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<title>Prague</title>
<link>http://www.abeerfestival.co.uk?itemid=81</link>
<description><![CDATA[I've not been to Prague since I started this blog, so here goes...<br />
<br />
Prague's good for beer.  The Czech Republic has a long history of beer and even though much of it is bog standard lager, scratch beneath the surface and there are some really really good beers to found.  Tourism has had a big part to play in all of this, and it's helped develop some really good breweries and beery places, but it's also chucked out a load of rubbish.<br />
<br />
A colleague once asked me about Prague and it's beer and I told him "Stay away from the main square.  Go even one street away and if you see Czechs, you're not going to be far wrong".  When he came back, he grumbled at how much he'd paid for bottles of Corona from 'English bars' on the main square.<br />
<br />
So - where was visited on this trip?<br />
<br />
<h2><a href="http://www.berounskymedved.com/">Pivovarská Restaurace Berounský Medv&#283;d</a></h2><br />
Tyršova 135, 266 01 Beroun, Czech Republic<br />
Mon 09-20; Tue-Thu 09-22; Fri, Sat 09-23; Sun 10-20.<br />
<br />
Ever been to a pub in a scrap yard?  How about a brewery?  No?  Well visit Prague and get yourself off to Beroun (40 mins from Prague by train).  Leave the station, turn left and after two minutes you'll be in a scrap yard.  Pass the Tatra and Škoda lorries, keep going past the tank and you'll find this small restaurant, bar and brewery.  They even have a hotel on site too!<br />
<br />
Step from the train and into the station still ensconced in the Communist era and head left, walking by the railway lines into the scrap yard.<br />
<br />
Many a beer afternoon has been spent here sampling the two beers - Sv&#283;tlý ležák 11° and Tmavý speciál 13°.  Also available were some new ones - Cyklopivo sv&#283;tlý  8° and Polotmavý speciál Grizzly 18°.  They also had a couple of beers from other breweries - Podkovan 10 Kvasnikove and Klepacek Polotmave 14.  The rather excellent and very cheap lunchtime food (CZK69!) was also sampled<br />
<br />
It's one of the standards for Prague beer - well worth a visit.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a href="http://zlycasy.eu/">Zlý &#268;asy</a></h2><br />
&#268;estmírova 390/5  140 00 Prague 4-Nusle, Czech Republic<br />
Mon-Thu 11-23:30; Fri 11-01; Sat 17-01; Sun 17-23<br />
Tram:  Line 11, 18; stop Nám&#283;stí Brat&#345;í Synk&#367; (on the way to or from První Pivní Tramway)<br />
<br />
Well - Zlý &#268;asy.  They stopped selling Big Brand beers something like four years ago, and now have 24 beers on tap along with more bottles (Czech, German, English, Scottish, Belgian..._ that you could shake a stick at.  The range of beers is displayed on information cards across the top of the bar as well as a menu (tick list) presented to your table.  Of course, it's table service which at times can be a tad slow, but that's usually because the bar's full.  Oh yeah - if you want to be guaranteed somewhere to sit, arrive early!<br />
<br />
As far as beer selection goes, Zlý &#268;asy is easy the best bar in Prague.  Prices are very reasonable (much better than other establishments with a 'decent range' in the area) and is just generally a decent place to spend a few hours in an evening.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a href="http://hotelvpivovaredavle.webnode.cz/">Hotel V Pivova&#345;e Davle</a></h2><br />
Davle, K Pivovaru 1, 252 06 Praha západ<br />
Mon-Thu 10:30-22; Fri 10:30-11; Sat 10:30-11; Sun 10:30-22<br />
Railway station:  Davle<br />
<br />
I've been through Davle a few times, and even spent about half an hour there last year.  I'd noticed the building but there was no sign of a brewery.  A few months ago however, the building was transformed into a hotel, brewery and restaurant.  Excellent!<br />
<br />
Leaving the station and crossing the Davelský Bridge, which was used as the bridge in the film 'The Bridge at Remagen' and turn left and the imposing building is just in front.  Everywhere seemed pretty dead in the town when we arrived, but fortunately there was a chap serving beer.  They seem to do a range of seven beers, but only the only one available on draught was the sedmnáctke - a 17° golden beer.  It was rather good.  The other beers were all available, but only in 1.5l bottles - perhaps a bit much when we only had 40 minutes between trains.<br />
<br />
The beer has a small terrace overlooking the river which in summer months, I would imagine is most pleasant.  The area is popular with walkers and in summer, there is a steam train service.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a href="http://gastroinfo.cz/pivoklub/">Pivovarský klub</a></h2><br />
K&#345;ižíkova 17°, Praha 8,  Karlín<br />
Mon-Sun 11:30-23:30<br />
Metro: Line B, C; stop Florenc<br />
<br />
Pivovarský d&#367;m is the oldest of the new wave of brew pubs and is incredibly popular with tourists.  Pivovarský klub is it's younger brother, concentrates more on beer than food (even though the former actually brews the beer) and is definitely less touristy. <br />
<br />
With up to six draught beers to choose from and over 200 bottles, it's probably the best stocked bar in the centre.  They usually have one or two beers brewed at Pivovarský d&#367;m, but the rest are from small breweries across the country.  As can be expected, the food is rather good too.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>Havelská Koruna</h2><br />
Havelská 501/23, 110 00 Praha 1-Staré M&#283;sto<br />
Mon-Sun 11-18<br />
Tram: Národní t&#345;ída<br />
<br />
Havelská Koruna is not strictly a beery place, (they only sell Gambrinus and Pilsner Urquell).  It is however a classic old fashioned Czech restaurant - my favourite since the one on Na po&#345;í&#269;í was sold and turned into a Starbucks.<br />
<br />
As you enter, you're given a slip of paper that is imprinted with a stern warning of the threat of a 500CZK fine if you lose it!  <br />
<br />
Once you've overcome the shock of the threat of losing the piece of paper, you approach the array of serveries.  At the hot food one, you have the choice of reading the menu on the wall in Czech or pointing to what you want, except that you can't point to what you want as everything is covered with metal lids.  Even though the style of restaurant is a bit of a throwback to the 'olden days', the staff now do have a smattering of English, although I was able to order the old favourite of 'vep&#345;o-knedlo-zelo' (roast port, dumplings and sauerkraut), a beer and retire to the table.  Everything you order is marked by number on the piece of paper which is then presented to the cashier on the way out.<br />
<br />
If you're in the centre of Prague and want good, homestyle cooking at a most agreeable price, go here.<br />
<br />
<h2><a href="http://www.praguebeergarden.com/pubs/post/prvni-pivni-tramway">První Pivní Tramway </a></h2><br />
Na Chodovci 1a, 140 00 Prague 4 - Záb&#283;hlice<br />
Mon - Sun 14-00?<br />
Tram 11; stop Spo&#345;ilov (on the way to or from Zlý &#268;asy)<br />
<br />
Get off the tram at the terminus and immediately in front of you is a building.  This is První Pivní Tramway.  Walking time - about 2 steps.<br />
<br />
This place is crowded.  Even with only a few people in it's crowded, but this gives you a good chance to sit with the locals and have a chat, for this place is definitely off the tourist train (hurrah!).  It's got six beers with two or three exciting ones, again with good food at exceedingly good prices.  Only downside - a touch on the smoky side.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a href="http://www.praguebeermuseum.com/">Prague Beer Museum</a></h2><br />
Dlouhá 720/46  110 00 Prague 5-Old Town, Czech Republic<br />
Opening hours:  not mention on the web anywhere, but seem to remember them open much later than anywhere else<br />
Tram: Dlouhá t&#345;ída<br />
<br />
Well, I was looking forward to this place.  They had quite good reviews when they opened, but that seems to be long gone.  Yes, they do have 30 beers on tap, but takeaway the national blands and they have less than Zlý &#268;asy. Prices are very expensive - probably 10-20CZK more per 30cl beer than most other places.<br />
<br />
The staff are a bit useless too - the one serving us just seemed to want to sell us the most expensive one - 69CKZ for a 30cl - that's dearer than the UK!  They also had a beer on called 'Good Bulldog' but no one seemed to know who brewed it and I was also advised not to try the house beer.  It was also very smoky.  If you're a tourist, fine - you'll like it.  If you want a decent beer, find somewhere else.<br />
<br/><br/>tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/CzechRep" rel="tag">CzechRep</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/CzechBeer" rel="tag">CzechBeer</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Prague" rel="tag">Prague</a>]]></description>
<category>General</category>
<comments>http://www.abeerfestival.co.uk?itemid=81</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:06:00 +0000</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Czech beer glossary</title>
<link>http://www.abeerfestival.co.uk?itemid=83</link>
<description><![CDATA[Czech beer's good.  The lingo might be a bit special for anyone so here's a few tips and word n stuff.<br />
<br />
The beer is measured in degrees plato, so you instead of having a 5% beer, you might have a 12° beer.  Read all about it <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plato_scale#By_strength">here</a> if you want, but a good rule of thumb is to subtract two from the plato scale and then divide by two. It's not accurate, but it sort of works.<br />
<br />
Beery words<br />
<br />
Tmavý -dark<br />
Svetlý  - light<br />
Polotmavý - medium dark<br />
Ležák - premium beer<br />
Pšeni&#269;né - wheat beer<br />
Medový - beer with honey<br />
Viš&#328;ový - beer with cherries<br/><br/>tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/CzechRep" rel="tag">CzechRep</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/CzechBeer" rel="tag">CzechBeer</a>, ]]></description>
<category>General</category>
<comments>http://www.abeerfestival.co.uk?itemid=83</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 8 Dec 2011 22:23:56 +0000</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Two bars in Brno</title>
<link>http://www.abeerfestival.co.uk?itemid=79</link>
<description><![CDATA[<h2><a href="http://www.uricharda2.cz/">U Richarda 2</a></h2><br />
Údolní 7, Brno, Czech Republic.<br />
Mon-Sat 11-23, Sun 11-22<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.uricharda.eu/">U Richarda Brew Pub</a>has been open in Brno for a wee while now, but as it's out in the sticks and I've only been to Brno once before, I've never managed to visit.  All is not lost now as there's a second branch on the edge of the city centre (probably only 5 mins from Pegas brewpub.<br />
<br />
Although catering to drinkers, U Richarda 2 does seem quite food based - in fact they call themselves a 'Restaurace' so it would have seemed rude not to have taken advantage of the current special offer of 500g of spicy pork ribs, bread and a Czech salad / garnish for 149CZK- about a fiver.  Oh - with two beers too!<br />
<br />
From what I understand, the beers are brewed out in the brew pub in the suburbs and sold there in the bar.  I tried all they had to offer , these being<br />
Sv&#283;tlý ležák 12°<br />
Tmavý ležák 12°<br />
Viš&#328;ový ležák 12° - a cherry beer<br />
Pivni Special 12° <br />
Pšeni&#269;né 11° - a wheat beer<br />
Medový speciál 15° - a dark beer laced with honey.<br />
<br />
A nice, modern bar, good food and good beer!<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a href="http://www.hotelpegas.cz/hotel-pegas-brno-welcome-page/">Pegas</a></h2><br />
Jakubská 4, Brno, Czech Republic.<br />
<br />
There's not really a lot to say about Pegas - if you've been to Brno and like a beer, the chances are you've been to Pegas.  Pretty much bog standard German / Czech beer hall type place with lots of wood, hops on the ceiling and fag smoke.  The beer's good though! <br />
<br />
Whilst there, the Christmas beer was available - 'Váno&#269;ní' - a 15° beer that the barman said was just a mix of two of the standard beers.  Still, if you blend two very good beers, you're bound to still end up with a good beer!<br/><br/>tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/CzechRep" rel="tag">CzechRep</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/CzechBeer" rel="tag">CzechBeer</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Brno" rel="tag">Brno</a>]]></description>
<category>General</category>
<comments>http://www.abeerfestival.co.uk?itemid=79</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 8 Dec 2011 20:50:43 +0000</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Mister Bičres, Sčte</title>
<link>http://www.abeerfestival.co.uk?itemid=67</link>
<description><![CDATA[<h2>Mister Bičres, Sčte</h2><br />
Place Delille, 34200 Sčte, France<br />
Tue-Fri 10-14 and 17-22, Sat 10-22, Sun (June - September)   10-14 and 17-22<br />
+33 4 67 78 52 37<br />
<br />
In my experience, France isn't particularly good for beer, everywhere seems to be overrun with run of the mill stuff like Kronenbourg, Heineken or even Pelforth.  <br />
<br />
If you're really fortuitous, you might stumble across a small microbrewery.  Even though it may be in the same town, local bars tend not to stock them but fortunately, supermarkets often do.<br />
<br />
However, things in Sčte are different - all is not lost!  Sitting in Place Delille is 'Mister Bičres'.  It's only been open a couple of weeks and I found it by accident - “Look Jemma – there's a shop selling beers...  Run!  It says it stocks over 300”.  A quick look inside at the bulging shelves revealed offerings mainly from Belgium along with probably the best selection of French beers I've seen!<br />
<br />
Speaking to the owner, Philippe Vasseur, he originates from Lille and has brought some of his local beer culture with him.  A resonable proportion of the French beers are from the Flanders area, but there's also examples from <a href="http://www.la-grihete.com/index2.html">Brasserie Artisnale du Sud</a>,<a href="http://www.lagrivoise.fr/"> La Grivoise</a> and<a href="http://www.la-castagne-du-cevenol.fr/"> La Castagne du Cevenol</a>, to name but a few.  If you can't wait to take beers home, there are a few tables outside to sit and enjoy them.<br />
<br />
One interesting thing I noticed was a bottle of<a href="http://www.lacagole.com/"> La Cagole</a> Blanche.  La Cagole Blonde has been around for a while with production at <a href="http://www.postriziny.cz/">Pivovar Nymburk</a> in Czech Republic following the closure of the brewery in Marseille.  The Blanche however, displays the words 'Fabrique en France'.  A bit more detective work is needed here!<br />
<br />
If you're ever in the area, a visit is well worthwhile.  Mister Bičres is something every French town could do with!<br />
<br />
<a href="xml-rss2.php?imagepopup=1/20110825-MisterBieres1.JPG&amp;width=810&amp;height=1080&amp;imagetext=Photo+1" onclick="window.open(this.href,'imagepopup','status=no,toolbar=no,scrollbars=no,resizable=yes,width=810,height=1080');return false;" >Photo 1</a><br />
<br />
<a href="xml-rss2.php?imagepopup=1/20110825-MisterBieres2.JPG&amp;width=1080&amp;height=810&amp;imagetext=Photo+2" onclick="window.open(this.href,'imagepopup','status=no,toolbar=no,scrollbars=no,resizable=yes,width=1080,height=810');return false;" >Photo 2</a><br />
<br />
<a href="xml-rss2.php?imagepopup=1/20110825-MisterBieres3.JPG&amp;width=1080&amp;height=810&amp;imagetext=Photo+3" onclick="window.open(this.href,'imagepopup','status=no,toolbar=no,scrollbars=no,resizable=yes,width=1080,height=810');return false;" >Photo 3</a><br />
<br />
<a href="xml-rss2.php?imagepopup=1/20110825-MisterBieres4.JPG&amp;width=1080&amp;height=810&amp;imagetext=Photo+4" onclick="window.open(this.href,'imagepopup','status=no,toolbar=no,scrollbars=no,resizable=yes,width=1080,height=810');return false;" >Photo 4</a><br />
<br />
<a href="xml-rss2.php?imagepopup=1/20110825-MisterBieres5.JPG&amp;width=810&amp;height=1080&amp;imagetext=Photo+5" onclick="window.open(this.href,'imagepopup','status=no,toolbar=no,scrollbars=no,resizable=yes,width=810,height=1080');return false;" >Photo 5</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Click 'Read more' for the beers I sourced at Mister BičresThe beers I either tried there or brought home were<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.la-castagne-du-cevenol.fr/">La Castagne du Cevenol</a> - Aujac<br />
Bogue  - 6.5%<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.lacagole.com/">La Cagole</a> - Marseille<br />
Blanche - 4.5%<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.lagrivoise.fr/">L'Agrivoise</a> - Saint-Agreve<br />
La Pasee - 6.5%<br />
La Commun'ale - 5.0%<br />
Sous les Paves Biere Noire - 5.5%<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.la-grihete.com/index2.html">La Brasserie Artisanale Du Sud</a> - Nyons<br />
La Grihette Mange Soif Blanche - 4.7%<br />
La Grihette Mange Soif Blonde - 4.9%<br />
La Grihette Songe Fete Ambree - 4.8%<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bracine.com/">Anosteke</a> - Blaringhem<br />
Blonde - 8%<br />
Bracine Triple - 9%<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.brasseriedesgarrigues.fr/">Garrigues</a>, <br />
La Belle en Goguette - 6%<br />
Saison des Amours - 5.5%<br />
La Frappiste - 7.5%<br/><br/>tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/FrenchBeer" rel="tag">FrenchBeer</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Biere" rel="tag">Biere</a>]]></description>
<category>General</category>
<comments>http://www.abeerfestival.co.uk?itemid=67</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 25 Aug 2011 21:32:02 +0000</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Leuven Beer Festival 2011</title>
<link>http://www.abeerfestival.co.uk?itemid=66</link>
<description><![CDATA[Jemma and myself were stopping in Brussels as it was ideally placed to get to Lille to see the Paris-Roubaix cycle race and also to be able to pop to Leuven for their beer festival, organised by de <a href="http://www.lbt.be/">Leuvense Biertherapeuten</a>.<br />
<br />
It was not the easiest festival to get to - a short train ride from Brussels, an extremely cramped bus ride with a dog licking my foot then a 15 minute walk through the park to the festival venue.  <br />
<br />
An outside table was soon commandeered overlooking the lake and park, resulting in what must have been one of the best beer festival venues I've ever attended.<br />
<br />
The range of beers was okish, although a number of them were starting to sell out by mid afternoon.  Another problem was that a number of the ones I wanted to try were only available in 750ml bottles!<br/><br/>tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Belgian_beer" rel="tag">Belgian_beer</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Beer_Festival" rel="tag">Beer_Festival</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Leuven" rel="tag">Leuven</a>]]></description>
<category>General</category>
<comments>http://www.abeerfestival.co.uk?itemid=66</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 11 Apr 2011 04:41:00 +0000</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Antwerp and Sint-Niklaas - day 2</title>
<link>http://www.abeerfestival.co.uk?itemid=64</link>
<description><![CDATA[<h2><a href="http://www.zbf.be/UK/index.htm">Zythos Beer Festival 2011</a></h2><br />
Stadsfeestzaal, Sint-Niklaas<br />
<br />
Big.<br />
<br />
Belgium's biggest beer festival, held for the last time this year at the Stadsfeestzaal is Belgium's biggest.  Featuring more than 60 brewers and 200 beers, there was plenty to go at!  I joined a number of UK beer tickers and sampled a range of beers.  I won't go into all the beers I tried, but a couple were worthy of mentioning  -<br />
<br />
De Dolle Brouwers Verse Vis (Fresh Fish)<br />
A most strange beer indeed!  It was brewed with no hops, had a Belgian lactic sour flavour and was made with cider yeast!  There's a quite a bit more about it on the <a href="http://belgianbeerboard.com/index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=625&amp;Itemid=88888994">Belgian Beer Board</a>.<br />
<br />
Smisje Smiske R-Ale<br />
A dry hopped version of the Smisje Blonde, except that the beer is pumped through a pile of hops, effectively dry hopping the beer on the fly.  Again, more details on the <a href="http://belgianbeerboard.com/index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=624&amp;Itemid=88888994">Belgian Beer Board.</a><br />
<br />
Roll on next year's festival in Leuven!<br/><br/>tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Belgian_beer" rel="tag">Belgian_beer</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Beer_Festival" rel="tag">Beer_Festival</a>]]></description>
<category>General</category>
<comments>http://www.abeerfestival.co.uk?itemid=64</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 8 Mar 2011 04:26:00 +0000</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Antwerp and Sint-Niklaas - day 1</title>
<link>http://www.abeerfestival.co.uk?itemid=59</link>
<description><![CDATA[<i>It's my plan to visit a few more Belgian beer festivals this year.  First on the list - Zythos Bier Festival in Sint-Niklaas.  I stopped overnight in Antwerp and visited a few places there.</i><br />
<br />
<h2>Kulminator, Antwerpen</h2><br />
Vleminckveld 32, Antwerpen<br />
Mon 20.15-24, Tue-Fri 12-24, Sat 17-24, Sun closed<br />
03 - 232 4538<br />
<br />
Kulminator is one of those must visit places.  It's like the Eiffel Tower or Louvre if you are a 'normal' tourist in Paris.  Or at least, that's what I thought...<br />
<br />
I've visited quite a few times now and generally, it's been ok.  The beer choice is excellent and the range of aged beers (some going back 20 and 30 years) is the best you'll ever see.  We even celebrated Jemma's 30th birthday there a few years ago with a 30 year old beer.<br />
<br />
The thing letting Kulminator down though is the service.  If there's only a few people in, service is not a problem.  Lena will amble from bar to table to take your order, pass it to Dirk who will go into the cellar, get the beer and pass it back to Lena.  Not on ZBF weekend though!  The place was rammed and the only place I could find to sit was out in the smoking area.  After 10 minutes of not being served, I went back inside and queued at the bar.  After something like another 10 minutes, Lena took my order.  The best part of 10 minutes later I left.<br />
<br />
Ok, bars can be busy, but you have to be a bit livelier if you're starting to sink!  Dirk didn't serve - he just visited the cellar and grumbled.  Anyway - things might have been a bit smarter if it wasn't for the people looking at, sniffing at and writing an essay about their beer!  Yes, you might want to have a close inspect of what you're going to drink, but don't write a full page of text about it!  Evidently, this is very common amongst Scandinavian beer fans...<br />
<br />
On the subject of Dirk, on my last visit back in July 2010, the place wasn't too busy and he seemed to be stumbling around - something that he's rather good at.  All of a sudden he had a go at a customer.  This customer had made the mistake of sitting at the table with the piles of magazines, newspapers and general bits of piffle and Dirk thought this customer had taken something, so we were all treated to a tirade of "you have taken something", "get out of my bar" for about 10 minutes, all the while the customer was protesting his innocence and offering to show the contents of his bag.<br />
<br />
After looking on Google for the bar and chatting to other beery types, it appears that these episodes are not uncommon.  It's just a shame that I've had lots of good visits.<br />
<br />
<i>After giving up, I moved back towards the main square to a street just off it and visited </i><br />
<h2><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/t-Antwaerps-Bierhuiske/117404254940684">'t Antwaerps Bierhuiske, Antwerp</a></h2><br />
Hoogstraat 14, 2000 Antwerpen<br />
Mon-Sun 12-02<br />
<br />
Antwaerps Bierhuiske is a new place, having been open for less than a year.  I first visited just after they first opened last summer.  It's a pretty average sort of bar with around 150 beers, including a good selection of slightly rarer microbrewery beers.<br />
<br />
It's out of the way just enough to avoid being too touristy - well worth a visit!<br />
<br />
<i>A few doors up, I spotted a bar I'd not heard of before...</i><br />
<h2>Cafe Den Billekletser</h2><br />
Hoogstraat 22, 2000 Antwerpen<br />
+32 32 31 34 48<br />
<br />
Sign outside advertising 280 beers, so entered to find a basic tiled floor with plain tables and chairs and around 60 empty bottles in the windows.   The menu only contained around 30 beers so when I asked for the rest, the young lass said they didn't have a printed list and she would bring me what I wanted.  When I said that I wanted something that was a tick, she was confused...  Further probing found out that they have around 280 beers, but with 100 available at anyone time.<br />
<br />
Prices reasonable but once again, very smoky.  Might be worth another look at if they actually tell folk what they sell!<br />
<br />
<i>And to finish up that evening...</i><br />
<h2>Biercentral</h2><br />
de Keyserlei 25, 2018 Antwerpen<br />
<br />
2 minutes from Centraal Station, providing you use the right door.<br />
<br />
Large pub, seeming to cater for all sorts during the day and yoof at night.  Loud dj wouldn't be out of place on a UK high street pub at a weekend, but with several hundred beers.  They at 20 draught and more than 300 bottles.  Lots of bog standard beers, but lots of rarer ones too in the custom printed catalogue.<br />
<br />
Good to see that it's somewhere away from the normal darkened, smokey front rooms and might have a bit of appeal to the younger drinker. Very expensive.<br/><br/>tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Belgian_beer" rel="tag">Belgian_beer</a>, ]]></description>
<category>General</category>
<comments>http://www.abeerfestival.co.uk?itemid=59</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 8 Mar 2011 04:19:00 +0000</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Prashad</title>
<link>http://www.abeerfestival.co.uk?itemid=55</link>
<description><![CDATA[<i>Over the last few years, a trip out involving curry has been on the agenda for New Year's Day and this year was no exception, except that we went on January 2 instead!</i><br />
<br />
<h2><a href="http://www.prashad.co.uk/">Prashad</a>, Bradford</h2><br />
86 Horton Grange Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD7 2DW<br />
Mon closed; Tue-Fri 11-15, 18-22.30; Sat-Sun 11-22.30<br />
01274 575893<br />
<br />
Prashad is a back street curry house (but on a main road) in a not particularly posh bit of Bradford where we had to exercise caution parking due to the amount of glass on the road.<br />
<br />
Has that put you off?  No?  Oh well, read on...<br />
<br />
Prashad recently featured in the final (and the preceding heats too) of Ramsay's Best Restaurants and was just pipped at the post by the winning restaurant.  That must be a bit of a clue to how good it is.<br />
<br />
We arrived a touch early and were shown across the road to the 'Punjab Lounge' - a bit like a doctor's waiting room but with the walls adorned with awards and a special display case full of Ramseyana!  Sat behind the desk was the chatty waiter who now appears to be receptionist / front of house.<br />
<br />
Soon we were seated in the restaurant and choosing our meals. <br />
<br />
Even the poppadoms were a bit different - they were home made and made into a cone shape, served with a selection of chutneys and pickles.<br />
<br />
Starters came in the shape of the 'Mixed Platter'.  I can't really remember everything, but they all were absolutely stunning.<br />
<br />
For main course, we shared Bhinda (okra) and Black Eyes Beans, with Jemma having Kichdi and me roti, all washed down with mango lassi.  Again, the food was faultless, apart from the roti being a tad on the small side.  The food was well spiced, but not overly hot.  The blend of a just a few spices in both the dishes was just right.<br />
<br />
Service was good too - the waiters were friendly and helpful but not pushy.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, part of the restaurant that used to be their sweet centre and deli has been converted into a restaurant seating area.  They're also looking for new premises, possibly in the Harrogate area.  I just hope this doesn't detract from their concept of excellent homestyle food.<br />
<br />
Overall opinion?  I'll be back!<br />
<br />
<br/><br/>tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/curry" rel="tag">curry</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Bradford" rel="tag">Bradford</a>]]></description>
<category>General</category>
<comments>http://www.abeerfestival.co.uk?itemid=55</comments>
<pubDate>Sun, 2 Jan 2011 20:34:00 +0000</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Curry</title>
<link>http://www.abeerfestival.co.uk?itemid=53</link>
<description><![CDATA[This blog is supposed to be about food as well as beer, so I'd better do something about a food post!<br />
<br />
Curry is important.  Sadly, most British restaurants and take aways, and also manufacturers of curry type products in supermarkets are just rubbish.  The items they sell or serve are adaptations of Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi dishes more suited to the British palate.<br />
<br />
I like proper curry, and unfortunately, most restaurants round here fall into the British curry category.  Getting proper curry means visiting somewhere like <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/search?sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;q=karachi+bradford">Karachi</a> in Bradford or <a href="http://www.tayyabs.co.uk/">Tayyabs</a> in London.  The other alternative is to make your own!<br />
<br />
There are a few techniques for curry making, but these can be easily mastered.  Buying all the separate spices can be a little expensive, especially if you buy them in decent size quantities but once you've got them, they're there for future use.<br />
<br />
I tend to use a base recipe and then just modify it depending what curry I fancy, but I thought I'd post a couple of recipes I quite like.  I'll also have the address noted down somewhere in case I lose it!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.worldfoodieguide.com/index.php/how-to-make-indian-tarka-dal-recipe/">Daal / Dal / Dhal</a> - spell it how you like.  This quick and easy way to make dal.  I usually leave the curry leaves out as they can be quite tricky to get hold of.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.doshermanos.co.uk/2010/09/pork-vindaloo-that-recipe-one-more-time.html">Vindaloo</a> - Vindaloo in English restaurants is just any old curry stuffed with chillis.  Proper vindaloo is based on a Portuguese stew made with loads of garlic and vinegar too and although I've never tried it in India, I think this is probably very close to what it should be.  Yes, it is hot, but not enough to stop you eating it!  One thing to note is that it's made with pork.  Many Indians do not eat pork, but in the area of India that this dish originates, a great deal of the people are Christians and do eat pork.  As most 'Indian' restaurants in Britain are run by Pakistanis or Bangladeshis, you'll never find pork there!<div class="leftbox"></div>Daal Recipe  (Vindaloo recipe further down...<br />
Ingredients: (for 2 hungry people)<br />
<br />
200g / 7oz split red lentils<br />
45g / 1˝oz butter<br />
6 curry leaves<br />
1 green chilli, chopped<br />
˝ tsp brown mustard seeds<br />
˝ tsp turmeric<br />
Ľ tsp salt<br />
pinch of asafoetida (if you don’t have this, you can use half a finely chopped onion & 2 cloves of garlic, also finely chopped.)<br />
<br />
What to do next:<br />
<br />
Bring 500ml / 17fl oz water to boil in a large saucepan. Add lentils and return water to the boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 20-25 minutes until mushy. Make sure lentils do not burn and add extra water if necessary (which I had to do, in small amounts).<br />
<br />
Melt butter in frying pan over medium heat. Add curry leaves, chilli, mustard seeds, turmeric, salt and asafoetida. Fry, stirring constantly for 30 seconds or until the spices splutter. Again, make sure they do not burn.<br />
<br />
If you are using chopped onions and garlic instead of the asafoetida, then fry these first until golden brown before adding the other ingredients.<br />
<br />
Stir into lentils, cook for another 2 minutes and serve! A little sprinkle of sea salt was needed.<br />
http://www.worldfoodieguide.com/index.php/how-to-make-indian-tarka-dal-recipe/ <br />
=========================================================================<br />
Vindaloo Recipe<br />
<br />
INGREDIENTS (feeds 4-6 people)<br />
<br />
2lbs of Pork (preferably pork butt/shoulder)<br />
<br />
For the Marinade<br />
1/2 Cup palm vinegar (or white vinegar if you can't find palm)<br />
2 inches ginger, peeled<br />
4 Fresh chillies finely minced<br />
6 cloves of garlic, peeled<br />
2 black cardamom (optional)<br />
<br />
<br />
SPICES (If you don't have whole spices, use pre ground, just make sure they are fresh)<br />
5 Cloves<br />
1 tsp Turmeric<br />
1 tsp Ground Cumin seeds<br />
1 tsp Ground Coriander seeds<br />
1 tsp Ground Fenugreek seeds<br />
2 tsp Hot chilli powder<br />
1 tsp Ground ginger<br />
1 tsp Ground cinnamon or a cinnamon stick<br />
1 tsp Sugar<br />
˝ tsp Salt<br />
<br />
1/2 Large white onion (sliced)<br />
<br />
Oil for frying<br />
<br />
METHOD<br />
<br />
Trim the pork of excess fat, cut into 1in cubes and place in a bowl.<br />
<br />
Blend the ginger, chilli and garlic to a fine paste with a little water and salt and pour over the pork, massaging well into the meat.<br />
<br />
Add the palm vinegar to the bowl and massage into the meat.<br />
<br />
Roast the whole spices in a pan and toast until they begin to release their scent.<br />
<br />
Grind them and add all the other ingredients except the onion.<br />
<br />
Pour over the pork and massage well into the meat.<br />
<br />
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow to marinate for at least two hours. This allows the spices to penetrate and the vinegar to help tenderise the tougher cut of meat.<br />
<br />
When ready to cook, heat a little oil in a deep sided pan and fry the onions until gloden.<br />
<br />
Pour the entire contents of the bowl into the pan (watch out for the waft of vinegar steam that will shoot up.<br />
<br />
Add 1/2 pint of water, stir well and reduce the heat.<br />
<br />
Cover the pan and allow to simmer on a low heat for about three hours, checking to see when the meat is cooked and that it does not catch at the bottom of the pan. If it does, add a little more water.<br />
<br />
After two hours, remove the lid to allow the sauce to reduce. The end result should be quite a dry curry, perfect to serve over plain white rice.<br />
http://www.doshermanos.co.uk/2010/09/pork-vindaloo-that-recipe-one-more-time.html<br />
<br/><br/>tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/curry" rel="tag">curry</a>]]></description>
<category>General</category>
<comments>http://www.abeerfestival.co.uk?itemid=53</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 29 Nov 2010 14:19:00 +0000</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Brugge (Bruges) Bier Festival</title>
<link>http://www.abeerfestival.co.uk?itemid=52</link>
<description><![CDATA[It's just been announced that the 2011 Brugge Bier Festival will be in 2012!<br />
<br />
Yes, that's right!  Up to now it's been in the last quarter of the year, but the next one is 4 and 5 February 2012.<br />
<br />
Better book the weekend off work now...<br />
<br />
http://www.brugsbierfestival.be/<br/><br/>tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Belgian_beer" rel="tag">Belgian_beer</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Brugge" rel="tag">Brugge</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Beer_Festival" rel="tag">Beer_Festival</a>]]></description>
<category>General</category>
<comments>http://www.abeerfestival.co.uk?itemid=52</comments>
<pubDate>Sat, 27 Nov 2010 17:48:12 +0000</pubDate>
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