Peroni
Ciao Bella, Italy's premier beer export. Nasstro Azzuri (Blue Ribbon) is the predominant style on sale throughout the world, but they also have a couple of others, including a lite style in the USA, and if memory serves a dark style as well. Peroni first began making inroads via the numerous Italian eateries, and can even be found on draught in some of the more upmarket ones. It has a bit of poke, with an ABV of 5.1%, and provides the perfect compliment for a plate of full of lovely spicy meatballs. Mmmmmmmm Meatballs. It has a crisp dry taste, and you can buy it in Jumbo bottles at Morrison's. Don't know if it would make a good session beer though.
Tuborg
A Danish offering first brewed in 1894, it has been a part of the Carlsberg group since 1970. A crisp tasting Pilsner, it is only recently been given a marketing boost in the UK. It is most commonly seen on the shelves of supermarkets, and because it trying to gain a foothold, can often be found as a BOGOF (Buy One Get One Free) although if you come across it on tap, it isn't as cheap as the cooking lagers. Not bad, but I prefer Carlsberg, although Tuborg has a higher ABV of 4.6%. It apparently outsells it's sister beer, Carlsberg in it own country, and throughout most of Scandinavia. The most popular of the range, and the one on sale in the UK is the Gron, (green in Danish), named so for the colour of the bottle.
Zyweic
First the Berlin Wall crumbled. Then the countries formerly under the control of Soviet Russia, joined the European Union. This paved the way for the biggest influx of immigrants in over a generation. And they
bought their beer with them. Unpronounceable named beverages, lacking vowels, and sold in pint sized bottles. You can even get quite a few of them on draught now. Chief amongst the new arrivals were the Poles. Now a lot of us must have some Polish genes in our heritage, because these boys love beer. In their homeland they even have a political party the PDP (Polish Beer Drinkers Party) which has won several seats in their Parliament. Anyway back to the beer. The reason I have chosen the Heineken owned Zweic to represent the Poles is simple. It is the only one I can spell. Its main brewery is near Krakow, and until World war Two was owned by the Hapsburg family, before the Commies put it under state control. Poland under the Ruskies was not the happiest place on earth, so the beer is pretty potent. The Pilsner style lager on sale here weighs in with an ABV of 5.6%Budweiser Budvar
The Czech Republic, the country with officially the highest consumption of beer per head. It is also the home of a town called
Plzen (or Pilsen to give it's German name) were in 1842 a golden lager was brewed for the first time. It became known as a Pilsner or just Pils. The traditions of Czech brewing remained in tact for centuries, and ironically, the long communist rule kept these traditions alive due to the lack of investment in modern machinery. Since the fall of the Red Empire though, globalisation has seen huge investment, that of course means the smaller breweries have been swallowed up and closed, and there has been a shift to more bland tasteless fayre to suit the international palate. Enough of the history, on to the beer itself. The most famous, and popular export is the world renowned Budweiser Budvar.n There are two kinds to watch out for, the 12 degree with an ABV of 5%. and the 10 degree at 4%. It has a distinctive flavour, and is a favourite of the Boy Dazzler. Much of it's fame however stems form it's lengthy legal fights with the American Goliath Anheuser-Busch, makers of Budweiser. The Yanks contended they have the sole right of use of the name, but seeing as it translates as "from Budvar" which means in effect anything made in Budvar can carry the name. This is why in States it is known as Czechvar and in some parts of Europe, such as Spain the American brew is called Bud. It all seems a bit churlish to me. One tastes like fizzy water and the other is from the Czech republic. This could all be about to change though, as the Czech government have announced plans to privatise the state owned brewer. This will practically guarantee it falling in the hands of one of the large faceless multi nationals.Sagres
Portugals best selling beer has been making some inroads into the United Kingdom since the country held the Euro Football championships in 2004. It has also been helped along by the explosion of Nandos Piri Piri restaurants, who carry it to add a touch of authenticity, even though if I am not mistaken it is an Australian owned company. A fruity pale lager, it is one of those beers that is nice on a hot sticky day, which unfortunately isn't something you get often on the green and pleasant island. It is the regulation 5% ABV of most lagers now and is what it is. Average.
Kirin
Last but not least on this marathon session of battle of the brews, we
scoot off to the land of the rising sun, Japan. I was going to nominate Sapporo for this country, but it appears to have disappeared from these shores. It will be best remembered for it's iconic can, of which the whole top came off, leaving you with a can that you drink out of like a glass. It was as cool as fuck. But it is no more, and it's replacement is not the easiest brand to find either. Sushi bars are your best bet, but this being Yorkshire they are few and far between. If I am not mistaken there might be one in Leeds, but that is it, I would hazard. Good old JD Wetherspoons carry it, on occasion, and that's about it. Even the supermarkets don't stock it. "So why is it on here?" I hear you ask. Simples. I like it. Not as much as the others perhaps, but I felt it was worth a mention.
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