Beer thread

Tim

So, what are the best pilsners in NZ these days? I prefer the bohemian (Pilsner Urquell, Budvar) and german styles (Jever, Radeberger). I find that a lot of craft brew pilsners taste like a bastardised IPA.
 
I remember a Hawkes Bay (?) one being quite good.

nostrildamus

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La Trappe Tripel. Not short on body at 8% and though a bit on the pale side for this cold winter, warmed me thoroughly. Worth drinking at the recommended temperature of 10-14C. I opened it and poured to glass, had some them enjoyed more after dinner when it warmed up a bit <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.latrappetrappist.com/en-en/trappist-beers/la-trappe-tripel/'>http://www.latrappetrappist.com/en-en/trappist-beers/la-trappe-tripel/</a> 
Good work Trappist Monks, good work
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If you ever get stuck at Brussels airport, charm* your way into the lounge. Great selection of Belgian beers and cheesecakes.
(*Or, if you are Australian, simply speak loudly and just keep walking past the front desk in a decisive if boorish manner).

NTA

I doubt whether I'll ever get to Brussels, but thanks for the tip. Do they have Kwak?

Crucial

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="441662" data-time="1406118600">
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So, what are the best pilsners in NZ these days? I prefer the bohemian (Pilsner Urquell, Budvar) and german styles (Jever, Radeberger). I find that a lot of craft brew pilsners taste like a bastardised IPA.
 
I remember a Hawkes Bay (?) one being quite good.
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Emersons has a long dry finish if that's what you look for. It's more the hop varieties used that are the differential. NZ Craft Pils tend to use solely NZ hops with their distinctive flavours. Emersons uses Riwaka which is quite noticable.
If you want Bohemian style pils, drink it from the source.

dK

New app. Hops Find your beer.

Crucial

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New app. Hops Find your beer.
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Trad Pils use 100% Saaz hops so check for that (Three Boys in NZ do a Saaz Pils). The difference though is that there are old world Saaz Hops and New World Saaz hops and even variations (Saaz B ).
Just like a grape variety will have different characters grown in different places, the same will occur in hops (to a lesser degree).
But then, how boring would it be if an NZ Pils tasted the same as a Czech one?

Tim

Actually, NZ farmers are major suppliers of hops to Budvar.

mariner4life

Aussie Ferners, i gave these a crack on the weekend. Pretty bloody good. Hoppy, but not overly so, that nice slightly-bitter taste, awesome cold as fuck. And reasonably priced at a little over $50 a carton (from First Choice)
 
<img src="http://2hopheads.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/image18.jpg" alt="image18.jpg">

Crucial

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="441710" data-time="1406155443">
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Actually, NZ farmers are major suppliers of hops to Budvar.
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There you go then. Find a NZ brew that uses just Saaz (A?). I think BachBrewing may be one, Tuatara another.

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="441662" data-time="1406118600">
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So, what are the best pilsners in NZ these days? I prefer the bohemian (Pilsner Urquell, Budvar) and german styles (Jever, Radeberger). I find that a lot of craft brew pilsners taste like a bastardised IPA.
 
I remember a Hawkes Bay (?) one being quite good.
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Among the bigger breweries Monteiths are making a Bohemian Pilsner at present.
 
I tried a 6 pack a couple of weeks ago, but wasn't sold on it - I preferred their straight Monteiths Pilsner, which seems to have disappeared from the shelves - at least in Nelson.

Crucial

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="442607" data-time="1406593970">
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Among the bigger breweries Monteiths are making a Bohemian Pilsner at present.
 
I tried a 6 pack a couple of weeks ago, but wasn't sold on it - I preferred their straight Monteiths Pilsner, which seems to have disappeared from the shelves - at least in Nelson.
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I think it's just the same product that they have rebranded during the labelling update. They may have changed the recipe though.

Chris B.

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I think it's just the same product that they have rebranded during the labelling update. They may have changed the recipe though.
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Certainly wouldn't take the Pepsi challenge on it - but I quite liked the old version and thought the Bohemian was less good - but, could easily have been me on the day(s). 
 
I'm drinking a lot of Macs Hoprocker Pils at present and it's got a bit more flavour to it.

Hooroo

Hey Chris,
 
How is your head the next day afer hoprocker? After even a couple it makes me feel a bit dodge. I won't drink it any more

Chris B.

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Hey Chris,
 
How is your head the next day afer hoprocker? After even a couple it makes me feel a bit dodge. I won't drink it any more
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Head's OK, but it seems fairly hard on the stomach - it's not something I'd want to have a big night on (these days what is!) - but 2-3 seem OK.

Hooroo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="442634" data-time="1406602870">
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Head's OK, but it seems fairly hard on the stomach - it's not something I'd want to have a big night on (these days what is!) - but 2-3 seem OK.
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I completely agree. It really makes my stomach feel really dodge too. It's a shame as it has quite a good flavour

Crucial

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="442624" data-time="1406598806">
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Hey Chris,
 
How is your head the next day afer hoprocker? After even a couple it makes me feel a bit dodge. I won't drink it any more
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I'd avoid it too if that's the case. Sounds like histamines that are affecting you (allergy). I used to get it big time from homebrews and it's why I stopped brewing for a long time.

Hooroo

Does that affect your gut as well?
 
Other Craft beers seem fine

Crucial

All beers different. Different hops with different alpha acid levels. Different mash times. Grains and hops grown in different locations and possibly carrying pollens. The most likely for sore guts is yeast although Macs is filtered now so that sounds odd. Most craft beers are cold crashed so the proteins settle and the clear product then drawn off the top. Big breweries want to move faster than that so they filter.

Chris B.

I find some of the Harringtons beers most likely to give me a sore head, so I tend to be a bit wary of them - again a pity because lots of them are well worth drinking.

Crucial

Now here's one that tastes heaps better than it sounds...
 
Just trying some of an early batch of Kereru Karengose. This is a cloudy wheat beer (think Hoegaarden but without the orange peel and spices) based on the German Gose (Go-sah) style of a salted beer.
 
What they have done is instead of using salted water is add flakes of Karengo (purple seaweed) to the brew.
 
The end result is probably the most thirst quenching beer I think I've ever tasted and will go down an absolute treat on a hot summer's day. It doesn't taste salty, just really clean on the palate.

The Silver Fern

Beer thread