Beers Around The World: Germany

Now join me in my weekly training session for my April visit to Walt Disney World when I'll be attempting to "drink around the world" at Epcot. Each week a new country; a new beer.

Altenmunster Dunkel

What It Is: It's a German dunkel. Of this I'm sure. I'm not certain of much else, as a Google search led me to the brewery's website, which was entirely in German. I also couldn't even find this listed with the "produkte" of the brewery, as I can only assume it is seasonal, discontinued, or that I can not, in fact, read German. The most info I can figure out is that it might be around 5.5% alcohol. Also, I know from experience that it's delicious. If you ever have a chance to have a "dunkel" style beer on draft, take it.

Why You Should Drink It: Oh I don't know, besides the fact that's delicious? I know the Germany pavilion commonly switches out their beers. Chances are there will be an offering from Radenburger and perhaps one from Alenmunster. Try any of them. Beer is as authentic a German item as you can have and even if it turns out you're not a huge fan, you can still say you had a German beer while in fake Germany. It will be worth the $8 for the experience.

Trivia: If you would like to try to decipher the Allgauer Brauhaus website like I did, the address is http://www.allgaeuer-brauhaus.de/.

My Grade: A-

 

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Beers Around The World: China

Now join me in my weekly training session for my April visit to Walt Disney World when I'll be attempting to "drink around the world" at Epcot. Each week a new country; a new beer.

Tsingtao

What It Is: From the second largest brewery in China comes Tsingtao, probably the most well known and recognizeable Chinese beers in the United States. It's a pilsner with a bit of a hop kick that shares a lot in common with the popular import "European" beers like Heineken.

Why You Should Drink It: There's not a heck of a large selection of Chinese beers and 9 times out of 10 Tsingtao is what you're gonna get. If you think it tastes more like a European beer that's because it was brewed under the German purity law until only recently when some rice was added to make the beer cheaper to produce. So basically this is a good pilsner with a little bit lower quality than the best versions. (Like Heineken, somewhere in between an authentic German pilsner and a Budweiser.) It's nothing special but it's a tasty easy drinking beer to enjoy a quarter of the way around the loop.

Trivia: Tsingtao is all you're getting in Epcot's China...unless you run into a Tsingtao Pure Draft. It's the same beer only unpasteurized. Kind of like an MGD to a Miller High Life. Also, that's actually a Tsingtao Pure Draft in the picture above.

My Grade: B

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Parade Day 2012: In Retrospect

I spent the majority of my time this Saturday at private parties for Scranton's St. Patrick's Day Parade...one of which may have been co-hosted by another writer on this blog and another that may have served Keystone Light (or, as I said to the hostess, "just tell everyone it's Coors Light in the keg and they won't know the difference.") I did manage to hit two bars downtown which makes it very easy for me to award these two distinctions.

THE LOSER: Trax
The Radisson is in a unique position for the parade. They are in such a location that they can afford to do what they did: charge a high ($10) cover, force people to buy tickets for beer (WTF?), stage a small festival in the back parking lot complete with food, drink stands, and bands, and actually offer the prime Lackawanna Avenue patio space as a VIP area (?!?!). I can't fault them for any of this. Heck, if you were coming in from out of town and wanted a place to stay and a great parade party to attend, and didn't mind paying high prices for it, The Radisson is your spot. But for someone who just wanted to have a beer at Trax and meet up with some friends for an hour (me) this was a bad choice. Plus someone puked on our shoes.

THE WINNER: The Banshee
Like the Banshee could go wrong on Parade Day anyway. The one day of the year that this great Irish pub is actually happening, was improved by the service and quality provided. The $10 cover was as high as Trax but also gave you your choice of their beer selection of Guinness, Harp, Smithwicks, Boddingtons, Woodchuck, Miller Lite, Yuengling, and maybe one or two others for $4. Contrast to the Radisson which was charging $5 for 12oz cans of Bud Light and I'd gladly pay my $10 here rather than there. Plus they still had live music, friendly (as much as they could be on the busiest day of the year) bartenders, and it's no surprise why the Banshee was a great parade day choice. Also there was less puke.

Of course on Parade Day the real winners are the owners of every bar downtown and the losers are all of us who go out like fools to brave crowds, freezing temperatures (this year), and pay absurd prices just for the honor of getting shitfaced among thousands of amateurs on a Saturday afternoon. But such is Scranton's finest tradition.

Beers Around The World: Norway

Now join me in my weekly training session for my April visit to Walt Disney World when I'll be attempting to "drink around the world" at Epcot. Each week a new country; a new beer.

Carlsberg

What It Is: This is probably the most unusual beer selection for the World Showcase, as it is not even a representative of the country where it is sold. Carlsberg is, in actuality, from Denmark not Norway. It's even odder to me because it seems as if the Norwegian government is still more involved with the pavilion than most others, as it still operates the travel center in the pavilion. Nevertheless, I guess being Scandinavian is close enough for Carlsberg and it's sold in the pavilion.

Why You Should Drink It: Despite all of the jokes about it not even being Norwegian, it's actually a great beer. It is similar to most other pale yellow lagers from Europe, bearing the most in common to the mass produced Dutch beers like Heineken and Amstel...and, in fact, I prefer this to both. If you like either you'll enjoy this beer. Another tip...it's WAY better on tap than in bottles (also true, IMO, of Heineken.) Plus this beer doesn't have the reputation of some of the beers in Mexico, Germany, or Canada...so it's far easier to get it without a line during busier times. Try it, you won't be disappointed.

Trivia: While not brewed in Norway, Carlsberg IS owned by a Norwegian conglomerate Orkla LSA. So technically it does belong in the Norway pavilion.

My Grade: B+

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NT3's Favorite St. Patrick's Day Beers

 There are a lot of holidays that might be considered "beer drinking holidays" (not to mention quite a few more if you listen to us at this blog.) However St. Patrick's Day has to be at the top of the list for just about everyone. It's the one time of year when everyone dons green, eats ham & cabbage, and orders a Guinness, whether they like it or not.

In lieu of suggesting you drink Guinness, which I would never do, I offer a list of some great St. Patrick's Day alternatives.

1. Killian's Irish Red
Killian's is the perfect "St. Patty's Day" beer. It's darker and a bit fuller in flavor than your average American beer, perfect for drinking in the cold March air at a parade or "parade day" party. But it's also not too heavy to be drank all day at one either. Plus it's got that great Irish name.

2. Smithwicks
Brewed by Guinness, this is an excellent (and authentically Irish) beer for all your St. Patrick's Day festivities. Just as easy to drink as Killian's but with the added pedigree of being direct from Ireland (even though it's probably brewed in Canada or New Jersey or something.)

3. Harpoon Celtic Ale
Alternative: Samuel Adams Irish Red
This is such a great sub-style of beer that you really can't go wrong. This is a session beer for a little bit more advanced beer drinker. There's definitely hops and you're going to find it gratingly bitter after a few if you don't like that sort of thing. But it has the dark warming qualities of the first two, mixed in with a nice alcohol punch that will keep you seeing shamrocks all day long.

So there you go. If you love Guinness, then by all means drink up this St. Patrick's Day. But if it's not your thing (and it's not a lot of peoples' thing) then don't feel left out, drinking boring green colored Coors Light all parade. Try one of these 3 and I guarantee your Irish (even if just for the day) eyes will be smiling.