To each his brew

James Bond likes his martini shaken, not stirred. Sir Cliff Richard would go for wine from his vineyard. Members of Brit Pop band Oasis adore champagne supernovas. But if you are a working-class hero, then beer is definitely the alcohol of your choice (just like me).

So, if you’re in for lager from around the world, head over to Red Box. This hip karaoke place recently held the Beer Appreciation Night for members of the press to quench their thirst for local and international beers with the perfect food pairings.

“Filipinos love to drink, but we noticed that the experience is not complete,” says Paolo del Rosario, marketing director for Red Box. “With the current savvy lifestyle, especially that of the urbanites, we believe that the market is ready to enjoy their beer with international sophistication and style so we’re bringing in top international beer brands and giving them tips on how to get the best out of their beer drinking experience.”

Chef Philip Golding shared the origins, ingredients used, and the brewing process of beers from different parts of the globe. But the best part was the beer tasting and food pairing, which made me appreciate the taste of beer even more. Golding brought vintage beer from Quebec, Canada that isn’t in production anymore and costs P650 a pop. At least, I was able to try the champagne of all beers before the price skyrockets to an all-time high.

“The Filipinos’ strong affinity for beer makes an exciting market to watch for,” says Golding. “As lifestyles become more sophisticated, drinking habits also change. From the usual beer brands on the market, the demand for more diverse and more classy beer concoctions has increased.”

Aside from my all-time favorite San Mig Light, I also love international beer now available at Red Box. The cool thing is that they will feature one foreign beer per month so beer lovers will be in paradise while singing to guilty-pleasure songs. Just remember to drink beer ice cold, don’t put ice on beer, and don’t drink it straight from the bottle to appreciate the flavors and aromas.

To start off, there’s Heineken, which is a light Pilsner. Made of purified water, malted barley, hops, and yeast, this full-flavor lager has a soft, pleasant aftertaste. Enjoy it with grilled German Gottingen sausages and pineapple chunks.

Another German beer I love is Beck’s not only for the name but the taste as well. Made from its signature golden brew, Becks has a full-bodied taste and hoppy bouquet that has a fruity, clean, and dry finish. To get the crisp firmness of Beck’s, pair it with crispy pata that’s simmered and cooked until tender and fried with soy onion sauce.

Named after the star of Christmas and Sebastian Artois, Stella Artois beer hails from Leuven, Belguim. It is a bottom-fermented premium lager with a full flavor and clean, crisp taste.  This “table-beer” goes well with BLT sandwich with crispy bacon, lettuce, and salad tomato kick.

On the spice side, Hoegarden (pronounced whogarden) from Belgium is flavored with coriander. Other ingredients like wheat and Curacao orange peels add to the flavor. Perfect with baked mussels with spinach and cheese.

Kirin Ichiban beer from Japan goes with anything. Thanks to ingredients like wot, inest barley malt, premium hops, Kirin has a smooth finish with no bitter aftertaste. Enjoy it with fish and chips that are marinated and breaded using Japanese breadcrumbs and served with malt vinegar or tartar sauce.

As for the king of beers, Budweiser from America uses the traditional beechwood aging process with barley malt, rice, water, hops, and yeast for a smoother taste and clean finish. Drink, be merry, and enjoy it with Buffalo chicken wings with spicy chili sauce. 

Let’s drink to the salt of the earth like the Rolling Stones now that beer has definitely taken the throne. Cheers!

* * *

Red Box has branches located at Greenbelt 3 and TriNoma. For more information, call 757-6188 or visit www.redbox.com.ph.