NOW is the time for drinking funny foreign beers. All you need is a fridge, a garden, some sunshine and a bottle of something not from England.

At Bar Talk we would never normally condone the drinking of lager, but, fortunately, these beers, with their silly and exotic names, are not the chemical sort you find for £2.20 in a city centre bar.

These are real lagers. These are pilsners, these are natural and cheap and refreshing and designed for consumption in hot weather and available in York.

Czech, German and Spanish beers are all popular but this week we turn our attention the booze flowing Out Of Africa.

Beers from the paradoxically named Darkest Africa, one of the sunniest places on earth, are available in York (and Africa). And here are some of the best.

Castle, South Africa (ABV five per cent). Beer Ritz, Tesco.

"The Taste That's Stood the Test of Time"

This is a smooth classic. Utterly drinkable, it slips down your throat with a coolness that only a funny, foreign beer could provide. Best after a day out on safari, but still suitable for post-gardening relaxation. The most European-tasting of the African beers, but still with a distinctive taste that leaves you coming back for more.

4/5

Tusker, Kenya (five per cent). Beer Ritz.

Named after the African bull elephant, which appears on both the label and the lid. It is very pale yellow, with a creamy white, resilient head. It has a hoppy nose and is refreshingly dry and bitter, again with prominent hop character. Lacking complexity. Praised by many as the best beer from Africa, Bar Talk disagrees.

3/5

Morocco Ale, Morocco (5.5 per cent). Asda, York Beer Shop

"Strong, Dark and Mysterious".

Brewed by Daleside in Harrogate and really nothing to do with Africa at all. Allegedly the recipe came from the court of James II and the name may have been associated with the dark Moors who came there. But still a nice drink. Dark and heavy, best drunk indoors. A bitter, stouty, hoppy taste. Nice, but not a session ale. Best drunk once a week. The exotic name may entice the nave drinker. Recommended, but not for another few months unless the weather turns.

1/5

Also recommended, if you ever find yourself in Zambia, as Bar Talk did recently: Rhino (four per cent). A hugely satisfying, malty, light lager served from worryingly dirty bottles.

Mosi (four per cent). A lovely beer drunk cold in a hot country. The lager flows down your neck like the waterfall pictured on the bottle's dirty label. Worth the trip on its own.

u IT'S time to vote with your throat... Safeway, those super supermarket people, have brewed up some election beers to tempt the ale-loving electorate.

Three are available in England: Red Flag (which, we assume, is aimed at Labour voters although not many in the modern party will get the reference); True Blue, for Tories; and Alliance, for fence-sitters.

We are not allowed to taste Safeway's Nationalist brew, it's on sale exclusively north of the border. So only the Scots can get nationalist as a newt.

Bar Talk has the following suggestions for other ales that might appeal to your political palate.

For New Labour voters: Pig's Ear (Uley Brewery); Brain Dead (Scattor); Dictators (Concertina); Humbug (Phoenix); Hobson's Choice (Cambridge).

For Tory voters: Off Your Trolley (Hart); Last Resort (Willy's); Great Cockup (Hesket Newmarket); Steamin' Billy (Leatherbritches); Hard Willie (Oliver Hare).

For Lib Dem voters: Amber Gambler (Glentworth); No Balls (Hart).

For Official Monster Raving Loony Party voters: Maltings Alternative Dome - MAD - bitter; Mildly Mad (York).

For UK Independent Party voters: Albion Pale Ale (Cox & Holbrook); St George's Flag (Phoenix); Independence Ale (Millers Thumb); Enoch's Hammer (Linfit).

For Green voters: Eco Warrior (Pitfield); Eden Ale (Sharp's).

Try a few to get out of your ballot box.