View Full Version : Beerfest,Backpacking and Hostels
Strike For The South
08-28-2006, 01:29
Well after seeing Beerfest. Me and some friends have decided for a senoir trip to back pack through the old continent. Granted well do this in 20months but one cant plan ahead to much. We were planning to make use of the Hostels. I want to see places like London Berlin Amsterdam and PAris and this is probably the only time Ill get to do this and defintly the only time I can do it in a drunken haze 90 % of the time
Beerfest convinced you to do this?
Strike For The South
08-28-2006, 01:54
yes Im pretty simple
Well, it's a solid plan, but there's one thing that I doubt Beerfest touched on - once you get back from Euroland, you won't ever want to drink your Yank beer again.
DemonArchangel
08-28-2006, 07:13
Mmmmmm.... Bavarian microbrew....
edyzmedieval
08-28-2006, 09:55
Carlsberg or Heineken, but a Duval or a Leffe beats them all. ~D
InsaneApache
08-28-2006, 10:34
Leffe .... what a beer!!! :2thumbsup: It's just as well they come in small bottles. :sweatdrop:
In case you didn't know: Duvel and Leffe are Belgian beers.
So you should definitely visit Belgium.
Don't forget to also try: Westmalle, Rochefort, Grimbergen, Maredsous, Affligem, Kriek Boon and Kriek Lindemans, Westfleteren, Orval ...
Maybe you should only visit Belgium :laugh4:
doc_bean
08-28-2006, 11:01
If you want to go to the big cities I'd advice looking into making reservation. A lot of the hostels are fully booked way in advance these days :furious3:
Also, if it's about beer, come to Belgium. Do train your drinking however, our favourite thing to with Americans is to start 'em off with something like Duvel. This is not your regular beer. Good drinkers can get wasted after about 6. The downside is that it can cause real bad hangovers, also part of the reason we give it to foreigners i guess, nothing cures that headache like more beer :2thumbsup:
Leffe .... what a beer!!! :2thumbsup: It's just as well they come in small bottles. :sweatdrop:
We have them in big bottles, 75cl I believe.
edyzmedieval
08-28-2006, 12:14
Also, if it's about beer, come to Belgium. Do train your drinking however, our favourite thing to with Americans is to start 'em off with something like Duvel. This is not your regular beer. Good drinkers can get wasted after about 6. The downside is that it can cause real bad hangovers, also part of the reason we give it to foreigners i guess, nothing cures that headache like more beer :2thumbsup:
We have them in big bottles, 75cl I believe.
My dad goes to sleep after 2 bottles. Instantly. :laugh4:
_Martyr_
08-28-2006, 12:15
Munich is a must stop place! I did the whole interrailing thing two summers ago. Its a fantastic way to spend a month or so but be prepared to spend a lot of money. It may seem reasonable on the onset but there are so many hidden charges and costs that u really should plan for it. Try stay away from the easiest to get to hostels that are right beside the train stations. Do your research beforehand and at least have a number for a nice hostel in each place you plan to stay. I found the Lonely Planet books to be very helpful. Also, train journeys are made MUCH more enjoyable when drunk... but im sure you would have figures that out yourselves! ;)
The_Doctor
08-28-2006, 13:27
Granted well do this in 20months but one cant plan ahead to much.
So early 2008. In that case you should come to Liverpool, because it will be celebrating the European Capital of Culture. So loads of things will be happening, probably involving alcohol.
http://www.visitliverpool.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liverpool
edyzmedieval
08-28-2006, 15:10
In 2007, Sibiu(in Romania) will be the European Capital of Culture. So, plan to visit Sibiu. Wonderful city. ~:)
http://www.sibiu.ro/
http://www.sibiu.ro/index-en.htm
doc_bean
08-28-2006, 15:56
Munich is a must stop place! I did the whole interrailing thing two summers ago. Its a fantastic way to spend a month or so but be prepared to spend a lot of money. It may seem reasonable on the onset but there are so many hidden charges and costs that u really should plan for it. Try stay away from the easiest to get to hostels that are right beside the train stations. Do your research beforehand and at least have a number for a nice hostel in each place you plan to stay. I found the Lonely Planet books to be very helpful. Also, train journeys are made MUCH more enjoyable when drunk... but im sure you would have figures that out yourselves! ;)
I considered doing the interrail thing this summer, but the prices for the tickets seemed excessive, considering night trains weren't covered and half the trains in Germany charged extra :furious3:
On a side note, anyone been to the Oktoberfesten ? I considered going last year but then I saw the beer prices :help: I 'm considering it again this summer, since I've had a pretty crappy holiday already and my bank account actually has money on it :inquisitive:
On a side note, anyone been to the Oktoberfesten ?
I once went to the "Bierfesten" in Lohr-am-Main. I think you can't compare it to the Münich Oktoberfesten, but it was great fun.
5 € for 1 liter of German (bwah, but after a liter of 3 it starts tasting well) beer.
Guess the Oktoberfesten are even better. :2thumbsup:
Well after seeing Beerfest. Me and some friends have decided for a senoir trip to back pack through the old continent. Granted well do this in 20months but one cant plan ahead to much. We were planning to make use of the Hostels. I want to see places like London Berlin Amsterdam and PAris and this is probably the only time Ill get to do this and defintly the only time I can do it in a drunken haze 90 % of the time
According to my brother (who's done the whole backpaking europe thing) as long as your not Drunk'n'Disorderly you can sleep anywhere. Well in France you can. But this is the same nation where you still have torture chamber bathrooms. Accordin to him some place bathrooms are a hole in the floor with a light hanging from a wire. With toilet paper that is the same consistency as our paper towels. If there is any.
1.Anyway hostels are dirty fleebag places. My bro and his German buddy (an exchange student he met at high school) decided that sleeping outside in parks and rail stations was much cleaner than using the hostels. Which he likened to a toilet that hasn't been cleaned since WW2.
2.If you go to France, learn some French. The French are only snotty arse-faces to people who don't know French. If you know some French even if you have a horrible english accent or speak the Acadian dialect (like my brother) they are actually very nice. In a French sort of way. No offense Louis. :hide:
3.Always be on the lookout for roving bands of Australians. They always have copious amounts of alcohol, and are very generaous with it. When my bro went to Spain to run with the bulls, which he pussied out of. :gah: Why? Because a roving band of Auzzies told him that the locals will rob you blind while your running. So they went into the hills and had a beerfest. So my bro and an Auzzie had a drink off. Little borther won, after downing 16 beers. :2thumbsup:
4.Language won't always be a problem, in western europe. Most school systems require you to learn another language. According another of my bor's German friends in Germany you have a choice of english, french, russian, or polish. In the low countries most people know english. Italy too.
Pannonian
08-28-2006, 18:04
Also, if it's about beer, come to Belgium.
Why, are the import duties lower or something?
Pannonian
08-28-2006, 18:09
2.If you go to France, learn some French. The French are only snotty arse-faces to people who don't know French. If you know some French even if you have a horrible english accent or speak the Acadian dialect (like my brother) they are actually very nice. In a French sort of way. No offense Louis. :hide:
Americans have this strange misconception that the French hate Americans and everything American. They don't. They hate the English and everything English.
Reenk Roink
08-28-2006, 18:13
Well after seeing Beerfest. Me and some friends have decided for a senoir trip to back pack through the old continent. Granted well do this in 20months but one cant plan ahead to much. We were planning to make use of the Hostels. I want to see places like London Berlin Amsterdam and PAris and this is probably the only time Ill get to do this and defintly the only time I can do it in a drunken haze 90 % of the time
Are you going during Spring Break?
You really hate Mexico don't you...
Louis VI the Fat
08-28-2006, 18:44
According to my brother as long as your not Drunk'n'Disorderly you can sleep anywhere. Well in France you can. But this is the same nation where you still have torture chamber bathrooms. Accordin to him some place bathrooms are a hole in the floor
2.If you go to France, learn some French. The French are only snotty arse-faces to people who don't know French. If you know some French even if you have a horrible english accent or speak the Acadian dialect (like my brother) they are actually very nice. In a French sort of way. No offense Louis.No offense taken. ~;)
You see, we're not evil, we are...different. But that doesn't mean we don't like you six billion.
It's just, well, you Canucks and Yanks, you are so, so...strange. Like, you show up in the middle of the night, utterly wasted from three weeks of Beerfests, and then crash in somebody's backyard while loudly proclaiming in a foreign language that in France you're allowed to sleep anywhere cuz' that's what you read one some games site.
So, well, erm...okay. You know, you're Americans and mean no harm otherwise and stuff, so we'll just put up with that.
But it does mean you've got to crap out in the back, eh? No way we're letting you get anywhere near the neat marble toilet up front.
Well after seeing Beerfest. Me and some friends have decided for a senoir trip to back pack through the old continent. Granted well do this in 20months but one cant plan ahead to much. We were planning to make use of the Hostels. I want to see places like London Berlin Amsterdam and PAris and this is probably the only time Ill get to do this and defintly the only time I can do it in a drunken haze 90 % of the time
Go for it. I've stayed in a Hostel in Amsterdam and London. Both were fine experiences. I'd have to say, spend the most time in Amsterdam. The hostel I stayed at was a blast. Everyone got wasted on the back porch while taking bong hits. Fun stuff.
Hmm..spring break, eh? When will that be?
Geezer57
08-28-2006, 21:15
Well, it's a solid plan, but there's one thing that I doubt Beerfest touched on - once you get back from Euroland, you won't ever want to drink your Yank beer again.
This can happen even outside Euroland - I grew up in Brazil, spending a decade there. My first and all subsequent beers (until leaving country) were Brahma Chopp, a local brew based on German recipes, or Caracu (a wierd little dark sweet beer). My first American beer upon returning was put down unfinished, and after a different second brand was worse, I switched to wine and /or mixed drinks. Years later, when the "microbrew" phenomenon swept the country, I tried a few - they still didn't compare. The last beer I've had was a Brahma Chopp my sister brought me from Brazil (she's a flight attendant).
So SFTS, prepare to be spoiled forever - once you get the real deal, your beer habit will probably become much more (imported only) expensive! ~:cheers:
Al Khalifah
08-28-2006, 22:04
I did the whole interrail thing a few years ago. It was awesome. Its pretty easy to get around the "some trains are not excluded thing" - just act confused and scared and normally they let you off. Or you can pretend to be asleep whenever the conductor comes.
That holiday produced my favorite ever phone conversation...
"Hello, Harry... where are you?"
"I'm at Frankfurt station"
"Oh.... Harry... I've woken up in France and I don't know why."
True story.
Strike For The South
08-28-2006, 22:30
This is going to be druing summer, I plan to spend like 5 6 weeks in Europe
No offense taken. ~;)
You see, we're not evil, we are...different. But that doesn't mean we don't like you six billion.
It's just, well, you Canucks and Yanks, you are so, so...strange. Like, you show up in the middle of the night, utterly wasted from three weeks of Beerfests, and then crash in somebody's backyard while loudly proclaiming in a foreign language that in France you're allowed to sleep anywhere cuz' that's what you read one some games site.
So, well, erm...okay. You know, you're Americans and mean no harm otherwise and stuff, so we'll just put up with that.
But it does mean you've got to crap out in the back, eh? No way we're letting you get anywhere near the neat marble toilet up front.
Ah ah ah. I said in parks, specifically under a statue. And on the platform of railway stations. That is where little bro and his German side kick did most of their sleeping. Or on the trains. Those are both public areas, someones backyard wouldn't fall into those parameters. They weren't run out of either by police/security. He also said that most places had what could be recognized by us as a crapper (except for French McDonalds which no 0 toilets in the restaurant :dizzy2: ). Just with toilet paper with the consistency of card board. Here in north america toilet paper is more like nose tissues. But other places have a dark dank room with a hole in the floor to crap in.
doc_bean
08-28-2006, 22:52
This is going to be druing summer, I plan to spend like 5 6 weeks in Europe
Save up a lot of money then, (Western) Europe ain't cheap. For most things the US price in $ is about equal to the Euro price in €, so expect to pay about 30% more for everything. Trains ain't that cheap either, even at discount prices you're looking at 300-400€ (estimate, based on a 1 month interrail pass).
A euro rail pass is the best way to go. Again according to my brother. He said it was a couple hundred euros. But you could go anywhere on the euro rail system.
Another thing he said is that the red light district in Prague is called Prague. :laugh3:
This can happen even outside Euroland - I grew up in Brazil, spending a decade there. My first and all subsequent beers (until leaving country) were Brahma Chopp, a local brew based on German recipes, or Caracu (a wierd little dark sweet beer). My first American beer upon returning was put down unfinished, and after a different second brand was worse, I switched to wine and /or mixed drinks. Years later, when the "microbrew" phenomenon swept the country, I tried a few - they still didn't compare. The last beer I've had was a Brahma Chopp my sister brought me from Brazil (she's a flight attendant).
So SFTS, prepare to be spoiled forever - once you get the real deal, your beer habit will probably become much more (imported only) expensive! ~:cheers:
South American beer is something I've only recently discovered. To be fair, though, my experience is limited to only a few brands, Brahma being one of them. Do you have any recommendations? Feel free to give me a rundown country-to-country, since I haven't tried anything from anywhere outside of Brazil or Argentina.
IrishArmenian
08-29-2006, 05:10
My only beer is Guiness. My family has a long tradition of importing it. If I happen to go to a bar, I normally have vodka. While you are on the topic of drinks that will knock your arses, try a boyler-maker with Guiness and any good quality Vodka. That thing is potent.
Samurai Waki
08-29-2006, 05:15
Ever since my 3rd Trip to Europe (2004) I always thought that German beer was better than Belgian For some reason...mainly because I never had Belgian Beer and the Germans aren't going to go around saying that the Belgian's make a better beer. Boy was I wrong... For Beer, always go with something made in Belgium... when you're in Germany drink Ale.
InsaneApache
08-29-2006, 08:50
Beers I have drunk travelling in Europe.
Portugal: Super Bock, nice very cold, horrible otherwise, but strong. Imperial, Not quite as strong a Super Bock, but a much cleaner taste.
[ii]Greece: Alpha, nice beer but a bit malty for my taste. Mythos, one of my favourite beers ever. Nice clean taste and very, very drinkable.
[iii]Italy: Peroni, :embarassed: ubiquitous beer that everyone can get anywhere. (Unfortunately I did a lot of driving in Italy so my beer consumption was very low. Anyway the wines much better).
[iv]France: see Italy...
[v]Belgium: Leffe A classic in my book, but be careful this one is as strong as some wines. Stella Artois I've drunk this on countless occasions in the UK but it tastes sooo much better when brewed in Belgium.
[vi]The Nederlands: Heineken again drunk this on many occasions in the UK but as in Belgium much, much better than what I was used to. Must be the water they use brewing it. Grolsch see Heineken. Tended not to drink too much beer in The Nederlands as I ensconced myself in their excellent cafes checking out the herbs.
[vii]UK: If you want a good beer, go for the real ales, Timothy Taylors, Theakstons, Samuel (not John) Smiths. Do remember that ale unlike beer [I]must be drunk at room temperature.
when you're in Germany drink Ale.
Well roger me sideways, I never knew ale was available in Germany. The only country in western Europe that I havn't visited (yet). Note to self: must go and visit our German cousins.
English assassin
08-29-2006, 10:05
On a serious note, I dare say it was tongue in cheek but do NOT sleep out in London. If you can't get into a hostel (which would surprise me) cheapy cheapy hotels (ie travelodge etc) are actually not that expensive for a night or two.
5-6 weeks seems like a reasonable amount of time to see England...oh, wait, you want to see that funny lot across the channel too? Realistically then you are going to see London, Oxford, Canterbury, and Faversham aren't you? Faversham, I hear you cry? Why yes, home of the greatest beers on the planet...http://www.shepherd-neame.co.uk/index.html
Seriously folks, we should all nominate one (marginally) off the beaten track attraction in our countries that a drunken Texan who is getting about by train would enjoy. My recommendation is HMS Victory http://www.hms-victory.com/ She's sort of a floating Alamo, after all...
Well roger me sideways, I never knew ale was available in Germany. The only country in western Europe that I havn't visited (yet). Note to self: must go and visit our German cousins.
I've never seen ale in this country(except for Killkenny).
Weissbier is good both dark and light colours. The pils is pretty standard, starting to fall out with the local stuff and I've come to appreciate Polish beer which tastes great and is strong as hell.
There are so many fests here, it'd drive you to drink.
Pannonian
08-29-2006, 11:45
[vii]UK: If you want a good beer, go for the real ales, Timothy Taylors, Theakstons, Samuel (not John) Smiths. Do remember that ale unlike beer must be drunk at room temperature.
Note for any Americans who are disgusted by the thought of drinking warm beer: ale, unlike lager, has flavour. Tastebuds are numbed by low temperatures, defeating the point of drinking ale instead of lager. Also, make sure the ale has low head - the foamy bit at the top. Head consists mostly of air, and has little or no flavour. What air there is should have been the result of fermentation, not carbonation. The ale is wrong if it pops at you like a fizzy drink.
Recommended beers (brewery in brackets):
Abbot Ale (Greene King)
Old Peculier (Theakstons)
English assassin
08-29-2006, 12:58
Urgh, I used to drink Old Peculier at Uni, then one day I realised it was truly disgusting, horrible stale stuff, and no one was being impressed.
Abbot is good though.
Can we sort out the warm beer myth? What it means is bitter should be served at cellar temprature, which is to say cool rather than cold. "Room temperature" is a bit of a misnomer, what we mean is it should not be refrigerated. And of course its never warmed.
My only beer is Guiness. My family has a long tradition of importing it. If I happen to go to a bar, I normally have vodka. While you are on the topic of drinks that will knock your arses, try a boyler-maker with Guiness and any good quality Vodka. That thing is potent.
Used to hate it, but I am now slowly warming towards it. I guess taste changes with age, it's a pity Guiness is a luxory beer here.
And listen to the belgium guys when it comes to beer STFS, that is where the best are from, unless you are more into 'pils', then the Czech republic is where it's at. If you have questions about amsterdam, like why on earth should I visit that hellhole (hey I am a farmboy), try www.channels.nl, mucho info.
The Nederlands: Heineken again drunk this on many occasions in the UK but as in Belgium much, much better than what I was used to. Must be the water they use brewing it
It isn't the same Heineken we drink here, it's Heineken export. I have no idea why it's so popular abroad, it's a pretty poor beer. The 'real' heineken is much better, very natural taste.
Ja'chyra
08-29-2006, 14:16
Beer? Be a man and drink Vodka, oh, and go to Scotland preferably Glasgow.
Apart from that, watch Hostel before you go:skull:
Pannonian
08-29-2006, 15:04
Urgh, I used to drink Old Peculier at Uni, then one day I realised it was truly disgusting, horrible stale stuff, and no one was being impressed.
What did you have with it? The usual crisps, pork crackling and everything salty don't go well with it, while meat meals are somewhat better. Drinking OP by itself is a no-no, as it's definitely not a session beer like Abbott or Spitfire.
Abbot is good though.
Can we sort out the warm beer myth? What it means is bitter should be served at cellar temprature, which is to say cool rather than cold. "Room temperature" is a bit of a misnomer, what we mean is it should not be refrigerated. And of course its never warmed.
It shouldn't be so cold as to numb the tastebuds, but it shouldn't actually feel warm.
Well roger me sideways, I never knew ale was available in Germany. The only country in western Europe that I havn't visited (yet). Note to self: must go and visit our German cousins.
If I'm not mistaken, the style is called Altbier (Old beer, since ale yeast used to be the only kind available). Here's a link to a site with some brands:
http://www.germanbeerguide.co.uk/altbier.html
English assassin
08-29-2006, 15:48
What did you have with it? The usual crisps, pork crackling and everything salty don't go well with it, while meat meals are somewhat better. Drinking OP by itself is a no-no, as it's definitely not a session beer like Abbott or Spitfire.
What did I have with it? Well, this was the bar of the Oxford Union, so about 2000 self important empty headed prats discussing Camus....or was that just me ;-)
Fair enough I can imagine with a meal it would hold its own. Necking as many pints as possible probably wasn't the best idea.
What am I saying? Necking as many pints as possible is ALWAYS the best idea.
InsaneApache
08-29-2006, 15:49
Cheers (sic) for the link Drone, :2thumbsup: I shall keep an eye out for Altbier, (now there's a thing, that's how it would be pronounced in this part of Yorkshire if it was called Oldbeer).
It isn't the same Heineken we drink here, it's Heineken export. I have no idea why it's so popular abroad, it's a pretty poor beer. The 'real' heineken is much better, very natural taste.
I was actually referring to export, not that piss poor stuff they sell in Wetherspoons et al.
Have a pint on me. ~:cheers:
I was actually referring to export, not that piss poor stuff they sell in Wetherspoons et al.
Have a pint on me. ~:cheers:
As long as it's not export, because that was the pint I meant in my post:laugh4:
honestly, the 'dutch' heineken is way better, not as good as Grolsch though.
edyzmedieval
08-29-2006, 19:22
Cheers (sic) for the link Drone, :2thumbsup: I shall keep an eye out for Altbier, (now there's a thing, that's how it would be pronounced in this part of Yorkshire if it was called Oldbeer).
I was actually referring to export, not that piss poor stuff they sell in Wetherspoons et al.
Have a pint on me. ~:cheers:
:laugh4:
How's about some nice Romanian "palinca"? Just 60 degrees. ~D
One small teaspoon, and you'll be off to bed. :sweatdrop:
What am I saying? Necking as many pints as possible is ALWAYS the best idea.
Huzzah!
Wakizashi, Germany still takes the title, even though I've had some impossibly delicious Belgian beers, because of the Schlenkerla line of beers (http://www.schlenkerla.de/indexe.htm). I'm also very partial to Holsten Festbock, but it seems wrong somehow to drink it when it's not snowing outside.
As long as it's not export, because that was the pint I meant in my post:laugh4:
honestly, the 'dutch' heineken is way better, not as good as Grolsch though.
I honestly didn't like the Dutch Heineken to much. I toured the plant in Amsterdam and honestly wasn't to much impressed.
Geezer57
08-30-2006, 02:52
South American beer is something I've only recently discovered. To be fair, though, my experience is limited to only a few brands, Brahma being one of them. Do you have any recommendations? Feel free to give me a rundown country-to-country, since I haven't tried anything from anywhere outside of Brazil or Argentina.
Sorry, GoreBag, I wish I could pass that info on - but I just don't have it. Most of my South American beer drinking experiences date from days when I was much younger - now that I'm in the beginnings of my dotage, I'm pretty much a teetotaler. I do have fond memories, however... :laugh4:
InsaneApache
08-30-2006, 21:02
you could always have a Labatts.....:sweatdrop: :wall:
Big King Sanctaphrax
08-30-2006, 21:54
Personally, my taste fluctuates between British ales and German and Czech pilsners. I'm especially fond of Spitfire, Samuel Smith's, the proper Czech Budweiser, Pilsner Urquell and, being from Cardiff, Brains S.A. (The brewery is just down the road)
I implore other posters to try the Brains, it's a really good beer but it doesn't seem to get a lot of press.
Pannonian
08-30-2006, 21:58
Personally, my taste fluctuates between British ales and German and Czech pilsners. I'm especially fond of Spitfire, Samuel Smith's, the proper Czech Budweiser
Have you tried the dark version? It's even better than the blond.
I honestly didn't like the Dutch Heineken to much. I toured the plant in Amsterdam and honestly wasn't to much impressed.
It's far from my favorite either, just better then the export. The best dutch beers are Hertog Jan and Brand in my humble opinion.
English assassin
08-31-2006, 09:56
I'm especially fond of Spitfire, Samuel Smith's, the proper Czech Budweiser, Pilsner Urquell and, being from Cardiff, Brains S.A. (The brewery is just down the road)
ha, the gospel of Spitfire is spreading.
I drink Brains S.A when I am in Wales but in my experience its called Skull Attack (or Sorry After) for a reason...
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