The best holiday beers in Europe
May bank holiday has come and gone, which is basically the national signifier that British summertime is here and everything is okay with the world. Perhaps the only thing more exciting than the prospect of British summertime is the prospect of hopping on a plane to escape the unpredictability of a British summertime climate.
Just hours away across the British Channel lies a promised land of certain sunshine and majestic pints. I yearn for them year-round. I crave them in the depths of winter as I sip away at my poorly poured Guinness. I long for them in the 17-degree weather of London pub gardens after spending eight Great British Pounds (EIGHT!) on a pint of Jubel. But soon I know that the world of the sacred holiday pint will be mine once more. I cannot wait to bask in its unadulterated glory for as long as my bank account permits.
Mythos (Greece)
Ah, Mythos. Why can I only find you in the UK every few months when Lidl decides to roll out Greek Week? I stash as many in my basket as it will tolerate without buckling. It scratches the itch. A little. But nothing quite satiates my urges like the holy nectar gleaming under the Aegean sun. Raising it to my lips, I intend on moderation, but to no avail. In a moment which, without wishing to exaggerate, can only be described as religious, an epiphany akin to Saul’s on the road to Damascus, I guzzle it down my gullet before ‘Cheers!’. Greedy boy.
Super Bock (Portugal)
For those unfamiliar, this may seem like too silly a named lager to be considered one of the all-time greats. It lacks the Italian flair of a Birra Moretti, or the unpronounceable allure of a Staropramen. Those foolish enough to overlook this Portuguese beer live to regret it. There aren’t many finer feelings in life than a night on the Super Bocks in the Algarve. What better way to wash down all that Piri Piri Chicken than with this prize-winning pilsner-style lager?
Sagres (Portugal)
Partner Content
If Super Bock was Cristiano Ronaldo, then up steps Lionel Messi. Well, actually, they’re both Portuguese, so if Super Bock was Cristiano Ronaldo, then up steps Eusebio? I guess? The point is you can’t split these titans of the holiday pint game, and so, though from the same nation, I had to include both of these rivals on the list. The better of the two comes down to personal preference. If we’re getting technical, Sagres is the lighter, more citrusy of the two, whereas Super Bock has a fuller body with more malty bitterness. Either way, they are both phenomenal pints that I think about far too regularly than I should.
Peroni Red Label (Italy)
We all know Peroni. Your local boozer probably serves it. How could it possibly be so deserving of a spot on this highly prestigious list, then? Well, the Peroni you’re most likely getting offered up under the Italian sunshine is actually a rather different beast than the one we’re familiar with in ol’ Blighty. The standard Italian Peroni is Peroni Red, a darker, maltier lager than Peroni Nastro Azurro, the offering readily available in the UK. Now I love a ‘British’ Peroni as much as the next man willing to be ripped off for his pint, but something about that authentic Italian liquid just makes me shout out “Bellissimo!”. Maybe I’m an impressionable little boy sucked in by the Italian culture, maybe it’s because I’m high on carbonara. I don’t care, I want one now, please.
Mahou (Spain)
While this Spanish lager is increasingly making its way across the British Channel, it is only truly on Spanish shores that it lives up to its mouth-watering potential. Hailing from the city’s capital, it is best enjoyed glugged heartily from a frosted glass. Whether you’re drinking it poolside or having one too many with your tapas, this deliciously refreshing pale lager is a fan favourite in Spain for good reason. Dos cervezas, por favor. Each.
Pilsner Urquell (Czech Republic)
Eastern European-style beer halls have gained massively in popularity in the UK in recent years, and for good reason. While worthy imitations, they still can’t match the experience of cradling a whopping stein like it’s your firstborn in the Czech capital. The drink of choice should be Pilsner Urquell, the country’s largest beer brand. With excellent head and a creamy body, it’s no wonder they’re the choice of British stag do goers in their droves. Drink and be merry, and don’t think too much about tomorrow morning’s hangover.
Dreher Gold (Hungary)
Another stag do hotspot, Budapest’s Dreher Gold is a formidably tasty and formidably cheap pint choice. They provide a distinctively bitter lager offering, perfect for Arsenal fans drowning their sorrows on the stuff after the Champions League final later this month. Poetic. On their website, they say they “take pride in bringing people together and inspiring them to live more joyful lives”. All that for under 2 euros. Bargain.
Related news
The positive impact of women working in beer
