The fire does not matter, the beer you drink next to it Israel today

Once upon a time, not many years ago, Lag B'Omer was a neighborhood event of Eretz-Israel naivety. , Others tied the branches they found to the bicycle, and those who really invested, managed to harness Dad or David with a pickup truck, which loaded in the open trunk remnants of carpentry planks from associates.

The day before the date we would have arrived excitedly at the planned location (usually an empty lot on the outskirts of the neighborhood), unloading the combustion materials and placing a changing guard - both so that they would not drag our planks and to mark demarcation boundaries for competing campfire owners.

Towards a holy day, just before sunset, we gathered all the guys - one brought a guitar, two potatoes wrapped in foil - and so, in this innocent simplicity, we would mark around the burning fire the revelry of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and the time when the disciples of Rabbi Akiva in the terrible plague.

That is, the end date of the happy restrictions of the counting of the Omer - as learned by the students of the Mamad, or the greatness of Bar Kochba, the great Israeli commander (who eventually failed in the revolt against the Roman Empire), whose image was nurtured by the Zionist ethos, as a revered model Did not want.

BBQ?

Alcohol?

Who even knew what it was?

The culmination of our culinary was then half a pita with some chickpeas and pickles - and believe it or not, we stayed alive and even a not-so-terrible generation came out.

But today?

The bonfires were replaced with barbecues, parent circles at dance parties, and the chisbats (does anyone even remember the word?) And songs from the Land of Israel were converted into stories in Instush and karaoke.

No, we're not complaining, certainly when it comes to the menu.

Once we get used to the environment of abundance, it is already difficult to return to what seems today to be nostalgic asceticism, and we actually enjoy it.

After the coals and meats, it was the turn of the Israeli capital to become a must-have item not only alongside the Independence Day BBQ, but also around the campfire, with the wind blowing cool.

Along with demand, the supply also expanded, in the form of lots of local, small and medium-sized cooks, who entered the scene.

The truth?

With so many brands and cooks, it's sometimes difficult to keep track of who's against whom and what's new - some have invested a fortune in equipment (Birbazar breweries, Srigim, Alexander and Shevat, for example) while others ride on their plate and cook their recipes (brands like Bears, Superheroes, Waiter). And more).

Everything is legitimate as long as the beer at the end comes out fresh, refreshing and delicious, and in a variety of styles.

We collected some of the samples, the ones we especially liked from what was on the market recently, and this year instead of a toothpick - we will add great beers to the fire!

Amit Meltzer and his father Ilan, Beer Meltzer, Photo: Yitzh Bira Meltzer

Virgin IPA, The Bears

- A nostalgic remake of the first bear capital released in a commercial edition.

The great combination of American and English hops created a lovely beer, with 7% alcohol and amber color.

The nose has a fresh pomelo scent, and in a sip a strong but fun and smooth bitterness is felt, combined with a moderate honey sweetness.

Moderate alcohol (only 4.2%) and a long aftertaste (NIS 14).

The capital of the decade, Srigim Brewery

- a serious attrition of the old brewery, which is better known by its brand names ("Ella Valley" and "Ronen").

In honor of a decade of activity it has released an amazing smoky edition - the origin of the beer style in the Bamberg region of northern Bavaria, and it is achieved by roasting the barley in an oven harvested with beech trees.

In the nose light and pleasant smoking reminiscent of hot smoked salmon.

On the palate it is pleasant, with thick carbonation and texture, and the smoking is gentle on the delicate.

Great, and not just by the fire!

(13 shekels).

Pyle Eyal, Beer

Meltzer

Amit Meltzer is a restaurant that started playing with independent beer brewing a few years ago.

From there, after his beer received good feedback from the restaurant’s customers, he decided to expand this activity and brew a few more beers, all brewed according to his recipes at the Southern “Method” brewery.

The pale eel we modeled has a cloudy, light and flowing appearance, and the dominant aroma is of yeast and pears.

The alcohol level is not too high (5.6%) and is pleasant and sage.

Beauty!

(15 shekels).

Goldstar, Black Rust

- the best-selling beer brand in Israel returns to the shelves in a special edition and in limited quantities the Black Rust, which was first launched more than a decade ago on a one-time basis.

This is a very dark lager beer made up of long-roasted Dutch barley, with aromas of strong coffee and caramel and a taste of dark chocolate.

Its carbonation is medium and it contains only 4.7% alcohol, with a crisp and pleasant bitterness.

It is made in a process that lasts about three weeks, rich in toasted lettuce flavors with hints of smoking alongside a balanced caramel (NIS 36 for a six-pack).

IPA Tropical, Alexander

- What a surprise the Alexander team cooked for us here!

A new IPA in cool tropical flavors to Allah of Passionflower, Pineapple and Guava.

It is unpasteurized, with a sour sweetness, super special, fun and especially refreshing, and the high alcohol content (7.8%) is almost imperceptible.

In those who will remain indifferent!

(15 shekels).

Fresher Drop IPA, Birbazar

- The members of Birbazar have organized a variety of beer packages and toppings for the barbecue season, which will reach you directly from the brewery located in Kiryat Gat.

But what particularly caught our eye was this IPA-style beer, cloudy with a seductive aroma of bitter grapefruit, orange and melon, sour and refreshing, made from four types of hops (citra, zitos and fleece and another secret one!).

Very pleasant, graceful and sage (NIS 11.5 in a package of 12 bottles. Free delivery from the site with a minimum order).

Were we wrong?

Fixed!

If you found an error in the article, we'll be happy for you to share it with us