retiredmartin

May 2023.

Our apartment in Riga behind St Peters was very nice; well-equipped, quirky,

and with stellar views into other peoples apartments, always a bonus,

But you don’t come to Riga for 36 hours and spent time doing blog posts in your apartment when there’s bars scoring 76 on Rate Beer to visit.

Folkklubs Ala Pagrabs (“loads of ticks on Untappd, guys“) had loads of good reviews, even if the actual “folk music” seemed to have divided opinion among the beer bores.

Mrs RM looked at me suspiciously as I pointed down the stairs.

Down in the cellar it was certainly on the upmarket side,

but the bar itself had plenty of bar flies,

and I reckon that beer tourists are a bit spoilt by Riga’s bars, even if some of those weird names are owned by Heineken.

Everyone, including a certain Reading CAMRA bloke (top) seemed to go for the Madonas, and I always go for “popular beer”.

This photo, showing my hair in a wild state, is me looking forlornly to see if a Latvian:English translation will reveal a Draught Bass tap.

Sadly not, but the Madonas and 3 Hop Hat were tasty and not over carbonated, and I’m inclined to agree with Quinten’s posh description of chewy, bready and sweet.

Though I could equally apply that to the Latvia Garlic Bread,

from a menu that almost had us pigging ourselves yet again.

As it was we wobbled across the stone bridge to admire the National Library, though inevitably Quinno and Sir Doris managed it to the very top, AND took the better photos, bless them.

The whole place is pretty incredible (and free) even if we did get a bit lost trying to find the top! pic.twitter.com/WZ3l5jyEod

— Sir_Doris (@Sir_Doris) June 2, 2023