Last evening, it being unusually muggy and oppressive and 32 degrees C indoors post sunset, I said, damn the city and its battle with pollution and the rising air quality index (AQI) and reached
into my freezer for a can of frosty London Pilsner premium beer. I am not a regular beer drinker. But the kind of sticky dry heat Mumbai is experiencing in its October summer, this is the most sensible alcoholic drink to have. I had been struggling to make up my mind between Kingfisher, Carlsberg, Budweiser and Tuborg, when my dear friend Yee Ko Shou from Guangzhou in China reminded me of good old London Pilsner. Along with Golden Eagle from my friend Rocky Mohan’s brewery in Solan, Himachal
Pradesh, and Shaw Wallace’s Haywards 5000, LP as it was known was a most popular beer in India during the 1980s. It was the leading brand of Associated Breweries & Distilleries Ltd. A beermaking company started by an enterprising Irani builder in 1975 and run by his resolute wife and two gutsy daughters after he passed away with typical Irani zest for life and adventure. Their other brands were London Diet, London Super Strong 2001 Plus, London Super Strong 5001 Plus, Maharaja Premium Lager,
Bulldog and London Draft. But once international beers including Foster’s, Miller, Corona, Amstel, Stella Artois and Heineken became available here, I thought ABD Ltd. had quietly folded its tent and disappeared into the night. I was wrong. It was bought over by United Breweries Limited and LP is now produced at its Panvel plant in Raigad district. The beer is not proudly displayed at wine shops for some reason. But it is there. Very affordable.
You have to ask for it. I now keep LP (100 rupees for a 500 ml can of the familiar red, blue, white and gold brand) in my fridge always. And last evening, the chilled, frothy mug of LP never tasted better. It still hits the right spot!
About Mark Manuel
The above thoughts/content has been proudly copied from the wall of Sir Mark Manuel. Being interviewing almost every role model of this country and going stronger each day. Mark Manuel is a respected Mumbai editor, writer, and columnist.
With over three decades of journalism in leading publications. This includes the Free Press Journal, Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Mid-Day, and Afternoon. He is famous for his brilliant pen interviews. He himself is a TEDx speaker.
Further
His interviews have been featured in several leading media houses. They include the Hindustan Times, Huffington Post, BBC, and Network 18. Almost every famous person has been interviewed by him in the country from Mother Teresa to Muhammad Ali. His first book is just out. It’s titled Moryaa Re! It is a crime thriller that is perhaps the country’s first police procedural. He began his career covering crime. And in a tribute to his experience and knowledge of this beat.
Several distinguished officers of the Mumbai Police and its Crime Branch collaborated with him to make this book possible. Amitabh Bachchan wrote the forward in a statement of friendship for Mark Manuel and admiration for his work.
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