7 Beers And A Washing Machine
I like German beer. Beer making is orderly and made to strict standards. That in itself is a commentary on the culture. Though I find that after a while I get bored with German style beer and crave the microbreweries and weird flavors from home. Thankfully we travel enough outside of Germany and I get to try other beers. Here are some of my favorites from around the world (really just the ones I have pictures of).
So, yeah I like to try non-German beers around the world as we travel. Most beers taste pretty similar to me, but it nice to experience new things.
Tui, New Zealand
I was asked in a bar in Auckland if I wanted a big beer. I said yes and got a 700ml bottle. Looked like a 40ounce from college days. Kiwi friend of mine sent me this link of a Tui ad about why sexy women brew their beer. (Youtube)
Brauhaus, Liechtenstein
“One Country, One Beer” From our weekend in the small alpine country. Nice beer, but remarkably similar to German.
Kirin, Japan, by way of the US
Ok, I have never been to Japan. My only far east claim was a day in Hong Kong. But I did try the beer at a Japanese steak house in Atlanta with Ali, when I went back to marry her. It was export quality, but ok. Will have to compare when I actually make it to Japan.
Mythos, Greece
I was oddly surprised to see so much beer in Greece, but also happy for it. Mythos was my favorite. My first night I got it in this nice frosty glass. What a great thing against Greek heat.
Karlovacko, Croatia
Croatia was a life changing week on a boat for me. It was before I started blogging and it was a wonderful week of just enjoying pure travel goodness. Of course I had to add beer goodness. Karlovacko was one of two common beers in Croatia, but I only have pictures of this one.
Efes, Turkey
Turkey was Ali and my honeymoon trip. We had been planning and thinking about it for nearly a year. I was so surprised to see a beer in a nominally Muslim country, but Efes was everywhere. It shares the name with Ephesus the ruins. That was an awesome day at the ruins and this was a great light beer.
Cruzcampo, Spain
We were in Spain last year for Tomatina and had an apartment in Valencia for a week. It was hot so we naturally had beer. So what if Cruzcampo isn’t the national beer (I have no idea if it is or not), but it was cold and beer-like. And it was 50cents a can, and still not the cheapest at the grocery store. I called it Waving Man Beer and enjoyed it right from the can all week.
And yet….
Despite everything, I still run into German beer all over the world. I guess there is an export benefit for being known as the country with the best beer. Here we found Paulaner at an Oktoberfest in Valencia.
Bonus: Washing Machine Cooler
While at home in the US, my father in law showed me this way of cooling large amounts of beer. It wouldn’t work with our front loader in Freiburg, but I loved the ingenuity of it. A washing machine full of ice then add beer. The ice melts into something that already is setup to drain away.
I love Belgian beer - Grounded Traveler
September 29, 2012 @ 3:44 pm
[…] to those given to taste wine. It made me feel like more of a gourmet than I really am. I like beer, but I am quite happy to just take a big gulp and enjoy the tastes across my entire mouth. He had […]
July 6, 2012 @ 11:24 am
This is the second beer review post I’ve read today–I really need to get in on this. I’ve certainly spent enough time researching the topic–most of the last 18 years, in fact.
As for the washing machine…I guess you just have to choose between cold beer or clean clothes. Dirty clothes keep you just as warm, warm beer gets you just as drunk. Smelly clothes bother other people, warm beer bothers only me. I’m selfish, so be warned–I may not smell all that great from now on. Well, mostly I’ll smell like beer.
July 7, 2012 @ 10:42 am
This is the great thing about the washing machine trick. You can pull the beer out and let it drain easily, wash clothes and then put the beer back (after removing clothes).
July 7, 2012 @ 11:44 am
That makes so much more sense–you get cold beer and clean clothes, which means actually get to you keep your friends.
July 13, 2012 @ 8:28 pm
Yup. Friends are good. They can bring you more beer.
June 27, 2012 @ 8:46 am
Ahh Karlovachko. Memories of sitting on the Croatian coast.
July 1, 2012 @ 6:49 pm
Mmm.. good bear country, Croatia.
May 16, 2012 @ 11:04 pm
Although I hate beer, I enjoyed reading this and loved seeing our washing machine.
LOL
May 17, 2012 @ 1:19 pm
Thanks for the comment, it was a neat trick with the washer.
May 13, 2012 @ 11:56 am
Love your dad’s cooler trick! Brilliant…though we’ve only had front loaders too for the last decade. Finally a use for those older top loaders =)
Have to say that German beer is my favourite. I can see why it’s copied all over the world.
May 15, 2012 @ 9:05 pm
Not my dad, Ali’s, but yeah it is a pretty neat trick. I wonder if it would work somehow for a front loader, just put the ice in the bottom below the lip somehow.
May 12, 2012 @ 11:05 am
HA! That’s awesome! What a great way to use a washing machine!
May 12, 2012 @ 9:35 pm
Yup, I thought it was cool too.
May 11, 2012 @ 11:49 pm
I found the selections for beer in Turkey and Spain to be very one-dimensional. Thankfully, I didn’t mind the Efes or the Cruzcampo!
May 12, 2012 @ 9:34 pm
Turkey was definitely one dimensional, but Efes was good enough. I don’t remember much about Spanish beer other than Cruzcampo anyway.
May 11, 2012 @ 11:23 pm
Genius! I see smart ideas every day on the web, but nothing like this! And you can never go wrong with exploring the world via beer! And I have 1 more hour til I get off work! This post got me going.
May 12, 2012 @ 9:31 pm
Glad I could help. That last hour on a Friday is hard.
May 11, 2012 @ 2:48 pm
I think Dad was really proud of his washing machine idea too.
May 12, 2012 @ 9:31 pm
He told me that it came from one of his friends. I thought it was neat and am glad I got some pictures of it.
May 11, 2012 @ 2:38 pm
Love the washing machine idea. Do you have a favorite beer?
May 12, 2012 @ 9:30 pm
Of these? The Karlovacko from Croatia is very nice. The Mythos isn’t really that special, but served ice cold in the heat of Greece it is somehow extra refreshing.