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?

Holy Shit!

Das Dasein als langjähriger Neckarstädter in Eichbaum-Riechreichweite hat mir nahezu alles verleidet, was mit Bier zu tun hat. Muss ich erwähnen, dass unser nächster Wohnsitz in der Nähe von DA erneut in der Nachbarschaft einer Brauerei war? Anyway, aber eins hat mir der olfaktorische Terror der Hopfen- und Malzindustrie dann doch nicht nehmen können: den Genuss von Malzbier. Dass Karamalz in der Manniheimer Eichbaum-Brauerei fabriziert wird, hab ich aber erst mitgekriegt, als ich aus dem Delta weggezogen war. Anders als Ureich Pils kriegt man Karamalz auch in hier in der niederrheinischen Altbier-Zone...

Klingt absolut grauenvoll und erinnert mich daran, dass es in Bremen immer und überall nach Bier riecht. Wahlweise auch nach Kaffeeröstereien oder Gewürzmischungen von Kelloggs. Wundert es wen, dass ich da weg will?
Qatar klingt immer noch sehr aufregend und spannend :-)
Grüßle aus dem sonnigen Norddeutschland