Firkin A! It's Craft Beer!

Near Beer Here

I was in the local "hypermarket" here in Doha.  It's a Carrefour store (Think French owned Super Walmart) and I spotted some bottles that looked like beer.  Knowing that you aren't going to walk into any grocery store here and by real beer, I checked the label.  Premium malt beverage they call it and it comes in several different flavors.

I bought a malt and a peach flavored Barbican Malt Beverage made in Dubai by Aujan Industries.  The malt tasted like it had a hint of pear in it.  Not overly sweet, but a definite fruit aftertaste.  Both drinks fizzed up a bit like soda pop and quickly went flat (within 10 minutes).  The malt had a minerally taste when it lost its bubble.  The peach turns a little bitter.  Both poured a golden yellow color

The ingredient list for the malt flavor is:

• Malt
• Hops
• Sugar
• Water

The ingredient list for the Peach was a little longer.  Aside from the above, there was:

• Citric Acid
• "Nature Identical" peach flavor
• Color
• Quilaia
• Ascorbic acid

Beer is legally available in most hotels that cater to foreigners.  My hotel even stocks a mini bar in the room.  Prices start at over eleven dollars for a bottle of beer (Heineken or Amstel Light) and go up from there.  A mini bottle of wine will set you back about 15 dollars.  A mini bottle of liquor will cost you about $12.30.

I'm looking forward to a real beer when I get back home!

Cheers!

VW

Traveling

Sorry for the lack of posts.  I've been busy getting ready for a business trip.  By the time you read this, I'll be winging my way to Doha, Qatar for three weeks.  It's not exactly a dry country, but it's expensive and from what I'm told, not a lot of selection.  We'll see and I'll let ya know.  In the mean time, I hope Crack can entertain you with his witty beer repartee!

Cheers!

VW

The Revolution Is Everywhere

Conconully, Washington is a tiny little town of about 200 (counting dogs, cats and some deer).  It originally started out as a mining town and now, it's only function is a sportsman's destination catering to hunters, anglers, snowmobilers and ATV fans.  It's a beautiful area and quite rustic.  See that little peg with the "A" on it, that's Conconully.

You are probably wondering why I mention it on here on a beer blog.  I'll get there, but indulge me a minute here.

The town sports a little general store and gas station.  The wife and I were out exploring that area and before we realized it, our gas level was getting low and we were concerned.  We got into town and were relieved to se a couple of pumps on an island at the general store.  It was almost 3.00 dollars a gallon, but at that point, I'd have paid four or more.

We got a few bucks worth of gas and we also thought we'd get us something to drink and maybe to snack on.  It was a bit early for beer, but curiosity compelled me to take a look at what they offered.

If I wanted something other than the usual BudweiserMillerCoors yellow fizzy stuff, I could choose from Full Sail LTD 2, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale, New Belgium Fat Tire Amber, and Moose Drool Brown Ale.  It does kind of beg the question as to why those brands, but that must be what their customers want.

It isn't the greatest selection, but it is something other than BudweiserMillerCoors yellow fizzy stuff.  To find that in a place like Conconully was a little surprising.  It means the craft beer revolution is everywhere!

Oh and when I mentioned deer as part of the population, yep, they has'em!  That was taken right in town.  Or is them little elk?  Who knows?

Cheers!

VW