STUDYING CRAFT BEERS (and other drinks of the world)
by Geli Carney
Curious about craft beer? At Drinks of the World, your curiosity can be indulged all year round – though summer surely lends itself best, with so many opportunities for picnics, barbeques, sailing on the lake…
Think of Drinks of the World as a beer ‘library’ and you can’t go wrong. This place is where you go to carry out your “studies”. Selling anything between 500-600 different beers from around the world at any one time (not to mention numerous wines, spirits and soft drinks) and offering expert advice on taste profiles, it is the brain-child of Stefan Müller, whose mission is to make discovering new beers a pleasurable experience.
The variety is impressive but don’t be overwhelmed … you could start small and try three craft beers made right here in the Canton of Geneva. From there you might look further afield and discover the many varieties on offer from around the Rhone-Alps region. Ultimately, and with suitable (and admirable) dedication, you could expand your horizons and travel the world – if only I knew the Mongolian for ‘Cheers’!
Like its seven (soon to be eight) sister shops around Switzerland, the Geneva ‘Drinks of the World’ store is situated in the city’s mainline train station Cornavin. It is bright, clean, very well organised and – happily for us some-times frustrated shoppers – open seven days a week, from 9am – 9pm. Browsing and ordering is also available on line, click here (unfortunately only available in French and German).
Geneva-based brewers Père Jakob caught my eye, with it’s attractive – and environmentally friendly – hand-painted one litre bottle (you pay a 10chf deposit and the bottles get washed and re-used). I happened to notice this poster for their upcoming festival and since they are one of Geneva’s most successful craft beer producers, I intend to go – and ‘study’ hard. Click here to read more about the festival. Hope to see you there!
Further beer ‘studies’:
- Brasserie du Molard (022 311 11 00) Situated between the Old Town and Jardin Anglais, this lively bar offers a ‘flight’ of its own-brewed beers and serves excellent Flammenkuchen besides. Open Monday – Saturday, early til late.
- Spring Brothers (022 810 80 00) Irish pub with live sports, offers a daily happy hour between 6-8pm every evening. Open seven days a week, 10am til late.
- Le Roi Ubu (022 310 73 98) Also situated in Old Town and, possibly, the oldest pub in Geneva – try this place for the ‘kwak’ beer – a unique serve!
- Au Coin Mousse – 21 different types of optimum-stored and perfectly served beer is on offer at this Les Grottes bar. Click here for my review of the bar.
