Another Saturday is here, and I still don't dare pour a cold beer down my throat and persistent cough. And it's hot and I'd be happy to do that.
Still, it's better to be patient for a few more days and not risk the return of sore throat and cold.
But that doesn't stop me from remembering one Saturday a month ago, when I sat down with my friends at the Vinogradi restaurant near Grocka, on the road between Belgrade and Smederevo.
We had an appointment for lunch, and as it was very warm, beer was the best choice.
We all decided on the same - Belgian wheat Hoegaarden beer. They didn't have any on tap, so we took bottles.
Hoegaarden is a beer with 4.9% alcohol, extremely cloudy with a light golden-yellow, almost milky white color.
It stands out with a distinctly refreshing taste, dominated by the taste of orange peel, lemon and sometimes banana.
The creators of the taste of this beer are Belgian monks, who 600 years ago experimented with adding herbs to their beer and thus came up with the aromas that this beer still has today.
The spicy note of coriander stands out, and notes of cloves or pepper can also be felt.
Hoegaarden is not bitter (from 11-15IBU), so it is mild and drinkable.
It's nicely balanced, sweet and slightly sour at the same time, so it's very refreshing.
In the restaurant, they didn't have distinctive glasses in which Hoegaarden is served (crispy glasses), so after drinking the first one, I decided to change, although my friends continued with Hoegaarden.
On the recommendation of the waiter, I took Valjevsko beer.
Valjevo brawery, with a tradition of 160 years, since 1860, has been making quality beers.
The most important ingredient in beer is water, and the Valjevo brewery is supplied with water through an internal pipeline from the Pakaljski spring, which is 9 kilometers away from the brewery, at the foot of the Jablanik mountain. It is spring water of exceptional quality, one of the best in Serbia, so the beer is also of high quality.
Valjevsko beer is a light lager with 4.8% alcohol, moderate bitterness with 20 IBU, so it is pleasantly bitter and drinkable.
Its color is golden yellow, with a rich and lasting foam.
It contains, in addition to spring mountain water, barley malt, corn grits, hops and yeast.
Chilled to 6-8掳C it was very refreshing and I liked it.
As I was supposed to go to Bansko and Kavala that evening, where I spent several beautiful days, and where I drank super craft beers, I stopped to drink beer and until I went home I enjoyed the company and the beautiful view from the terrace of this restaurant.
We were greeted by a beautiful sunset from the restaurant.
I bid you farewell until next Saturday, when I will be able to enjoy some new flavors of chilled beer, which I already have on my tasting schedule.
