Broz, The Sequel

Slovenia 0 v England 0

Tuesday 11 October 2016

FIFA World Cup Qualifier Group F

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The Football

I'm not sure. Are we supposed to beat teams like Slovenia any more? There is nothing dynamic going on. Joe Hart has kept us in that game. Time & time again. And some of those great chances came from poor defending & defensive errors. We seemed disorganised at corners. The Slovenians cottoned on. Some shooting on sight. They'll be disappointed not to have got on the scoresheet.

We don't seem to have got the simple idea that you stretch them one way. Then stretch them again. Keep your foot on it. Pull 'em this way, then that. Knacker 'em. Wave after wave. It's more have a look, see what happens.

I quite like the system where someone takes the ball off the Centre Backs. “At the back of the diamond”. Henderson & Dier at that. But, part of it must include the CBs themselves stepping through the line with the ball at their feet. It puts an extra man in play. None of that. At all. Did nothing. Got nothing.

The Beer

Wards or Stones? The story that does the rounds is that the Ljubljanains pile into either Union or Lasko. The two historic lager style beers available in the city. Brand loyalty. One or the other.

Of course, in today's, modern, industrial, conglomerate brewing world, they're both made in the same industrial brewery. No doubt to two very distinct recipes with ingredients sourced from different places. NOT.

Anyway. That Union Brewery has a lovely modern wood & stainless steel Brewery Tap. Pivnica Union. During our time there, locals were pouring in & piling into the Unfiltered Union Svetlo. On keg. Fair dos. I'd feel the same. And, there was enough variety to keep me interested.

Beer Ticks up to 16 were Supped on my previous trip.

Drinking with Josip Broz

http://ball-sup.blogspot.com/2015/06/drinking-with-josip-broz.html

17 Pivnica Union TRUe la IPA on keg at 6.4%. Sweet. Toffee smell. Cinnamon. Werthers Original. Bittering is way too gentle.

18 Pivnica Union Amber on keg at 5.4%. Slight sour smell. Thin mouthfeel. Bizarrely, not sweet enough.

19 Pivnica Union Nefiltrirano Toceno Pivo on keg at 4.9%. (The glorious unfiltered lager the locals were attacking). Nice n opaque. Lots of flavour. Barley Sugar into bitter finish.

20 Pivnica Union Renons Blond on keg at 6.2%. Belgian yeast. Nice sourness. Hint of bubblegum. Some spice. Almost Saison style at the end.

Then a Room Beer sourced from a great off licence, Pivoljub.

21 Hopsbrew, IPA in a bottle at 6%. Certainly bitter!! Smells zingy. Dandelion bitter. Hits you full on. Nice finish.

Match day was the superb Sir Williams Pub in Ljubljana.

22 Human Fish Brewery, Combat Wombat on keg at 4.7%. Slightly metallic. Growing rich bitterness. Full of flavour.

23 Tektonic, Dizzy on keg at 6.1%. Great mandarin orange upfront. Sugar dies into nice bittering. Nice beer.

24 Hopsbrew, SMASH, Mosaic on keg at 4.5%. Sweet on the nose. Hay, grass on the first hit. Pleasant bitterness.

25 Human Fish Brewery, Stout on keg at 4.5%. Sweet. Red berries. Bit of toast.

And finally. Odds N Sods in Bled pubs, cafes, restaurants.

26 Gamsar, Svetlo Kvasno at Pub Lovec, Bled from a bottle at 4.8%. Smells yeasty, dough yet to rise. Fresh apple upfront. Background hint of pepper.

27 Maister Brewery, General Maister IPA from a bottle at 6%, Vila Preseren, Bled.  Lovely tan brown. Smells slightly sour. Nowhere near bitter enough.

28 Lasko, Dark 5.9%. Merest hint of chocolate. Glimmer of liquorice. Gentle toast. Safe, but nicely balanced.

29 Union, Svetlo 4.9%. Sort of last & least. A tick is a tick, it's stormy, it's a port, cooking lager. Refreshing, maybe just a hint of hop action.

The standout beer of the trip goes to Tektonic, Dizzy. But, make no mistake, broken glass would be crawled over to get to that Union Unfiltered.

389/812