The Global Search for Greatness – Part II (Europe)

The global search continues…

I’ve already looked at the United Kingdom in regards to the global search for beer greatness, so it’s now time to look at other parts of Europe.

Ireland

The Emerald Isle. The land of the leprechaun. My heritage on Dad’s side. Ireland is all those things but man, it sure does like its stout! I soon realised that to order any beer other than Murphy’s in the south, or Guinness pretty much anywhere, led to long strange looks from bar staff.

Seriously, I did not just order a glass of Listerine and milk…why are you looking at me like that?!

I did like that in Dublin ordering Guinness simply meant shuffling up to the bar and motioning with one’s fingers the number you wanted. Minutes later they were handed over once they had time to settle.

Then your wallet is ripped from your hand and emptied out. Gee, Ireland sure is expensive!

Whilst Guinness is pretty cliché and to be honest, isn’t even that good as far as stouts go (however it does taste better in Ireland - it's scientifically proven...by me), but it is a good place to start for a then Fosters drinking Aussie living in London!

It has to be said however that the Guinness Brewery tour is a must if visiting Dublin. It’s modern, interactive, and actually offers some of the best views over the city’s skyline you will find! All that with a free pint in your hand. Can’t be that bad hey? Just keep an eye on your wife. The locals seeing a young woman with a pint of stout in each hand sure does grab their attention! Naughty leprechauns.

Belgium / Netherlands

I certainly had no appreciation of how much beer is consumed, and how many breweries there actually are in Belgium before I went there. Brussels and Bruges in particular are pretty mystical places, but the matching of every beer with their own beer glass (there’s over 400 of them!) is truly grand. You gotta respect that.

Maybe Belgium beer has lost a little bit of its shine as most of their complex ales are available pretty much everywhere now, but the imagery of light snow falling, the Christmas markets pumping, a dinner of mussels and chocolate waffles, followed by a Trappist beer made by monks…argh magic!

As for Amsterdam, an entire blog could be dedicated to the place, however personally, there isn’t a lot to say about their beer. Its all Heinekin, Amstel and Grolsch. Unlike Stella or Fosters people in Amsterdam actually drink their well known flagship beers which I guess is credit to them, but at the end of the day they are pretty basic, middle of the road lagers. Not unlike Guinness, the Heineken Brewery is well worth the tour, if for nothing else the free beer glass gives you something to put your toothbrushes in almost a decade later!

Germany

Where to begin? The home of beer some people say. The origin of the beer hall, the Hofbrauhaus and lets not forget Oktoberfest. They drink so much beer they don’t even realise it takes place in September and not October!

Beer wise Munich is the city to get to. Berlin is a great place to visit, but beer wise, any place with a beer named after it, which comes in red or green colours/flavours (and often ‘served’ with a straw) is questionable.

I’d say more about Germany, the beers, the singing, the different styles of lager, the meat to wash down the beer, how the hell those beer glasses ended up in my wife's bag…but stuffed if I can remember…

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is famous as the origin of pilsner, which of course is named after the local town of Pilsen. Never went to Pilsen…not a great need when Prague is such a brilliant city, and pilsners are basically poured from the town’s fountains.

Prague was all sightseeing and pilsners. Didn’t do a lot else. Just go. Still here? Told you to go…actually if you are still here make a side trip to Budapest. That’s pretty cool too, but what does this look like, a fricken travel blog?

That’s it folks. Obviously there is a lot more to Europe and beer than what is mentioned in this already long blog…I could tell you about drinking Estrella Damm in Spain, Peroni in Italy, Gosser in Austria, Eichhof in Switzerland, or struggling to find an affordable beer other than Kronenbourg in France. But the above is what really stood out to me in terms of the elusive global search for beer greatness.

And one other thing. To me, Europe is the place where beer and food really is a match made in heaven. How in Europe can you not have a local beer with that country's finest cuisine? If you aren't matching your Hungarian goulash with the finest Borsodi brew or a metre long German sausage with a tasty Bavarian lager, then quite frankly pack up your bags and piss off back home. Harsh I know, but just saying...

Did I find beer greatness in Europe? Generally no, but there are some magnificent big flavoured beers. But then again if I did find it I’d probably have to stop looking…and that would suck.

Stayed tuned for ‘The Global Search for Greatness – Part III (Asia)’.

Till then,

Cheers!…Prost!...Salute!...Kampai!