We continue the first round of the 2014 Basketball World Cup of Beer with Group B today. After France cantered to top spot in Group A yesterday, here’s hoping for a higher standard of competition.
On second thoughts, don’t get your hopes up too high. Today we’re going through Group B and, ummm, well at least there are no non-alcoholic beers this time. Here are the six beers vying for four spots in the knockout stages…
Argentina – Quilmes Cristal
It’s better than Brahma so that’s a positive after yesterday’s poor showing from the Americas. A pale, drinkable, and refreshing lager with not a lot going on. This 4.9 per cent alcohol by volume (ABV) beer is at least not terribly watery which, in this round, is pretty much all one can hope for.
Croatia – Ozujsko
A 5 per cent ABV lager, it’s the beer most strongly associated with Croatia. It’s heavy, tangy, and with the tiniest touch of hops. As commercial lagers go, that’ll do.
Greece – FIX
Reds and Greens alike recommended this, the former being particularly shocking given Piraeus has Peralki as a quality craft brew. It is, well it’s, it’s definitely a lager. It’s 5 per cent ABV, pretty clean to taste, and all together inoffensive.
Philippines – San Miguel Red Horse
At 6.9 per cent, this Filipino beer isn’t messing around on the ABV front. There’s a touch of malt and caramel to the taste but it is quite rough going down. You won’t be going back for a second unless your sole intend is to get rat-arsed.
Puerto Rico – Old Harbor Kofresi Stout
Puerto Rico’s win over the USA in the 2004 Olympics group stage is one of the greatest upsets in basketball history. Puerto Rico having a beer that is a serious contender in this tournament has to surely rank up there on the beer front. Old Harbor is good, like really, really good. There’s coffee, liquourice, caramel, and citrus flavours in the taste and the dry feel really polishes off matters nicely in this 6 per cent ABV beer.
Senegal – Flag Spéciale
Umm hi there. In a word, bland. It’s a very thin and watery beer despite its 5.2 per cent strength. If you never learn anything else about Flag Spéciale you will have lived a full life.
The final standings for Group B, remember the top four progress
1. Old Harbor Kofresi Stout – Puerto Rico
2. Ozujsko – Croatia
3. FIX – Greece
4. Quilmes Cristal – Argentina
5. San Miguel Red Horse – Philippines
6. Flag Spéciale – Senegal
Old Harbor takes this one with a shocking amount of room to spare. It’s already, even at this early stage, looking like a straight fight between it and Admiral Benson for the top half’s place in the final.
The bottom half of the draw is much, much, deeper and we kick that off on Thursday with Group C.
