Finding the best time of day for having a pint of beer is still an unexplored area of beer science, however, time is a very important factor in beer drinking. Early mornings for Hungarians are predominantly about consuming pálinka, the national “eye opener” spirit. This custom is rooted in the habits of both urban workers and rural peasants, but while the latter mostly drink homemade pálinka, the former rather go for drinks from the shops in the morning. Gulping down a shot is the work of a moment, there is simply no time for jovial beer drinking before going to one’s workplace.

Drinking beer before noon is a bourgeois custom, or certainly some kind of gentlemanly mischief. Apart from the beers downed to fight hangovers, it can be mostly afforded by those who do not have a strict work schedule. Therefore, it is no coincidence that grabbing an early pint is mainly a weekend or day off activity, while beer on weekdays helps ease down after work. It is also no coincidence that when there were still factories, there were always a good number of pubs nearby.

According to my experience, most beer drinkers set up some kind of system or timetable for a pint. It is only the privileged few that can start drinking beer whenever they feel like it. A friend of mine, for example, insists that no beer is allowed before two in the afternoon. On the other hand, I either start drinking early in the day, or I only like to drink early in the evening. 

He deems Saturday afternoon the most suitable time for pint, as for me, the weekend is more for quiet contemplation and introspective beer drinking at home. Fortunately, there is always an intersection in our weekly schedule: perfect for drinking beer together. However, we always make sure that we have ample time, because drinking beer in a hasty manner is worthless, that is to say it would be a waste of time if the two of us didn't finish at least a dozen beers – no matter what day or time of day we lean on the counter raising our pints.

Bakó Krisztián fordítása