Chill July/August 2011 : Page 66

RAISING A PINT ALL OVER THE W RLD by Rob Symes IN MANY WAYS BEER IS A COMMON LANGUAGE THAT CROSSES BARRIERS AND BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER. It remains the world’s most popular beverage – wildly popular in Canada, ’Cambodia and the Ca’yman Islands. H owever, beer means different things in different cultures, and crossing borders reveals that while some beers taste similar, their place in society and the traditions associated with them can be radically different. Here’s a small sample of the role that our favourite drink plays in different parts of the world: GERMANY No discussion of beer culture would be complete without mentioning Munich’s Okto-berfest – an event that’s spawned an uncount-able number of dreams, and draws ﬁ ve million people annually. The very ﬁ rst Oktoberfest was held way back in 1810 mainly as a regional fair and agricultural show, but it wasn’t long before Germany’s love of beer made a lasting impres-sion. Since 1950 the event has kicked off with a 12-gun salute and the ceremonial tapping of the ﬁ rst keg of beer by the mayor of the city, which all acts as a prelude to the consump-tion of almost seven million litres of beer in a little over two weeks. Perhaps the festival is also a big factor behind why Germans are amongst the world’s most proliﬁ c drinkers, with the average adult working their way through 115.8 litres in a year! Oompah bands, lederhosen and Bavarian barmaids are the kitschy side of the fest, but the true aﬁ cionados go for a few steins of tasty German beer and even better company. Oddly enough, Oktoberfest starts in Septem-ber, and runs until the ﬁ rst Sunday in October, mostly taking part outside of the month whose name it bears. 66 > chill magazine

Raising A Pint Beer All Over The World

Rob Symes

IN MANY WAYS BEER IS A COMMON LANGUAGE THAT CROSSES BARRIERS AND BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER. It remains the world's most popular beverage - wildly popular in Canada, bCambodia and the Cabyman Islands. However, beer means different things in different cultures, and crossing borders reveals that while some beers taste similar, their place in society and the traditions associated with them can be radically different. Here's a small sample of the role that our favourite drink plays in different parts of the world: GERMANY No discussion of beer culture would be complete without mentioning Munich's Oktoberfest - an event that's spawned an uncountable number of dreams, and draws five million people annually. The very first Oktoberfest was held way back in 1810 mainly as a regional fair and agricultural show, but it wasn't long before Germany's love of beer made a lasting impression. Since 1950 the event has kicked off with a 12-gun salute and the ceremonial tapping of the first keg of beer by the mayor of the city, which all acts as a prelude to the consumption of almost seven million litres of beer in a little over two weeks. Perhaps the festival is also a big factor behind why Germans are amongst the world's most prolific drinkers, with the average adult working their way through 115.8 litres in a year! Oompah bands, lederhosen and Bavarian barmaids are the kitschy side of the fest, but the true aficionados go for a few steins of tasty German beer and even better company. Oddly enough, Oktoberfest starts in September, and runs until the first Sunday in October, mostly taking part outside of the month whose name it bears. UNITED KINGDOM Beer holds a special place in the hearts of many Brits, and has been at the centre of society since overtaking gin in popularity in the eighteenth century (yes you heard that right - gin was wildly popular in England with over six times more gin produced than beer in 1740). At the root of this love of beer is the public's connection with its 'local' - a gathering spot for friends, family and neighbours, as well as somewhere to enjoy a post-work drink. The variety in British pubs is staggering, but may include a number of cherished features including a landlord/landlady with a strong personality, a friendly cat and a roaring fireplace. The truly unique feature of British beer drinking, though, is cask ale. This serving format is naturally carbonated and served at cellar temperature. Certainly an acquired taste for those used to higher carbonated and colder brews, but one worth seeking out. Sadly, British pub culture has taken a hit in recent years as aggressive cost cutting at grocery stores has made drinking at home a far less expensive option. JAPAN In Japan beer plays a surprisingly important role for a large section of society. It's commonplace, and almost expected for office workers (referred to as salary men) to go out for drinks after work with their colleagues and bosses, regardless of whether they really want to. Because of beer's lower alcohol content in comparison to traditional Japanese beverages like sake and shochu, it's become the drink of choice at these gatherings and relief at the end of what can be a very long day (the Japanese have a term for death by over-working). Of course, the Japanese have also put their own high-tech spin on the world's favourite alcoholic drink. Beer can be purchased from vending machines on street corners, and it's not uncommon to see machines that pour the perfect cold one for you at the touch of a button. Sadly, only in Japan. BELGIUM Nothing says high-quality beer better than Belgium. This is a country that lives and breathes beer, with a huge variety of styles, and cafes that routinely have in excess of a hundred options to choose from. Belgians know their brews, but the most interesting and surprising connection is between beer and religion - something seen in very few other places in the world. To support their monasteries, Belgian monks have brewed beer for centuries, and have gained an impressive reputation for being masters of their craft. Their beers range widely in alcohol content and often fall into the style categories of dubbel, tripel and quadrupel, which originally indicated their strength. While most monastery beers are now made under license by commercial brewers, there are still a few keeping the flame going. That's our kind of holy water. AFRICA Not a country (unless you're Sarah Palin), Africa has a surprising history of brewing beer, a large part of which is at the grassroots level using a variety of ingredients and techniques a million miles away from the hightech brewhouses in North America. One prominent example is Chibuku Shake Shake - a beer made with sorghum and maize, which is available in a number of exotically named locales, including Botswana and Zambia. This thick yeasty-flavoured beer needs to be shaken before drinking because of a thick layer of sediment at the bottom of the carton. If that's not strange enough, the tradition is to knock back the remaining sludge upon finishing. Unsurprisingly, the big commercial brewers tend to stay away from beers like Chibuku Shake Shake, instead providing the cold, crisp lagers that help Africans stay cool in intense heat.

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