Cet Homme Charmant Posted March 30, 2024 Posted March 30, 2024 Yeah, the very strong Belgian beers are most definitely for sipping, at most I'll have two bottles in an evening. Surprised you find them sweet though. There are some sweet beers of course, Leffe is probably the most famous, but I find most of them to be quite balanced or tending towards slightly bitter. Everyone's palate is different of course. The real art in brewing strong beer is preventing the alcohol from overpowering the flavours. The strongest beer that I've still found drinkable is Kerel Kaishaku at 15% abv. The claim they achieve the strength while retaining the taste by using a mixture of traditional Belgian beer yeast and Japanese saki yeast (hence the Japanese sounding name that's just made up). Definitely not a beer for the traditionalists (the tag line of the brewery is 'untouched by monks', ha!) but I really like it. No idea if it's exported to the US, but if you do come across it I suggest you give it a try, it's pretty unique. I'd be curious to hear what you think of it. https://vbdck.be/
Cet Homme Charmant Posted March 30, 2024 Posted March 30, 2024 9 hours ago, TRVMP said: The liquor store round the corner from me has a decent selection of Belgian beers but for obvious reasons specializes in local stuff in the few shelves it gives over to beer*. *This is another issue: spirits have to be sold in liquor stores, which close at 9pm and all day Sunday. Beer and wine can be sold anywhere, all day (not quite 24 hours, I think it's 1am it stops now but I'm never up that late to check.) So for really obscure beers you need to order it specially or go to a specialist store, of which there aren't many because even Walmart now has an excellent selection. My local supermarket has a decent selection of imports and every style you can think of - including tripel - brewed locally here in Texas. I don't mind a Belgian-style ale a few times a year but on the whole I find them very sweet and heavy, definitely something for sipping, preferably with food. The rough American equivalent in terms of strength and craftsmanship is IPA; American tastes tend heavily towards hops and resin. I've grown to really enjoy these. Here's the beer selection from my local liquor store, or 'offy' as I still call it https://www.prikentik.be/bier As well as enjoying Belgian beer, I'm also an avid collector of the gasses. Drinking a beer in the wrong glass is a hanging offence here. Edit to add: The Heverlee glass in the centre was actually purloined from Greenock Cricket Club, the beer is only sold in Scotland and Ireland. It used to be brewed here in Leuven, but I believe it's now brewed under license by Tennants.
Guest capitanus Posted March 30, 2024 Posted March 30, 2024 Last time I was in Belgium was in 2008 and the two most popular beers in the local pubs seemed to be Jupiler and Maes. I wasn't all that keen on Jupiler but Maes was nice.
Cet Homme Charmant Posted March 30, 2024 Posted March 30, 2024 54 minutes ago, capitanus said: Last time I was in Belgium was in 2008 and the two most popular beers in the local pubs seemed to be Jupiler and Maes. I wasn't all that keen on Jupiler but Maes was nice. Yeah, Stella Artois, Jupiler and Maes are the three most popular cheap-and-cheerful 'everyday' beers. The relative popularity of them is very regional, here it's very much Stella Artois followed by Jupiler. You'll actually find it quite hard to get Maes on draught here. Jupiler I can take or leave, it's not unpleasant, but I just find it quite bland. Since you were in Belgium they changed the Maes recipe and made it slightly stronger, like Stella Artois and Jupiler it's now 5.2% abv. It also has a slightly more malty taste. Like you I prefer Maes to Jupiler, but of the three of them, my favourite is Stella Artois.
Toby Posted March 30, 2024 Posted March 30, 2024 Good to see Wales getting knocked out. I fucking hate Wales.
Guest capitanus Posted March 31, 2024 Posted March 31, 2024 After the England Shirt going woke debacle, it's nice to see Ze Jormans going the totally opposite direction and being nostalgic for their past: https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1883259/germany-football-kit-blunder-nazi
Guest capitanus Posted April 1, 2024 Posted April 1, 2024 On 3/31/2024 at 8:05 PM, capitanus said: After the England Shirt going woke debacle, it's nice to see Ze Jormans going the totally opposite direction and being nostalgic for their past: https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1883259/germany-football-kit-blunder-nazi and theres more: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68708981
Guest capitanus Posted May 23, 2024 Posted May 23, 2024 Scotland Squad announced for the tournament: Goalkeepers Zander Clark Heart of Midlothian Craig Gordon Heart of Midlothian Angus Gunn Norwich Liam Kelly Motherwell Defenders Liam Cooper Leeds United Grant Hanley Norwich Jack Hendry Al-Ettifaq Scott McKenna FC Copenhagen Ross McCrorie Bristol City Ryan Porteous Watford Anthony Ralston Celtic Andrew Robertson Liverpool John Souttar Rangers Greg Taylor Celtic Kieran Tierney Real Sociedad Midfielders Stuart Armstrong Southampton Ryan Christie AFC Bournemouth Billy Gilmour Brighton & Hove Albion FC Ryan Jack Rangers John McGinn Aston Villa Callum McGregor Celtic Kenny McLean Norwich Scott McTominay Manchester United Forwards Ché Adams Southampton Ben Doak Liverpool Lyndon Dykes Queens Park Rangers James Forrest Celtic Lawrence Shankland Heart of Midlothian
Guest capitanus Posted May 23, 2024 Posted May 23, 2024 Ryan Jack and John Souttar as the token Rangers players, but other than that its a decent squad.
Pedrodelawasp Posted May 27, 2024 Posted May 27, 2024 Two need to drop out of that selection for the final squad. If everyone is fit, you’d think it would be one of the keepers (Kelly) and one other (I’d opt for Jack to drop out). Doubts over Tierney and Armstrong who could miss out that I know of. If they do I’d hope Clarke has some other options on stand by to come in. Certainly wouldn’t want a 4th keeper in the squad at the expense of an outfield option.
Guest capitanus Posted May 27, 2024 Posted May 27, 2024 Get rid of 'Zander Clark' on the basis he has a stupid fucking name. Same for 'Che Adams'. Parents should act more sensibly when naming their weans.
TRVMP Posted June 6, 2024 Posted June 6, 2024 With Lewis Morgan called up to the Scotland squad, this is the first time in 25 years that two born Greenockians have been in the senior national setup together. "Hoppy" and Neil McCann both started against the Czech Republic in a 2-1 home loss in the Euro qualifiers in March 1999. Morgan's a straight swap for Ben Doak.
Cet Homme Charmant Posted June 7, 2024 Posted June 7, 2024 Ben Doak also has (admittedly tenuous) links to Greenock as his auld fella played in the famous hoops
Guest capitanus Posted June 8, 2024 Posted June 8, 2024 On 6/7/2024 at 8:42 AM, Cet Homme Charmant said: Ben Doak also has (admittedly tenuous) links to Greenock as his auld fella played in the famous hoops Grant Hanley is from Wemyss Bay.
Guest capitanus Posted June 8, 2024 Posted June 8, 2024 Final squad announced: Goalkeepers: GUNN CLARK KELLY Defenders: ROBERTSON TIERNEY HENDRY COOPER PORTEOUS McKENNA HANLEY TAYLOR RALSTON McCRORIE Midfielder: McGINN McGREGOR McLEAN McTOMINAY CHRISTIE ARMSTRONG JACK GILMOUR Forwards: ADAMS CONWAY FORREST SHANKLAND MORGAN
Guest capitanus Posted June 12, 2024 Posted June 12, 2024 I arrived in Germany last night and was stopped by the 'Zoll' - the customs - at Munich Airport. They wanted to know my reason for visiting and how much cash I was carrying and whether I had any tobacco, alcohol, drugs or firearms. After a quick search (fortunately not a rubber glove one ) I was on my way. Of all the times I've been to Germany over the years that was the first time I was stopped and searched. They were civil enough when they realised I was just an ordinary guy going to a football game, I only had my luggage and some travel currency but i'm glad I never had anything that I wasn't supposed to have.
TRVMP Posted June 15, 2024 Posted June 15, 2024 We were obviously never getting a point from that but we defended so deep, had guys missing in midfield, punting it to Che Adams was never going to work, and above all Cooper should have started ahead of Porteous. I'd also say it's not Ralston's fault because he's not even close to first choice but he looked totally lost against a Germany side that weren't even especially trying to exploit him. They could have put Musiala out on the left or had Wirtz drift out more and taken the piss for 90 minutes but they were more charitable than that. Both the Swiss and the Magyars will have been watching that with glee and knowing exactly what to do.
RossMcC1874 Posted June 15, 2024 Posted June 15, 2024 I honestly wasn't expecting much but that was a tough watch. I knew Germany were a strong side but their press, passing and finishing was superb losing a goal after 11 minutes and it's always going to be tough and we never recovered. We didn't get anywhere near them and gave them far to much respect, right back was always going to be an issue and Ralston is nowhere near good enough at this level. I have no idea what Porteous was thinking you are never going to get away with that sort of tackle nowadays deserved red and he really let us down don't want to single out players but that was just stupid. Move onto the next two games and see what happens.
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