Readers keeping count will know it's more than five years since I gave up booze. Some of you get worried on my behalf when I recount a possibly testing moment. Anxious readers: today I got well tested.
All the way across France I've been enquiring in my very polite and well-meaning but not by any means elegant or fluent French if they have a non-alcohol beer or a zero beer or a bière zero - whatever expression it takes to elicit the requisite flash of recognition followed by the announcement of the (usually) one brand they carry. Tres bien. And a normal one for my tall mate, merci.
I have enjoyed almost all of them apart from the very popular Desperado brand which is some kind of lemon cordial flavoured thing that is no more beer than I'm Usain Bolt. But the rest of them: excellent.
