Beer we go!
The football fan who’s bought a tipple from all 32 countries at this year’s World Cup
For the County fans, don’t worry, we’ll have all the build-up to Saturday’s clash with League Two leaders Leyton Orient over the next couple of days. But lots of other football supporters enjoy our daily offering as well, and as my mate’s just booked me a ticket to watch England’s opener against Iran at Edgeley Park on Monday afternoon, I think it’s time to bring you a little bit of World Cup content to wet the whistle.
One man whose whistle doesn’t need to be wetted any further is Gus Hully - he’s got 32 beers to be getting on with, one from each country competing at Qatar 2022. I stumbled across this wacky project on Twitter yesterday, and as a man who’s partial to a wacky project himself, I thought I’d have a chat with Gus for The Scarf My Father Wore.
On a more serious note, many readers will have heard the devastating news over the last few days regarding a lifelong County fan whose wife has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. A fundraising event, to raise money for ongoing treatment as well as supporting a young family, has been organised for Saturday 4 February at Our Lady’s in Stockport and I make no apologies for giving the night a daily plug until all tickets are sold out. Contact details are in the image below.
(35 tickets sold, 115 remaining)
Today’s edition is sponsored by Bask, which is the place to be for all of the big games at this year’s World Cup, which kicks off on Sunday. Thanks to Benji and all the team at Bask for their continued support.
Des Junior
So… You’ve bought a beer from all 32 countries playing at this year’s World Cup. First question: why?!
Well I did the same thing for the Euros in 2016 and 2020, the World Cup in 2018 and the Women’s World Cup in 2019, so I thought one more can't hurt.
Your photo alongside all the beers has had over 80,000 likes on Twitter in less than 24 hours. That’s a bit mad isn’t it?
It's absolutely ridiculous. As if so many people have liked my stupid project.
Where did you get all the beers from? I definitely haven’t seen a Hitachino Red Rice Ale or a Moosehead in my local Bargain Booze.
All over the place! Needed a friend in Barcelona to sort me out with Ecuador and Uruguay; a friend of a friend for Qatar; had to trade with a Belgian guy for Cameroon and a German fella for Costa Rica; I ordered Tunisia off a French website to the same German fella as they wouldn't deliver to the UK because of Brexit; and I had to message a Russian guy on Untappd to see if he would bring me back a beer from Senegal as he was on holiday there. He lived in Italy which made it a bit easier but I got him to send it to the German fella because of Brexit, so I was thrilled when that package of Costa Rica, Tunisia and Senegal all turned up at once. I think that's about it, all the others were acquired from shops and restaurants all over London and a couple from Beers of Europe. Oh, and I got my pal to bring me back a massive can from his trip to New York City over the summer.
Wow. You’ve definitely earned a drink after all that effort. When are you planning to neck them all?
The plan is to drink each beer as soon as that country gets knocked out of the World Cup, so the end of the group stages could be a lot of fun!
Which one are you looking forward to drinking the most?
The Hitachino Red Rice Ale from Japan, as it's a bit different to all the lagers I've got.
And the least?
I can’t say I’m looking forward to drinking the non-alcoholic Istak from Iran, it's bound to be awful.
You’re a Cheltenham Town fan. After losing at home to Alvechurch in the FA Cup, are you looking forward to distracting yourself with some international football instead?
I'd rather not talk about Alvechurch dumping us out the cup, it still hurts! The World Cup can't come soon enough as a distraction but I'm still hopeful we can get a win over Wycombe on Saturday.
Who’s going to win the World Cup?
I reckon it’s got to be Brazil considering the form they’re in and the climate in Qatar. Argentina have got to be in with a shout too. I’m hopeful that England could win it if things go our way but I’m not expecting anything.
When you’re on a football weekend away, what’s your drinking style like? Are you a pub, bar or nightclub man?
Definitely a pub, brewery and taproom kind of guy as I love to try as many new beers as possible.
What’s your best drinking story?
I went travelling around eastern Europe a few years ago and was bar hopping in Mostar, Bosnia. Trying to find the next cool bar to go to, I typed this place into Google Maps and followed the directions. It led me to a bit of a strange road, which I started to walk down, before a uniformed fella came rushing out with a gun, shouting at me in a language I didn't understand. I was bricking it! I did the hand movement for a drink and repeatedly said “pivo” (beer) at him and he clocked what I was after, started to look disappointed and pointed me towards the next road down.
We’re going to keep in touch with Gus during the World Cup and he’s kindly agreed to give us his ratings for each beer, as each country heads home. In the meantime, if you’re looking at the Carling and the Fosters in the fridge, thinking you need a bit more excitement in your life, here’s a full list of Gus’s tipples you might want to stock up on yourself!
Argentina: Quilmes Australia: Cooper's Red Ale Belgium: Chimay Blue Brazil: Antarctica Cameroon: Beaufort Light Canada: Moosehead Costa Rica: Imperial Croatia: Karlovačko Denmark: FAXE Ecuador: Pilsener England: Camden Hells France: Kronenbourg 1664 Germany: Spaten Oktoberfest Ghana: Club Iran: Istak Japan: Hitachino Red Rice Ale Mexico: Modelo Morocco: Casablanca Netherlands: Bavaria Poland: Tyskie Portugal: Super Bock Qatar: Fizzin Melon Saudi Arabia: Hillsburg Honey Senegal: La Gazelle Serbia: Lav South Korea: Cass Spain: Estrella Galicia Switzerland: 1936 Tunisia: Celtia Uruguay: Patricia USA: Miller High Life Wales: Bale Lager
Book a table at Bask for England’s World Cup games
Whether it’s tucking into a tasty treat from Ate Days A Week alongside a Stockport Gin before the game, or dancing to the tunes of DJ Gareth Brooks after it, many County fans have already enjoyed the splendid matchday experience created by the team at Bask. And now you can do the same for England’s World Cup games as well (plus all the other belters like Tunisia v Australia if you fancy it). Table reservations are now being made, which is certainly well worth doing, to follow all the action from Qatar on Bask’s brand new 75” screens. Email hello@thisisbask.co.uk to book.
Stockport photo of the day
Hardcastle Road, Edgeley
I’ve booked a table at the Bungalow for a few drinks before the Leyton Orient game on Saturday if anyone fancies joining me?
The only Christmas gift guide you need this year
39 sleeps to go! The Scarf My Father Wore have curated a beautiful Christmas gift guide this year, from independent businesses across the UK. Check the guide each day, with new items constantly added, before our festive giveaway starts on 1 December!
Today in SK
❓ It’s the weekly quiz at Traders in Marple tonight. Starts at 8.30pm.