As a German where the prejudice is that we're all driving Mercedes, wearing funny hats and trousers made of leather, and are always drinking beer I have to admit that sometimes, not very often indeed, I intend to drink a beer. During my time in Nigeria I made the experience of Goulder, Harp and Star. And I liked Harp best although I barely drank one bottle.

Now over here I thought I could try the local stuff. Non-alcoholic beer just for the taste of it. Whoever is a passionate beer drinker, this is a warning: don't do it. Don't even think of it!



Whatever is on sale in the big supermarkets hardly is allowed to carry the expression "beer". How can a drink that has been composed throughout centuries out of water, hops and malt be modified with tastes like strawberry, lemon or apple?

After having tried "Laziza regular" once, I know now why. Whatever they fill into bottles is just from the looks something like beer. Whoever has been living in the near environment of a beer brewery once (greetings to all guys living in Mannheim Wohlgelegen or Neckarstadt) knows the smell in the air of brewer's yeast (or barm) which almost makes you throw up. Lucky Mannheimers sometimes get the unbeatable mixture of chocolate smell on top.

So opening up a bottle of Laziza regular beats your nostrils with the same yeast smell. Pouring the liquid into a glass calms you down again, as the look is beer-like. But then the taste. Another attack on your already weakened body. Most probably this is the reason to add artificial flavours to the drink to avoid the body of going immediately on strike.

I did not taste the Holsten yet, as Holsten usually is known for quite good quality, but I think I'll have to offer myself to science to know if this drink will be as awful as the first one.

Anybody interested in 5 more bottles of Laziza?

I found this expat-blog-directory on the net, just surfing via one of my favourites. So I thought that now that I am blogging in English, I could join that community to share my every day's experiences. And they provide a nice little link:



Let's see how this will turn out. (Oh yes, there are still some stories to be written, about beer, for instance, and the flat. Including all the little things you'll have to look at when you move in. Even when it's brand new...)