Alco Asians

According to Drinks International, Asia is already the world’s largest spirits market, downing 47% of the world’s supply. And wine sales are predicted to rise before 2013 by 25%!

Well done people. Proud of ya!

Go Asians!

Go Asia!

The forecast growth in wine outstrips that of North America, which is expected to grow by 7.6% while mainland Europe is expected to show negligible growth.

China, India and Japan alone account for 90% of Asia Pacific’s alcoholic drinks sales, probably due to their huge populations.

The ol skool wine-producing countries are still in charge – France, Spain and Italy are expected to continue to account for about 50% of the world’s wine.

The Japanese drink 2.3 litres of wine per head a year, Hong Kong 3.3 and Singapore 1.9, while British wine consumption has attained around 23ltr per head of population. The traditional wine producing countries, France, Spain and Italy drink approximately 40ltr per head. Winos.

No data on Malaysians specifically, but am sure we drink shitloads. Mat sallehs regularly freak out at our ‘enthusiasm’ and determination.

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Beer tasting @ Craft Brews

Beer. The world’s oldest and still most widely-consumed alcoholic beverage, usually made from malted barley, with hops added for flavour, and for bitterness, to counter the sweetness of d malt.

Its been around for ages – fuckers have been gettin drunk for at least 10,000 years! (And still no real hangover cure?? Other than this recent attempt. Dafuck man. Goddam slackers.)

There are two types of beers in the world – lagers and ales. Explain in a sec.

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Bitches lined-up

Last week tried out some American craft beers available at Craft Brews (7722-3000). Earlier in the month tried their draft beers.

These babes are from the Flying Dog Brewery, an award-winning one that began brewin d piss in Aspen in 1990.

It wasn’t a beer-pairing dinner; just beer. Four of ’em. (Hmm. Dunno why no bars / restaurants have hosted beer dinners.)

To kick off t’was Old Scratch (amber lager). Obviously the colour is amber as its a lager.

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Beer with ticks on d label. Appetizing

Wats da diff between a lager and an ale? To d layman, a lager is a pilsner like Tiger, Chang, Angkor, Bintang and all d beers brewed in this region. Its filtered, clear gold, crisp, and has a clean taste.

An ale is generally unfiltered, usually darker beer.

The difference in creation is lager uses bottom-fermenting yeast, ie yeast that gather at the bottom of the fermentation barrel. Ales use a top-fermenting species. Like cider. And wheat beers.

Ales are generally robust, more complex, bolder and stronger in taste and aroma, and normally darker. Very common in US, Europe, not really in Asia. Early beers were all ales. They usually have a higher hop content. Stouts fall under ales.

The strongest beer made so far is 32% – the Tactical Nuclear Penguin. Haha! Penguin also kena exploited.

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A pack of crazy dogs

Anyway the Ol Scratch (5.5%) is a malty beer, more on the sweet side, but mellow. The finish is light.

The Snake Dog (India pale ale) is a different story altogether. Its fosher a straight-up, big-dick ale. The aroma is of…. lychee. Seriously.

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Grace tryin to figure d beer with the highest alco content

The IPA is hoppy (meaning heavy in hops). Translation = bitter. Tasting-buddy Grace, who’s a freak, digs dis.

The finish is pretty strong & long. ABV is da highest among the four – 7.1%.

Hmmm. Now Grace’s choice makes sense.

Its got an IBU (some new shit i learned) of 60, which means its goddam bitter. All these bottles have an International Bitterness Unit number at d back, ranging from 12 to 60.

Next, the Doggie Style (classic pale ale).

Dis dude’s got character, a lil too much character for i n Grace. It’s gotta real bite. But a shorter finish than the Snake Dog IPA. ABV is 5.5%.

Checkout like real, taking notes n shit

Checkout like real, taking notes n shit

Its supposed to make u engage in doggie-style d same night. Didnt happen.

Even if it did, i aint no snitch.

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If dogs could fly....., I'd watch out for dog shit

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Final beer’s the In Heat (wheat hefeweizen – 4.7%). Its got the aroma of pisang goreng. No shit.

Dead easy to drink, the traditional German hefe is my fave. Simple unfiltered wheat beer.

Choices....

Choices....

My ranking – In Heat, Ol Scratch, Snake Dog, Doggie Style.

Grace – In Heat, Snake Dog, Ol Scratch, Doggie Style.

A hydrant beer-dispenser? Great spot for a dog to take a leak

A hydrant beer-dispenser? Great spot for a dog to take a leak

The beers are only served from bottles and cost $20.70.

Party continued as we hit Alexis with my buddy Rubin for long islands. Got pretty bent on d way there.

Rubin n Grace fight for sum wine i brewed

Rubin n Grace ungraciously fight for sum wine i brewed

Senget, altogether now...

Senget, altogether now...

Brain damage: 6.5/10

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Sussin out Sumatra

Did a six-day work-related road-trip on the fucking huge island called Sumatra, Indonesia. Sixth largest in da world.

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The default beverage, but surprisingly not many Sumatrans drink it. They prefer the cheaper local moonshine

Landed in Medan but was on da road most of d time for work with my local contact Heri. Started well, as dinner at his place was ubi leaves and babi panggang. Awesome shit! Thin strips of lean charcoal-bbq pork.

Lots of them in north Sumatra are Christians.

Dats da shit man! Aka BPK - babi panggang Karo. D sambal on d left is in some pig blood / chili cocktail shit

Dats da shit right there. Aka BPK - babi panggang Karo. D sambal on d left is in some pig blood / chili cocktail

Probably more churches there than here. In every village

Probably more churches there than here. In every village

Medan is a typical Indon city – noisy, dusty, crowded.

Sorait. Aint my scene.

Plannin our route. There're blackouts almost every damn day in Medan

Plannin our route. There're blackouts almost every damn day in Medan

We headed south to Berastagi, up in the hills at 2,000m+ above sea level. Nice.

Cold place. Main thing goin down here is vegetable & fruit farming. Stayed at a joint called Bamboe Hill or sumtin. Pretty cheap at about 44 bucks, if u excuse d goddam mosquitoes!

With Heri after a night of minimal sleep thanks to crazy mozzies

With Heri after a night of little sleep thanks to crazy mozzies

View from bed, with accompaniment for d cold night in white box

View from bed, with accompaniment for d cold night in white box

The backyard area of our accommodation leading to a lil bench

The backyard area of our accommodation leading to a romantic lil bench

View from hut

View from hut

One of the three mountains near Berastagi

One of the three mountains near Berastagi

Berastagi is the only place i liked among all the ones we were at, like Kabanjahe, Medan & Siantar.

Fruit feast, Berastagi market

Fruit feast, Berastagi market

Same market. D dude said the white ones "Paling enak." Haha

Same market. D dude said the white ones "Paling enak." Haha

Poser. The mountain at d back is volcanic, and was brewing

Poser. The mountain at d back is volcanic, and was brewing clouds of vapour

Veg farms, Berastagi

Veg farms, Berastagi

Pretty tiring being on d road so much. The dust, heat, noise, diesel smoke, etc gets to u. There was a point on d road where we didnt shower for two days! Dirty cowboys. So dam good to see a mirror & a proper toilet when i got back to KL!

Our ride for d trip, aka The Tank

Our ride for d trip, aka The Tank

Of course no trip is complete without sampling the local talent. They got sumin called tuak there. Had it during a bbq at Heri’s chicken farm. He’s got 10,000 birds almost ready to be sold & slaughtered. So they just grabbed a few to burn.

Talk about convenience.

Chicas lined up, to layan the sunset i guess

Chicas lined up, to layan the sunset i guess

Lookin cute...

Lookin cute...

cuter...

cuter...

...then lookin cuter. Haha

...cutest. Haha

Their so-called tuak is nutin like d one here. Theirs is made from coconut sap, like regular toddy. It looks n smells like toddy but tastes like bland tuak.

Not a good combo. I switched back to Scotch.

Local brew (in black bucket)

Local brew (in black bucket)

Also gobbled some Nasi Padang is a town called Siantar

Also gobbled some Nasi Padang in a hill town called Siantar

Final day breakfast - pack of Nasi Gurih, local version of Nasi Lemak. Some spicy-ass noodles thrown in as well

Final day breakfast - pack of Nasi Gurih - local version of Nasi Lemak. Some spicy-ass noodles thrown in as well

Havin kopi ginseng with a coupla local boys

Havin 'kopi ginseng' with a coupla local boys

Poser, at Heri's huuge guava farm

Poser, at Heri's huuge guava farm

Heri with a new buddy, Berastagi. Maybe coz of d cold weather, all dogs there are furrier

Heri with a new buddy . Maybe coz of d cold weather, all dogs in Berastagi are furrier

Even ol' Bill is in on it

Even ol' Bill is in on the babi panggang gig

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Brain damage: None. Minimal drinkin!

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