When in Rome....

As stated in my last blog, I recently returned from a vacation in the Bahamas.  Before embarking on the ship, my mind wondered about what beers would be available to me during my seven-day excursion.

The inner beer nerd in me decided to do a bit of Internet research on what local beers would be available to me while in the Bahamas. This is easily done this day and age and simply involved a Google search for “beer in the Bahamas.”

Most of what you find in the Bahamas will be your typical macro-style adjuncts. Adjuncts can simply be described as starches other than malted barley, such as corn, rice or sugar. While this is not necessarily a bad trait, it does limit the flavor and characteristics of certain styles.

The hot weather in the tropical islands is a perfect environment for the Pilsner style, light and refreshing yet enjoyable to drink.

Which brings me to my point of this article. Does your environment affect your beer palate? Do you choose a particular style depending on your mood or your current locale?  On average I do not seek out the Pilsner styles here at home, although both marco and micro brands are quite abundant in our area. I personally prefer beers with a bit more character and depth. With that said, I purposely sought out this particular style while on vacation. As they say “When in Rome, do what the Romans do!”

In my journey I found that I rather enjoyed the beers I found in the hot weather climate. But don’t limit yourself to one particular style while searching for a local brew. I found a wonderful stout, which is a style that lends itself to darker, heavier ales that uses pale, roasted and often caramel malts in the recipe and does not seem like it fits in the tropics. You might be pleasantly surprised by what you find.

My advice to craft beer novices and geeks alike is to go outside of your comfort zone and simply try something new. Due to my change of scenery, without any elaboration I rediscovered a style of beer that I would not typically reach for at home. I have a newfound appreciation for the Pilsner style and will not hesitate to seek them out in my native habitat.

In conclusion I would like to share the beers that I found on my journey. First there was the Bahamian Brewing Company, which offers up brands like Sands, Sands Light and Strongback Stout. Next on my list would be Turk Head Lager, only found on the Grand Turk Island. And last but not least is the Kalik (Ka-Lik) brand. All great beers to seek out if you are ever in the islands.

If you want to hear more about these beers visit me over at shouldidrinkthat.com with my co-host as we review these tropical pilsners and more! We don’t take ourselves too seriously but we are quite serious about beer!

Cheers!

Brad