While I have great hopes for beer tasting in the next two years, I have been disturbed by the number of Australian lagers on tap so far (in other words Miriam will love it! :-)). I have managed to try a couple of UK beers so far, and haven't been super wowed quite yet.
Brakspear Bitter
Style: Mild
Brewery: Breakspar (one of the big names here)
Rating:5.5
Chance of drinking again: Only if there are no other options. I've tried it, it's OK, doesn't warrant eager drinking.
I really wasn't impressed by this at all. It was an ale, and was much better than anything in Portugal (aside from the sneaky Budvar I got in), but it was a bit of nothing really, Just enough malt to be malty, but not enough to avoid being a little watery, enough beeriness to raise expectations but ultimately disappointing. Missing the creamy smoothness of other handpulled beers I've had, this beer would be better suited to being cold and a bit more fizzy (in other words it needs something to hide its flaws). No real hop profile to speak of.
Rebellion IPA
Style: IPA
Brewery: Marlow Brewery
Rating 7/10
Chance of drinking again: Relatively high. I would look for it in the supermarket.
This was a welcome shift up from all other beers I've had this trip. A solid ale with some nice creaminess and malty goodness. Missing the hop levels of APAs and NZ IPAs, it nonetheless was a good example of the British style. Had the handpulled creaminess, and just the right temperature for the evening. Was also good to taste a beer from a local Oxfordshire brewery. Great baseline, wish I hadn't ruined that honour with the Brakspear....
Monday, August 27, 2012
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Portuguese beer...
Despite sometimes strong misgivings, I like to give the local beer selection in a country a go before judging it. Even if it looks crap, I like to give it a whirl so that when a friendly waiter offers me the beer, I can pound my way through the sense of obligation and their national pride with a well researched opinion.
In these times I can then (with authority) say "No thanks! I'd rather have water" OR "I have a liver disorder, which means I only drink beer that's worth it" (not really for waiters, but good for when people you know try and foist the latest lager internationale on you).
As I'll be in bunch more countries than is typical, I thought I'd start to review the local beers... for research's sake. Starting doesn't mean finishing though, but I intend to do more than one.
So, without further ado... Portugal's two most popular beers:
Super Bock:
Style: pale 'lager'
Rating: 1/10
Chance of drinking again: Even if it were the only beer, or even alcoholic beverage in the world, I would choose to remain abstinent rather than let it pass my lips.
It's sole redeeming feature was how cold it was. Fizzy, watery, in fact a lot like fizzy water, which I hate, so I had an automatic dislike for this. It didn't improve as the fizz wore off, in fact it got worse because it was less cold. Instead of any malt or hops coming to the fore, the defining taste continued to be... water. And not nice water either, water sort of muddied with an indefinable something that you wish wasn't there.
Based on all these features, I predict it could well become the next Corona or Sol in time. People who don't like beer but pretend they do will love it.
Sagres
Style: pale lager
Rating 3/10
Chance of drinking again: With no other real beer options, would drink again (and have done so).
A much better offering than Super Bock (although less available in Porto and less marketed). The first time I saw this beer I was quite put off, as the advertising is blatantly sexist (think Lynx without the 'irony' - Update - while still sexist, turns out the advertising was more "drink the mini and retain your beach body" ala Special K ads). But after 'Super' Bock (Subpar Bock hereafter), I was hoping for something that might be more beer-ish to drink on those hot Portuguese afternoons. Turns out this is actually drinkable when cold, has a bit of a malty flavour (no hops noticeable though).
The beer was also very fizzy, but with actual flavour arising from it, it meant I might actually have this again...
Update: I have modified some aspects of the review system as it basically comes down to "Would I drink this again with no other options and it were presented to me" - turns out percentages are no bloody use to anyone, no bloody use at all... I also upgraded the rating for Sagres to account for both Jody and Miriam's comments - I will hereafter rate beers based within their style rather than overall from now on... I will, HOWEVER, reserve the right to bitch about lagers as they mostly suck. You cannot be a lager aficionado - that is like being a coca-cola aficionado. I also reserve the right to make sweeping statements like this...
In these times I can then (with authority) say "No thanks! I'd rather have water" OR "I have a liver disorder, which means I only drink beer that's worth it" (not really for waiters, but good for when people you know try and foist the latest lager internationale on you).
As I'll be in bunch more countries than is typical, I thought I'd start to review the local beers... for research's sake. Starting doesn't mean finishing though, but I intend to do more than one.
So, without further ado... Portugal's two most popular beers:
Super Bock:
Style: pale 'lager'
Rating: 1/10
Chance of drinking again: Even if it were the only beer, or even alcoholic beverage in the world, I would choose to remain abstinent rather than let it pass my lips.
It's sole redeeming feature was how cold it was. Fizzy, watery, in fact a lot like fizzy water, which I hate, so I had an automatic dislike for this. It didn't improve as the fizz wore off, in fact it got worse because it was less cold. Instead of any malt or hops coming to the fore, the defining taste continued to be... water. And not nice water either, water sort of muddied with an indefinable something that you wish wasn't there.
Based on all these features, I predict it could well become the next Corona or Sol in time. People who don't like beer but pretend they do will love it.
Sagres
Style: pale lager
Rating 3/10
Chance of drinking again: With no other real beer options, would drink again (and have done so).
A much better offering than Super Bock (although less available in Porto and less marketed). The first time I saw this beer I was quite put off, as the advertising is blatantly sexist (think Lynx without the 'irony' - Update - while still sexist, turns out the advertising was more "drink the mini and retain your beach body" ala Special K ads). But after 'Super' Bock (Subpar Bock hereafter), I was hoping for something that might be more beer-ish to drink on those hot Portuguese afternoons. Turns out this is actually drinkable when cold, has a bit of a malty flavour (no hops noticeable though).
The beer was also very fizzy, but with actual flavour arising from it, it meant I might actually have this again...
Update: I have modified some aspects of the review system as it basically comes down to "Would I drink this again with no other options and it were presented to me" - turns out percentages are no bloody use to anyone, no bloody use at all... I also upgraded the rating for Sagres to account for both Jody and Miriam's comments - I will hereafter rate beers based within their style rather than overall from now on... I will, HOWEVER, reserve the right to bitch about lagers as they mostly suck. You cannot be a lager aficionado - that is like being a coca-cola aficionado. I also reserve the right to make sweeping statements like this...
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Portugal is awesome
And we've barely even started.
Feels so good to be doing this holiday (sans Spain) that we've been thinking about for some time.
Porto is kinda awesome, kinda run down, kinda Taiwan-esque, kinda hilly... but a great place to start this thing off...
Feels so good to be doing this holiday (sans Spain) that we've been thinking about for some time.
Porto is kinda awesome, kinda run down, kinda Taiwan-esque, kinda hilly... but a great place to start this thing off...
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Things I am grateful for...
1) My awesome wife.
2) Jody's positivity about the benefits of our move. I really hope that there are some benefits for you and I'm not just being a positivity vampire...
3) An improved sense of wellbeing while flying (aided by valium, but much better than other iterations) - flight was only average,but I was more annoyed by all the sitting about than the moderate bumpiness.
4) Flying through immigration (not literally, but pretty damned snappy) - being smiled at and chatted with by a friendly gatekeeper into the UK.
5) Finding not one but two places that make good coffee in Henley.
6) Our boxes arriving just before we did. Meant I could also make good coffee at home!
7) Getting some tasks and research accomplished like bosses, but without the pressure of needing to shit on anyone's desk or cut off our own genitals.
8) A pretty good transition to the new timezone. Both tired, but actually getting better sleep than before we left.
9) Nicola's parents making life pretty sweet for us, even if much of this is in the form of tempting treats to undermine my sweet dieting skills.
10) Feeling like I will be missed. It sucks as a feeling on one level, but it helps to know that I'm not a complete loser when people do awesome things and say awesome stuff to and about me. Selfish and self indulgent, but also motivates me even more toward being a better Gareth.
11) Videos of Gareth being an awesome Gareth.
2) Jody's positivity about the benefits of our move. I really hope that there are some benefits for you and I'm not just being a positivity vampire...
3) An improved sense of wellbeing while flying (aided by valium, but much better than other iterations) - flight was only average,but I was more annoyed by all the sitting about than the moderate bumpiness.
4) Flying through immigration (not literally, but pretty damned snappy) - being smiled at and chatted with by a friendly gatekeeper into the UK.
5) Finding not one but two places that make good coffee in Henley.
6) Our boxes arriving just before we did. Meant I could also make good coffee at home!
7) Getting some tasks and research accomplished like bosses, but without the pressure of needing to shit on anyone's desk or cut off our own genitals.
8) A pretty good transition to the new timezone. Both tired, but actually getting better sleep than before we left.
9) Nicola's parents making life pretty sweet for us, even if much of this is in the form of tempting treats to undermine my sweet dieting skills.
10) Feeling like I will be missed. It sucks as a feeling on one level, but it helps to know that I'm not a complete loser when people do awesome things and say awesome stuff to and about me. Selfish and self indulgent, but also motivates me even more toward being a better Gareth.
11) Videos of Gareth being an awesome Gareth.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
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