#18: Argentina

I figure it's about time I give South America a go. Unfortunately, this continent is not off to a good start.
Quilmes is an astonishingly dominant beer brand in Argentina, comprising around 75% of sales in that country. So it must be great, right? I'm afraid not. Quilmes Cristal (their lager) is one of the most tasteless beverages I have ever encountered. While it doesn't have the horrid metallic flavours of the wretched Taiwan Beer, Quilmes fails to actually have any flavours at all. It is for all intents and purposes a slight variation on soda water. I suppose it could have some value for people who want to drink beer, but don't like the taste of beer, but then again, they're probably better off going for some other kind of drink altogether. The Argentinians are mad for drinking this. Very not recommended. (note: Quilmes make a few other beers, including a stout, but I doubt I could get my hands on them and doubt even more that it would be worth the effort).

Name: Quilmes Cristal
Country of production: Argentine Republic
Style: Lager
Taste: Almost nothing at all
Cost: around AU$4 per bottle
Availability in AU: Low
Cred: Bad (I'm embarrassed to be even photographed drinking this).
My score: 3 out of 10 sovereign debt defaults

#17: India

It's been a while between "drinks" on this beer blog, but anyway, here we go with a beer from the second most populous country on the planet, India. Given the strong market share, and the fact that I had no idea on earth how I would find myself any Indian craft beer (if such a thing exists), I felt I had no choice but to do Kingfisher.

I had unthinkingly assumed there was only one Kingfisher, but some cursory research indicates that there is in fact quite a wide variety of Kingfisher beers out there. However, the Premium Lager is the only one I've ever seen and thus the one being reviewed here.

Although it is on the surface a pretty standard export lager, I actually have some time for Kingfisher. It's hopped but not too heavily hopped, which means its got some body to cut through spicy food, but not enough to overwhelm what you're eating. It also has a hint of fruity flavour to it (am I imagining mango?), which is nice. I'll stick my hand up and say I love wine, but I have completely given up on trying to match wine with curries or similar food. Just give up and stick with beer. This drink for me is a perfect match with curry. This photo shows me drinking it with some spicy fish cakes, which while not curry, turned out to be a pretty good match too. Next time you're getting a vindaloo, see if the place has Kingfisher, and if it does, give it a try. It's not a fancy craft beer but it does the job.

Name: Kingfisher Premium Lager
Country of production: Republic of India
Style: Lager
Taste: Lightly hopped, tangy, hint of mango
Cost: around AU$4 per bottle
Availability in AU: Low
Cred: Medium-Low

My score: 7 out of 10 bizarre aggressively spicy vindaloos