Beer thread

Crucial

If anyone is interested in volunteering for Beervana (at the Caketin this year) first week in August go to this link 
 
[COLOR=black][FONT=Arial]: [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Arial][URL]https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FTNDFGH[/URL].[/FONT][/COLOR] 
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[COLOR=black][FONT=Arial]They are still looking for more beer pourers I believe. I'll registered a while back and am going to do the Friday evening session. I think they still need some for the Saturday night.[/FONT][/COLOR] 
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[COLOR=black][FONT=Arial][COLOR=black][FONT=Arial][QUOTE][COLOR=black][FONT=Arial] 
[COLOR=black][FONT=Arial]This year's event on 5&6 August at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington. [/FONT][/COLOR] 
[COLOR=black][FONT=Arial] [/FONT][/COLOR] 
[COLOR=black][FONT=Arial]I need more than the 140 volunteers I had last year because volunteers will be working behind all the bars (along with helping out with a range of other jobs). So, I need you and as many of your friends as you can muster.[/FONT][/COLOR] 
[COLOR=black][FONT=Arial] [/FONT][/COLOR] 
[COLOR=black][FONT=Arial]Those who volunteer will receive a Beervana t-shirt and glass, entry into a free session for every session they volunteer and $20 worth of food and beverage vouchers. It is well worth it as while. As those of you who volunteered last year know, the volunteers work hard, they also have lots of fun and get to meet other beer lovers and brewers.[/FONT][/COLOR] 
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taniwharugby

Moa Breakfast beer (which I didnt have at breakfast time) a clean crisp fruity drop, wouldnt want more than a couple at a time (if you can afford it) although more a girls beer (according to my wife) if there is such a thing!

Crucial

It's on! 
 
[URL]http://www.beervana.co.nz/home[/URL] 
 
I'll be pouring at the 'Real Ale' bar tonight for my volunteer session. It's next to the Festival Brews which are the ones I like to taste so I'll be looking forward to using my free tokens at my break. Of course I will get to sample all the brews at the bar I'm on so I can provide sage advice to the punters <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' />

Cactus Jack

I tried a few bottles of Stoke Gold that a friend brought around claiming i needed to broarden my horizons a bit last night . Thought it was a little yeasty at first but it grew on me quite quickly ,though i will probably need to get some more just to make sure it is ok .

Allstar

Yea, Stoke is a good brew. Their bottles are quite good too, well weighted

Crucial

[quote name='Allstar']Yea, Stoke is a good brew. Their bottles are quite good too, well weighted[/QUOTE] 
 
Stoke had a few different brews (apart from the three in the shops) at Beervana. An interesting smoked one among them

Cactus Jack

Yep . Had a couple of quiet Stoke Golds last night . Will definitely be getting more of that .

NTA

Picked up some Monteiths Winter Ale two weeks ago and polished off the last one t'other night. Good cold weather beer, unsurprisingly. Get on it.

Allstar

Got myself a bottle of Yeastie Boys' Rex Attitude (Peat-smoked Strong Golden Ale). They have taken this whole peated malt to a whole new level. As the lady at Liquorland said, you'll either love it or hate it. 
 
The concept is great, but it just didn't hit the spot for me. The smoky taste was almost overwhelming, and a bit much for me personally. Good on them for trying something new though.

Crucial

If you want to try something a little more subdued then the 8-Wired Big Smoke Porter is a very nice drop. The smokiness doesn't overwhelm but adds a nice dimension. 
It's the Peat in Rex Attitude that gives it the 'OTT' taste. Those that enjoy Islay Whiskies know the flavour well and can take it. Otherwise, I agree, it's far too strong for more than a taste.

Tim

Celebrated today's win with a pint of Adnam's NZ hops Pale Ale. 
 
[URL]http://adnams.co.uk/beer/new-zealand-pale-ale-4-0-abv[/URL]

Crucial

[quote name='Tim']Celebrated today's win with a pint of Adnam's NZ hops Pale Ale. 
 
[URL]http://adnams.co.uk/beer/new-zealand-pale-ale-4-0-abv[/URL][/QUOTE] 
 
I'm curious about this. Was it very 'hoppy' or just a distinctive hop flavour? 
 
Great that they are using Sauvin hops and all, but the term 'NZ Pale Ale" is starting to mean the very strongly NZ variety hopped IPAs over here.(eg Epic Armageddon)

Tim

[quote name='Crucial']I'm curious about this. Was it very 'hoppy' or just a distinctive hop flavour? 
 
Great that they are using Sauvin hops and all, but the term 'NZ Pale Ale" is starting to mean the very strongly NZ variety hopped IPAs over here.(eg Epic Armageddon)[/QUOTE] 
 
It wasn't super hoppy, like one of the big US IPA's, but it had a nice, distinctive and fairly bold flavour, and a drier, hoppier taste/after-taste than light pale ales usually do. 
 
They also do a "green bullet" ale with that NZ hop variety too. (Haven't been able to try it as it's tapped out.) 
 
[url]http://adnams.co.uk/beer/the-beers/green-bullet[/url] 
 
[url]http://www.nzhops.co.nz/varieties/green_bullet.html[/url]

NTA

Fat Yak. Enjoyable anywhere outside the depths of winter where I prefer something a bit stronger. Out of the bottle its OK, but of course benefits from the glass. 
 
I'm about to jump back into a case of Hoegaarden I got for a steal online. I never get sick of it. If you're ever in Sydney, look up Epoque/Belgian Beer Cafe either in the CBD or just out of North Sydney. It is, without doubt, heaven on earth.

antipodean

ScÃ¶fferhofer Hefeweizen - if you like wheat beer, which I do.

Crucial

I have been trying some of the range from Boundary Road Brewing. I would place it between the craft brewers and mainstream ones in a similar fashion to Stoke. That means its priced well but has flavor and is not mass produced malt beverage which is a bonus considering that the brewery is owned by Asahi and is also where the local brewing of Carlsberg, kingfisher and Tuborg is done. 
 
The Flying Fortress Nz Pale Ale is similar to NTAs fab Fat Yak. Definite hop flavours and a tasty drop. 
For opening after a bit of work outside the Grizzly Beer is surprising good. It's a true beer but brewed with ginger added. Not as sweet as an alcoholic Ginger Beer due to the slight bitterness underneath. If you like the odd GB you will find this very easy going.

Allstar

Yeah, Boundary Road is quite nice. I was getting in to a few of those before the final on Sunday. I thought The Chosen One was kind of apt, also knocked back a Bouncing Czech. 
 
Nice flavour.

Crucial

Drinking this right now from Sawmill Brewery in Leigh. TR should know the spot well. Judging by the quality of this bottle I will certainly be trying the others in the range ( see [url]www.sawmillbrewery.co.nz[/url] ) 
 
This quite a refreshing dark beer with complex flavours 
 
THE ‘DOCTOR’ 
A complex blend of four malts combined with a duo of traditional hop varieties. Rich, warm roasted caramel and toffee notes with a lasting finish and smooth mouth feel. For serious lovers of fine ales. ‘Strong, dark and handsome’. 6.5% alcohol by volume. 
 
Edit: as a bonus it comes in swing top bottles for my next batch of Manuka smoked jalapeÃ±o BBQ sauce! 
 
Edit2: this is now my favourite beer (until the next fab comes along)

taniwharugby

ha, go back and read the very first post that started this thread <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' /> 
 
havent been there for a while but Matakana is a spot I'd recommend you visit if you make it to Auckland and dont want to venture too far North!

Stockcar86

I'm just off to Japan for a couple of weeks. The only japanese beer I have drunk previous are the standards of Kirin, Sapporo (black label) and my favourite warm weather lager - Asahi. 
 
Can anyone recommend any others to try while I am there?

The Silver Fern

Beer thread