Good beer in Qatar?

[Richard English]

In about a fortnight I'm going to Qatar. Has anyone any idea whether decent beer can be had there for love or money?

I did ask at the Qatar stand at the World Travel Market and the Qatari lady was very eager to tell me that her country catered for all needs and the hotels had a wide choice of beer (of course, it's a Muslim country so the inhabitants won't be serious drinkers - if they drink at all).

I asked her what English beers they had in the Ritz Carlton and she said, with a tone of pride, "we have all the best English beers - Budweiser, Heineken, Carling..."

I left it at that since, in spite of her obvious enthusiasm and pride in her country, knowledge about good beer was obviously not her true forte!

But can any one of the erudite members of this board help?

[Richard English]

Well, now I'm back and confirm that there is no good beer in Qatar - or at least, if there is I didn't find any.

Thank goodness for Guinness - the Ritz Carlton did have cans available (at a modest 30 Ryals - approximately $10 or £6 for a 440ml can) so at least I was able to have something to drink that was half-decent.

Indeed, the beverage manager told me he had to re-order in to replace his stock, such a hammering had it taken from me and some of my drinking colleagues!

[DreamWeaver]

Originally posted by Richard English
Well, now I'm back and confirm that there is no good beer in Qatar - or at least, if there is I didn't find any.

Thank goodness for Guinness - the Ritz Carlton did have cans available (at a modest 30 Ryals - approximately $10 or £6 for a 440ml can) so at least I was able to have something to drink that was half-decent.

Indeed, the beverage manager told me he had to re-order in to replace his stock, such a hammering had it taken from me and some of my drinking colleagues!

I was going to respond to your first post but waited too long. Not that I had any good beer information for you but to wish you a safe trip.

My daughter was in that region in the early 90's stationed in Kuwait during her Army years and had trips to Saudi & Qatar noting that there was nothing worth drinking there except Army water!

My first thought for you was not about beer but about your safety. There is a joke there somewhere but it escapes me.

So I can only imagine the grin on your face when returning home and enjoying a pint from your favorite pub!

[Richard English]

Quote "...My first thought for you was not about beer but about your safety...."

Thank you for your concern but there were no problems at all. Qatar is a very safe place, even though popular rumour suggests that Saddam Hussein is billeted in Doha (the capital) at a US facility!

In truth nowhere is 100% safe these days and I. along with most of my compatriots, adopt a very pragmatic view about travel and we just go. After all, disruption to normal life is the intention of the terrorists; give in to them and they've won.

The conference I was attending comprised 420 UK travel industry professionals and, even after the bombings in adjacent Saudi Arabia in the previous weeks, not one delegate cancelled.