MADmusings #2: Beer Saturday @ Wagamama Wednesday!
MADmusing with a twist this week… mixin' & matchin' with #BeerSaturday!
So, on Wednesday I went out for dinner to a Wagamama here in Madrid. This isn't a blog on the food or dining experience, although I'll touch on that later and perhaps do a separate post should the mood strike, but this isn't #FoodSaturday ;).
No, this is more about the beer. Not my initial intention of course, but why not? I happened to have a couple of different beers there and it's high time I got involved in this classic Steemit activity, can't let all these other beery folk have all the fun!
It's my first entrance in to the B-Sat challenge, so let's see how this goes!
For those not aware, #BeerSaturday is run by @detlev and is a great community project based around this fine beverage. Apparently it doesn't actually have to be on a Saturday, that's just when the entrants have to be in.
Let's dive in…
3 separate beers for your delight, in the order I had them but also as it turns out, order of preference, the last being the favourite… but could that be an effect of the earlier beers?!
Wise White Wonder: Hitachino Nest!
My first choice was actually going to be Asahi, but they didn't have it so I went for this Japanese beer instead. I'm already familiar with the Thai Singha and San Miguel is forever prevalent, so I went for this feisty little number.
Weighing in a slightly punchy 5.5%, this White Ale is brewed with wheat malt, and flavoured with coriander, orange peel and nutmeg. And the owl on the front surely symbolises the increase in wisdom of each passing sip and bottle.
Good, but let's see what else we can do here…
Picky with iKi!
Sticking with the Japanese theme, here we have a particularly 'healthy' product, according to the ingredients and marketing. Bounding around words like 100% organic, green tea, no additives, antioxidants… it would appear you would need to drink many in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle ;).
I had the iKi Yuzu version (there also exists a iKi Ginger which is a bit stronger, and more gingery I imagine), which was a lighter 4.2% and more refreshing. According to the website (yes, I research these things), "It fills your mouth with a clear umami flavour, followed by a aftertaste that tantalises the palate leaving you wanting more".
But did I have more? Nope, which brings me on to item number 3 and the pièce de résistance…
Enlightened Beer with Lucky Buddha!
Sure, I'd sit under the Bodhi Tree and sink a couple of these, no probs. This was my favourite of the 3, although my judgment may have been swayed with the previous 2 (along with the cheeky Mahou I had before leaving home), which could have lightly oiled the decision making parts of the brain.
Tasty, but also the best marketing and the best bottle design. I actually kept the bottle as a souvenir, but alas, left it in the next bar! Oh Buddha. This is a Chinese beer, and if you're looking for a path to enlightenment, this could be it! Or it could make you care less about the pursuit, either way ;). 4.8% in strength and the best all-rounder of the bunch.
Drinking's a form of meditation, right?
_____
The food itself was fine, but not overly inspiring (my dish anyway). Needed to add a little juice and spice to lift things up - soy sauce and chilli flakes were my friends that night. Good portion sizes and friendly staff win the day, so I'll go back at some point, not least to get another Buddha!
There are 4 locations now in Madrid, so check 'em out if that's your kind of thing. They're a British based chain serving Asian inspired cuisine, so available in the UK and a number of other countries too.
Crew from 'WagWed' - that's me displaying my trusty 'Lucky' Buddha bottle!
Beer on! :)
~ Adam
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I have never tried Japanese beer. Some interesting additives and flavourings - were they as wacky tasting as they looked?
Actually, not too wacky tasting. Once you get past the packaging and marketing, they were fairly regular beers! All good though. I haven't drank Japanese beer before (not knowingly anyway) so that made a nice change, and still a few more of them to try…
So I'm salivating reading this post. I really do enjoy Japanese beers, but have only tried the usual suspects: Asahi Super Dry, Kirin Ichiban, Suntory and Sapporo.
In reading the descriptions, I think I'd prefer the Hitachino Nest due to there flavor, but the little green budda bottle of the Lucky Buddha would have me trying that for sure.
Sorry you left it in the next bar, but then that's a good reason to "try" it again :)
Cheers! 🍻
Yeah, they were a delight!
I think white beer is a more acquired taste, so I'll drink it when I'm in the mood but not necessarily choose it generally. Makes a nice change though.
And yes, I'm a sucker for gimmicks, so a beer with the name and shaped like a buddha will at least win come curiosity. But also the beer itself tasted like I would order anyway even without the quirky hook!
Sure, I find I need to 'try' things several times anyway… often in the same night ;)
You mean like this bottle? It's not beer but... :). This is only the miniature version (we have a few of them lol) The large bottle is pretty cool!
Yeah, that's cool! Something I'd probably keep as a souvenir… then lose somewhere ;). Vodka? That's entering a whole new territory… #SpiritSaturday!
ooh... now you're talking #SpiritSaturday
And yes, it's Vodka :) Chrystal Head Vodka
Crystal Head Vodka is a brand of vodka manufactured by Globefill Inc. in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It was conceived of and founded by actor Dan Aykroyd and artist John Alexander in 2007
Nice write up, i have resteemed
Great, thanks!