[Marlon Brando in A Streetcar Named Desire, 1951]
I've been to Australia several times on wine-related visits, and if there's one thing I remember about the tastings, it's the inevitable offer of a 'cleansing ale' afterwards. You might think a drop of dry white wine or a glass of fizz might do the trick and revive a bombarded palate, but I can tell you that a cold beer is the most welcome drink imaginable.
I find a cold beer equally welcome on our (rare) warm and sunny evenings here. In fact, when it's as hot as it has been, I'd much rather have a bottle of Peroni or Stella in my hand than a glass of chilled wine. The dry, slightly bitter, mildly hoppy taste is wonderfully biting and refreshing, and of course the alcohol level is much lower (around 5%) which makes it a much better option when you are thirsty. Plus, beer looks pretty good with sleeveless tops.
