Drink It. Hoegaarden.

It's Friday. After a long week, a cold beer sounds pretttty good. If you're too tired to go out to a bar or club, or even to make a good mixed drink at home, you haven't picked up any Chilean wine yet, here's a convenient yet delicious beverage to exhale with.

I discovered this delicious white Belgian beer a few years ago, and it became a fast favorite. I've since turned a few others onto it and it's become the go-to choice for an evening when we're looking for some good beer. Cloudy and mildly spiced, it's tasty enough to enjoy alone, but also a perfect cold beverage to have with a hot meal. Conveniently, the 7-Eleven on Cahuenga near Village Pizzeria's Hollywood location sells it refrigerated, so in one stop I can get the best pizza in town and cold imported beer. If that's not your neck of the woods, BevMo! and Gelson's also carry Hoegaarden. (In other pizza and beer news, Silver Lake's Nicky D's has Hoegaarden on tap!)

Hoegaarden is especially fantastic served ice cold. Put the bottles in the freezer for five to ten minutes before opening. Just don't forget them in there! Set a timer--you don't want to waste good beer.

Hoegaarden costs $8.99 for a 6-pack at BevMo! - located at 7100 Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood. Other locations also.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: www.stripersonline.com