Not all things multinational are bad
I’m waiting for half a dozen people to come back to me at the moment on the Controlled Greek D-Day story. And – you know how it is – sometimes Satan finds things for idle hands to do. Like drinking beer. Look – it is Saturday lunchtime. This is an English tradition.
Those of you sad enough to follow the comment threads here will know that The Slog was vilified two weeks ago for daring to consume Budweiser, it being nasty American tasteless spawn of the Devil an’ all. Well up yours – I like Bud because it’s clean, crisp – and, at 5%, sort of adds a fuzziness around the edges of an early evening. But having been bombarded by CAMRA nuts with the virtues of ‘crafted’ beers, I thought I’d try some.
Most of it was unutterably ghastly. Some of it was sickly, a lot of it was cloying, and all of it benefitted from adding Ginger beer. Now I realise that, just by saying that, I will be having crucifixes waved at me, Holy water thrown at me, and pins stuck in dolls of me. But it is a very good tip, so pay attention: if a beer is not to your taste, add a good quality real ginger beer to it. Rather like spices in mediaeval times hid the high taste of off meat, the fire of real ginger will disguise the disgusting flavour of most of this alcoholic mud.
However, having traversed Europe, Australia, Canada, and the US, I did eventually find one that is truly outstanding: Blue Moon Beer from Denver Colorado. In fact so good is it, I’ve even managed to forgive the marketing bullsh*t on the pack, which says:
‘Still just a bunch of friends having fun making great beer. What’s not to like about that?’ Excuse me for a second.
Aaahuuuweeee.
That’s better. It’s imported (not brewed) by Coors UK Ltd, but it is simply a division of MillerCoors in the US. The website is pure schmaltz: this is not a bunch of preppy guys kinda horsin’ around and stuff. 
But it is terrific beer. What it lacks – I’m delighted to say – is that rubber-tyre-cum-acrid-burnt-sawdust aftertaste offered by most of this sector. But then I’m an ignoramous on this subject, so what would I know?
At 5.4%, it’s not what you might call Driving Beer. Also, it isn’t cheap: a 33 cl bottle will set you back two quid. But it will set you up for the evening.
The Slog 