Upon return from a two week overseas business trip (pictures and details to follow later today), I had a four hour layover in London's Gatwick Airport. Those few hours are the only time I've ever spent in the UK.
The customs and security procedures were absolutely HORRENDOUS, so I barely had time to grab a pint before boarding the next flight. The choices at the bar were very limited: John Smith's, Beck's, Heineken, and Guinness on tap with virtually nothing available in bottles. So, I chose Guinness, thinking that I'd test the rumo(u)r that Guinness in the UK is infinitely better than what you get in the US.
It was a nice pour, served way too cold, that tasted EXACTLY like what you get from a tap here in the US (dare I say virtually identical to what you get from the widget can?!). Now, if I had a pint served real ale style from a beer engine in Ireland, perhaps things would be different. I almost shed a tear in my lackluster pint of stout when I noticed posters everywhere advertising a huge real ale festival in London this very weekend.
The customs and security procedures were absolutely HORRENDOUS, so I barely had time to grab a pint before boarding the next flight. The choices at the bar were very limited: John Smith's, Beck's, Heineken, and Guinness on tap with virtually nothing available in bottles. So, I chose Guinness, thinking that I'd test the rumo(u)r that Guinness in the UK is infinitely better than what you get in the US.
It was a nice pour, served way too cold, that tasted EXACTLY like what you get from a tap here in the US (dare I say virtually identical to what you get from the widget can?!). Now, if I had a pint served real ale style from a beer engine in Ireland, perhaps things would be different. I almost shed a tear in my lackluster pint of stout when I noticed posters everywhere advertising a huge real ale festival in London this very weekend.