On enjoyment

 Does beer absolutely have to be brilliant beer in order to be enjoyed?

No, I don't think so.

We're spoiled to hell with the absolutely unequivocal, context-independent beer we get to have.  That's to say - if you gave us that beer under any circumstances, we'd say it was great beer.

Nevertheless, that level of beer excellence isn't always available - especially when you're in a place you don't know very well (or, in parts of Eastbourne).

So, is it still possible to enjoy beer you know isn't the absolute best, and enjoy it in an entirely unforced way?

I think so, yes.

Last week, we were both working in our new lab/workshop which is very close to Eastbourne's Belgian Bar.  We were also planning on reacquainting ourselves with our favourite Italian restaurant, which we'd been unable to get in the last couple of times we tried.  We figured a cold November Thursday would be as good a time to try as any.

Obvously, after work and before pizza comes beer.  Both establishments lie close together, and a hop and a skip from our workplace.

The staff in the Belgian Bar are wonderfully friendly and the range of beer - all made on the premises - is impressive (about 8 keg lines) but it has to be said the beer itself is somewhat quirky. 

I've seen local beer folk be very derogatory about it but for me, the whole setup is so un-Eastbourne that I can't help but like it very much indeed.

So - we ambled around the corner and had a couple of pints and then trotted down the road maybe 20 years to fantastic pizza (and a bottle o red) and chatted with the lady the runs front of house and seems to read our minds on what we want.

By the time we got home, I would have to count this as the perfect evening - every part of it.

Context can make excellent beer out of OK beer and that makes me happy, too.