Standing on the SCG for a Sydney reunion.

Went to Sydney for the weekend as a result of friend Darren visiting for a training conference.

As a result we had somewhat of a reunion of a classic boys weekend away from years ago. You see Tony, Darren, Steve and I had a classic last minute long weekend years back. One where we booked last minute for a night in Sydney. So this time round it was only fitting to have another weekend with the same guys.

This time we didn't dine at The Rocks. We drank at the bar at the end of the Pier where the Sydney Dance Company is. And what a view it was.

And then we also did a very Australian thing to do. Went to the Sydney Cricket Ground. However it's football season not cricket season. So instead it was a game of the Sydney Swans as the main attraction. A fitting event for Darren considering his locality elsewhere these days.

We also didn't stay out until near sunrise. We're older and wiser now. We understand the consequences of staying out that long.

German Beer helped me finding my style

Final beer blog of the trip. I'm sure everyone finds beer more interesting as a drinking item... less so as a blog topic.

This entry I dedicate to German Beer.

I enjoy German beer.

Can't say I've really really over indulged on German Beer in recent history. But for me this is because I'm too busy enjoying the beer. I've not always in the past enjoyed beer.

German Beer has helped me find what I am after in a beer. And that is flavour. Australian beers (often lagers and bitters) I've never I've really responded to with a "wow that's a great beer". But in Germany I really discovered "wheat beers" with that taste of lemon. Or a taste of Coriander.

One rule I gained. I'll never say yes again to a really, really malty beer. I'm still traumatised. It was horrible, and non alcoholic also! I've forgotten the brand of it. But I'd remember it if I passed it in the street. It was so bad I left it on the table and bought another.

This trip introduced to me the concept associating these different beers with regions and style. Whether that be Altbier, Kölsch, or any Bavarian Beer it doesn't matter. They all had their own character. Some I like, others I hate.

At least I can now go to a bar to order beer and start to ask the bar staff about their beers in my quest to find a beer in a style I want to drink. Not just the beer which is on tap.

Thank you Germany for your beer. Please send a decent beer brewmaster to Australia.

Beer. The international language in Belgium

Before I made it into Belgium and Germany there were 3 days  in the UK. Enough time to try a drop at the local.

The week in France was dedicated to skiing. So I drank very little there. Too tired to drink beer most of the time. And I don't drink when skiing. Just in case you break a bone when skiing. You want the pain killers to work for you.

So that meant the next beer photos were from Brussels.

Jupiler was just the introduction. After that I remembered I'm in Belgium. They make good beer.

They make lots of beer.

Life was obviously good.

So then I started to see there were so many beer options available.

Something would have to give.

Then I came across this sign in a park in Brussels. The decision was made for me.

Whew, what a relief.

This meant I could focus on the beer. Without the need to go jogging. Holidaying in Belgium was much simpler from this point forward.

Don't let the fact that I was never a jogger before seeing the sign confuse you. I still gave up jogging.