As an American who has lived in the UK for over a decade I’ve learned quite a few survival tips. Following are 5 tips for the pub:

1. Buying the round. Whenever you find yourself in a pub with a group of British friends, it is highly likely that one of them will buy the first round of drinks for everybody. The normal custom is that each person in the group buys a succeeding round. Obviously, if you’re with 25 friends, this doesn’t apply; but if there are 2 to 4 of you, you will be expected to buy a round. If you’re short on money or time you can opt out of the round system by insisting, in a friendly manner, that you’ll buy your own drink(s).

2. What beverages to order. The signature British pub drink is cask ale. Also known as real ale, it’s made with natural ingredients and served without the addition of carbon dioxide. If you find yourself in a pub that serves cask ale, you should take advantage of this opportunity to discover the wide and varied characters and flavours. Contrary to what some Americans think, cask ale is never “warm”; it is usually served at cellar temperature which is quite a bit cooler than room temperature.

If you try it and still prefer something else, you could have a pint of cider or perry, or perhaps a pint of Guinness, which will be tastier than the Guinness you get in America. Some of the European lagers are quite pleasant as well, including Staropramen, Becks Vier, and Amstel. But be warned: if you’re in for a drinking session, stay away from Stella Artois, commonly known as “Wife Beater”.

3. Asking for the “restroom”. Invariably you’ll need to answer the call of nature.  Just ask directions to “the loo” or “the toilets”, or else “the Ladies’” or “the Gents”. Never ask for “the bathroom” or “the restroom”, or you’ll never hear the end of it from your more pedantic British mates.

4. English mustard. If you’re having a snack in the pub and you like spicy food, English mustard is a great condiment for meats, cheeses, and even eggs, sending a lovely heat directly up the nose like horseradish or wasabi. But if your tastebuds are piquancy-challenged, stick with the regular or French mustard.

5. Florida. The pub is a social place where you’re bound to make new British acquaintances. There is a strong chance that you’ll meet at least one Brit who, when learning that you’re American, will respond with something like “Really? I’ve been to Florida — I loved it!” If you’re from Florida, obviously you’ll have something to talk about. But if you’re not from Florida, try not to be put off. This could be a good opportunity to educate your British friend as to the wide variety of other places in the US besides Florida.

For more information on British pubs visit my website Pint Pleasures.

Did you know?
Barley crop is used for the production of beverages.  Only the production of Guinness beer takes up a full seven percent of the entire Irish barley crop.

Guest Blogger: JC from coffeebeer.co.uk

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