It couldn’t have been more perfectly timed. The Bombay summer had just arrived, I was flat broke and trying to get drunk on cheap liquor very unsuccessfully. I wasn’t too keen on getting wasted on bhang because I’ve had some unfortunate life-changing experiences on it that I just cannot forget, but it was Holi (Dhuleti, actually) and I would’ve had it, but I couldn’t procure any. Fresh, unadulterated toddy (taa-dee!) is meant to be consumed at room temperature, and is disgustingly pungent. The fermented alcoholic drink wasn’t doing the trick, and I found myself plonked across a table occupied by two generous souls who have been kind to me on more than one occasion. The last time I was at The Woodside Inn, I had a blast ignoring the women guzzling imported brews. This time Woodside Eatery & Bar was serving their craft beers and the munificent two happened to be lunching there during happy hours. Gateway Brewing Company’s White Zen, as you can see, is a very sexy drink, and is extremely drinkable. Surprisingly, this beer is hoppier than the other hefeweizens I’ve had, but this is hardly a complaint, especially with the clove spiciness making your tongue tingle all over. Not being able to taste the banana flavour at all (probably because of the vile grog I’d had just before), I made the most of White Zen‘s drinkability, enjoying its crispiness and the hints of citrus, and the malts which eventually break through. Say ‘hefeweizen’ aloud and you’ll know how this beer got its name. May Lord Satan bless Ashwin Dutt and Nikita Shah for making a thirsty man very happy.
RATING: 4/5
Mehta Kya Kehta? 