Doc's Beer Tour of NZ
Officially in NZ for two weddings and to catch up with family, I couldn't resist the opportunity to re-familiarize myself with the beers of NZ.
So here is a quick list of the beers I tracked down in the 2 1/2 weeks etc
Monteiths http://www.monteiths.co.nz
Black, Celtic, Summer Ale, Pilsner, Kristal Weizen, Golden
Mac's http://www.macs.co.nz
Gold, Special Reserve, Black, Copperhop, Blonde
Harringtons http://www.harringtonsbrewery.co.nz
Wheat, Big John, Winter Warmer, 1st Summer Ale, Stout, Porter, Hercules, Special Bitter, Wobbly Boot, Special Reserve
Harringtons also are about to release their low alcohol Lord of the Rings Beer named Sobering. Had a chat with Craig the brewer and owner of Harringtons in Richmond, Nelson and he showed me the artwork for the bottles etc. He was quite excited about it (a 1% beer) as he is hoping to also get it brewed under license in Australia and the US.
They also brewed their Stout as an official Lord of the Rings beer and it is very nice. I've obtained the particulars for that beer and will be brewing it this weekend.
Shakespare
King Lear Old Ale
Speights http://www.speights.co.nz
Gold Medal, Old Dark, Distinction Ale, Porter
Wellington Brewing Company (Shed 22) [URL="http://www.thebrewerybar.co.nz"]http://www.thebrewerybar.co.nz[/URL]
1052, Verboden Vice (Direct from secondary), Sorcey Spellbinder, Wicked Blonde and Sassy Red
Dominion Breweries http://dbbreweries.co.nz
Tui (It was the only beer they sold at the rugby)
Founders http://www.biobrew.co.nz
Long Black, Redhead
Wanaka Beerworks http://www.wanakabeerworks.co.nz
Tall Black
Imports
Youngs Double Chocolate Stout
Belhaven Scottish Ale
Martsons Oyster Stout
Green King Strong Suffolk Strong Ale
Amstel (was the only tap beer at one bar on the bucks night)
Other
A $6 a dozen beer that my father had in the fridge. Not even worth mentioning the name
Highlight(s)
Getting a personalised tour of Shed 22 Brewing (Wellington Brewery) on brew day. Saw the end of their first brew and the start of their second. Had a great chat to the brewers and had a taste of one of their beers direct from secondary and some of their others in the staff bar. An awesome day.
Visiting the NZ Hop board and picking up some hop pellets for brewing when I get back home.
Lowlight(s)
Getting down 330ml of the cheap $6 a dozen beer my father had in the fridge when I arrived at my parents place.
Closely followed by the only beer on offer at the Wellington WestpacTrust Stadium being Tui. Although the Hurricanes didn't lose. a 26-all draw.
Best Beers
Best NZ beers I tried would have to go to in no particular order to Mac's Copperhop, Monteiths Kristal Weizen and Wellington Brewing Company's Sorcey Spellbinder.
Mac's Copperhop because it has a great hop aroma and is a great tasting Pale Ale. They claim it is a three malt beer with a late addition of five hop variaties. Truely a great beer.
Montieths Kristal Weizen. Only released on the 28th of March and I managed to track some down before I left. A Kristal Wheat beer on par with the best Kristal Wheat beers from Germany.
The Shed 22 Sorcey Spellbinder is a unique beer. Not brewed with hops but bittered with Juniper berries, Yarrow and Wild Rosemary. Brewed for the Lord of the Rings explosion in NZ this is a fantastic well balanced interesting beer that I would drink again anywhere.
Beers I Missed
There were a few beers I wanted to try that I was unable to track down. Namely the Emerson and Limburg beers from Otago and Hawkes Bay respectively. Will have to hunt them down on the next trip. Also I ran out of time at the Wellington Brewing Company. Would love to have tried their Wicked Blonde and Sassy Red. Did score the brew data sheets with the spec's for each of their beers though so will have to brew them myself until I can return.
Beers I Avoided
On purpose I avoided DB Draught, DB Bitter, DB Export, Lion Red, Steinlager etc etc. It is not hard to find beer in NZ anymore. They sell it in Supermarkets and Star Marts and some corner shops as well as at the usual outlets like bottleshops. So there is no excuse to have to drink the big brands because that is all you could find.
Edit: Got in a couple more beers at the Wellington Brewing Company on my stopover in Wellington today on the way home.
Officially in NZ for two weddings and to catch up with family, I couldn't resist the opportunity to re-familiarize myself with the beers of NZ.
So here is a quick list of the beers I tracked down in the 2 1/2 weeks etc
Monteiths http://www.monteiths.co.nz
Black, Celtic, Summer Ale, Pilsner, Kristal Weizen, Golden
Mac's http://www.macs.co.nz
Gold, Special Reserve, Black, Copperhop, Blonde
Harringtons http://www.harringtonsbrewery.co.nz
Wheat, Big John, Winter Warmer, 1st Summer Ale, Stout, Porter, Hercules, Special Bitter, Wobbly Boot, Special Reserve
Harringtons also are about to release their low alcohol Lord of the Rings Beer named Sobering. Had a chat with Craig the brewer and owner of Harringtons in Richmond, Nelson and he showed me the artwork for the bottles etc. He was quite excited about it (a 1% beer) as he is hoping to also get it brewed under license in Australia and the US.
They also brewed their Stout as an official Lord of the Rings beer and it is very nice. I've obtained the particulars for that beer and will be brewing it this weekend.
Shakespare
King Lear Old Ale
Speights http://www.speights.co.nz
Gold Medal, Old Dark, Distinction Ale, Porter
Wellington Brewing Company (Shed 22) [URL="http://www.thebrewerybar.co.nz"]http://www.thebrewerybar.co.nz[/URL]
1052, Verboden Vice (Direct from secondary), Sorcey Spellbinder, Wicked Blonde and Sassy Red
Dominion Breweries http://dbbreweries.co.nz
Tui (It was the only beer they sold at the rugby)
Founders http://www.biobrew.co.nz
Long Black, Redhead
Wanaka Beerworks http://www.wanakabeerworks.co.nz
Tall Black
Imports
Youngs Double Chocolate Stout
Belhaven Scottish Ale
Martsons Oyster Stout
Green King Strong Suffolk Strong Ale
Amstel (was the only tap beer at one bar on the bucks night)
Other
A $6 a dozen beer that my father had in the fridge. Not even worth mentioning the name
Highlight(s)
Getting a personalised tour of Shed 22 Brewing (Wellington Brewery) on brew day. Saw the end of their first brew and the start of their second. Had a great chat to the brewers and had a taste of one of their beers direct from secondary and some of their others in the staff bar. An awesome day.
Visiting the NZ Hop board and picking up some hop pellets for brewing when I get back home.
Lowlight(s)
Getting down 330ml of the cheap $6 a dozen beer my father had in the fridge when I arrived at my parents place.
Closely followed by the only beer on offer at the Wellington WestpacTrust Stadium being Tui. Although the Hurricanes didn't lose. a 26-all draw.
Best Beers
Best NZ beers I tried would have to go to in no particular order to Mac's Copperhop, Monteiths Kristal Weizen and Wellington Brewing Company's Sorcey Spellbinder.
Mac's Copperhop because it has a great hop aroma and is a great tasting Pale Ale. They claim it is a three malt beer with a late addition of five hop variaties. Truely a great beer.
Montieths Kristal Weizen. Only released on the 28th of March and I managed to track some down before I left. A Kristal Wheat beer on par with the best Kristal Wheat beers from Germany.
The Shed 22 Sorcey Spellbinder is a unique beer. Not brewed with hops but bittered with Juniper berries, Yarrow and Wild Rosemary. Brewed for the Lord of the Rings explosion in NZ this is a fantastic well balanced interesting beer that I would drink again anywhere.
Beers I Missed
There were a few beers I wanted to try that I was unable to track down. Namely the Emerson and Limburg beers from Otago and Hawkes Bay respectively. Will have to hunt them down on the next trip. Also I ran out of time at the Wellington Brewing Company. Would love to have tried their Wicked Blonde and Sassy Red. Did score the brew data sheets with the spec's for each of their beers though so will have to brew them myself until I can return.
Beers I Avoided
On purpose I avoided DB Draught, DB Bitter, DB Export, Lion Red, Steinlager etc etc. It is not hard to find beer in NZ anymore. They sell it in Supermarkets and Star Marts and some corner shops as well as at the usual outlets like bottleshops. So there is no excuse to have to drink the big brands because that is all you could find.
Edit: Got in a couple more beers at the Wellington Brewing Company on my stopover in Wellington today on the way home.