Beer thread

Crucial

Next episode. 
 
A rigger of Renaissance IPA went down well. Nice body and flavours. 
 
Finishing the evening with a Pink Elephant "pinks peculiar". Bloody tasty. Slightly sour in an English ale style.

Crucial

Stoke have put out a couple of "Bombers" 650 ml bottles(perfect size IMO ). 
Just trying the Smoky Ale. Mild smokiness like you would find in a smoked cheddar. Perfect with cold meats.

Chris B.

The Stoke Bomber Kiwi Pale Ale won first prize among the commercially brewed beers at the Nelson A&P Show last weekend. I dropped into the supermarket on the way home to pick up a bottle - but, it wasn't in stock - so I picked up a bottle of their Smoky ale instead, which I can endorse Crucial's view. Often these "flavours" seem to go overboard, but this smokiness was just very pleasant. 
 
I'm really looking forward to trying the KPA now.

Crucial

Had another go at the Stoke Smoky tonight. Reinforced my initial view that this is a very nice supping ale. Everything seems in balance.

taniwharugby

I noticed my local Countdown had 3 different Stokes in there today!

Chris B.

I tried a KPA, but didn't think it was as good as the Smoky. 
 
However, after drinking the KPA, I tried a Stoke Gold stubbie and thought it wasn't very good at all. So I waited till the next night and thought the Stoke Gold was much better. Might not have been thirsty enough! 
 
Will try another KPA in due course.

taniwharugby

[quote name='Chris B.']I tried a KPA, but didn't think it was as good as the Smoky. 
 
However, after drinking the KPA, I tried a Stoke Gold stubbie and thought it wasn't very good at all. So I waited till the next night and thought the Stoke Gold was much better. [U][B]Might not have been thirsty enough[/B][/U]! 
 
Will try another KPA in due course.[/QUOTE] 
 
I guess Chris is a unisex name...<img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />

Crucial

In the early days of craft brewing in NZ I was very keen to experiment with what the brewers were coming up with, but also quck to dispel anything substandard as I wasn't going to spend a higher $ on something that didn't warrant it. 
 
Sadly one of the breweries that I was underwhelmed with was the Wanaka Beerworks. Maybe I just had some duds (or the consistency wasn't there), but I was quite disappointed in their offerings and steered away from them since while trying other product. 
 
I'm glad to say though, that they have won me back. While staying in Wanaka in the winter I picked up a mixed 6-pack (great idea) and really enjoyed each bottle. The main reason I'm glad I did this is that the brewery is now really kicking into gear with some different offerings and seasonal beers. 
 
check out this [URL]http://wanakabeerworks.co.nz/[/URL] and if you see any in your local feel safe to give it a crack

Tim

Great to hear Crucial. A lot of my expertise is in yeast and mammalian fermentations and in (microscale) fermentor design. There are so many variables and complications in any bioreaction process, so it's always good to hear of a brewery achieving consistency and producing an excellent product. Especially in NZ. <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> 
 
I've been really impressed by the NZ Hops webpage recently - HPLC traces and nice introductions to the strains. Some really nice foreign beers using them. The question remains, is there an excellent, consistent NZ pilsner utilising the excellent local hops?

Crucial

[quote name='Tim']I've been really impressed by the NZ Hops webpage recently - HPLC traces and nice introductions to the strains. Some really nice foreign beers using them. The question remains, is there an excellent, consistent NZ pilsner utilising the excellent local hops?[/QUOTE] 
 
This one is pretty good... 
 
[QUOTE][FONT=Arial][B]CROUCHER - BOHEMIAN PILSNER - 5% alc/vol[/B][/FONT][FONT=Arial] [/FONT][FONT=Arial]Our Czech-styled lager was released in January 2007, and is one of Paul’s favoured styles of beer.[/FONT][FONT=Arial] [/FONT][FONT=Arial][U]Tasting Notes:[/U][/FONT][FONT=Arial]Appearance - a pale straw coloured beer. 10% wheat malt added to the grist supplies a generous clinging head.[/FONT] 
[FONT=Arial]Aroma - a true lager yeast fermented at low temperatures provides the characteristic characteristics of a bohemian pilsner. Generous additions on New Zealand Motueka and Riwaka hops provide a new world twist to this ancient classic. This is a [/FONT][FONT=Arial][I]very[/I][/FONT][FONT=Arial] hoppy lager.[/FONT] 
[FONT=Arial][I]Particularly Luscious.[/I][/FONT] 
[FONT=Arial][B][U]AWARDS:[/U][/B][/FONT] 
[FONT=Arial]> Awarded [/FONT][FONT=Arial][B]‘CHAMPION INTERNATIONAL LAGER’[/B][/FONT][FONT=Arial], BrewNZ 2010[/FONT] 
[FONT=Arial] - [/FONT][FONT=Arial][U]Gold Medal[/U][/FONT][FONT=Arial] in NZ Pilsner Class, & Trophy for International Lager category[/FONT] 
[FONT=Arial]> Named in ‘Top 12 New Zealand Beers’ - Capital Times Beer Necessities Survey 2010. [/FONT] 
[FONT=Arial]Neil Millers Annual Top 10 NZ Beers (2010)[/FONT] 
[FONT=Arial]> Rated 5 Stars by Bob Campbell, Master Of Wine[/FONT] 
[/QUOTE]

Tim

Thanks dude. Definitely looking forward to trying that in January! <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> 
 
aside: cracking up that old Bob Campbell master of wine is horning in on the beer action too. Is he a genuine supporter or an opportunist?

taniwharugby

the Croucher Bros were exporting some of their brews to the US, went and tried some of their drops at their humble set-up in Rotovegas last year, even a new one that they said was unlikely to be sold.

Chris B.

[URL]http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/country/new-zealand/148/[/URL] 
 
Dunno if anyone has posted this "Rate beer" site for NZ (and other countries) - I just came across it. Judging by the comments of the raters there's some pretty serious people helping score these beers. Maybe that's why the Stouts are coming out on top! 
 
Good to see the Renaissance beers doing well - they're my favourites.

Chris B.

I've done a bit more research and it seems that 8wired is the Brewers Guild of NZ Champion Brewery for 2011, and it's an offshoot of Renaissance. Apparently, 
it's a hobby brand for Soren Erikson, who otherwise brews for Renaissance. I haven't come across 8wired at all - but, I'm going to be looking hard from now on. I've plumped for Renaissance here several times, so I'd better declare that I have no commercial interest - except thinking that they make bloody good beer. 
 
[URL]http://8wired.co.nz/[/URL] 
 
Seems like Epic is the other major brand at the top of the league.

Crucial

8wired is excellent. As a brand they come up with the ideas and use the Renaissance brewery to make it. 
Quality is excellent and the bonus is that they aren't copying another range but doing a tweak on everything

taniwharugby

[quote name='Crucial']THE DOCTOR; 
A complex blend of four malts combined with a duo of traditional hop varieties. Rich, warm roasted caramel and toffee notes with a lasting finish and smooth mouth feel. For serious lovers of fine ales. ‘Strong, dark and handsome’. 6.5% alcohol by volume.[/QUOTE] 
 
Diverted my homeward journey from Auckland yesterday and picked me up some of this (along with the other I already tried and liked) as I had yet to sample it. 
 
I have to be in the right mood for this style, but I defo enjoyed it. 
 
Have some Croucher being sent up to me for Christmas too <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />

Crucial

TR, the 4 Square at Mangawhai Heads stocks Croucher (or at least it has for the last two summers)

taniwharugby

it's all good, my cousin in Vegas runs the Liquor King in Vegas and is mates with the Croucher Brothers <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />

Chris B.

In the ongoing search for drinkable light beers, I found some Namibian Windhoek light in the supermarket the other day. It had that hollow, metallic, pisswater taste that many light beers seem to have. I can't recommend it. 
 
I did, however, have some draught Bays Light Ale when out at dinner the other night and it seemed very good for light beer. But, I may just have been thirsty. <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' /> 
 
I'll have to find it in bottles and see whether it stands up. 
 
[URL]http://baysbrewery.co.nz/beer.html[/URL]

Tim

[quote name='Chris B.']In the ongoing search for drinkable light beers, I found some Namibian Windhoek light in the supermarket the other day. It had that hollow, metallic, pisswater taste that many light beers seem to have. I can't recommend it. 
 
I did, however, have some draught Bays Light Ale when out at dinner the other night and it seemed very good for light beer. But, I may just have been thirsty. <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' /> 
 
I'll have to find it in bottles and see whether it stands up. 
 
[URL]http://baysbrewery.co.nz/beer.html[/URL][/QUOTE] 
 
Pilsner Urquell (when it's absolutely fresh) is about the lightest good beer I drink. Some of the Helles style can be good too, but supply is unreliable. A good KÃ¶lsch might be just want you want, but again freshness is important and supply is typically unreliable.

The Silver Fern

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