tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12501248.post6114286348468848480..comments2024-03-28T07:02:44.451+00:00Comments on The Beer Nut: I'm not Jack BauerThe Beer Nuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14105708522526153528noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12501248.post-40134915120800829342009-01-16T13:55:00.000+00:002009-01-16T13:55:00.000+00:00@ Peter : Yes, in theory, Flemish and Swiss-German...@ Peter : Yes, in theory, Flemish and Swiss-German are very remote. Yet you'd be surprised how some German roots have evolved similarily when it comes to pronunciation in Flemish/Dutch and in some Swiss dialects such as Bärntütsch, which sounds quite different from Bayrisch or Schwob.<BR/><BR/>Typically, "alt" pronounced by a Bernese sounds damn close to the Flemish / Dutch "oud". And its one of a bunch of similarities in their respective differences with "standard" german.<BR/> <BR/>For *simple* interactions such as ordering a beer in a café, that's close enough to work, with a bit of goodwill on both sides. When considering more complicated / subtle a discussion, indeed the differences, notably in syntax, are such that it is not going to work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12501248.post-34122176752594586542009-01-16T12:26:00.000+00:002009-01-16T12:26:00.000+00:00Hi Peter, thanks for the comment. It was my first ...Hi Peter, thanks for the comment. It was my first time ever encountering linguistic hostility in Belgium, which is why I was surprised enough to blog about it.The Beer Nuthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14105708522526153528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12501248.post-52614342168674947462009-01-16T12:22:00.000+00:002009-01-16T12:22:00.000+00:00I usually only read this blog, which I thoroughly ...I usually only read this blog, which I thoroughly enjoy by the way, but now I feel I have to step in and add a few comments of my own.<BR/><BR/>All these stories about rigid and unfriendly Flemings who refuse to communicate with foreign visitors just don't make sense to me. Having lived in Belgium for more than ten years until recently, I'd say they're one of the most polyglot and tolerant bunch of people in Europe.<BR/><BR/>@ Bionic Laura<BR/>Flemish is merely a different name for the Dutch language as spoken in Belgium. It's basically like German spoken by Austrians, or like English spoken by, say, Irishmen, with a different accent and a few regional idioms. So if you tried to get help in Dutch, how could the guy turn his back on you for not speaking Flemish? It's hard to believe, really. I wasn't there obviously, but I suspect there must have been some kind of misunderstanding.<BR/><BR/>@ Laurent Mousson<BR/>Not all Flemish school children learn German, and to those who do, it is only a third or fourth foreign language. But there is no outspoken negative attitude toward German in Flanders. Flemings who're not fluent in German will probably find it awkward to be addressed in German. Those who are fluent in German, however, will most likely be happy to speak German to you, if that's what you prefer.<BR/>I very much doubt that speaking a Swiss-German dialect would make any difference. On the contrary, southern German dialects, including Swiss-German, are pretty much incomprehensible to Dutch-speakers, unless they're used to hearing them on a regular basis.<BR/><BR/>Peter<BR/>Stockholm, SwedenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12501248.post-39654430137022426812009-01-14T23:26:00.000+00:002009-01-14T23:26:00.000+00:00Oh yes. Eight cans of Rodenbach weigh about as muc...Oh yes. Eight cans of Rodenbach weigh about as much as about four bottles, and are exceedingly unlikely to break in the baggage handling process. It just makes sense.The Beer Nuthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14105708522526153528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12501248.post-3390543553873701742009-01-14T22:55:00.000+00:002009-01-14T22:55:00.000+00:00You bought CANS of Rodenbach? Dear God.You bought CANS of Rodenbach? Dear God.John Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00132845616834779091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12501248.post-36358777649194830522009-01-14T21:09:00.000+00:002009-01-14T21:09:00.000+00:00Nah, we just copied yours. Which were made up anyw...Nah, we just copied yours. Which were <A HREF="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/article2698024.ece" REL="nofollow">made up</A> anyway so why not?The Beer Nuthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14105708522526153528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12501248.post-89692263106158706852009-01-14T20:33:00.000+00:002009-01-14T20:33:00.000+00:00Smeerlap!If you'd been in the UK I'm sure you'd ha...Smeerlap!<BR/><BR/>If you'd been in the UK I'm sure you'd have gone over your 'units' limit for the day. Or week. Or whatever.<BR/><BR/>Luckily units are more plentiful in Belgium. Are they as generous in Ireland?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12501248.post-58165678675984239862009-01-14T09:14:00.000+00:002009-01-14T09:14:00.000+00:00Well, for a few years during the nineties, we used...Well, for a few years during the nineties, we used to have two distinct bottlings of Bass Pale Ale available in Switzerland. In one hand the Burton-brewed stuff in a 33cl shouldered longneck bottle, and one the other hand the version brewed under license by Interbrew (?) in Belgium, which came in a 33 cl "Euro" bottle (the ones with a conical neck). The difference in the glass was quite noticeable, teh Burton-brewed version being crisper and drier.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12501248.post-73367471186080764092009-01-13T14:47:00.000+00:002009-01-13T14:47:00.000+00:00Cheers Laurent. Funny, I though Bass had a big thi...Cheers Laurent. Funny, I though Bass had a big thing about only ever being brewed in Burton.<BR/><BR/>Box-set of Whitbread, John Martin's, Belgian Bass and Guinness Special Export, anyone?The Beer Nuthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14105708522526153528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12501248.post-1136800551364988732009-01-13T14:43:00.000+00:002009-01-13T14:43:00.000+00:00Whitbread : indeed Whitbread Pale Ale for Belgium ...Whitbread : indeed Whitbread Pale Ale for Belgium is brewed there, and already was even when Whitbread still existed as a brewing concern in the UK, just like Bass Pale Ale is (used to be ?)<BR/><BR/>Cheers !<BR/><BR/>LaurentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12501248.post-46088256002854447432009-01-13T14:05:00.000+00:002009-01-13T14:05:00.000+00:00What a great way to pass a spare 24 hours!! I must...What a great way to pass a spare 24 hours!! I must go to Belgium soon, it's so easy to get to from where I live in north Kent. And that Mea Culpa glass is awesome! Having had both Kasteel beers I remember loving the Brune for it's sweetness, but not enjoying the Tripel so much.Mark Dredgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11421095862178324693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12501248.post-6254476690913904932009-01-13T11:46:00.000+00:002009-01-13T11:46:00.000+00:00Cheers Derek. It's nice to know the sacrifices I m...Cheers Derek. It's nice to know the sacrifices I make here are worthwhile...<BR/><BR/>Rabbi Lionheart, yes, they are, but they haven't made any beer since 2001 (says <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitbread" REL="nofollow">Wikipedia</A>).<BR/><BR/>AB-InBev owns the Whitbread beer marque, but as a Belgian company it's just as likely they'd be making this beer in Belgium as the UK, right?The Beer Nuthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14105708522526153528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12501248.post-10019290294977073632009-01-13T06:41:00.000+00:002009-01-13T06:41:00.000+00:00Talking about Swiss German, I have a friend in Ber...Talking about Swiss German, I have a friend in Berlin who learnt her German in Switzerland and was actually turned down for jobs in Berlin because she had a Swiss dialect (admittedly Swiss German and the German spoken in Berlin are quite different).Alistair Reecehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15929927359428659775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12501248.post-73863923558120671442009-01-12T22:39:00.000+00:002009-01-12T22:39:00.000+00:00Great Post.Brussels was my first Beer Holiday last...Great Post.<BR/>Brussels was my first Beer Holiday last year and it was a revelation, especially Cantillon. I'd head back in a flash only there's so many other places to go.Liamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14080471092134181404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12501248.post-38590031182422429572009-01-12T22:33:00.000+00:002009-01-12T22:33:00.000+00:00Pretty sure Whitbread is English. Check out Ron Pa...Pretty sure Whitbread is English. Check out Ron Pattinson's blog, he writes about them sometimes.jonbraziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02206111505750271052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12501248.post-7720474099424621822009-01-12T22:16:00.000+00:002009-01-12T22:16:00.000+00:00ended up in a la becasse in december thanks to you...ended up in a la becasse in december thanks to your recommendation on here. what a great spot, unfortunately it was on the way to the airport after a seminar but really enjoyed the lambic doux and actually got my colleague to try it and he really liked it even though he's a budweiser drinker - job done! thanks.<BR/>dereko1969Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12501248.post-25308369090513772122009-01-12T20:31:00.000+00:002009-01-12T20:31:00.000+00:00Well, my point was more that this dislike between ...Well, my point was more that this dislike between Walloons and Flemish is above all a lack of goodwill and crass preconceptions both sides.<BR/><BR/>I now know that whenever snapped at in Flanders for adressing people in french, I can get away with it through a simple "sorry, I would love to be able to speak to you in flemish, but it's german they taught me at school in Switzerland"... Yup, dropping that S-word usually does the job. <BR/>And since many Flemish dislike being spoken to in German too... (although Swiss-germn friends have found out that by using their own dialect, thy could ensure things ran smoothly enough.)<BR/><BR/>Funny thing, languages...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12501248.post-31338159401713285592009-01-12T17:23:00.000+00:002009-01-12T17:23:00.000+00:00Cunning. And no-one could accuse the Irish of goin...Cunning. And no-one could accuse the Irish of going everywhere and getting spastically drunk...The Beer Nuthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14105708522526153528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12501248.post-42755322052848728422009-01-12T17:12:00.000+00:002009-01-12T17:12:00.000+00:00Sometimes being Australian can be considered just ...Sometimes being Australian can be considered just as bad. I can imagine how many times people must come across ignorant travelling Aussies who think they are the first of our country men to head overseas. These types generally tend to be baby boomers who are doing there 'big' trip and pollute the world, city by city, two days per city; or gap year types who just go everywhere and get spastically drunk. Thank god I travel on an Irish passport and my accent has flattened out enough to not be confused with these tossers. Avoids me the same confusion that Laurent suffers!Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11979252489432311435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12501248.post-36343050352299994892009-01-12T16:00:00.000+00:002009-01-12T16:00:00.000+00:00Well, as a french-speaking Swiss, I've experienced...Well, as a french-speaking Swiss, I've experienced a few weird things on the language front in Belgium.<BR/><BR/>The most typical ever was getting to the reception desk at an Antwerp hotel, address the lady in french, getting only grunts -and a long face - in return, or nothing that sounded like french anyway. <BR/>And then it happened : I had to hand her my passport to fill a form. <BR/>Wonder of wonders, the very sight of the little red booklet with a white cross on it turned her into a perfectly fluent french speaker...<BR/><BR/>Yeah, it's that brutally obvious, sometimes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12501248.post-63820612125655229592009-01-12T13:32:00.000+00:002009-01-12T13:32:00.000+00:00Dammit, son, just get out there and drink.Dammit, son, just get out there and drink.The Beer Nuthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14105708522526153528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12501248.post-88979753269005790382009-01-12T13:30:00.000+00:002009-01-12T13:30:00.000+00:00Some sterling work done there. You really should s...Some sterling work done there. You really should start giving seminars on how to do this beer tourism lark. It's rude of you to keep it to yourself.Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09734969599278020673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12501248.post-85243088649518252922009-01-12T12:43:00.000+00:002009-01-12T12:43:00.000+00:00Yes the Belgians can be a strange bunch indeed. I ...Yes the Belgians can be a strange bunch indeed. I met a Belgian diplomat in Korea who would collect up the Heineken beer mats from bar tables and replace them with Stella Artois ones he carried around.The Beer Nuthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14105708522526153528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12501248.post-12529638336595482202009-01-12T12:35:00.000+00:002009-01-12T12:35:00.000+00:00I've been in Belgium once while passing through on...I've been in Belgium once while passing through on a train on the way to the airport. <BR/><BR/>I got off my train and was trying to get the airport. I asked a man who worked in the train station if there was a bus or train to the airport. I was met with a blank stare, I tried english, french and dutch but because I didn't speak flemish he wouldn't talk to me. I asked a few other people but in the end I had to run to get a taxi as nobody would help me. I'm pretty sure all the people I asked spoke the other languages. <BR/><BR/>It's put me off going back there even if they have great beer.Bionic Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00630751922629714247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12501248.post-40840673230712312562009-01-12T11:35:00.000+00:002009-01-12T11:35:00.000+00:00What. A. Dick.What. A. Dick.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com