Eamonn Fitzgerald's Rainy Day

Light amber is the colour, and there's fruit and a hint of cloves on the nose. More spices wash over the palate to produce a distinct, hop-intense, fruity finish. A fine example of the Bavarian beer style, in other words. Goes nicely with pork and dark gravy and could be used to accompany fish and chips. That's the Rainy Day tasting verdict on Papst-Bier.

When the beer first appeared on the market, there was an outcry from the anti-fun brigade. Using the pretence of caring about Benedict XVI's office, they protested this "opportunism". Actually, it was the horror of "commercialization" that offended them. The very notion that someone might attempt to earn a few euros with a heavenly-sent opportunity was blasphemous in the eyes of the PC gang. Mercifully, with the pontiff ante portas, the prohibitionists have been silenced.

The brewers, Weideneder Tann, present a stout defence of their decision to market papal beer. Because of the "close matured connection between the Church and the art of brewing," they say, "we consider it to be our obligation to appreciate the election of a Bavarian Pope in a Bavarian way." And if that wasn't enough, they add: "A beautiful old proverb says 'hop and malt — God may preserve them all!' ('Hopfen und Malz — Gott erhalt's!') and shows that the Catholic Church and beer are parts of the same philosophy in life and together have been building a devout alliance full of the joys of life."

Prost! Papst!