[thepiesleys]

As an ardent berdy werdie, tank top wearing, real ale drinker in the UK I am a little disapointed with the fare in NZ. It's all cold and fizzy. But I have found a few favourites.

Waikato is rather nice as is Monteiths radler and summer ale.

Lion red and VB are stock cheap choices.

What are other peoples favs and am I missing a trick with anything?

Dan

[jailhouse]

Dan, not about NZ beer, but just had a couple of bottles of Spitfire. Mmmm.

jh

[Cardiff Irons]

Wasn't an avid lager drinker back in the UK (Cardiff, mmmm, some lovely beers), but I often go for a few Steinlagers early doors to get the taste buds dancing.

Agree with you Dan that Lion Red is a good session beer (as evidenced by the box and a half we consumed during the England v Scotland rugby match) :nice1. Monteith's Summer Ale we tried the other day at the Bassalt (spelling?) in Howick, but personally prefer Monteith's Celtic Red.

I was always one for sticking ales in the fridge and drinking them cold in the UK (and leaned more towards the petrochemical than the real ale), so the NZ beers haven't been too much of a culture shock. If anything, I've found the beers in NZ a little too flat for my liking.

Anyway, quality of beer is surely a complete irrelevance. Quantity drinking is this year's black. :cheers

[barryp]

There's a remarkable variety of good beers in NZ, I daresay a better selection than you'll find in the UK after decades of brewery consolidation, pub buy-outs, and the advent of non-beer-fanciers paying 4 quid for a bottle of Budweiser crap ;-)

http://www.realbeer.co.nz/

In Wellington alone, I've only hunted for beer twice and come up a winner both times. Leuven is a restaurant that features a wide variety of fresh Belgian ales, in proper glassware and at proper temperature. Bar Bodega offers Tuatara brews on draught, including one of the tastiest cask porters I've ever had.

My beer-worshipping friend in Christchurch raves about Emerson's brews, but I have yet to try them.

When we visited just two years ago, the craft beer scene was far less active. NZ is not the beer capital of the world (Pac NW USA and Canada is, IMNPHO) but there is a lot to choose from, and you don't have to suffer Steinlager unless you like it.

[Rizak]

I know that the answer is probably no ... but I've grown quite fond of a nice Scottish beer that I can get in a few good pubs here in Canada. Is there any chance that I might be able to find Caledonian 80 Shilling there when I get off the plane?

[Nathan]

Are home brewing supplies readily available?
I prefer to start with the cans of malt rather than grain.

[thepiesleys]

Dan, not about NZ beer, but just had a couple of bottles of Spitfire. Mmmm.
jh

Jailhouse: I noticed you are Midlands based - what you doing drinking a kentish brew? Were you living at present? We were in halesowen.

barryP: That website is great - had a good look through and there are a few more to hunt down. Just wished some of my local pubs had a wider selection. Will be heading to the cock and bull to try the epic. Was surprised there were no Monteiths in the top ten.

Rizak: Never seen the stuff your on about but not to say it may be elsewere.

Nathan: Never home brewed but there are kits for sale in Countdown.

Steve: Love that phrase - session beer.

[jubjub]

Is there any chance that I might be able to find Caledonian 80 Shilling there when I get off the plane?

Probably not, the only possible places would be the Patriot in Devonport and the british pub at Browns bay.

[thepiesleys]

We had some friends at the weekend and they bought us a few of these...

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/3361/bathamsok6.jpg

Having a few now, my life it tastes nice.

Bathams for those that dont know is brewed in Brierly Hill in the West Midlands and sold in a handful of privatly owned bathams pubs and some free houses across the midlands. Hic...

Dan

[jubjub]

Darn you dan, you now got me hankering after a pint of Hooky.... I had forgotten about it..

[thepiesleys]

Blinkin flip - Hook Nortons old hooky - now that gets you squiffy...

[Jenny & Mark]

One beer I really didn't enjoy was TUI - all the others I sampled during my trip were great. Steinlager is the only Kiwi beer that can be found in Canada.

Mark

[Rizak]

One beer I really didn't enjoy was TUI - all the others I sampled during my trip were great. Steinlager is the only Kiwi beer that can be found in Canada.

Mark

... and I don't even really mind it that much. I mean, I love a good lager or ale. A nice chewy beer goes a long way with me. It's just that beer is so plentiful here but rather tasteless. There are some minute regional differences with some specific brands, but mostly the Canadian beer is fairly dull. I want something with character. The Dragonlady's brother named his dog Toohey. He's a redneck and likes his beer a bit too much IYKWIMAITYD. ;)

[Carol]

Big fans of Monteiths Summer Ale here - and I love Radlers.

For stock stuff - we drink Export Gold or Flame - really depends what is on offer.

Sometimes we treat ourselves to a box of Stella - or Newcastle Brown - but its not the same as it is shipped in kegs then bottled in Aussie (I think) Definitely loses something doing that..

Got to say - we drink much more wine now - and living in NZ - why WOULDN'T you!
:raebanana

[real_sunfire]

For those on the North Shore - check out "Mad Dogs and Englishman". They appear to be a pub chain (at least two pubs - one in Milford, one in Wairau Park) which are designed as British style pubs. The one in Milford does Newcastle Brown (on tap), Speckled Hen, Montheith Celtic and Original almost others.

Rgds.,
Nick.

[Cardiff Irons]

For those on the North Shore - check out "Mad Dogs and Englishman". They appear to be a pub chain (at least two pubs - one in Milford, one in Wairau Park) which are designed as British style pubs. The one in Milford does Newcastle Brown (on tap), Speckled Hen, Montheith Celtic and Original almost others.

Rgds.,
Nick.Speckled Hen! I'm down there :exit

[Myrkk]

Hmm, may have to buy some Hobgoblin from Wychwood to bring out with us... if....... actually no, WHEN we get residency.:yes


Currently have some hobgoblin in the fridge as well as some badger and some Old Peculiar.. I may be slightly peculiar by the end of the evening after this lot ;)

[willsken]

Anyway, quality of beer is surely a complete irrelevance. Quantity drinking is this year's black. :cheers

My poor OH has to put up withever I get him when I go shopping. I do the maths and he gets whatever is cheapest per 100ml on that day!!!! :roll

[gil]

Currently have some hobgoblin in the fridge as well as some badger and some Old Peculiar.. I may be slightly peculiar by the end of the evening after this lot ;)

We call Old Peculiar "Because you are"....:D (Why we bought it.....)
Gil

[Diva]

As an ardent berdy werdie, tank top wearing, real ale drinker in the UK I am a little disapointed with the fare in NZ. It's all cold and fizzy.


Spruce beer should satisfy all your needs. Captain Cook brewed it when he came ashore and I think a few NZ breweries make a version of it as a tribute.

Funny tasting beer with a history, what more could a real ale drinker want?

[Nathan]

Diva, thanks for bringing this important thread back up to the top. What would we do without beer to celebrate our successes? And what would we do without it to help ponder the difficulties and find solutions?

[NooDleS]

How about white beer? Any Leffe or Hoegaarden on the shelves? If not, any substitutes?

Failing that, whats NZ like for Ale's in general?

[Diva]

How about white beer? Any Leffe or Hoegaarden on the shelves? If not, any substitutes?

Failing that, whats NZ like for Ale's in general?

Well...I've been in Wellington for about 5 weeks and it didn't take long to discover a large Belgian bar in the city centre called 'Leuven' selling all the usual Belgian beers. I think it might be part of a chain, though I'm not sure.

There's also a place called The Malthouse selling a wide range of NZ beers, many on tap and a couple (can I do gold lettering on this forum?) of old-style hand-pulled NZ ales. :cheers

The beer's better than I expected, to be honest, as I thought this would only be wine country...

[NooDleS]

That's good to know. Any Wetherspoon type chains selling cheap hand pulled ale?

I'll look Leuven up.

[Moorf]

White beer - hmmm, I tried a Mac "Great White" recently (I think that's what it was called) a cloudy wheat beer that was very "Belgian" tasting (sorry I couldn't think of a better way to describe it!) :o It was yummy! Reminded me of drunken nights at Belgo's... :D