My World Libations

Recently I posted about my favourites foods that I sampled during my extended trip. Now comes part II – the part about my favourite drinks!  In all honesty, the range of drinks will NOT be be vast – it will be mostly beer, glorious beer! Let’s go!

• Belgian beer – this little country makes the best beer in the world if you ask me. It is on a higher level. Many of these beers are made by Trappist Monks who keep the best for themselves. I wonder if I can become a monk just for the beer? I was able to try quite a few and there are my top choices:
  • La Chouffe Blonde 8% ABV
  • Delirium Tremens & Delirium Tremens Nocturnum 8.5% ABV
  • Westmalle Tripel 9.5% ABV
• Czech’s consume more beer per capita than any other nation (according to Wikipedia). While there I did have a number of beers and it was here that my fondness for lagers began although my fav Czech beers are ales:
  • Brevnovsky Klasterni IPA 6.5% ABV
  • Pivovar Matuska Raptor IPA 6.3% ABV
• The bottle on this Greek beer said it was a “Black Wheat Lager”. I’ve never seen a dark lager. I didn’t know there was such a thing. It was good.
  • Volkan Black Wheat Lager 5% ABV

• Ireland – the home of Guinness. I have to say, before going to Ireland I disliked Guinness. I had tried some in Canada and frankly it was awful. So my Irish beer of choice has always been Smithwick’s. It still is, however, now I know what Guinness is supposed to taste like and am now rather partial to it.
  • Guinness Draught 4.2% ABV
  • Smithwicks Irish Ale 4.5% ABV

Ms Brown enjoying some Guinness, Ireland

Ms Brown had too much Guinness – whoops.

Smithwick’s Experience, Kilkenny

• No list would be complete without mentioning German beer. Of the few I tried my favourite I actually enjoyed in Serbia. Go figure.
  • Paulaner Salvator Doppelbock 7.9% ABV
• While attending the Beer & Burger Festival in Ljubljana, Slovenia I was able to try some good beers. My favourite was from this small local brewery. I tried it 3 times.
  • Combat Wombat by Human Fish Brewery 4.8% ABV
• Irish Whiskey – I have tried sips of whiskey previously and have to say that rye whiskey was the only one I liked. Then I tried Irish Whiskey. I have tried more since I returned to Canada but I tried these 2 in Ireland and wow!
  • Jameson Irish Whiskey
  • Bushmills Irish Whiskey

• Rakija, yummy honey rakija. I tried several different flavours of this often homemade fruit brandy in Serbia. The cherry was okay and I can pass on the quince flavour anytime but the honey one is my favourite!

• TEA!! So my for my favourite non-alcoholic drink it has to be tea. And where did I have the best teas? Where else – both England and India
  • Chai tea – I had such good homemade flavourful chai tea in India
  • Turkish tea – strong and served with only sugar
  • Earl Grey tea + biscuits – need I say more?

All photos taken and owned by Eeva Valiharju/Wanders The World