neilwhyte.com

One of the perks with my job is the chance to visit some pretty amazing places around the world – with the chance to sample the local beers also! This is one such opportunity, and I find myself in California on the night of Super Bowl XLIII – tied, jetlagged and very hungry!  The hotel in Los Gatos, about an hour and a bit south east of San Francisco, is just a five minute walk from a brew pub.  Given from previous visits I know this pub has a fine selection of beer, food and some huge high definition TVs it seemed to be a no-brainer to turn up here for my tea.

The place was jumping, but I managed to get a seat at the bar and order a pint of Oktoberfest, brewed on the premises.  A tasty craft-brewed lager, with a slightly bitter finish, was very refreshing and very welcome.  I got talking to the barman (who recommended the special – a giant burger – to go with my beer) and a knowledgeable local who was able to explain the somewhat bizarre set of rules that govern the game of American Football!  In the end, the Steelers triumphed over the Cardinals 27-23: I’m not immediately sure what that means, but it seemed pretty close to me!