I won't go into too many details as to why, because it was a work thing. And I don't talk about that here.
Being in another country for such a short time - and almost half of it spent sleeping - is disorientating. Here's a quick check list of what I did:
Bought the Radio Times and the Christmas Viz. Got some sweets for Alexei and some salt and vinegar crisps for Andrew. Plus two bags of crumpets for me. If Andrew doesn't nab them all first.
But what about beer? Here's the really sad part. I had two bottles of Singha in a Thai restaurant and that was it. My hotel only sold keg beer and there wasn't a pub close by. Just a Harvester. And no guarantee that would have cask. So I watched Peep Show in my hotel room.
All was not lost. There are plenty who get snotty about Wetherspoons. But there's one great service they've provided: putting decent beer into airports. I'd a while to wait for my plane. Time for a quick pint. There was nothing too exotic or weird on the bar. But there was an old favourite. A beer that rarely disappoints, unless the cellarman is a complete idiot. London Pride.
It floated down. A pleasure from first gulp to last sip. Shame I only had time for the one.
Jeez, that's a bit sad, Ron (the lack of decent beer options, I mean).
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in Flanders/Brussels a couple of weeks ago, I certainly loaded up the first day I was there (for work) - I got to try Chimay Bleu on draught (not complex, but a whole lot nicer than a new bottle of the same brew = yuck, IMHO), the new Trappist Tre Fontane from Italy (way, way too much eucalyptus) plus I got a bottle of Spencer US Trappist to takeaway. And I had a 2015 St Bernardus Christmas Ale which was just out (all good).
Anyway my point is the second day I spent in Belgium was in Berchem and Brussels and was beer-less, unless you count a quick stop at Dranken Geers for take-outs. Amazing really I didn't have a beer.
BTW have you tried the St Bernardus Abt 12 Oak Aged? I heard it is expensive, saw a bottle in a window but shop was shut. Sigh.
He he, the "Flying Horse" at Gatwick Airport is where I take my pints to relax before flying back home after work as well. I tend to favour the Tennessee hamburguer to go with them, not the best I've tried but good enough. Apparently they have branches in Heathrow as well, and likely in other airports as well.
ReplyDeleteWhile not the most original beers, I've found some nice examples of stouts, porters, IPAs and of course bitters all in casks, such as Hopgoblin, Broadside and of course, London Pride.