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XXXX Brewhouse Tour

A LOT of Australian beer is HIGHLY regionalized...each state has their own favorites. For the LONGEST time, the "main beer" (and sometimes the only beer) sold in the places were frequented was XXXX. I know, I know...I ALSO thought that it was some sort of EXTRA dirty pornography or something.

In actuality, XXXX is "Four - Ex"...but we didn't learn this until we took the tour. Up until that point, we were (read: I) was too embarrassed to ask for a beer and pronounce it wrong so I didn't have a single beer! At the end of the tour you get 4 free pints, which explains why I look a TEENSY bit tipsy in the photo below.

While I adverted disaster with XXXX, that's not to say that I didn't have an embarrassing story asking for beer. Another main beer is Carlton Beer. We went to this one local neighborhood bar that was off of the beaten tourist path. I strolled up to the bar and asked for a imperial pint (yes, there are two pint sizes) or CaRlton Draft (emphasis on the R). The response of the bar tender, who had her head down at the bar, was, "Oh my freakin' god...where are YOU from".

Then she looked up and saw my HUGE Canadian Athletic sweatshirt -- she got it immediately upon seeing me.

Apparently the "R's" in most words are silent. As in, I should have asked for CALTON beer.

I quickly learned that XXXX is NOT the best beer Australia offers. Carlton Draught is great as is Coopers Pale / Sparkling Ale. And you can get Coopers at the Globe in Down Town Edmonton.

This photo was taking explicitly for a co-worker of mine. Mark...welcome to the famous XXXX brewery where they make Duff, Duff Light, and Duff Dry. Any fan of the Simpson's will get this reference and the episode it came from.

posted by Team Shawn Michaels @ 7:30 p.m.