Speciality Beers

If there’s one thing I learnt in Tanzania, it’s that all the lagers (and, therefore, all the beers) on sale there taste exactly the same.  The one exception to this rule is Castle lager, which tastes almost the same as the rest, but with an added layer of ming to the flavour.

In an attempt to try an make this massive holiday have some sort of point, I have started to collect the labels from beer bottles in a little notebook.  Sad?  Yes, completely, but there are some well pretty labels out there, and it gives me an excuse to drink as often as possible.  After all, it would be a waste to be aware of a new label and not get hold of it, yeah?  Tanzania filled the pages of the book with its range of identical beers from the same brewery.  I was rather bored of Tanzania.  I couldn’t wait for Malawi.

Little did I know that Carlsberg has sunk its Danish claws into the country, and has a monopoly on the beer market here.  But still, that’s a bit of a range and some you can’t get inside the UK, and it can’t hurt to try them, can it?  And I need labels.  So, following the advice of the man at the bar, I ordered a bottle of “Special”.

What I ended up holding was Special Brew.

Yes, Special Brew.  The stuff you get in the UK.  The stuff drunk mostly by tramps.  This beer is the pride of Malawi, the best they have to offer.  So I drank it.  And you know what?  It might just be in comparison to the Tanzanian lagers, but it’s not half bad actually.  And it’s cheap.  Everyone likes cheap.

So I encourage you all to go out tonight and get hold of a nice bottle of Special Brew.  You might even like it.  If not, you’ll get a good sense of what all African beer tastes like.  Roll on South Africa and the Castle Milky Stout!