England U20 2 v Costa Rica U20 1
FIFA U20 World Cup, Round Of 16
Played at Jeonju World Cup Stadium, South Korea
Wednesday 31 May 2017
Twitter @ball_sup
20 Korean Beer Ticks
It's odd. There are times when this South Korean Beer Hunting has seemed ridiculous, bordering on impossible. But, as I'm in their heads a bit now, I just dust me sen down & rethink it.
Korea is a cheek by jowl country. Over 50 million of them. In a small place. 510 of them per square km. (Just 270 of us per square km in the UK). A big, bright, brash, urban country. No space. You build up. You build down. Beer Bars are as likely to be on the 6th floor as the 2nd basement. Ball Suppers have to find the Tube station. Then the street. Then the “alley”. Then the building. Then the floor. Good. Fucking. Luck.
And. Don't get this at all. There are two types of sign in Korea. A building long set of tall, flashing neon. Or a fucking business card sized plaque or sticker in the lift. Nothing inbetween I tell ya.
It turned out that The Booth Samsung was pretty near our hotel. We were sure we'd got the right street. We narrowed down the alley. Pretty sure this is the building. I recognise that terrace (points up) from their webpage. How the fuck do you get in?. Honestly. The only sign was on the outside of the lift up to it.
Next Ball Supping issue is - who made it where? To my mind, The Booth are effectively a Korean brewery. But, they've been so successful, they have an arm in California. Can you tell whether the particular keg of the particular beer you are Supping has been made in Pangyo or California? No, you cannot.
Finally, you get the right station, street, alley, building, floor - in this case, The Magpie Basement. No sign natch. And. It's fucking shut for no discernible reason. Dust off. Breathe. Regroup.
The Booth, Samsung. Three of their own on keg. Two of their own in bottles/tins. Tool & Hopwired guests.
the booth, Kukmin IPA on keg at 7%
Craftworks, Namsan. Twelve of their own on keg.
Craftworks, Jirisan Moon Bear IPA on keg at 6.8%
7 Bräu Pub, Lotte Mall. (Basically in the Food Court on the 5th floor of a Mall). A stumble across. Six of their own on keg.
7 Bräu, Imperial IPA on keg at 7%.
7 Bräu, Indian Pale Ale on keg at 5.5%.
Those IPAs & Imperials at Craftworks & 7 Bräu were underhopped. Much closer to English Bitter style. Quite malty as well.
So, it's a Big Balls (sup) Shout Out to my Korean Brother Kim Jae-han at White Rabbit Taphouse. His gaff has got thirty fucking six taps. Only three were off. Victory, Goose Island, Kona, BrewDog, the lot. How he's gonna sell all them, I don't know. But, the fella is going for it. He brews an’ all. He's got a Last Bastion Scoundrel of a Peach Ale. He knows it's gone wrong. I know it's gone wrong. But, he's whacked some fruit in to “save the day”.
And. The Cheeky Get. He's sold me 440 mils of his 10.5% White Rabbit, Revolover Double IPA on keg. And it's GLORIOUS. Deep, rich, chewy, ginger bitterness, abv burn, just the right amount of residual sweetness.
We celebrated after that nervy England win in the Wa-Bar in Jeonju. It styles itself as a Craft Beer Bar. But, really it's an International Macro Bar. We were in “what's the provenance?” territory again. I went for the Wa-Bar House Drafts as the best fighting chance of something Korean brewed.
Wa-Bar, Draft
Wa-Bar, Hefe
A bit of a nervy ending to the game. England have, generally, been calm & just dealt with stuff. But, it's U20 level. You don't quite know what is going to happen next. In this case, deep into game management time, we conceded a penalty. Woodman saved it but matey banged the rebound in. I feel England have a good core based around Woodman, Tomori, Solanke, Cook & Onomah. Put the yards in. Cover the ground. Be organised.
In parts, I've been impressed with Lookman. Can't knock him. Bagged both tonight. Harry Chapman got a late run as Sub. He was bright. But, it was too late for a proper impact. By that time, Dominic Calvert-Lewin had already been subbed. Business as usual for Dom. Had his moments. But, was out of it & isolated for large swathes. Damning. But England looked much much brighter once Armstrong had replaced him.
487/1016
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