Beer thread
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="481350" data-time="1427407959">
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<p>Tuatara Iti 3.3% look for the red box among the Tuatara six packs in the supermarket</p>
<p>Croucher Lowrider 2.7%</p>
<p>Stoke 2-stoke isn't bad either (only 2%)</p>
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<p>Emerson's Bookbinder at 3.7% is still the best I've come across.</p>
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<p>I tried Tuatara Iti a couple of weeks ago - I really wanted it to be good, but I didn't think it was - seemed to have no body to it - like drinking hop-flavoured water.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="483911" data-time="1428367903">
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<p>Emerson's Bookbinder at 3.7% is still the best I've come across.</p>
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<p>I tried Tuatara Iti a couple of weeks ago - I really wanted it to be good, but I didn't think it was - seemed to have no body to it - like drinking hop-flavoured water.</p>
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<p>That's the difficult part of making a lower alc beer. In order to get flavour you add ingredients, but upping the malt ups the alc content. It is a balancing act of adding ingredients and stopping fermentation. Stop early to stop production of alc and you get a too sweet beer.</p>
<p>The 'factory' way is often to brew out then remove some of the alc from the finished product.</p>
<p>3.5 - 4% is quite achievable with flavour rentention, drop below that and it takes great skill, especially to keep a mouth feel and not taste watery.</p>
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<p>Bookbinder is the go-to for me as well. As I've mentioned before, it is a great beer to have with lunch while travelling as you won't go near the limit if you have it with food and one 500ml bottle is plenty.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="481349" data-time="1427407312">
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<p>I seem to have finally worked out the home brew system that suits me. I tried full grain brewing but without having dedicated space and setting aside a whole day just to get to the wort stage it wasn't working for me. Tried going for the more expensive and better quality kits and while they turned out quite good and I had a big supply of quite tasty beer in the garage it was missing the part where I get to add my own touch.</p>
<p>So my next experiment was to get a couple of cans of the 'cheaper' brew kits (a Brown Ale and a Stout), blend them together to make a Porter, cut the water quantity by 25% to up the alc level a touch (as they all seem to brew out at around 4%). This left me with enough wort for one large brew (23 litres) and a couple of 5 litre brews.</p>
<p>The large brew took a big wallop of hops to make a Cascadian Ale style (a bit like Yeastie Boys PKB) and the others I tried a couple of different quantities of toasted coconut and vanilla.</p>
<p>All taste bloody good and should get me through winter (and save about $500)</p>
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<p>another option for the 'time pressed' is the fresh wort pack.. it's the avenue my mate has gone down... he's been using this one and I can say it's bl00dy outstanding! a few other options out there..</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://shop.brewtopia.net.nz/product_info.php?cPath=75&products_id=829&osCsid=u74jbp3q72efo0b7m92ik5gf95'>http://shop.brewtopia.net.nz/product_info.php?cPath=75&products_id=829&osCsid=u74jbp3q72efo0b7m92ik5gf95</a></p>
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<p>a few bucks more than doing it yourself but knocks out the 'losing a day' downside of brewing.</p> -
<p>Yeah, quite a few places are doing fresh wort packs now. I didn't even realise Kereru (my local) had started them, so thanks for that link. Might give one a shot.</p>
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<p>Price is one factor, but I also quite like playing with recipes and with these packs I'd probably keep them as is as I don't want to wreck $80 worth of booze when I can wreck $40 instead ;)</p>
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<p>Another option in some cities are the places where you can go and brew on their premises from scratch and they also do the controlled fermentation. You go back and bottle it when ready. Costs about $140 though</p>
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<p>I was a bit optimistic on how long those porters I made would last. I'm ripping through them. Next to bottle is a smoked pumpkin brown ale. Literally smoked some pumpkin and blended it into the wort. Nearly ready to bottle and the sample I had when testing it shows good promise. Next to go down is a Chocolate Raspberry Stout.</p> -
<p>I have had a search and can't find any. I had just thought because there was one in Wellington others would have popped up by now. ( <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://theoccasionalbrewer.co.nz/)'>http://theoccasionalbrewer.co.nz/)</a></p>
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<p>It may be worth calling these guys <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://beerandwine.co.nz/events/fill-your-own-craft-beer-is-here/'>http://beerandwine.co.nz/events/fill-your-own-craft-beer-is-here/</a> <a>or http://www.brewshop.co.nz/contacts/</a> , probably the most in the know of the local scene and asking if anyone has (or is planning to) open a 'Shared Brew Space' around town. The more people that ask the more the word will get around and one of the local brewers will think of doing it. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="dogmeat" data-cid="487598" data-time="1430367441"><p>I don't know how successful they are. Over the years I've seen several come and go and let's face it they'd probably target an area of beer consumption before opening in the Waikato.</p></blockquote>
Do you mean breweries or shared brew spaces? The Waikato has a few boutique brewers kicking off and that shop I linked has one of the best ranges of beer in the country. They probably turn over more in beer than they do wine -
<p>According to Google, the Wellington one is the first commercial shared brew space in NZ.</p>
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<p>What I can imagine is one of the smaller outfits with plenty of room setting something up. The Wellington one does alright for bookings.</p>
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<p>I think it's the price point for a batch that is the sticking point. $150 (plus bottling) for the equivalent of 10 doz stubbies (40l) isn't a massive saving so it teds to be done for a bit of fun with a mate or to experience with guidance how to do a full grain brew before getting some gear and doing it at home.</p>
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<p>If you are really keen though, it's worth talking to a small brewer to see if you can work with them to do a contract brew for a group of you. You come up with a recipe or style and pay them for ingredients and lease of equipment/ expertise. </p> -
OK Looking at their website maybe I was wrong.<br><br>I'm not sure that the places I've seen fail offered the expertise as I never went inside. There used to be one in Henderson and another not far from where I work in Albany. What they advertised was industrial beer making equipment and sterile bottling but I'm pretty sure you made it on your own. Anyway neither lasted very long.<br><br>If they were in Auckland and the quality was OK I'd be tempted. Bottles included their pricing works out at about $5/litre. I would normally pay $14-18 retail so enough of a saving to make it worthwhile.
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<p>I'm trying Harrington's "Harry's Light", at present - 2.5%. Last night I tried it after a "Sassy Red" and thought it wasn't too bad.</p>
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<p>Today, I'm still thinking it's not bad - it's light on flavour, but probaby got a bit more body than most light beers. Unfortunately, I'm getting a cold today, so my tastebuds might be impaired.</p>
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<p>Worth a try in any case.</p> -
<p>Recently had some NZ IPAs. I have been slowly trying APAs and IPAs from around OZ and out of the UK and US.</p>
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<p>What I have to report is that the EPIC brewery, were their beer only available by sucking it out of my worst enemies penis, I'd have some seriously worn knees in my jeans....</p>
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<p>My God how good is the Hop Zombie?! OZ may as well stop now because your IPAs are terrible by comparison. There are some nice ones out f the US but Hop Zombie is hands down the best beer I have ever had in my life.</p> -
<p>Garage Project, Beer! Does what it says and is probably my favourite drop at the moment and it comes in a can!</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://garageproject.co.nz/collections/all/beer'>http://garageproject.co.nz/collections/all/beer</a></p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="513923" data-time="1441585551">
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<p>Garage Project, Beer! Does what it says and is probably my favourite drop at the moment and it comes in a can!</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://garageproject.co.nz/collections/all/beer'>http://garageproject.co.nz/collections/all/beer</a></p>
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<p>Actually that may be a good one for Tim and his seemingly endless search for a traditional Pilsner made in NZ. Saaz Hops and Czech Yeast. No playing around with other hops.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="513923" data-time="1441585551">
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<p>Garage Project, Beer! Does what it says and is probably my favourite drop at the moment and it comes in a can!</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://garageproject.co.nz/collections/all/beer'>http://garageproject.co.nz/collections/all/beer</a></p>
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love Garage Project. Especially the real effort they go to with their bottle and can art. It's very well done. Incidentally they brought over a few kegs to the Camden Brewery in July, it was all gone in about two hours. <strong>Very </strong>popular.</p>
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<p>I'm enjoying the variety of hand pulled cask ales over here. Even with the chains like Shepherd Neame, Fullers etc, I can usually find different drinks around the place. Will note some of the better ones some time.</p> -
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/201770527/the-rise-of-new-zealand-craft-beer'>http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/201770527/the-rise-of-new-zealand-craft-beer</a></p>
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<p>New Zealand brewed craft beer has become very popular both on the domestic market and for export. Jules van Cruysen began his career as sommelier in Wellington and writing about wine, then the 30 year old became more interested in beer and all it's varieties and tastes. He has written a comprehensive guide to the amber liquid Brewed - a guide to the craft beer of New Zealand. His book profiles individual breweries and their history, the people behind the product and includes some tasting notes. Jules van Cruysen is a drinks writer, and he is also the co-owner of Hillside Kitchen in Thorndon.</p>
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<p>17 mins - I found it an interesting listen</p>
