We at A Good Beer Blog like to know what is going on out there in the world and so I was really pleased to receive an email or two from Ben who writes from behind a highly unsuccessful internet blackout which is part of the royalist coup in Nepal on the pressing issue of what is there to drink at a time like that:

I've spent a few hours at this internet cafe, so I thought I might as well send you my impressions of the bar scene and various alcoholic beverages over here. After all, it's not nearly so fun if I report it from the safety of the West. ;-)

Kathmandu has lots and lots of bars, as does Pokhara (the lakeside resort town I'm now in). They are mainly tourist-oriented - rather like a cross between our familiar pubs and North American-style bars. So, really, very familiar territory. To my distress, I have found that there is in fact only one Nepalis beer - a brew called Everest. It isn't a particularly extraordinary one: it's somewhat lightish, rather the colour of a Molson or a Sleeman's Cream Ale. Goes down fairly easily. Has a picture of Tenzing Norgay on the front - to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the climb. The climb was in 1953. Hope it's just old labels, not old beer, but that might explain a bit about the ones I've had. Otherwise, foreign beer is the thing here, brewed under license by local breweries. The most popular seems to be San Miguel. I think it gained its market dominance by a use of the old-style custom of tied-houses -- certain bars signed up only to serve their product. The other main brand around is Tuborg, though I've also seen a few others.

Beer here is only served in big bottles -- it takes three half-pint beer-glasses to empty them. Ordinarily, I would be quite happy with that. But when I just want a little beer, I find that it's annoying when I have to finish the whole thing -- as one can't leave alcohol at the table, of course. It isn't done. Not by me, anyway. Other popular drinks: the Nepalis love to drink Johnny Walker. Red Label seems to be the most common at the parties I've been at. (Weddings, mainly.) Also, I got to try a rice liquor called raksi. It didn't have much of a taste: rather bitter, but kinda watery. Anyway, it didn't seem to pack much of a punch at the time but I wasn't much use the rest of the day. I was told to try the local wines when I got to Jomsom, but I think I may give that part of the trip a miss, what with the general strike starting tomorrow. Other local stuff is called "Chhang" and "Tumba", but, again, I sha'n't have a chance to try it out. Maybe next time. Or maybe once I'm back in Kathmandu after Monday. Shall e-mail any additional information I find as I go, but I think that this is the most I'll find out. Am still quite disappointed at the relative lack of domestic brews. I think it's a great business opportunity gone to waste...