BEER IN MADIERA

THIS POST HAS BEEN DELAYED BY 48 HOURS DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AT FUNCHAL AIRPORT, MADIERA.

Mrs Ken and I have just been on another weeks holiday in Madiera. Last year, on our last day we spotted a new "beer house" in Funchal, the island capital. Not having time, I vowed to return.

It is set in the harbour not far from the Christiano Ronaldo Museum - for which an entry fee is charged. The money he earns and he still wants more. Probably to pay for the ridiculous statue outside , and the ugly bust outside the airport named after him.

Enough of the rant - ed.

Anyhow the beer-house says it has an brewery. Looking at the menu  for this mainly food led place, they understate the beer and list it along with the islands main brewery, Coral. ( Which is code for yellow fizzy piss).

Ordering what turned out to a pint in a dimpled glass with a handle, I was looking round to see where  the beer was brewed.

" You looking for someone sir" said the waiter who brought our drinks. 

" Just wondering where the beer is brewed."

" Come, I show you the beer machine"

Inside was this gleaming stainless steel contraption, spotlessly clean with no smell of anything. It looked suspiciously unused but it was going to be  a waste of time asking him as the place was busy and the waiters were dashing around like blue arsed flies .  Anyhow he took a couple of pictures then dashed off to get our food.

 The beer was OK, no idea what strength it was, but it tasted suspiciously like the Coral, bland and slightly sweet. I will never know.

Not to worry,  cos the main beer I like is Superbock Abadia. Discovered this a couple of years ago and it's excellent. At 6%, it is a reddish brown and has a nice malty taste. Even the wife liked it, so 9 bottles ended up in the case coming home.

The hotel we were staying in have started selling Franziskaner Weissbier. At 5 euros for a tall glass, good value for a hotel.They also sell Coral Stout, which is brewed on the island. I couldn't help noticing I was the only one drinking the stout and the Weissbeer, mostly they were supping wine and the Coral bland lager.

Back to the delay.

Madiera is a very hilly island with few flat bits. The airport runway is built on stills, with the sea surrounding it on three sides. On the 4th side , next to the runway , is a cliff that rises inland. If the wind is blowing in the wrong direction this can cause strong crosswinds and turbulence, making it dangerous for plane landings. There are interesting videos online showing planes "having difficulty" 

On our departure day the runway was closed so we had to be bused to another hotel for an extra night. The same thing happened the next day !!. So got home 44 hours late. 

Ready for a few beers tonight at the Marine and the Spice Garden in Shields !!