Bintang
Rented daily at the Fiki Fiki Bar on the beach at Kuta, this was a functional and fun beer. Alex, Max and I bombed onto the beanbags and the boys each had a (young) coconut as the sun submerged into the Indian Ocean. Somedays, Alex then surfed for an hour, while Max and I yakked and repelled the unrelenting torrent of often comical hawkers. There were cultural and interpersonal lessons for all. On successive days one fellow tried to sell us (purportedly) temporary tattoos featuring enriching life advice such as, ‘Talk shit, get hit’ and ‘You wish, jellyfish.’ However, removed from a convivial context, Bintang can be a dull, flavourless slog. It’s occasionally the sole option at local restaurants but let’s not be overly critical for a beer is a beer is a beer, as almost sung by a faceless German techno band in 1985.
Diablo IPA
An India Pale Ale in Indonesia? The homographic repetition of ‘Ind’ could be a good sign. And it is. On Saturday after yoga, Claire investigated a Bintang supermarket (no relationship with the aforementioned beer) and bought herself a few treats (including a dress ring) before returning with a new beer for me to investigate. It was a restorative change and, after dark, I scrutinised it as we collapsed in and out of the villa’s sparkling water. Gang of Youths soared into the sultry Ubud air. Invigoratingly zesty and aromatic with citrus, it’s well-suited to the tropics and at 4.9% comes with not inconsiderable clout (hence the name Diablo, even if a little overstated). I might try to get some in Glenelg.
Prost
Clean and crisp, this golden lager is amicable, and you know the name is German for ‘cheers.’ In Ubud, I’d collect a pair at the Ratna supermarket for poolside refreshment, however there was early distress during our stay as I couldn’t find the villa’s bottle opener. So, despite my brash promises of cultivated behaviour, I had to knock the top off with a decidedly bogan methodology (no teeth were involved). Ultimately, this beer displays only minor charisma despite its slogan proclaiming the philosophically knotty and largely indefensible, ‘Good people drink good beer.’ I also read a suggestion that Prost has ‘notes of corn and hay’ but remain unsure as I didn’t share my ale with any English-speaking local livestock.
Images courtesy of Mickey Randall.
To return to our Footy Almanac home page click HERE.
Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.
Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?
And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help things keep ticking over please consider making your own contribution.
Become an Almanac (annual) member – click HERE.
About Mickey Randall
Now whip it into shape/ Shape it up, get straight/ Go forward, move ahead/ Try to detect it, it's not too late/ To whip it, whip it good
- More Posts
Australia thanks you for your dedicated commitment to this significant research, Mickey! ‘Better the Diablo you know than the one you don’t’, perhaps?
Mickey,
I have long believed that, when we are in more tropical climates, we have a greater tolerance for what I would call “shit beer”
Very good, Ian. I love the intersection between text and context, and this is most fascinating in beer. I had lunch Friday with a couple of Kapunda boys and as I was driving had a mid-strength ale or two. These were easily the best I’ve had, and I immediately tied to track them down. I’m nervous to secure some because they’ll be cans as opposed to on tap but also because I’ll have them in vastly different circumstances. But will probably give them a go.
Agree with that, Smokie. See also, FNQ and Great Northern.
Good to see beer reviews form your essential travel activities MR. A guide such as yourself allows the reader to dip into a few new beers and roll with your effortless prose.
And text/context, I’m with you on that, as Franks sings, You can’t have one without the other.
Not sure I share the same insouciance as you and Smokie re greater tolerance for substandard beer. My happiest moment on Greek Islands (don’t get me started on Mythos) and Koh Samui was finding the bar that stocked the wider range of said country’s craft beers.
Thanks Rick. I reckon the plan is to jump into the life of a local while you’re there, including craft beer (even though precious few locals might consume these). Of course, there’s danger if you try to replicate those joys when you get home by sourcing the things you so enjoyed overseas! I quite liked Mythos when in Greece (context again, I suspect) and have largely ignored it since. Is it like a holiday romance?
Although I suspect Plugger’s off the beers nowadays, I was tempted to spend some time at Seminyak’s Tony Lockett Beach Bar, to satisfy my inner bogan. Time didn’t allow.