The national beer of Slovakia is much like its more popular cousin Pilsner Urquell, which is more popular across the Czech Republic, only lighter and fresher. There’s something about the beer that you wouldn’t mind a chilled glass on a cold, winter’s day, either. Every restaurant, every pub across Slovakia serves it, as do those in the Czech Republic. Oh, and it’s smooth as smooth can get.
Key Lime Pie
The dash of lime in your brew is old hat. This award-winning ale, from Shorts Brewing Company, Michigan, USA, is made of fresh limes, milk sugar, graham crackers and marshmallow fluff. Talk about a pudding in my pint!
Armageddon
At 65 per cent alcohol by volume, this is the world’s strongest beer, beaten only by the hard-to-lay-your-hands-on Snake Venom, also from the same brewery. Speyside-based Scottish brewers Brewmeister use rock-filtered spring water to create this knockout ale. Caution: This one’s not for the faint of heart!
Kriek Boon
Here’s one that gives popping the cherry another angle! The Belga Queen, in Ghent, Belgium (again!) serves a lambic beer with sour Morhello cherries. It’s strong, it’s zesty, it’s sour and—no, don’t let the cherries and pretty red colour fool you—it hits you like a hurricane.
Tongerlo Blond
Because B is for Belgian Beer. Because this Belgian brewery, Haacht, produces the World’s Best Beer. And because Tongerlo Blond is also the World’s Best Pale Beer. Light and fresh as beers go. And sweet and delectable as blond beers go. Duvel and Chimay may be the most popular ones to come out of Belgium, but this one certainly is kicking their butt!
