Drunk Man Gives Me Iraq’s WORST BEER 🇮🇶

It's day 4 in Baghdad and I am loving it however it's time to show you what the people of Iraq eat in this country! But before we ventured to the restaurant I had a solo walk around the streets to talk to some locals and I met quite the characters lets just say, I even got a free drink from the town drunk.
I then asked my local friends which place is the best for food so they suggested a very popular place in the city and we went to check it out. Safe to say it was worth the visit. 🇮🇶
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#Iraq #Baghdad #TravelIraq

[@BackpackerBen]

Who’s booking their next flight to Iraq then? 🇮🇶👀

[@johnafrica7979]

Doubt a visa is available for me lol

[@aronjohns4662]

Not in summer 🤦‍♂️

[@BlockchainTravel]

Pretty sure I will go soon, Baghdad seems amazing

[@1watsonwatson]

Was it Araq? Like an annaseed flavour?

[@johnafrica7979]

@@BlockchainTravel my entire mindset has been changed on this country

[@kikis194]

Greetings and respect to Iraq and to you from Greece!🇬🇷🇮🇶🇬🇧❤️

[@BackpackerBen]

same to Greece! great place

[@oliviapourkarim5697]

Hello, I'm still learning crypto, have a question. Can we trade from our crypto wallet? Or must we deposit from our crypto wallet in the crypto account on order to trade? 🙏🙏

[@liliannelson7738]

@@richardtaylor8116 Investing is a stepping stone to success, investing is what create wealth.

[@oyeearthur8094]

@Atricia Faulkner I will recommend Eric Williams Trading Services for you their strategies is working for me at the moment and making good profit from bitcoin trading

[@janierodriguez3995]

@David Hill I'm happy to see Eric Williams mentioned here, my spouse recommended him to me after investing $4000 and he has really helped us financially in thu times of COVID-19 lockdown here in Australia.

[@mrbarney4176]

Iraqi people look so chilled no aggression like the UK streets,great content bro 👍

[@BackpackerBen]

Mate honestly the best people

[@shadowmanstrolls811]

That's very true

[@samliverpool7821]

Your Iraqi friend you met at the airport is such a top bloke. Always smiling, generous and friendly. As most of the Iraqis in this series have been!

[@BackpackerBen]

Legend mate honestly 🙌🏼 thanks for watching mate

[@samliverpool7821]

No problem sir. Keep up the great work 👍

[@piotr5338]

People all over the world are friendly .Where friendly before anlo - saks have came there .😢😢

[@f4wnz132]

That was not beer. That was Arak, very strong alcohol. I belief its origin is Turkish/Mongolian. I also believe you're supposed to dilute it with water till it turns milky white in color.

[@BackpackerBen]

Correct ✅

[@mig7290]

It's delicious and is similar to Ouzo and Southern Italian Annisette.

[@sonofmesopotamia6678]

Arak has nothing to do with Turks It's pure arab drink

[@f4wnz132]

@@sonofmesopotamia6678 You are right, a quick google search shows its origin is Levantine.

[@nimrod2277]

Arak comes from the arab invention of alembic distillation in the 12th century, it was likely invented in the levant, rakija, arrack, ouzo and aragh sagi are all derivatives of araq/arak which was popularised after the islamic conquests.

[@jeffbreezee]

Great travel vlog, Ben! Congrats for going to Iraq 🇮🇶 . I'm so happy to see the Iraqi happy and at peace.

[@BackpackerBen]

Same mate awesome people 🙌🏼

[@ashcross]

Yet another excellent video. Thank you, Ben! Keeping it real in every video.

[@BackpackerBen]

Trying my best 🤝

[@sherlockholmes304]

Great video as usual.. Keep growing dude , Love Baghdad looks amazing

[@BackpackerBen]

Awesome place mate

[@leenobody3249]

So glad I found your channel Ben . Brilliant content .

[@BackpackerBen]

Much appreciated!

[@lucifer796]

your videos are awesome, keep on traveling to interesting countries

[@BackpackerBen]

More to come mate!

[@nelst6451]

Great stuff mate. Loving your Iraq series. Your Pakistan vids are sublime. Keep it up fella!

[@BackpackerBen]

cheers mate!!

[@husn7703]

If you're still in Baghdad & want to try Iraqi beer try Farida. It's a very old brand, made in Baghdad. Really nice

[@stanatkinson3228]

Excellent vid Ben, good to see things for real

[@BackpackerBen]

Cheers Stan! 🤝

[@jacoblanglois]

Honestly you see trash like that pond everywhere here in my neighborhood in los angeles, lol. Baghdad has a vibrancy about it I did not expect, the people there really seem to appreciate their life and are so willing to share the human experience with you. Absolutely fantastic.

[@BackpackerBen]

Cheers Jacob awesome comment

[@markhannan9387]

Another fantastic video Ben - well done mate , great content - still no pink shirt mate , Mark

[@FunTravelLondon]

beautiful vlog

[@BackpackerBen]

Thank you 😊

[@john8058]

great video mate

[@BackpackerBen]

😎🤝

[@hughprice2310]

Fascinating Ben, I only discovered you on your around U.K. trip with the other Ben! A few years back I bought the Bradt guide to Iraq. Probably the only guide to the country.

[@BackpackerBen]

Appreciate you watching mate The what guide? Bradt??

[@hughprice2310]

@@BackpackerBen Yes, Bradt guide. They publish guidebooks to obscure places!

[@shadowmanstrolls811]

Great video. Very cool people

[@BackpackerBen]

Legends

[@ashurbanipal7404]

Great video I hope You enjoy ❤️

[@BackpackerBen]

I did!

[@maureenalder8905]

Amazing place Ben ❤

[@BackpackerBen]

The best!

[@DanAmsterdam]

Greetings from Kazakhstan I’ve been watching your Iraq series (along with other videos) with a great interest - the country seems so chill and warm - people are genuinely nice and their behavior somewhat reminds me of Kazakh people mentality I’ve heard hash is pretty common in that area - have you tried it there yet?

[@BackpackerBen]

Thanks bro 😎 yes it’s east to find ;)

[@BackpackerBen]

Easy *

[@weedyganzalays]

"Is that crack?" Hilarious mate 🤣 great video. You seem like a really genuine guy Ben it's quite inspiring. Looking forward to future ventures. I would absolutely love if you could do some more vids with Bald and bankrupt, maybe in Kurdistan?? Peeaaaace from Ireland brother

[@BackpackerBen]

Was defo crack And I’m sure you’ll see bald soon ;)

[@etashe1658]

This drunk man 😂😂😂👍👍 4:25 thinks that you are a friend. He talks to you as if you are a close friend. Hawa didn't mean not to give you the drink. He said give her this alcohol, then replace his banner. Then he decided to give you that he is unstable because of drinking because ordinary Iraqis give free things as a kind of generosity, but this is a little different first because he is a man Drunk secondly, because we do not give alcohol as a gift. Perhaps food and drink is normal, but it is not traditional to give a drink. That is why this situation happened, but you were a gentleman in dealing with it. It seems that you have experience with drunks.

[@BackpackerBen]

😎🙌🏼 great comment

[@michaelharris6020]

I agree Ben handled that situation perfectly in a very kind and respectful way.

[@mrengtop]

Thank you for showing positive image of Baghdad... 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🙋

[@BackpackerBen]

My pleasure!!

[@er_dc5783]

Your videos amazing ♥️♥️♥️

[@BackpackerBen]

Glad you like them!

[@gucciprison7640]

Iraq's been the best videos so far, absolutely love this place.

[@IngramCars]

Lovely people. I feel ashamed to have thought otherwise. @12:13 what a lovely guy, genuine and full of positivity. Backpacker Ben, changing perceptions!

[@BackpackerBen]

Amazing people 👏🏼

[@leeleentony]

I am one of those ppl who has a very light stomach as well and matter of fact u honestly do better then I ever could lol. My tummy can get tore up even jus from the foods I grew up with if it's to greasy or things like that.... Kudos tho my friend because u stick it out pretty dang well to make content for us all. I can't blame u at all tho, a lot the food from some areas looks pretty sus lol Keep up the amazing videos and safe travels to u Ben.

[@Salman-fo8ng]

And whoever told you there is a law in Iraq. Every lucky person in Iraq escaped by escaping to European countries or American countries. There is no law in Iraq. Iraq is dilapidated and the law does not exist, the Arabic news that I witness every day an assassination or temporary wars between disputing tribes and also between militias over power, as happened two months ago between the militias of Muqtada al-Sadr and the militias of Iran. All this because of financial and administrative corruption

[@sandhurstwolves3956]

Great set of vids .Just wondered does anyone over their miss saddam hussein days ?

[@BackpackerBen]

Many I believe

[@awsomemodels]

A lot of people do .

[@firstnamelastname4722]

Subscribed

[@MrSdoubtfire975]

Sharing shisa great way to get TB, come on Ben.

[@wonkydonkey7002]

Legend you are ❤

[@mandeeqahmed9225]

Ben you are doing my dream travelling the world good for you 👍

[@BackpackerBen]

Thanks for watching my friend

[@heroali8379]

Use taxi applications to get around to get rid of congestion and raise prices, such as taxi cream or taxi play

[@SanTM]

Have you tried a samoon yet? It's a triangular kind of flatbread that is stuffed with shwarma. You can try some at King of Shwarma on Edgware Road, London

[@BackpackerBen]

Many times ;)

[@wanabifotografer9430]

New favorite @backpackerben moment 5:11

[@daanyaalkhan4901]

Great video, the title should be changed to "Mega Restaurant in Baghdad"!

[@BackpackerBen]

Beer 🍺 always ;)

[@aifaasmith.]

I see that it was kinda difficult to talk with the locals due to language barrier, but you handled it like a champ 😎 good job

[@BackpackerBen]

😎🙏🏼

[@jeffbreezee]

Wow! That's one thing I never tried over there was Iraqi beer. Cheers to you for having the balls, mate!

[@BackpackerBen]

My pleasure mate Hahha

[@deepblue1909]

i'm not quite sure if that was actually Iraqi beer! Iraq's production of alcohol is good especially beer

[@ms_0317]

@@deepblue1909 it was not beer its arak an arabic spirit much stronger than just a beer and meant to be dilluted with water

[@sookjoo1]

You should visit almustansaria school in almutanabi Street it is so old school you will love it visit from Sunday to Thursday during morning

[@BackpackerBen]

Thank you for the recommendation

[@davidcunningham2074]

what a nice city baghdad looks with really good nightlife. the people are also so friendly and une,bittered. it is like the invasion never happened.

[@jeffbreezee]

I tried lamb and rice with the Shiek of Dhi Qar province in 09. It was very tasty, fresh and well cooked. Of course, he was the sheikh, so it had to be good.

[@benjismith593]

I'd be at that restaurant once a week minimum. Those guys showing you around are to be saluted. They didn't have to do this, but they did. I have a feeling you'll be visiting Iraq again soon, and touring more areas. Learn some more Arabic brother!

[@BackpackerBen]

such legends! thanks for the comment mate

[@matthewmatthew9485]

@@BackpackerBen Yeah they definitely made your trip. I doubt you would have enjoyed as much without them. Showing you around in there car and good level of english makes a huge difference.

[@michaelgarn5330]

What was that like smoking that. I liked the area you were in it's like old with the new very nice

[@etashe1658]

😂😂 5:43 Beer is bad in Iraq, there is a difference between beer in Ireland and beer in Iraq 😂😂

[@BackpackerBen]

Hahaha true

[@tigran2197]

As a big fan of Shisha (I have two at home). I can only imagine the vibe to sit at a Iraqi Hookah Lounge at smoke the Shisha 😂

[@BackpackerBen]

Some experience bro it’s also stronger here

[@shadabtahir6700]

You are very lucky wherever you go you meet nice people.

[@BackpackerBen]

Agreed ✅

[@YousefSameer]

I love you man 🇮🇶❤️🇬🇧

[@BackpackerBen]

Cheers for watching bro o

[@etashe1658]

Placing 8:49 a hand on the head or chest indicates respect in Iraq

[@BackpackerBen]

🙌🏼👏🏼🇮🇶

[@aifaasmith.]

Lookin like a pro smoker there lmao. What was the flavor you had?

[@BackpackerBen]

Lemon and mint 😉

[@leeleentony]

My gosh what's so sad, that looks like such a beautiful, beautiful place on the beginning n then ppl have jus trashed it with garbage. SMFH thats horrible, I can't understand why ppl don't want to keep or maintain things to make it pretty n clean looking.

[@Salman-fo8ng]

And whoever told you there is a law in Iraq. Every lucky person in Iraq escaped by escaping to European countries or American countries. There is no law in Iraq. Iraq is dilapidated and the law does not exist, the Arabic news that I witness every day an assassination or temporary wars between disputing tribes and also between militias over power, as happened two months ago between the militias of Muqtada al-Sadr and the militias of Iran. All this because of financial and administrative corruption

[@SteveSmithRailways]

Don't fancy another can of that beer then Ben? When you smelt it and said you wouldn't be drinking that and then did, you just knew that was gonna be trouble! That would have certainly put an end to the good run that you're having with not being ill or on the loo! It's a shame about all that crap in the water but I guess its the same everywhere over there and its gonna take time before they get their act together no doubt whilst we try our best here. I'm sure you were going to have chicken and then they brought out beef for you.......beef is much better. Keep em coming. Steve

[@BackpackerBen]

No more Iraq beer 😂

[@m.nasrodinov]

If you will be to iran it make us glad

[@robertpoche2710]

From New Orleans. Tabasco shirt in Iraq is hilarious !

[@BackpackerBen]

What 😂

[@robertpoche2710]

@@BackpackerBen Louisiana’s greatest export of course 😂

[@ltippers7029]

is this restaurant the place on Haifa street near the football stadium ben?

[@user-wc2zo9zz7m]

yes

[@elijahasefa389]

Uncle Ben's secret recipe for Iraq vlog 25% Shawerma 25% Shukran 25% Habibi 25% Yalla

[@BackpackerBen]

😂 more to come

[@7md_IRQ]

Shukran - Thanks u Habibi - my love Yalla - go

[@user-pe6xt7fm6l]

افعلو ماتريدون وتظل مصر لأعظم ولاجمل

[@omarmrd]

Hi Ben , u made me laughing again, this drink is like white a spirit smells very bad , Arak or araq (Arabic: ﻋﺮﻕ) is a distilled Levantine spirit of the anise drinks . It is translucent and unsweetened (I got it from google) Btw , the majority of Iraqi people they are know London more than England, or maybe because we called England in Arabic Ingltira Anyway which football team do you support?

[@damskee4]

Can i just say one thing? BEST TITLE EVER

[@BackpackerBen]

heheheeee

[@mahmudjauhariali3720]

Thank you for sharing a video that shows the current situation and conditions in Iraq, my friend. Life there looks very happy. 👍👍👍🙏🙏🙏

[@BackpackerBen]

No worries bro 😎

[@mahmudjauhariali3720]

@@BackpackerBen 🙏🙏🙏

[@pizzamanpodesta145]

Its crazy how good everyone's teeth look, like 90% of everyone has a movie star smile

[@taekook6364]

13:41😂

[@aifaasmith.]

The eatery was magnificent, love that its located next to the river with all those people, so lively 😍

[@H4TTOR1_H4NZO]

Wow u found a corona beer in Baghdad 👍🙌🍻 cheers...

[@BackpackerBen]

Yes 😁

[@H4TTOR1_H4NZO]

@@BackpackerBen right on, safe travels my friend, I enjoy your content ✌️

[@RanOutaNames]

That wasn't beer, Ben, it was pre-mixed Arak/Raki/Ouzo 🙂

[@BackpackerBen]

My bad hahaa

[@tuforu4]

@@BackpackerBen NOT a GIRL to be seen...

[@tommyhassan3545]

We are used to drinking beer that is about 5 % in Britain so that 40% stuff would be like drinking petrol

[@BackpackerBen]

Tasted like it

[@Lionking1190]

‘ Im not trying this, oh fck it im gonna try it’ 😂😂😂😂

[@BackpackerBen]

hehehehe

[@johndouglas5712]

Ben is a true rock star . They treat you so well because you seem a nice guy. Looks like a wild city . I think they are not ready for Americans yet and I don’t blame them

[@BackpackerBen]

many go mate it's okay

[@mohnadsarmad8537]

Bro we love American and many American came and visited iraq . Politics is thing and pple are other thing .

[@BackpackerBen]

Spot on

[@johndouglas5712]

@@mohnadsarmad8537 it looks like a very cool place . Thank you . The regular people here wish the Iraqi people the best 👌

[@mohnadsarmad8537]

@@johndouglas5712 thanks mate wish u the same

[@BangTheBomb]

Two questions - Doesn't that 'beer' state 40% ABV @3:56 (So it must be a spirit?), and why do Iraqis touch their heart when you meet them - Is it a friendship thing? Just interested - Looks like a great place to visit off the normal tourist trap.

[@mohnadsarmad8537]

It is the way to express the warm welcoming , like our heart is open for you or it is an honor and a pleasure to meet you and we are in your service.

[@BackpackerBen]

wasn't a beer no lol, but beer sounds better in a title ;)

[@BackpackerBen]

sign of respect, I do it as well

[@BackpackerBen]

🤝

[@hasanhaitham276]

They touch their chests for a few meanings sometimes it means, the person is satisfied, or that they welcome the other person, etc...

[@arabcrypto]

Wellcome to iraq

[@BackpackerBen]

thanks bro!

[@g_sdi]

Welcome to Iraq

[@BackpackerBen]

thank you!! love it

[@Tanks_In_Space]

Why does he say "let's go my love"" (yalla habibi) to the people he meets?

[@user-nk3ly5ne5n]

Bro that's Arak 😄 it's not beer. Arak is 40% alcohol, whereas beer is like 6.5% alcohol.

[@pipvilday904]

40% beer. Surely that can’t be as that’s ridiculously strong beer 🍺

[@BackpackerBen]

Haha nah it’s moonshine stuff

[@jeffbreezee]

Iraq Pepsi! I'm familiar with that!

[@sonofmesopotamia6678]

The juice guy was telling you that you don't have to pay .. it's on the house

[@BackpackerBen]

I thought so ❤️

[@bettyswallox1240]

Ben, you said 40% on that beer so it's probably Rocket fuel 😁

[@BackpackerBen]

would of killed me

[@Hhhhzj15]

Ben, you look like Kevin De Bruyne, the Manchester City player in the English Premier League

[@BackpackerBen]

Thanks for being so precise I was confused who you were talking about

[@DC42087]

People in london complaing its hot lol, this place must be like an oven in the day bro!

[@BackpackerBen]

Mate I was laughing when people were panicking in London being 35 😂

[@DC42087]

@@BackpackerBen trust me haha. And these locals casually strolling around in jeans and jumpers lol

[@BackpackerBen]

@@DC42087 HAHAHHA i know

[@hassanhussein6110]

hi ben ................................ have you plan to visit aden in yemen ......................please reply

[@motameemi2983]

my dude its not a beer its called arak and that is the traditional alcohol drink in iraq its the same as ouzo in greece and raki in turkey and you supposed to mix it with some water and ice its very good drink

[@BackpackerBen]

Thanks for the tips 😎

[@DR-br5gb]

When he gave the guy $2 for the beer X)

[@azharAD]

5:10 that was Arak not beer

[@awsomemodels]

1:31 literally the worst thing about Iraq is the dirtiness , people just throw trash like it's nothing , and the government doesn't clean the city very well either 🤬 i am jealous of clean countries .

[@BackpackerBen]

See it everywhere here unfortunately

[@slapdogpuppyspank8754]

wow...

[@daniam2352]

That wasn’t beer man, it was Arak. Supposed to be mixed with water with ice.

[@BackpackerBen]

Damn

[@dee74raz]

It seems strange that restaurant didn't have any women there, except one that appeared on camera asking for something. Is that typical in the whole of Iraq?

[@BackpackerBen]

Appears so

[@HP_lovecrafts_cat67]

Its common for some restaurants to usually be places for men or teens to hang out while other higher class restaurants or cafes to be for families or women

[@chupapi9821]

2:40. The word you said means slowly

[@BackpackerBen]

Yes 👏🏼

[@inbefferke]

14:17 Way too funny

[@BackpackerBen]

😝

[@bilhab38953]

My friend, you can go to Mansour and some high-end places, Baghdad is beautiful, but you do not photograph beautiful places

[@BackpackerBen]

where is this??

[@mailmerrill1705]

Sorry you had to drink that lol

[@BackpackerBen]

hahah all good

[@hh2981]

That beer might have been bad but it can’t have been worse than Carling!!!

[@BackpackerBen]

Hahaha trust me it was bad

[@ProudMesopotamianGirl]

Bro Arak is not for rookies 😭

[@jessegreen8941]

Your up there with the best travel vloggers. (Bald and Bankrupt, Harrold Balder, Ext.) Would love if you showed more of the menu options but that's probably just me. I like to see the language so I can learn by looking up the history in said language.

[@BackpackerBen]

Thanks Jesse :)

[@LeviTheResistor]

I killed myself when he said 40% abv and didn't realise that can only be Hard Liquor...

[@aronjohns4662]

Is beer seriously available there?

[@BackpackerBen]

easy

[@Iraqikiddd]

Yes it's not Saudi Arabia mate

[@marcusskidmore7290]

Were those guys you went around with government minders?

[@BackpackerBen]

nope, people I met randomly

[@marcusskidmore7290]

@@BackpackerBen That's cool Ben. keep up the good work mate.

[@BackpackerBen]

@@marcusskidmore7290 thanks mate!! will do

[@user-kt8qx8yp6e]

Come to Basra city

[@BackpackerBen]

Sadly left now I wish I came Basra

[@AliZurix]

why did you think its beer when its saying 40% alcohol on the can? 🤣

[@BackpackerBen]

Thought it was different meaning in Iraq 😂