Held down by the Man

So there are some very strange laws surrounding drinking over here. As many have found in Europe there are much looser laws regarding open containers and generally drinking on the sidewalks. So as I was down in Wollongong having a great Saturday night with a family friend we make the short walk to the pub beers in hand. But as I found out 7 hours and 3 bars later they have a much less open attitude to anyone actually inside a bar, and we found ourselves walking home a little before we had actually planned (because leaning against the wall waiting for someone is exhibiting intoxication apparently and that means your out). So lets recap... no PI laws, so you can walk down the street drunk off your ass but the minute you step inside a bar bouncers circle around with an eagle eye for anyone they could even possibly consider throwing to the street. Pubs are held very accountable for things that happen in their walls so the no serving someone more than a few drinks is taken pretty seriously. Oh well guess it makes for a decent story on the only night I really spent out on the town.

Beer at Delirium...

We have found the promise land for beer drinkers!!! At the Delirium Cafe in Brussels, only a short walk from the Grande Place, they serve over 2000 different kinds of beer!!! If you had witnessed Ryan, Rudy, Drew and I in this place, you would have seen 4 guys approaching their mid twenties so excited about the beer selection that you would have thought we were 12 and it was Christmas morning. Check out the website for yourself...http://www.deliriumcafe.be/.

Rulles Triple - good dark beer...this one's got some kick to it!, 8
Delirium Tremens - voted #1 beer in the world...enough said
Floris Kriek - this one is different from our previous kriek but still not one of our favorites (it was suggested by our bartender), again a lot of cherry after taste, 4

The Belgian Broad Jumper

Without further ado....the #1 rated video for the 2009 edition of America's Funniest Home Videos. This is Brad attempting to broad jump to the center of a fountain (that is not running) in Brussels. Fortunately for him, I was the only person who actually witnessed this ridiculous stunt live. Enjoy!

If this shot is a little too dark for your liking, here's a little clearer option (but still just as hilarious I promise you):

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=901229696369&saved

P.S. Yes, he is in nothing but a pair of Jordan's (obviously those didn't help too much), a pair of dress socks and his underwear. Priceless!

Australian Beer

While I'm not going to be covering as wide a variety as my classmates... (its quite depressing drinking alone so I try to avoid it as much as possible) I can report that I have found some great beers another couple time zones away.
I had my first Coopers Pale Ale after over a week of sobriety and it was very nice (influenced more than a little by the large span since my last brew). That was followed by a couple Tiger something or others which were equally enjoyable.
The Coopers Brewery Mild Ale turned out to be even better.
Pure Blonde Premium Lager is pretty crisp as well, but my taste could be slightly compromised at this point.
I was surprised to find Fosters in the liquor store I was at this evening since its about the Taco Bell equivalent of authentic Mexican food for Australian beer (not exactly on tap at any pubs).
Other than that I have just been spending my extra time trying to learn rugby, Aussie rules football and cricket (not holding much hope for this one, painfully slow game). Going to my first Rugby match courtesy of Boston Sci. on Sunday woohoo (Ya corporate seats!).
Another interesting point... on the Australian equivalent of veterans day (ANZAC Day) a betting game that is illegal the other 364 days a year is allowed to be played in bars around the country. Needless to say it was quite a spectacle. Its a simple game that combines well with drinking I guess not too much thinking involved. Just make a big circle of people making bets on how many times someone will be able to throw 2 coins in the air and have them both land on heads (the devils work there, most definitely, kind of like draft beer in Alabama).....
Anyway
Cheers Mates from Australia
Alex

Beer Update!

Juliper - pretty good light beer, realitively cheap, 7
Kriek - this is a favored beer (you can get all kinds), we got cheery and really didn't like it, 4
Primus - probably one of the best light beers we have had, 8
Tongerlo - both blonde and brune are really good, 8
Hoegaarden - one of the best wheat beers I have had, 8
Rochefort - this one is hazy because it is 11.6% alcohol, good dark beer, 7.5
Stella Artois - one of InBev's finest, 8