… is what Germans say, only outside the U.K., mind you. Not sure why I don’t hear it from Germans living in London, but Germans, outside England, use the phrase to mock British beer I suppose. That their beer isn’t warm. And is good. They assume warm beer isn’t good. I say: good beer is good warm or cold. Like some good food is good warm or cold.
There are some things I miss when I am away from London. Beer is on the top of the list. Second on the list is chips. Okay I may be trivialising on what really is great about London and the country it’s the capital of. Let’s say when it comes to food and drink. I hope British people take some comfort from the fact that there are things a Japanese person misses about English food and drink.
But seriously: I think some English beers are seriously good. And unique. The U.K. should export a lot more of them, or build breweries outside the country to produce them. And a pub experience perhaps as well. It may be an ‘acquired’ taste, but it shouldn’t take anybody too much time to realise real ales are really good, in the sense that the taste really lasts long. Lasts long in the sense that it doesn’t get lost when it gets warm. Cold lager may taste great when fresh, and you’re thirsty. But it gets dull quickly. Have you ever found the second pint of lager as good as the first? Ales and bitters just keep the quality all the way (except when you get really drunk). My favourite is Theakston Old Peculier in winter, London Pride in summer.
The variety of beers is the greatest charm, I think, of British pubs. It’s a bit of a shame that we don’t have many ‘free houses’ around anymore, so is the fact that many small breweries are bought up by huge international conglomerates, and that their mass-produced bottles may not taste as good as before. But you can always go to a pub. And you can still choose from various taps. I always order in halves, to maximise the variety while not violating the health regime necessitated by ageing.
So shall I generalise and say it’s a pub culture that I miss? Sounds better than beer and chips. And a pub culture isn’t about binge drinking. It’s more about, to me, spending a lazy Sunday afternoon sipping a pint (or halves) slowly while reading, knowing it would taste as good when it gets warmer.
