Beer thread
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Bookbinder is a good one to remember, especially for a lunctime meal when travelling. One bottle at 500ml and 3.5% with food is a good 'safe' amount for driving afterwards. Nice beer too, goes well with food.<br />
I have seen a few places that have realised this and promote it as a lower alcohol option on their menu. -
[quote name='Chris B.' timestamp='1337047182' post='286166']<br />
Thanks nostril - that ODT article is a good summary.<br />
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Didn't realise the Bookbinder was only 3.5% - will have to try it again. Haven't come across Harry's Light.<br />
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Chris B, I had your problem (when I lived in NZ, a country that allows people to afford cars..) so I would try to remember a lighter beer and a juice in between or something, my guess was it would help flush the extra alcohol out quicker and give more time between alcohol intake but I am sure my theory is as scientific a theory as a typical fern posting..plus if the beer is good I do run the danger of forgetting to alternate.. -
I have had 5 5-6% beers and been under the adult limit in NZ, however if I am driving, I will only have 4 5% beers but will match it with similar volume of water.<br />
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Havent tried any new beers for a while, must go on the hunt for something! -
Epic have a few new ones out - First Batch IPA, a typical hoppy brew from Epic. Also there one called 'Message in a Bottle', quite malty, almost a bit of a porter taste about it. Certainly not the usual hoppy Epic taste I'm used to.<br />
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Also, popped in to Thorndon New World the other day and picked up a [url="http://www.wellingtonnz.com/know_wellington_in_a_pint"]Wellington In A Pint[/url] pack. 4 beers named after well known Wellington icons. Only tried the Cook Strait so far, a bit smoky for my taste. -
I must try that 'Message in a Bottle'. I'm a fan of the quality of Epic but rather sick of the overkill of IPAs and overhopping that is the signature of most NZ craft brews.<br />
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It's probably sacrilege to dis the great Kiwi IPA but for me it's become too much of a good thing. When done really well I love the flavours but not overkill of NZ hops (such as in Croucher Pilsner).<br />
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I like a bit more variety and deeper flavours, but luckily there are quite a few beers around doing that as well.<br />
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I quite like Smoky Beers when balanced well and one of my favs is Smokin' Bishop. I think they are food beers though and drinking them solo is missing the point.<br />
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8Wired have just released a Double Coffe Brown Ale that sounds worth a try. -
[quote name='Crucial' timestamp='1344728612' post='303691']<br />
I must try that 'Message in a Bottle'. I'm a fan of the quality of Epic but rather sick of the overkill of IPAs and overhopping that is the signature of most NZ craft brews.<br />
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It's probably sacrilege to dis the great Kiwi IPA but for me it's become too much of a good thing. When done really well I love the flavours but not overkill of NZ hops (such as in Croucher Pilsner).<br />
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I like a bit more variety and deeper flavours, but luckily there are quite a few beers around doing that as well.<br />
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I quite like Smoky Beers when balanced well and one of my favs is Smokin' Bishop. I think they are food beers though and drinking them solo is missing the point.<br />
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8Wired have just released a Double Coffe Brown Ale that sounds worth a try.<br />
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Yeah, I've had a couple of kiwi craft brew pilsners this year that may as well have been IPA's - just too much of the "big hop" flavour. -
[quote name='Allstar' timestamp='1325242493' post='264998']<br />
You've found German Kölsch in New Zealand?? I have never seen any. I'd love to be able to find Hannen or Diebels Alt Bier in New Zealand, but I don't fancy my chances.<br />
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Had a curry out west Auckland last night, and tried Haywards 5000. I really quite liked it, it went well with the food, and also had a bit of a kick to it (probably because it was 7% alcohol [img]http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/default/wink.png[/img]) [url="http://www.sabmiller.in/brands_haywards_5000.html"]http://www.sabmiller...wards_5000.html[/url]<br />
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Been to Hallertau at Riverhead and tried their Kölsch (no umlaut though)? [url="http://www.hallertau.co.nz/beer/"]http://www.hallertau.co.nz/beer/[/url]? -
[quote name='nostrildamus' timestamp='1345191527' post='304679']<br />
Been to Hallertau at Riverhead and tried their Kölsch (no umlaut though)? [url="http://www.hallertau.co.nz/beer/"]http://www.hallertau.co.nz/beer/[/url]?<br />
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Might have to chase that down tomorrow at Beervana. In German it has an ö, guess they deem it unnecessary in English. -
seems there won't be much of a presence of Halltertau there. I wonder if it's getting too exclusive now?<br />
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Also, who the fuck invited DB, Lion and Independent Breweries? IMO Issacs, Monteiths, Boundary Rd. Macs etc don't really have a place at somthing like this. (I almost hash tagged that) -
The Resident, Boundary Road Breweries, too hoppy for my liking!!
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[quote name='Allstar' timestamp='1345202529' post='304705']<br />
seems there won't be much of a presence of Halltertau there. I wonder if it's getting too exclusive now?<br />
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Also, who the fuck invited DB, Lion and Independent Breweries? IMO Issacs, Monteiths, Boundary Rd. Macs etc don't really have a place at somthing like this. (I almost hash tagged that)<br />
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I disagree. Remember that Beervana grew out of being a public session to sample the wares of the breweries competing in the Beer awards. In fact if it wasn't for Lion there would probably be no Beervana as they supply and maintain all of the hardware and kit for free.<br />
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No one forces you to try their products and if anything their presence has encouraged the creation of a mainstream 'cheaper' option of variety beers, widely available to all and expanding the tastebuds of the general punter. People often get introduced to craft styles through the likes of Monteiths/ Macs and Boundary Rd. Give your average beer drinker a bottle of Epic and it's too big a leap. These guys fill a middle ground.<br />
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I love craft beer, but it's also farkin expensive to drink all the time therefore I also love having the option of dropping a notch to one of these others at a reasonable price and still getting something way more flavourful than your standard drop.<br />
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Besides that, them being there opens their eyes to what many consumers want and can only help point them in the right direction.<br />
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TR, I gather you are talking about the IPA? That's a good example of what I'm talking about above. If the standard Boundary Rd brews are in the middle between the bland and the extreme, these 'Resident' one are just upping it another notch and even that is taking it too far for those that aren't keen on strongly flavoured beers.<br />
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I tend to agree with you about the 'in your face' APA/IPA overkill in NZ at the moment though. I prefer the more balanced use of hops in something like the Croucher Pilsner or Emersons Pilsner. You can taste the hops, they add character but don't dominate.<br />
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There was a funny post on FB from Wanaka Beerworks the other day. They were pointing out that they didn't get any medals this year and maybe they should have just thrown lots of hops in their brew instead. I tend to agree. This particular brewery is quite innovative in it's use of additions to the brew, using herbs and spices in interesting ways and playing around a lot with different malt roastings to get caramel depth into their beers. There is nothing wrong with the quality of the brewing at all and I find their stuff not only interesting but tasty and very good food beer. -
sorry, was the Pilsner I think...
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funny you mention that Crucial, was having a yarn to the guy from Boundary Road at Beervana. He was pretty much making the point you did, which I guess is a fair call.<br />
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Boundary etc certainly are a nice middle ground when you want to have a few beers and still drink something nice. There was also another sub-brand of Independent Breweries I hadn't seen before - The<br />
Resident. If you like their other stuff, keep an eye out for it.<br />
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I really like the hoppy flavour, but it was nice to get some variety at Beervana. Did mention to Luke of Epic that I did like the change he made with the Message in a Bottle. It was much more subtle than the usual in your face hoppy taste, -
James Squire "150 Lashes" Pale Ale for the win!<br />
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[img]http://www.beercartel.com.au/WebRoot/ecshared01/Shops/BeerCartel/4FE0/53EA/3504/2BD9/A10E/C0A8/D240/CE17/James_Squire_150_Lashes_Pale_Ale.png[/img] -
Stoke Bomber biscuit beer, a dark lager, great drop in the sunshine while cooking some steaks!<br />
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Any Suggestions for white/wheat beer? Just had a Flensburger Weizen and it was quite nice. Def enjoy Hoegaarden but haven't been sold on some NZ boutique wheat beers - too many flavours like Banana and liquorice being added!
