With those Pugmahon cheers still ringing, here's a rejoinder to my SCMP Dublin Jack feature, replies to some of Shri's comments and some general perspectives about beer.
"My only problem with the review is that its too PR driven"
Both Reema and I like the Dublin Jack very much. She likes the food, the cosiness of the upper level and the F1 racing on the big screen. I like the atmosphere in the main bar, the Guinness and the posters. When I want to give out-of-towners a feel of HK pubs, I often take them to DJ.
For me it's also a little personal as DJ was the first pub I ever visited in HK. Also last year when I was going through a slight
'low' period, I often used to drop in here for a pint. So I've been wanting to write a feature on DJ and finally managed to persuade SCMP ( they were a little reluctant at first as they've covered it many times before) . Before I wrote the piece I refreshed my memory with two visits to the pub specifically for this ( some geoexpaters were party to one of them) and only then met up with the Manager over breakfast to get some information.
The best part about pubs is that everyone has their own favourites, often for very personal reasons. And that's the way it should be. And one bad experience, one snooty waiter, one glass of stale beer or half-fried chips can turn you off a particular pub for life. I haven't had a bad experience in DJ yet, and continue to like the pub. While I am not crazy about it, I still think it is one of the better pubs in HK. And because I absolutely adore Guinness, I guess I go there a little too often. For pure atmosphere, which is always one of the key reasons to like a pub, DJ is far superior to Delaneys or Whiskey Priest or Dot Cod. Or that's what I think. I love it when others think different, and take me to their favourite pubs to prove their points.
"Why is it that Irish pubs are far more expensive than the regular pubs?"
This probably has something to do with the price of Guinness, which is always one of the most expensive drinks around. Possibly due to the vice-like grip Guinness has on the Stout market all over the world, partly due to the legends surrounding the brand and partly due to the fact that the Guinness in HK comes from Malaysia Which is why it is a good idea to go to Irish pubs at Happy Hour and enjoy the black stuff at better prices.
(Those who like Irish pubs may like to read an absolutely rip-roaring book called "McCarthy's bar' written by a guy called Pete Mccarthy. That book gives some indication of why in Ireland the pub is THE social institution - not the church, not marriage, not rugby, not politics. And if Irish pubs interest you, try doing a search on the best beer sites:
www.beerhunter.com, www.worldofbeer.com, www.protzonbeer.com, www.realbeer.com
And finally a word about 'ice-cold beer' . This may seem like blasphemy to some, but my humble suggestion is that only bad beers need to be drunk ice-cold. Drinking beer at that tongue-numbing temperature probably refreshes you but doesn't let you 'taste' the beer.
That's fine for the Budweisers of the world which don't have any taste or flavour to speak of ( try drinking a Bud or a Carslberg warm - it tastes like piss) but to me it is a bit of a shame to mask the flavours of a good beer by drinking it straight out of the freezer.
Generally most bottom-fermented beers like lagers are drunk cold and again generally American ones are drunk colder than their Czech or German counterparts. Except the American microbrews which have particular temperatures at which they taste best. Top-fermented beers like English ales are drunk lukewarm ( try asking for a cold ale in an English pub !!). The best Belgian trappist beers carry a note on their label that they should not be drunk at temperatures lower than 18 c. Guinness - to me - tastes best when drunk cold, not icy, as what's the point of drinking it if you can't feel the brilliant charred malt flavour ?
But then lots of people like drinking Guinness ice-cold. In fact many pubs serve two versions of Guinness - one regular and one ice-cold. Different strokes for different folks. And once again, that's the way it should be.
I was planning to carry on with some perspectives about beer in general but this has already become far too long and I fear the moderator's scissors will do their thing if I don't stop now. More when we meet folks, and as far as I remember the next round's on Shri !
