Beer thread

Allstar

went along yesterday, wish i'd read your post before I went along, but missed it for some reason. 
 
Had a great time. As they say, so many beers, so little time. I went to the beer and food matching session with Martin Bosley. While i'm unlikely to cook any of what they had, it was interesting to see how different beers can be had with all sorts of different food. 
 
Most of the brewers were willing to have a yarn about all sorts of stuff. The Bennett's guy was very much a salesman. Luke (aka Mr Epic) was also good value. 
 
The Epic Barrell aged IPA was one that I really enjoyed. Also the Emerson's Festive Brew as a nice drop. Mikes had a Whiskey Porter, which was something like 10%, also a very nice drop. 
 
It was well worth the visit IMO

taniwharugby

Had Spruce Beer on Saturday (along with Mata Artesan which I've had before) which despite being a fairly dark beer (likely due to the rimu and manuka-spiced kegs) is not as strong as I expected, still not too bad, has a rather interesting finish, that is down to the manuka and rimu, wasnt cheap either ($12.50 oer 500ml in a restaurant) 
 
Is a good change to go to a restaurant that sells such a good range of beer (Pizza Barn @ Waipu) that is not just your usual lot, as they are not affiliated to either brewers, so they have Mata, Kronenberg, Monteith (plus a couple of others) on tap, plus a decent range of other bottled beers (not to mention the good range of single malts) all to go with thier good food! 
 
[IMG]http://www.beerstore.co.nz/products/1000/1314_lg.jpg[/IMG]

Crucial

[quote name='taniwharugby']Had Spruce Beer on Saturday (along with Mata Artesan which I've had before) which despite being a fairly dark beer (likely due to the rimu and manuka-spiced kegs) is not as strong as I expected, still not too bad, has a rather interesting finish, that is down to the manuka and rimu, wasnt cheap either ($12.50 oer 500ml in a restaurant) 
 
Is a good change to go to a restaurant that sells such a good range of beer (Pizza Barn @ Waipu) that is not just your usual lot, as they are not affiliated to either brewers, so they have Mata, Kronenberg, Monteith (plus a couple of others) on tap, plus a decent range of other bottled beers (not to mention the good range of single malts) all to go with thier good food! 
 
[IMG]http://www.beerstore.co.nz/products/1000/1314_lg.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE] 
 
I will have to give them some competition over the hill this summer. My mate at Mangawhai has built a pizza oven in the area on their property that we camp on. It gets fired up most days for pizzas, fish, bread, roasts etc. I will have to keep the beer selection going.

Allstar

had a bottle of the Ranfurly Frontier Lager tonight. Can't say I thought to much of it to be honest. Same pish in a different bottle. Tasted just like all the other bland $12/doz NZ 'lagers'. So still no movement on the Rankfurly brand in my opinion.

taniwharugby

ha, I contemplated grabbing a dozen of them last week...couldnt bring myself to, so bought some Amstel instead!

dK

Can you guys get other Dutch beers in NZ (other than Heineken & Amstel). If you see Brand bier it is a lovely drop, especially the Brand Urtyp

Allstar

I haven't seen Brand. 
 
Hollandia (pish) 
Grolsch 
Bavaria (pish) 
La Trappe (very tasty, but expensive) 
 
That's all I can think of right now.

taniwharugby

finally got around to trying some Tuatara beers... 
 
Wasnt a fan of the Pilsner or Ardenne, but liked thier Heche (think that is how it is spelt) the Wheat beer. 
 
While in Rotovega last week, I had the pleasure of visiting the small [URL="http://www.croucherbrewing.co.nz/"]Croucher[/URL] 'Brewery' and tried a couple of thier drops (ones already on the market along with a couple that are yet to be released) 
 
IIRC I tried the Pilsner, Hef and then a couple of others (IPA I think it was) not yet released, and I must say they were very good!

Crucial

Talking 'Tuatara' I had both the bottled and fresh (tap) of their new APA the other day. 
 
Hashigo Zake had it on tap and when I got home later I had a bottle. The difference was quite noticable. 
 
It is a heavily hopped American style Pale Ale and although very nice (if you are a 'hophead') I struggled to notice too much difference between it and Epic Armageddon. 
 
Some interesting stuff here [URL]http://www.cultbeerstore.co.nz/[/URL] too

Allstar

got some Bear Beer from The Mill today. Was about $8.50 for half a doz. It's from Denmark apparently. 
 
Not too bad for a 'session beer'. Had some taste and didn't go down too bad. The main test was that after 3 or 4, I could still drink another (a vital beer test IMO)

dogmeat

Man after 3 or 4 beers I'll drink almost anything - except for mass produced fizzy water like Waikato but then this is supposed to be a beer thread :fishing:

Crucial

Good to see the MacCashin Family back on the supermarket shelves after Mac's was bought out by Lion. Look for 'Stoke'. Brewed at the original Mac's Brewery in Nelson. Have just put some 'Gold' in the fridge so will let you know.

Crucial

The Stoke 'Gold' was very nice. Nothing OTT about it to distract from quenching the thirst. Despite the pleas on the label to drink it at a reasonable temperature, I found that both Gold and it's friend 'Amber' stood up well to being well chilled for a hot day. 
 
Good basic kiwi beer made well and naturally. I'll be buying it again.

homebuddy

I tried this new beer called Hopslam by Bells brewing company. It is really hoppy and one of the best beers I have ever drank. I don't usually drink the fancy beers though, all I need is six pack of Pabst Blue Ribbon.

Quo vadis

So according to the Beeradvocate - a site of 1000's of user (mostly guys from overseas) beer submitted reviews. The Best beer in NZ is either.

Craftsman - Renaiassance brewing.
Hop wired IPA - 8 wire brewing. 
 
They have an average rating of [B]A[/B] and at least 4 reviews. But in reality any one of the [B]A- [/B]beers below is equally good, especially as they have more reviews. 
 
Epic is the best brewery (followed by Emerson and Twisted hop)with 4 [B]A-[/B] beers - based on many more reviews. Epic Armageddon is [B]A- [/B]with 36 reviews. Under such higher scrutiny and more S.D on the vote, such an [B]A-[/B] is more reflective than the two [B]A'[/B]s above. 
Epic Pale Ale is [B]A- [/B] from 24 reviews. 
Epic Thornbridge Oak Barrel Aged Stout [B]A-[/B] 5 reviews. 
Epic Barrel Aged I.P.A. [B]A-[/B] 6 reviews 
Twisted Ankle. [B]A-[/B] from 8 reviews. 
Croucher - Pale Ale. [B]A-[/B] from 7. 
Emerson - Old 95. [B]A-[/B] from 17 
Emerson -Organic Pilsner. [B]A-[/B] from 22 
Emerson Bourbon Porter. [B]A-[/B] from 5 and [B]A[/B] from the Beeradvocate founders. 
 
Golding Bitter from Twisted is [B]A+[/B] , but only two reviews. 
 
 
Moa is heavily reviewed but have nothing over [B]B+[/B] 
 
 
 
FWIW. Of the main stream stuff. 
 
CD. [B]B-[/B] 
WD. [B] B-[/B] 
Speights. [B]C+[/B] 
Tui. [B]C[/B] 
Lion Red. [B]C-[/B] 
DB Draught. [B] D+[/B] 
 
The now extinct Ranfurly Draught had an [B] F[/B] god it must have been shit. 
 
 
 
I had an Orval the other night - wow, what a beer! bloody expensive, but damn what flavour.

Crucial

A bottle of this [URL]http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/yeastie-boys-pkb-remix-2010-us-mix/132877/[/URL] awaits my consumption with Xmas mince pies. I was waiting for xmas day but it may not make it.

Scorz

I can confirm Ranfurly Draught was not a beer. $6 for 12 and you'd think there's no way you could feel ripped off. But you did. 
 
Magners Cider is now more readily available in NZ and I forgot how lethal it can be.

Smudge

Anyone else given the Stoke range a go? I've tried the lager, which was very nice indeed.

MN5

[quote name='Voltman']Anyone else given the Stoke range a go? I've tried the lager, which was very nice indeed.[/QUOTE] 
 
I was a bit disappointed to be honest but I'm keen to give it another go. Occasionally beer grows on you after a few trys and Stoke has a good pedigree so based on that I may have to purchase some more.

taniwharugby

the local RSA has Hawkes Bay Pilsner on tap, is not bad, for a pilsner.

The Silver Fern

Beer thread