(This week in drinking took on an international theme recently. Dave Breakenridge/Calgary Sun)

I know, I’ve been lagging a bit behind in my “this week in drinking” series.

I assure you I have not been slacking.

Recently, a friend was in town on business and I hosted him for dinner, so long as he brought some beer.

“Surprise me,” I said.

And he did, bringing a trio of European beer I’d never tried before.

Weihenstephaner Hefe weissbier: A great, citrusy, and spicy, unfiltered wheat beer. A lot of banana on the nose as well. It smelled of summer, and it paired excellently with the grilled chicken I had made, especially matched the coriander in the southwest spice rub.

Fuller’s London Pride: This was definitely a hit with me. Brown sugar nose, caramel malt, light hint of coffee, and a complex, hoppy finish. It was sweet, but balanced.

Erdinger Weissbrau Dunkel: This a “rich and smooth wheat beer” as the company says. And they’re right. It features roasted malts offer that offer a coffee flavour I love. Although, I will say, I preferred the Big Rock Dunkelweizen. It had a bit more character and complexity of flavour.

But, all in all, it was a good sampling of flavours, and a reminder to reach for something off your beaten path when you’re at the liquor store.