarely of good beer."  And that's absolutely true.  I think of bullfights, and the fabulous architecture, and the sun-drenched wineries, but I don't think about craft beer.  I think you'd be more likely to go into a bar and find Heineken and Carlsberg and Newcastle and Budweiser on tap than any local craft brews.  That's unfortunate, but probably true.

Unfortunately there aren't even too many microbrews to be found, although they do exist, with little information in the world of the internet available.  The blog I quoted above mentions one called Birrart trying to establish a craft scene and there are at least two in Madrid according to this About.com article.  The article also links to a list of their top 5 Spanish beers, which are all brewed by the big boys, so even the people aware of the microbreweries seem to prefer the macros!  That's really disappointing Spain.  Tremendously.  Now I'm just sitting her wishing Portugal had beat you guys.  

Oh well, I guess the lesson learned here is... when you visit Spain, try the wine!



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Saturday, July 10, 2010

Argentina - Quilmes & Cerveza Jerome

A little over a week ago I featured Chile in this space and was amazed at the rise of microbreweries in the South American country.  Argentina appears to be on a very similar path, with numerous microbreweries sprouting up throughout the country to combat the mass-produced swill.  The more I've read during this Beer World Cup the more I've realized that the rise of microbrews and the disdain for the big mass-produced pale lagers is a global trend. 

The only Argentinian beer I've ever tried (that I'm aware of) is one of the more mass-produced variety called Quilmes, which sponsors Argentina's national football team.  The brand has grown substantially since beginning in 1920 and now owns about 75% of the beer market in Argentina.  Eventually Quilmes was bought out by the Brazilian brewer AmBev, which later merged with Interbrew to form InBev, which later merged with Anheuser-Busch to form AB-Inbev as the largest brewing company in the world.  So yeah, Quilmes is part of the global empire, and it tasted like it as well.  

Another Argentinian brewery that I have to mention is Cerveza Jerome!  That's right, apparently somewhere in the Andes mountains of Argentina, someone decided to name their microbrewery after me.  Okay, I'll admit that the name caught my eye when I was browsing over a list of Argentinian breweries but once I clicked to see more I realized they brewed a wide range of beers including an amber ale, American stout, Irish dry stout, and several Belgian styles.  Now that's impressive, a small craft brewery high in the Andes mountains putting out a wide range of styles, with above average reviews.  It might not happen anytime soon, but one day I'll check this place out.


Now I need to get one of those glasses... that is sweet.


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Friday, July 9, 2010

Italy - Following In Our Footsteps

You know you're in trouble as a beer country when the lead line to your 'Beer in Italy' wikipedia page is "Beer in Italy is mainly pale lager."  For those that have been keeping up 'pale lager' is most certainly not a good thing.  It's basically a synonym for bland mass-produced beer for doing kegstands with.  I'm all for kegstands, though, especially in Italy, with a keg of Peroni... but it's not the kind of beer you want to really enjoy for it's flavor.  Peroni is the largest brand, but others like Moretti also compete for the market.  In reality though, Italy is all about the wine. 

Hey look, an RSAK cup!  That's right, I even included Peroni in an old post about Euro lagers.  I was psychic or something back in December.  

Like a lot of these countries though, there is good news about the Italian beer scene.  Digging a little deeper reveals a trend of microbreweries that is rising rapidly throughout Italy.  I ran across this article about the trend, and even though it's almost 5 years old, it seems to hold true today.  Essentially Italy is following the same path that the USA took in the late 70s and 80s.  As the big guys (Peroni, Heineken, etc...) became such a large part of the market, there was an inevitable backlash that led to a rise of microbreweries and brewpubs.  According to the article, as of 2005 there were over 100 microbreweries and brewpubs and BeerAdvocate currently lists a combined 137 breweries and brewpubs, so it appears the numbers are holding true and slightly increasing.  

So kudos to you, Italy!  Keep up the good work and I'll be looking forward to hitting up some brewpubs on the next trip.  Whenever that may be.



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Thursday, July 8, 2010

France - Biere De Garde

It's time for France, a country that offers up nearly endless brasseries to choose from to feature.  I haven't featured any French beers in this corner of the internet, but I've tried and reviewed plenty, including staples like Kronenbourg and Fischer Amber as well as some of the lesser-known brews like Gavroche and the Brasserie Thiriez Biere De Noel.  For this one though, rather than feature a specific beer, I figured I'd feature a style of beer that originated in France, the Biere De Garde.
This translates into "keeping beer" as it was meant to be cellared for several seasons before drinking.  Before the days of temperature control yeast would react differently in the summertime so the beers would be brewed in the winter and spring to be cellared and drank during the hotter months.  The style is characterized as a blend between French and Belgian beers, but really the line between some of those styles is quite blurred.  The bieres de garde are intended to have a noble hop profile, but well balanced with malts on the aroma and tongue.  There are usually hints of fruit and spices as well, and they tend to be stronger than average in the alcohol content.  I have enjoyed the few from this style that I've tried so far, including Gavroche, which should be able to be found in Baton Rouge stores.

So next time you see 'Biere De Garde' on the label, don't be afraid to give it a try... you're probably going to like what you find, because unlike their 2010 World Cup campaign, the French got this one right.



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Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Portugal - Same Old Story

This is all unfortunately starting to sound like the same story about everywhere.  The beer scene in Portugal is dominated by two large brewing companies which control 90% of the market.   The market leader is União Cervejeira SA (Unicer), a locally owned brewery which produces Super Bock, an American-style adjunct lager that is the best selling beer in Portugal.  I know you can't see me, Portugese people, but I'm shaking my head at you.  Sociedade Central de Cervejas is their biggest rival, a Heineken owned operation most well known for their Sagres Cerveja but also producing brews like Bohemia.  All in all... a bunch of blah.


Portugal IS home to one of the most well-named brewpubs I've ever heard of though... Shakesbeer.  Now that's good shit.  Too bad their website includes their wine list but nothing about the beer.  What the hell Portugal?  I guess they really are all about the wine, especially the port, which I'm sure Jay will talk about over at Bite and Booze.  You know what would be good though guys?  If a micro-brewer in Portugal worked on some damn good stouts or porters and then aged them in old port casks?  Would that now be awesome?  I've just about never had a barrel-aged stout that I didn't like so why isn't this happening?  Maybe it is and I just didn't find out about it, but hopefully someone from Portugal will read this, make it happen, and give me a little piece of credit.  

Until then, Portugal's beer scene is just going to have to suffer the same fate as their soccer team.  A second-round loss.



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Tuesday, July 6, 2010

South Korea - Nothing To See Here...

Well, I said things would be looking up at the end of that last post on The Ivory Coast didn't I?  Sorry, I lied.  There just isn't much of a beer culture in Korea to speak of.  The three big brands are all considered to be very similar to each other, and are all brewed with rice as an adjunct.  For those in the know, Bud uses rice as their adjunct so you can probably expect something similar.  Two of the breweries are listed on BeerAdvocate with an average beer rating of D+.  Yikes... you don't want to take that report card home to the parents!

 
And apparently S. Korea has a 100% tax on any imported beers, so don't expect to find anything else cheap!  I read a few reviews and most of them complained heavily about the prices of standard imports like Heineken, Guinness, and Newcastle.  
 
I did read about a few brewpubs, but none of the reviews were very positive at all.  Another disappointing country on this world tour, but unlike some of the others I really expected some good stuff out of Korea.  Oh well, swing and a miss!


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Monday, July 5, 2010

Ivory Coast - Solibra Beer

Ivory Coast... or Cote D'Ivoire... can't say I found much at all about the beer here.  BeerAdvocate has no breweries listed and there is only one listed on RateBeer called Solibra.  They feature 3 brews, all with pretty poor ratings, but the best one is called Mamba!  The best thing about Mamba beer?  It has a crocodile on the label.  Or is that an alligator?  It even says malt liquor on the bottle so is this really even a beer?  I guess it doesn't really matter... this is the first time I've been really truly disappointed in what I've been able to find on a country... so take this opportunity to review any of the countries that you missed along the way to this low point!   Or go check out the Bite and Booze World Cup tour for some good foods and other drinks... maybe the Ivory Coast had better luck in that department!  And check back tomorrow where we'll check out South Korea... I'm sure things will be back on track.

Sources:
BeerAdvocate

Sunday, July 4, 2010

USA! USA! USA!

Well, it's July 4th, happy birthday to the USofA!, so that can only mean it's time for the World Cup of Beer post about the good ole United States of America.  And while the USA might not quite dominate the soccer world, we kick ass when it comes to beer.  And I'm not talking about the mass-produced swill that isn't even American-owned anymore either.  Sure, I kicked back more than enough $4 34 oz. Bud Selects while watching America play in this World Cup, but that just proves that there is a time and place for even the macros.  I hate to admit it sometimes, but it's true.

 The good thing about the USA though, is that just about anywhere you go you can usually find some microbrews.  Regional breweries used to be all the rage, as back in the day (pre-prohibition that is) shipping beer wasn't very practical so most drinking went on from brews that came from close to home.  Prohibition (really?  who thought that was a good idea?) killed off all but the bigger brewers that had the resources to switch to other beverages and other uses for their lines.  So... once prohibition ended (and then WWII ended) the industry was dominated by all the bigger beers and craft was essentially non-existent.  The 50s, 60s, and then 70s were dominated by the big boys, as they grew, marketed themselves, and bought out all competition.  By the end of the 1970s there were only 44 brewing companies in the USA, but that was soon to change.  

Starting in the late 70s and through the 80s until today craft breweries have experienced remarkable growth!  While some of this is a product of revolt against the bland macros, I have to believe that the growth of the technology sector has made a huge impact.  People are blogging about beer, writing about beer, creating entire websites devoted to rating beer and trading rare beers with other enthusiasts across the country.  People can order homebrew ingredients online and take that love and start their own brewery, like my friend Andrew did with Parish Brewing in Broussard, LA.

 The fact of it is, though... I firmly believe that if I had to pick one and only one country to drink from for the rest of my life, it would be the United States.  There is just too much variety and too many fantastic microbreweries to choose anywhere else.  America!! FUCK YEAH!!

 
Sources:
Beer in the United States
Brewers Association
Parish Brewing

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Brazil - What the hell?

Just when we thought we had this World Cup figured out, and could count on Brazil at least making it to the semi-finals and as a result playing in either the 3rd place game or the championship game, they go any lose to The Netherlands on the same day we featured the Orange side.  Sorry Nunee, but I think Jay and I cursed your team.  

 
Brazil, it turns out, is the 4th largest market for beer in the world, but like all other countries featured, the market is dominated by a few huge breweries.  Unlike most of the world, though... the beer of choice is a pilsener as opposed to a pale lager, with pilseners accounting for 98% of the market share.  

As for one of Brazil's most famous parties... Carnival, there is definitely a huge spike in the beer consumption.  Wikipedia claims (unsourced) that the Carnival accounts for 4% of the yearly consumption, while another article I read claimed that Brazilians drink more beer during Carnival than the rest of the year combined!  I'm sure the truth is somewhere in the middle, but either way it's a lot of beer over a short period of time.

Another interesting thing I read was that Brazilians love to drink their beer served below freezing!  Apparently the higher-class bars use beer coolers that display the temperature so their customers can see that their beer is anywhere from -4 to -8 Celsius, often partially frozen.  I don't really get this, as I've had some beer before that had been previously frozen (in an attempt to cool it down quicker) and it was horrible.  But hey, if that's how they like it in Brazil, that's how they like it.



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Friday, July 2, 2010

The Netherlands - La Trappe Tripel (Koningshoeven)

I'm glad that The Netherlands are in the World Cup, because they just happen to feature one of the better Belgian-style beers out there.  And Belgian beers are probably my favorite of any specific region.  This one in particular might be familiar to readers of this blog, because it's featured in my top ten beers ever list over to the right!  (Fuller's Vintage Ale also made the top 10 and the World Cup of beer, if you want go to back to the England post...)


The interesting thing about the La Trappe Brewery is that they are the only authentic Trappist brewery outside of Belgium. The International Trappist Association is comprised of 15 monasteries, and some of the products they produce are labeled as 'authentic Trappist products' which means that they are produced by the monks on the monastery grounds, and profits are intended to benefit the community.  Seven of these monasteries produce beer, and it is generally considered some of the best beer in the world.  They are Achel, Chimay, Orval, Rochefort, Westmalle, Westvleteren, and the subject of this post, La Trappe. 

La Trappe is one of the easier Trappist beers to find in the states, although I believe all of them but Westvleteren can be found legally.  I was first introduced to the Tripel after picking up a 4-pack at the old Marcello's and fell in love.  This was one of the beers that really put me past the swill and even the Abita-level beers of the world and really got me interested in the world of craft beer.   It features a honeyish, caramel, spicy aroma and a taste to match, all malty and expertly hiding the 8% ABV.  I'd highly recommend anyone looking to expand their beer horizons to seek out a 4-pack of these, and if you like it, there are dubbels and quads available too!  

Enjoy!



Credits:

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Denmark - Carlsberg & Mikkeller

Just about everyone reading this blog surely knows about Carlsberg, and with good reason.  They are a huge brewery, and said to be the 4th largest brewery group in the world, I'm sure following the real giants AB-InBev, SABMiller, and Heineken International.  In addition to sheer size the Carlsberg company is an aggressive sponsor of soccer around the world, including the Euro 2008 tournament, and teams like Liverpool and FC Copenhagen. They use the advertising slogan "Probably the best beer in the world" and really, among the big boys, they might be close.  

The flagship brew is the Carlsberg Beer, with the trademark Carlsberg logo and green labeling.  (Not pictured, oddly enough...)  It's a German-style pilsner, with a moderate 5% abv, and hints of noble hops.  Like all green-bottled beers it's prone to go skunky but as far as the type goes, I do enjoy a good Carlsberg.  Especially on tap when visiting Ireland and I'm feeling like something other than a Guinness.
 Another brewery worth mentioning in Denmark is Mikkeller, an 'extreme' microbrewery that are constantly pushing the notions of style in beer.  I know these guys are available at The Cove (but not cheap!) and retail at Calandro's, and maybe a few other places in town as well.  Be ready to drop a few bucks, but if you really want to try something different and possibly mind-blowing in the world of beer, grab a few and give them a go. 



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Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Australia - Coopers Brewery

The land down under might be out of the World Cup, but they are still up in the World Cup of beer!  When most people think of Australian beer they think about Foster's... after all, they are Australian for beer, right?  Well, I have it on good authority from the mouth of an Aussie that Foster's is really Australian for Natty Light.  In fact, when I was studying in London one Summer Foster's was our go-to beer... because it was the cheapest beer in the stores.  Australia is also home to many microbreweries, not unlike their island neighbors New Zealand, and per capita drink the 4th most beer of all nations.  Since this is the BR Beer Scene, though... I'm going to feature one of Australia's brewers that is regularly available in South Louisiana... Coopers.


One of the amazing thing about Coopers is that they started in 1862, and are still owned by the Cooper family.  They are the largest family-owned brewery in Australia and like I said, one of the few to export their beer to international markets.  I've tried a handful of their offerings over the years... always in bottles, at places like the Chimes, or picked them up myself at various beer retailers in town.  Perhaps their best beer is the Coopers Best Extra Stout, always found in the bottles with the yellow labels and a well above-average stout beer.  It's a strong beer, at over 6% alcohol, with hints of coffee and dark fruits.  They also produce a Vintage Ale, meant to be aged and quite similar in style to the Fuller's Vintage Ale I featured for England a few weeks back.  I've seen this one around town, as well as their original Pale Ale, one of their most popular brews.  

These guys aren't quite going to give the best brewers in the world a run for their money but they are still putting out quality beers that can be found at the local grocers... so give them a try for something different!



Sources:
A Good Beer Blog

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Japan - Hitachino Nest White Ale

For Japan, I'm going to feature one of the finest and possibly most unique ales in the world.  One that can also be found in many drinking establishments in Baton Rouge, as well as in the bigger beer retailers and many of the plethora of sushi joints this town is overflowing with.  I'm talking of course about Hitachino Nest While Ale.  
 
I'm not sure when it was that I had my first try of this beer, but I remember where it was.  Slinky's, a little beer joint on Chimes St. and I was hooked ever since.  This has become one of my go-to beers and one I'd love to always keep stocked in the fridge.   It's a traditional Belgian ale, a witbier to be precise, with a Japanese kick.  Witbiers (such as Hoegaarden, Blue Moon, Allagash White, etc..) are typically known for a citrus feel to them, as well as spices such as coriander, but the Hitachino version really kicks it up a notch with some Japanese spices you don't find in the more traditional Belgian versions.  
 
 
It's also not a dark beer, a perfect entry into the world of craft beer for someone who wants more than bland swill but is afraid of the dark stouts or bold IPAs.  Something like a Hitachino White can really open the eyes to what beer can be while simultaneously not overwhelming a craft beer virgin.  

So next time you want something different and delicious, look for the owl on the label, and order up a Hitachino.


Monday, June 28, 2010

Chile - Microbrews!

Chile is up in the World Cup of beer, and they are up today in the real World Cup in a tough matchup against Brazil.  I honestly can't say I know too much about Chile... they are in South America, bordering primarily Argentina with the Pacific Ocean on one side and Andes Mountains on the other.  The capital is Santiago and the soccer team from the movie 'Alive' was either headed to or from Chile when they crashed high in the mountains.  As for their beer, I can't say I know too much, but apparently I'm not really alone because their microbrews are one of their best kept secrets! Chile is also known for a type of corn beer known as 'chicha' but it's not considered a beer by the native population, more of a wine, and I wouldn't be surprised if Jay talks about it over on the Bite and Booze blog.  So I'll leave it at that!


Microbreweries stemming from the German immigrants are now quite popular and somewhat numerous in Chile.  And after checking out a few of their websites (in Spanish, of course) I found that they aren't just sticking with the pale lagers and bland beer, they are trying to push the limits and introduce new beer styles to the South American market, not unlike what I found in Uruguay

Some of the microbreweries I read about included Szot, Kross Cerveceria, and Cerveza Kuntsmann, all with a wide array of appetizing styles and many with that German influence.  Szot (pictured above) was started by an ex-patriot in reaction to Chile's previously bland-dominated market.  Really though, just about every country I've reviewed is dominated by the bland beer... you have to dig deeper to see if there is something more there.  It's great to see that with Chile's expanding economy their beer scene is expanding as well.  Maybe one day some of these beers will make their way to the USA, or if not, maybe I can make my way to Chile!



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Sunday, June 27, 2010

Germany - Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock

For those watching this World Cup still now that the USA has been eliminated, you just saw Germany destroy England, and yet another horrible call to disallow a goal.  Seems to be a bit of a theme unfortunately.

As far as the beer goes, just like their soccer, Germany holds a reputation as one of the best countries in the world.  From fantastic Bavarian beer gardens to unique rauchbiers to Oktoberfest Germany is always celebrating their brewing heritage.  
One of their best beers, and one that can easily be found in Baton Rouge, is the Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock.  If you look over to the right, you'll see that this one comes in at #4 on my top 10 beers that I've tried.  That list might need some updating, but there's no doubt that it still holds a spot in the top 10. The beer is a malty, rich concoction full of hints of caramel and syrup and sweetness.  The alcohol percentage is 6.7, which is a little low for the style, but it means that multiples of these can be enjoyed without worrying about overdoing it!  The guys at BeerAdvocate consider this one to be a world class brew and I wholeheartedly agree.  If you want to try something different, look for this one around town, most of the bigger beer retailers should have it in 4-packs.
Check back tomorrow for Chile, and cheers!



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Saturday, June 26, 2010

Ghana - Pito Homebrew (And, Victim #4)

Time for Ghana... the United States' first elimination-round opponent of this 2010 World Cup.  After barely finishing behind Germany in their group Ghana should be a tough test for the USA... if I remember right they beat us in the 2006 World Cup to formally eliminate us from the group stage.  So... it's payback time.  And no more draws either.  This time, someone has to win.

As for the beer in Ghana, this would be pretty easy to repeat the Nigeria post, as Guinness is one of the favorites, and just like Nigeria there is a Guinness brewery in Ghana as well, producing Guinness products as well as the hugely popular Star beer.  But that would be lame, right?  And fortunately I stumbled across something a little more interesting... pito.
Pito is essentially rural Ghanaian homebrew, but also sold on a small-scale level out of people's houses.  It's made from either fermented millet, which is a cereal-like grain, or sorghum, a type of grass more popularly used in Chinese liquors.  Apparently a common side profession in Ghana is to brew this home-made beer and then sell it straight out of calabash gourds.  It's commonly served warm (which we would obviously frown upon here) but then, if you have no electricity, how are you going to keep it cold?  

From what I've read, pito is a sour, usually high alcohol beer... something I'd absolutely be willing to try.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Switzerland - Brasserie Des Franches-Montagnes

Sorry that this one is coming kinda rushed in the late afternoon... but I've been moving offices all day and had no interwebs access!  So... belatedly... here is the World Cup of Beer - on Switzerland.

Switzerland... I've been there.  BEAUTIFUL country!  And they really love their beer.  It's an odd mixture of German (Bavarian) and French influences that molded this country and the beer scene is similar.  You'll see your brasseries listed alongside your braueries and you're going to see French-inspired farmhouse ales alongside German-inspired dunkels and doppelbocks!  In fact, there are entire websites (in English!) devoted to Swiss beer.  I'm blown away, and don't even know where to start.  When I traveled to Switzerland, it was the Summer of 2002 and I was just getting my feet wet when it comes to craft beer.  I definitely enjoyed a few pints in Interlaken and took in the sights, but I really don't remember much about the individual beers I drank.  Most likely... the larger breweries, the pale lagers and euro lagers that you'll find across the continent.
What I'm happy to say is that it appears I missed out!  Beeradvocate has 35 breweries listed for Switzerland, but the Ultimate Switzerland Beer Guide lists well over 100!  One of the highest rated on both sites is called the Brasserie Des Franches-Montagnes.  Obviously this is one of the French-inspired breweries and one look at their beer list and it's obvious their specialty is the 11% abv 'biere de garde' style and in particular barrel-aged beers.  I'm a sucker for barrel-aged beers, so next time I visit Switzerland I'm going to look for these guys!  They also feature two eisbocks at 17% and 19.5% abv!  Obviously these guys are okay with pushing the limits of alcohol in their beer.  Now I really wish I could tell you what these beers taste like, but alas, no such luck yet. 

So... keep up the good work Switzerland!  You may have been knocked out of the real World Cup today, but your beer scene appears to be looking up!



Sources:
The Ultimate Switzerland Beer Guide
BeerAdvocate - Switzerland
Brasserie Des Franches-Montagnes

Thursday, June 24, 2010

New Zealand - And Up And Coming Craft Scene

Of all the countries covered so far, I think New Zealand is probably the closest to what we see out of the American beer scene.  The market is dominated by pale lagers, just as Bud/Miller/Coors dominate the American market.  But there is also a sizeable craft beer movement, and just about all decent sized towns have a microbrewery or brewpub to their name. 

I ran across an old article written by a wine writer praising the craft scene in New Zealand and their wide range of beers available.  And surely they have made great strides in the last 4 years as well, with currently close to 50 listed breweries and brewpubs.  While that might not seem like a lot in sheer numbers (Oregon alone has about double that!) it's pretty remarkable for a country of just a little over 4 million people.  For reference, Louisiana is also estimated at about 4.4 million people, and we have 10 listed breweries and brewpubs!  
 
 
I don't think I've ever tried any beer from New Zealand, though... most is unlikely to be exported due to high costs shipping beer from such as relatively remote country.  It appears their only highly-exported brew is Steinlager and I can't ever remember drinking any.  I certainly haven't seen any recently, since I really started paying attention to the selection and where beers were from.

So New Zealand, sorry that you guys are out of the World Cup, but in the World Cup of Beer, you'd be advancing to the second round.



Sources:

Special Honduran Beer World Cup Update!

Only a few days ago, I featured Honduras as the country of choice, and while I had never had a beer from there, I found a blog describing several beers from Hondurans largest brewery.  In particular, they described the Port Royal Export beer as Honduran Michelob.  Now, it's been years since I've had a Michelob, but I happened to be at Mellow Mushroom last night... and lo and behold they had this Port Royal Export beer on the menu! 

To sum it up... we're dealing with a slight step above the big adjunct lagers.  There is still a little corn flavor, but overall the taste is bigger and more fulfilling than something like a Bud Light.  So if you think Michelob is a step up from Bud Light, then the comparison is probably pretty close to spot-on.  I wouldn't turn down another one of these, but I'm not going to seek it out either!

So, happy drinking!  And check back later today for the post about New Zealand!

Sources:
Ratebeer.com (Photo)

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Algeria - Victim Number 3.

I knew it was bound to happen over the course of this 32-nation tour.  A nearly 100% Muslim nation and I'm supposed to write about their beer?  Well, it turns out there IS beer in Algeria, but I've had little luck finding much information about it.  Apparently they don't allow alcohol to be imported so there are a few breweries operating for the benefit of the hotels and few bars, but you usually have to ask to get it.  

I consulted a travel site on drinking in Algeria...
Algeria produces a selection of wine (not in big volume in more) and also beer. However, Algeria is a Muslim country, and you do not find alcohol sold everywhere, you have to know where to find it. Wine and alcoholic drinks are sold in the few bar restaurants in the big cities, high end hotels, and night clubs. 
If you visit Algiers or coastal cities, there are fish restaurants in almost every fishing port, the fishing is traditional and the fish sold is very fresh; usually, these restaurants sell alcohol but you have to ask (do not expect to see it, some times it is on the menu, some times not).
It almost sounds like a speak-easy situation... know the right people and know where to go and you can find a few beers, but otherwise, you are shit out of luck!  And in this Muslim nation drinking itself seems to be a touchy subject.
Some Muslims drink but they consider it a sin. It is in private but socially. If some one invites you into his home and does not offer alcohol, he expects you not to be drunk or smell of alcohol, and does not expect you to bring your own bottle or even discuss drinking alcohol in front of his wife and kids.
Hmmm, Algeria really doesn't sound like the kind of place to make a beer journey to, although it does seem that there are extremely beautiful parts of the large North African nation.  Hopefully the food scene will be a little better to report on over on Jay's Bite and Booze blog!

And in the meantime... GO USA!!!


Sources:
WikiTravel Guide
Wikipedia article on Algeria