Hector is on Vacation!
How I love to record these words. The Weinachtsmarkts in Köln are the Main Objective for the Weekend, but there was a Curry-Heute Sub-agenda which took Hector to Amsterdam for a Stopover. Jonathan flew out an hour before my scheduled slot with KLM. Clive and Maggie would arrive an hour after Hector from Crawley International.
The Staff Lunch went on and on. As a result I found myself at Glasgow Airport earlier than planned, no visit to The Sir Howard Young in Helensburgh. The Security Queue was the shortest I have ever witnessed at this Airport, so much for the xmas Exodus.
Flight Delayed
The Plan was to arrive in the Centre of Amsterdam by 21.00 giving plenty of time for a Night Out. The 75 Delay on the Board became Two Hours. How come my Trusty Samsung was able to flag this up before the Airport Information Board did so? Two Hours became Two and a Half.
It was 21.00 (Amsterdam Time) when the ‘Plane left Glasgow. No time for Curry-Heute and a rather Incredulous Jonathan was waiting at In de Wildeman. We should have arrived here Zusamen. Clive and Maggie took the Wrong Train at Schipol and ended up in Utrecht. They arrived at In de Wildeman two minutes after Hector. Jonathan had less than an Hour with us before his Courtesy Bus at Schipol would stop. At least he had tried some of the Bier.
The Board
I have seen Better Boards at this Venue, though Sister Doris was tempting. No Pils for Hector. Ayinger? Never touch it. I was told the Golden Carolus tasted of Liquorice, no thanks.
Nogne Pale Ale at 6% was recommended. At €5.00 per 0.25l this place is not cheap. I ordered four. The Chap said he would bring them up to what has become – Our Table. OK, it’s Thirty Months since my last visit. The Nogne had a decent Tang, On a longer visit there would have been more, but Hector was now on a mission.
De Prael was up next. Nick and Simon IPA at 6.2%, as good a name as any. This had an Acid After-taste that was heading towards a Geuze. It was neither IPA or Geuze.
Maggie had joined Jonathan in the Ayinger Celebrator Doppelock at a more modest 6.9%. This was now recommended. Meanwhile Clive and Hector would otherwise have considered the La Trappe Blond, 6.5%, to be the Session Bier of the evening.
This had a good Banana Hit which was unexpected. And so to the Doppelbock. Even Ayinger must be able to make a Strong, Dark Bier. Indeed, Pleasant, not Over-sweet, but the Microscopic Portions were now proving to be a Point of Frustration. Whilst Maggie nursed her Doppelbock, Hector suggested to Clive that we had a Pint.
London Pride was on offer, but the Doppelbock had not numbed the brain cells that much.
And so Weihenstephaner Weisse (Freising, Bayern), 5.4% satisfied the Criterion. I could have this for less at home any night of the week. Drinking a Deutsche Bier in Nederland? The Bananas were Big, the Quantity Spot on. It was now after 01.00, they shut at 02.00. We were not last out.
The Ibis Styles proved to be Quiet and Comfortable. There were Cheaper Rooms available, however, every Budget Hotel in Amsterdam has a Lousy Review from somebody. At least with the Ibis Chain one knows what to expect. In this City, one should be prepared to either stay Cheaply at Schipol or pay the Premium to be near Centraal.
Pingback: Amsterdam – No Curry-Heute! | curry-heute.com