It’s always good when #beersaturday coincides with a great sporting event and today is one of those great days.
Every 2 years England and Australia battle it out on the cricket field to win the coveted Ashes trophy. This year the Ashes tournament is being hosted by England and it will take 5 separate test matches to decide a winner. The test matches are held at the most prestigious cricket grounds in the country (my home town, Nottingham, being one of them) and each lasts 5 whole days!
For English and Australia cricket fans this event is the climax of the cricketing calendar. To win the Ashes trophy means everything to both players and fans, and the fact that England and Australia are arguably the 2 best cricket teams around makes the rivalry that much more intense.
It isn’t often enough that England get the better of Australia when playing the “test match” format of cricket but when we have managed to win this little earn, I can honestly say there is nothing better. I was fortunate enough to have watched part of England’s glorious Ashes win in 2005 at Trent Bridge and the atmosphere was electric. The whole crowd knew they were witnessing something special and for me it was the beginning of my love affair with cricket. Something else I noticed during that splendid day at Trent Bridge was the interaction between the two opposing sets of fans. English and Australian fans side by side, jeering and cheering in accordance to their own prerogatives. And although the banter was passionate and at times quite abrasive, it was always delivered with a smile and a wink 😉 From the players on the pitch who compete in one of the most complicated sports there is, to the fans in the stands who appreciate and respect the game, win or lose, there really is nothing like the great game of cricket.
So to celebrate the Ashes and today’s final day of the 2nd test match at lords, I offer my #beersaturday companions this very apt ale…
Duration, a wonderful Belgium triple.
Belgium’s very rarely disappoint when it comes to making beer and this one is a real treat. This crisp tasting 8.5% ale is one to be savoured. Take a big gulp if you must but let it linger, allow all the flavours to develop on the tongue. Belgium beer has a great pedigree, so enjoy the moment. These beers never hang around for long and when a really good one finds its way into your glass you can’t just let it pass without appreciation. As we say in England, “that just wouldn’t be cricket”.