Happy International Beer Day! And it's Friday...

Woohoo! It's Friday and we're looking forward to cracking open a cold one, having a brewski or downing a pint as soon as the clock strikes beer o'clock. Wherever you are, and whatever you call it, there's nothing more satisfying than the first sip and the collective 'Ahhh' as all weekday stresses fade away and the weekend begins. No better day to celebrate this heavenly tipple then, than International Beer Day!

That's right, a global celebration of beer. "Is this heaven?" I hear you ask. Well, it just might be - thousands of people rejoicing the greatness of beer in pubs, breweries, and back yards all over the world! The first Friday in August since 2007 has seen beer lovers everywhere unite thanks to the brainwave of beer lover Jesse Avshalomov (@allforJesse) who dreamed this day to life.

Quite simply International Beer Day has three objectives - simple and to the point, I like it!

1) To gather with friends and enjoy the deliciousness that is beer.
2) To celebrate the dedicated men and women who brew and serve our beer.
3) To bring the world together under the united banner of beer, by celebrating the beers of all nations and cultures together on this one remarkable day.

What's more, these guys have even given us a beertastic guide on how to celebrate - not that we need any encouragement...

1) Drink Good Beer with Good Friends - Beer goes best with conversation so grab a mate, or a few, and celebrate together.
2) Find Your Nearest IBD Celebration - Check out the fancy interactive map to find a local bar/pub/brewery taking part.
3) Give the Gift of Beer - Beer tastes better when someone else buys it. Buy a beer for your mates and grace them with the traditional beer-giving words; "I bring you the gift of beer." Then you hope your mates are as generous as you and they buy you one in return...
4) Enjoy Beers From Other Cultures - It's a big beer world out there, be adventurous and try something new.
5) Thank Your Brewer, Thank Your Bartender - Write a note, leave a tip, make a call, or just say thanks, but make sure your brewers and bartenders know that you love them.

Yes, I am a wine lover now, but before that, I was definitely a beer girl, an Aussie chick through and through. But to settle any arguments this does NOT mean I like Fosters. I hate Fosters. But I do love lots of other beers, usually lighter in style, mostly lagers and pale ales. In light of International Beer Day, here are a few of my global faves but readily available in the UK.

Representing home soil; Curious Brew by Chapel Down
Premium lager beer brewed in England. Dry and fresh and Gold Medal Winner at the International Beer Challenge 2012. 12 x 330ml Bottles for £17.99 at Majestic

Konichiwa from Japan; Asahi
Pronounced "Ah Sah Hee", it's Japan's number one premium beer. Clean, crisp and refreshing, it's brewed by an authentic Japanese recipe. 4 x 330ml Bottle for £4.99 at Tesco but currently on a 2 for £8.00 offer until 13/8/2013.

Thunder from Down Under; Cooper's Brewery Sparkling Ale
Famous for its cloudy sediment and full bodied ale flavour it's a South Aussie favourite, with well balanced malt, hops and fruit flavours. I'll be picking up a few to celebrate IBD and our success in the cricket yesterday :-) Buy per 375ml bottle at Waitrose for £1.98 each.

Bali pilgrimage favourite; Bintang - Indonesian Lager
Anyone and everyone who has been to Bali will know this one - and most of them will also have the t-shirt!  It will evoke a smile that hints to the hazy memories of steamy afternoons and warm balmy nights. Light golden in colour, crystal clear and incredibly crisp, I am yet to find this pilsner available in the UK - any help appreciated!!

Belgian beauty; Bacchus Kriek (Cherry) - Flavoured Lambic Beer
Local Belgian beer from Van Honsebrouck family owned brewery, flavoured with Morello cherries. Sweet, juicy and refreshing. Great with roast duck. Kind of pricey at £2.49 per 375ml bottle from Tesco, but as each bottle is hand wrapped in paper and looks great, we'll let them off!

Cheers mate! Bottom's up! Salud! Kampai! Happy International Beer Day!

What are your go to global beers? Let us know, we'd love to try something new!