Frequent readers of the Istanbulletin –yes, both of you- may have noticed a certain drop in our usual high-powered, jack-hammering output. This is due to many circumstances, not least open-mouthed confusion and laziness.
So it is time to revisit the topic of beer. You may recall many moons ago we blind tasted a range of beers, declaring Tuborg Gold the Sultan of the Istanbul beers (Actually we forgot to taste it on the blind night, but we did make up for this oversight later, though that night neither received nor deserved a write-up-ED.) But let’s go out, shall we?
Efes, the scourge of our palates, has a near monopoly but seem to be getting the picture that there are way more beer appreciators than their pissy brew can keep happy.
In a direct dick-slap to Tuborg, Efes has come on strong with Efes Malt. They have ditched the sugar and rice that befoul original pilsner and made something that is not half bad.
More to their credit, and in a move that may just get the Efes board a big wet kiss on the mouth, they have started bringing Duval directly in from Belgium. This is a delicious, meaty blond with a cheeky alcohol rate of 8.5%. Many venues are pricing as a luxury beer (count on 20tl in fancy places) but in Sanat, for example, you will bag one for 11tl.
It is a great beer if you don’t like getting bloated and gassy.
Other beer bargains include Elma Pub in Besiktas, where you get Beck’s on tap for only a lira more than Efes. Bar Ish in Taksim are sticking to 14tl for a Hoegaarden, or at least they were last I checked.
Another great option I have been enjoying is picking up a Leffe from the booze shop located under Nusr Et in Bebek and drinking it in Bebek Park. Proudly secular, the inhabitants of that particular suburb are highly unlikely to cause a scene if you a delicately sinking a bottle of Belgian craft beer. Right?
Let’s pool our resources. Where are the other beer bargains to be had?
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