Beer thread
-
<p>Harringtons Rogue Hop Organic Pilsner - not a bad drop, fresh and light, perfect for a warm spring evening! </p>
-
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Milk" data-cid="456195" data-time="1413474232">
<div>
<p>Any of you using the Untappd app? Just signed up for it. Good way to keep track of how you've rated beers</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>I think Allstar does.</p> -
<p>There's a new bar near my office that has 24 craft beers on tap.
Pricey though (4 to 6 euro for a half pint).<br><br>
Had both the Underall session IPA's from To Øl, and the Evil Twin smoked pilsner. Pleasant but nothing special.<br><br>
[url=http://imgur.com/wk5XFQe]<img src="http://i.imgur.com/wk5XFQel.jpg" alt="wk5XFQel.jpg">[/url]<br><br>
(click for bigger pic)</p> -
<p>I find Heineken the most hit and miss beer out there. I've had the odd ripper one but for the main I find it a bit nasty. Stella on the other hand always tastes the same to me.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>But the stella fear the next day sometimes isn't worth the indulgence the night before</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Allstar" data-cid="465120" data-time="1418203220"><p>I have found German brewed Becks here on occasion. The difference between that and what Lion brew under license is quite noticeable. As expected, the German stuff tastes better. May be down to the difference in hops and water perhaps.</p></blockquote>
<br>
Quite normal though, in the UK the difference between locally brewed (in particular Stella and Grolsch, but others too, Becks, Kronenburg, Orangeboom) and imported was huge, obviously when brewed locally the localised ingredients, but dare I say they also er towards the way local beers are made? <br><br>
I dislike Stella from anywhere other than Belgium. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="dK" data-cid="468474" data-time="1421485860"><p>I have been drinking a lot of 4 Pines, local craft beer in Manly. The Kolsch is definitely my go to summer sip. But I have always been a stout fan and there's is a dark rich coffee/bitter chocolate beauty</p></blockquote>
I saw that on the menu the other day when I was in Sydney. Maybe I should have tried it. Went for the Badlands IPA instead. Was nice to have one that wasn't overloaded with hops. -
<p>Just in case you want to have a crack at a few craft beers served at one of my favourite pre-game establishments (<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://thelocal.com.au/darlinghurst/'>http://thelocal.com.au/darlinghurst/</a>): </p>
<p> </p>
<p>BE WARNED though - some of these "craft brewers" like Matilda Bay and Little Creatures are under ownership by large companies, and therefore in danger of being brewed to a price, like most of the mass-produced shit here.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.brewsnews.com.au/2014/01/australias-hottest-100-craft-beers/'>http://www.brewsnews.com.au/2014/01/australias-hottest-100-craft-beers/</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>I tend to lean toward the pale ales because I only really drink in summer, but off that list i can personally recommend numbers 1, 3, 4, 19, 22, and 28 for starters.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="469458" data-time="1422166510">
<div>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>BE WARNED though - some of these "craft brewers" like Matilda Bay and Little Creatures are under ownership by large companies, and therefore in danger of being brewed to a price, like most of the mass-produced shit here.</p>
<p> </p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>Funnily enough, despite the initial misgivings held when Lion brought out Emersons here in NZ, that hasn't happened at all. What has happened is that Emersons have better distribution access, can sell more and have had $$$$ invested in building a new brewery. No change in recipes or quality. Little Creatures is also in the Lion stable and Lion (for now) seem happy not to kill the goose. They buy these breweries to get a share in the CB market not to kill it. They have other brands to do 'accountant versions' of styles with.</p>
<p>Emerson's and Little Creature now consider themselves sister breweries and collaborate on ideas and techniques.</p>
<p>Matilda Bay, however was an example of how the big breweries in the 90s tried to deal with the emerging CB market by buying it out and shitting all over it. Taking Australias first real commercial CB brand (primarily Redback), taking it from it's roots in WA and shifting all production to one of their malt beverage factories in Tasmania. At least the original owners got to pocket the $50M purchase, wait a few years and start Little Creatures.</p>
<p>The market has matured enough now that consumers won't stand for the type of tactic used in the Matilda Bay days. They will just shift from the brand to another. The big boys realise this now and will just invest in the market which IMO is a really good thing. Although it's fun for the consumer to have dozens of boutique breweries around, only a handful will ever become any more than just small and boutique. That's fine for a small family income but also means the consumer doesn't get the benefits of availability and often has to stumble across things as a one off.</p>
<p>One big advantage we have in NZ over OZ, and the main reason why our CB choice and market is so far ahead is that we have a distribution advantage compared to them. Smaller country, easier to distribute product. It has always been an issue in the Oz market for any boutique product (wine, food products etc) so for them, having investment (in the right way) from the big breweries would be a positive for the consumer.</p>
