It's All About the Beer, Buddy

Hello again readers! This is a special edition, as I have got a lot to say about beer! I have asked a few of my colleagues and friends to be interviewed about their favourite beer, and they have gladly said yes! So here comes the pain...

I mean, here comes the reviews (got a bit carried away there - sorry!)

My next friend to be interviewed about our favourite brewski is...Alex! (Another one of those "ladies, line up", type of blokes, and yes he's single girls... hahaha!)

ALEX TROY RANSFIELD

Alex is from "The Land of the Long White Cloud". Yes, he's a kiwi, a New Zealander, and he's a great mate. I met Alex earlier this year in Paris, with a couple of his mates (whom I hope to interview later) and we've been in contact ever since. He's still travelling (a bit like me), and right now he's in Greece.

"Now buddy... What's your favourite beer and why?"

Alex answered, "That's a big question mate. I'll have a think about it and get back to you.."

TWO DAYS LATER...

ME: "Come on sunshine, where's your answer?"

Alex: "Rome wasn't built in a day" 

Cheeky bugger...

"Oh, you still on that beer question?" he asks

"Yes mate". He's thinking... it takes time. It can hurt him sometimes when he does it too much lol. He finally gets back to me...

"Very situational...", which I actually had to agree with him a little bit. I do have a favourite that works with some situations and not with others. "Steinlager Pure. All time favourite beer. But I can't get drunk on it and wouldn't. Too much and it starts to lose it's flavour." Said like a true beer aficionado. "Monteith's Radler from the tap - now THAT is a drop!"

"Now that's tasty" I said. "I've gotten a real swagger for Stone & Wood..."

"Yeah - she's nice also..."

http://www.steinlager.com/Splash

http://www.monteiths.co.nz/Beer-And-Cider/Radler-bier

Well, there's a good mate, with good taste. Thanks bro.

Next up on the interview block! An old school mate...

Ladies and gentlemen... John Hamilton

JOHN D HAMILTON

Y'know when you've know a person for a long time is when you went to school with them. I've kept in touch with John for a few years, when we both could. John has been to a number of places around the world, and I bet, he's had a number of beers too! So, I asked him.

"Hey - when you are free - I would like to know what your favourite beer is and why - and I'll add it to my blog."

"Probably Carlings or Super 10, 'cause is very smooth and doesn't give you a bloated feeling afterwards". Well, that's John. He loves his beer!

https://www.carling.com/check?

Now we are going to interview one of my oldest and closest mates. I met my friend Peter at a gig that I was putting on (and still do to this date, and it's a cracker of a party on Australia Day) way way back. He and another mate of his (mine too) came down to give me a hand putting it on, and we've been great friends ever since. Ladies and gentlemen, the irreputable Peter Salter.

PETER SALTER

Wow... I haven't seen this photo before. And to think, that this man was diagnosed with cancer a couple of years ago. He's a qualified chef - and a REALLY good one at that! Now Peter is studying Business Law at the University of Western Australia. And he has got a brain on him. The amount of times that Pete (as he's affectionately known by his friends and family) has come over unannounced (he'd say different!) and just gone into the kitchen and started cooking some REALLY GOOD FOOD. He and his partner Levina have been together for a while, and she is a lovely lady.

Now Pete, he loves a good chin wag, and a good debate. So let's see what he has to say about this subject in particular, as we've had a LOT of conversations about this in the past, and I know that he's been waiting to have his say. I caught him just before going to sleep. He had to work, or he had class, or something...

"Ok, Pete... Favourite beer and why"

He just sends me this...

Typical Pete..."Or the Hefeweizen Dunkel. For me it goes well with food of my heritage. Ergo German beer and German food."

He goes on..."But I think beer in general is a subjective thing. It is dependant on weather, atmosphere/company and other contributing factors that are too numerous to mention (a la my friend Alex above, who also said it very situational).

https://www.weihenstephaner.de/unsere-biere/tradition-bayrisch-dunkel/

"However people do have their favourites, some will have an old warhorse they keep going back to, as the creatures of habit they are. Others may find themselves changing their preference every so often, as they get bored of what they are drinking, or more precisely, something else with more appeal...". Peter always has had a way with words. I will be talking to Pete a lot during the blogs, because I think, that a chef's input is very valuable in a subject like this, especially if we are marrying food with beer. Cheers Peter. As usual, a great answer.

Now let's interview a family member from here in the United Kingdom. My cousin Rachel and her hubby Andy made me the BEST dinner the other week, and they are a couple of champion people - good people, y'know? Ladies and gentlemen... Rachel and Andy!

RACHEL AND ANDREW COLLINS

I first met my cousin Rachel when her family came down to Oz when I was a mite. So after 30 odd years, I decided to visit the family, and I was picked up by her sister Sarah from Heathrow when I first landed. I met Sarah's family - her husband Terry, and her two beaut lads Lewis and Benjamin -HI LADS! Sarah organised a surprise for her mum and dad Maureen and Brian) and her sister and her hubby. A few months later, I was invited to Rachel and Andy's place in Sawbridgeworth (wonderful name for a town!) and had dinner at their wonderful home. 

I was on Messenger a few hours ago, and asked these two what their favourite beers were. Unsurprisingly, they said the same thing!

"Hey Rach! Do you drink beer?"

And one of the best answers I've received yet!

"Does a beer shit in the woods?" I laughed my socks off, and got a few weird looks from the staff here!

"Bear not beer" she said.
"it shits little beers of course!" I replied trying to be funny. "Been drinking! lol. Yip!"

"What is your favourite? And ask Andy too. I'm doing a blog. It's going pretty well. You wanna be famous? lol"

"Corona with lime" I could tell she was probably having one right this moment! "Both of us"

"Ahhh... the Mexican in you is the Mexican in him... Why?"

Rachel is straight to the point "Good taste, goes well with lime, not too gassy. lol"

"What's Andy's reason?" I ask

"Same as mine!"

"Ok!" I say "Well good honest answers are good!"

Rachel and Andy are beaut people. Like I said before. I will miss them when I leave. "WHEN" I leave. If ever. I don't know at this point!

http://www.corona.com/

Well, that's it for this special edition. I will be doing more interview, more reviews, and I'm going to start trying to line up some events that are beer orientated in the coming months.

So until next time!

Cheers!