It’s hot out there, been riding around in the sun on an open top double decker bus, so a crisp refreshing beer was the go, had a pint of Stella Artois in a pub by the Thames. Followed by a Wolf “Straw Dog”. Has a floral hops character, a light semi cloudy colour, but still that English body and heaviness to it. I’m finding most English beers, being quite full bodied, are much more suited to colder weather and sipping – they don’t have the cold crisp refreshing guzzling qualities that I like in a Summer beer.

So after a visit to the amazing Tate Modern art gallery I’m now enjoying a pint of “Waggle Dance” brewed with honey. On the terrace outside a crowded modern pub on the south bank of the Thames directly across from St Paul’s Cathedral. Goes down pretty easy…

To finish off the day a pint of Guinness to go with my steak. It does taste different over here, much smoother and creamier. Doesn’t have the sharpness or excessive yeastiness that you get in Australia. I think this is the coldest beer I’ve had here so far.

Got back to hotel and slammed down a 500ml bottle of “Fursty Ferret”. That hit the spot.

Finished off the day in a pub on the corner near my hotel in Paddington. Pubs over here are more like big communal lounge rooms: Dark stained wood and leather and nice carpet and curtains, comfy chairs and tables. And they don’t smell! Lots of character, unlike our modern generic sterile hotels, and more homely than our traditional pubs.

Had a pint of Moreland Original. Like virtually all English beers it’s not heavily carbonated so they have to manually pump it up from the cellar, rather than just turning the tap.

Timothy Taylor “Landlord” Ale with my Ploughman’s Lunch at “The Feathers” pub just behind Scotland Yard. Very sweet toasty honey and hint of floral overtones, nice smooth easy drinking on a Sunday afternoon. The Pommy at the bar just ordered a Fosters Shandy!

Followed up by a “Nutty Black”. Creamy, slightly bitter, so full bodied it’s almost as viscous as motor oil!

“Carling”. Mass produced diluted piss. A bit like VB.

Finally, a pint of Kronenbourg 1664 while watching the World Cup Final. This is a beautifully balanced, crisp and refreshing premium world class beer. When they’ve been brewing it for 350 years you kind of expect that they’d have it right by now – and obviously they do…

San Miguel Cerveza

Amstel & Stella!