Time to check the sheds

So it is timely that DB Breweries is celebrating its 75th birthday by searching for the country's largest collection of DB merchandise.

From old beer bottles and brewing equipment, to the latest in merchandise, DB is looking for the single largest collection of DB "memorabeerlia" in New Zealand.

The "Great DB Memorabeerlia Search" is being run nationwide until April 30.

FULL STORY BY Bruce Holloway, Waikato Times

Sassy with a cap on

This article "Sassy with a cap on" by Cameron Williamson sheds (excuse the pun) some light on the Sassy Red, and my previous comments.

"The initial 40,000-litre brew of Sassy (120,000 bottles) was completed at the Wellington brewhouse before being tankered to Mac’s brewery in Stoke, Nelson, and matured in one tall tank under the eye of craft brewer Tracy Banner."

Why tanker it from Nelson to Wellington? This can't be good for the life and quality of the beer.

Why not brew it at Mac's? They have the capacity now right?

Is Sassy Red where all the NZ B Saaz are ending up?

Sassy Red - Competition

Introduce your mates to Mac's Sassy Red and go in the draw to win a $500 Mac's bar tab to share with 20 friends. Simply fill in the details below and be in to win!

Mac's Sassy Red

On Friday 1st April Mac's Sassy Red will be available.

Not sure I understand what is happening here but this is my take on it.

Mac's Brewery had reach capacity at their Nelson brewery. Mac's Gold was their biggest seller but most of it was being sold in Auckland. So Lion decided it would make more sense to brew the Mac's Gold in Auckland, which freed up half the capacity at the Mac's brewery in Nelson.

At the same time Shed 22 (previously known as Wellington Brewing Company) was getting itchy feet to package some of their tasty beers. But due to the size, limited room they have, they had no where they could put a packaging line in their current location.

So I guess it made sense to brew Sassy Red at Mac's. The confusing part for me is way sell it under the Mac's brand and not Shed 22, and isn't the style/flavour profile too close to Copperhop?

If you have some insight into this please let me know, so everyone can get there heads around it.

Also I have heard that the rest of the Shed 22 beers will be coming out under the Mac's brand. Why?

Beyond this confusion it is an absolutely fantastic thing for the NZ beer consumer to be able to get hold of another interesting beer nationwide though supermarkets.

I guess we won't be seeing another Mac's Hop Harvest Pilsner?

Beer maker looks to Japan to spice up sales

But New Zealand Trade and Enterprise sees big potential for Taa Kawa beer in Asia, and especially in Japan, where the ale's sweet taste is attractive to palates.

But Rewa, and the nearby Poupatate Marae where the kawakawa leaves are processed, are a long way from Aichi in Japan, where the 2005 World Expo opened on Friday and where Taa Kawa beer is being showcased.

FULL STORY

In the lion's den

Some commentators put it more bluntly, saying the Lion is no longer lithe and fast. It has been basking in the shade while its flagship, Lion Red, brand dies and Tui has swept in from the south to take hold in the big cities.

Lion's Speight's had also moved up from the South Island with success and, Murray said it was the best-selling beer in New Zealand next to Lion Red. But, overall, the lion had lost its roar.

NZ Herld Article - 26 March

Brewer updates 'Yeah right' campaign

DB marketing general manager Mark Davidson said Tui's stable of 35 to 50 "yeah right" billboards sported a new message at least every five weeks and could be changed within a fortnight to reflect the latest events. But use of the phrase was still far less responsive to topical issues than he wanted.

NZ Herald Article - 24 March

Brewers chase after new market with no-aftertaste beer

As anybody who's ever kissed a beer drinker can testify, brewskis leave an aftertaste. Now — after light beer, ice beer, dry beer and low-carb beer — brewers' latest wrinkle to try to stop consumers from switching to wine and liquor is so-called no-aftertaste beer.

What makes a beer premium? by Geoff Griggs

There’s no question Tuborg looks like a genuine Euro import - but it isn’t. Read the small print on the back and you’ll find the beer doesn’t come from Copenhagen, it is made much closer to home, in Papakura, Auckland.

MORE...

Tui Brewery Gets New Visitor Facility

To respond to the brand’s growing popularity - locally, regionally and nationally - a new Tui HQ is being built at the Mangatainoka brewery. Due for completion in early April, the Tui HQ will hold a merchandise shop, museum, bar and tour reception facility that will provide the ultimate Tui experience for those curious visitors making the trip to its birthplace.

More - Press Release 22 March

Why The Tui Brewery Is Tararua's Equialent Of The Taj Mahal

Tui, one of New Zealand’s top ten 2004 growth brands (ACNielsen) is keeping some of that success local, still brewing where it all started, at Mangatainoka in 1889.

Around 66% of New Zealand’s tap volume for DB beer is generated from the central to lower North Island and naturally, due to its popularity as the local brew, most of the volume is made up of Tui beer.

As a result the Tui brewery produces almost 70% of Tui’s keg beer. That is 3x more keg beer than is produced at DB’s flagship brewery in Auckland.

Press Release 22 March

40 dry days - all for charity

For German Horst Feldhaeuser, a glass of beer at the clubrooms after a game of social soccer is pure heaven.


Two or three times a week he'll knock back a few bottles of ice cold Heineken or Corona: "It's just so refreshing," he remembers wistfully.

"Remembers", because this weekend Feldhaeuser is banned from drinking beer as he continues a 40-day beer fast, his contribution to the World Vision 40-hour famine.

For the craic

If your invitation for St Patrick's Day says "Come around for a bit of a craic", you're in luck. Pronounced "crack", the craic has as many meanings as there are faeries in the bog, but it can be summed up as a good time to be had by all, whether it's a music session, a wine and gossip with the girls or a night out with the lads

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3213225a7773,00.html

Irish heritage bubbles over into St Patrick's Day

The St Patrick's Festival is in its 11th year and has grown to encompass a week of Irish entertainment. But it all culminates in the big day today, with events spreading across Auckland City.

The hub of the action is the Muddy Farmer on Wyndham St. The road is closed with opening time at 7.30am for an Irish buffet breakfast and the obligatory pint of Guinness. The pub is hosting various live music and dance acts throughout the day.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=6&ObjectID=10115711

Steam Brewing Company - Blog & Feed

While trying out this new Blog & Feed for RealBeer.co.nz I will also be running it for Steam Brewing Company.

Since Steam Brewing Company doesn't have an offical website or any other means to communicate with those beer drinkers that want to know what is happening in the brewery, I will run the feed.

Located here for those that are interested is the Blog page and the Feed page

An Irish toast, with beer worth drinking

The Chicago River is dyed green each St. Patrick's Day. You can debate whether that's wise, but do not — ever — dye your beer the same color.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7182470/

Morland Excalibur Strong by Neil Miller

Morland Excalibur Strong, United Kingdom, 8.5%

This is Greene King’s offering for the crowded British “very strong beer in a big can” market.

New Blog and RSS

With the changing trends of the internet, and the problem of getting our email newsletter through SPAM filters and the like, we are now experimenting with a Blog and RSS feed to notify you of the latest additions and news on the website.

Hopefully this will become easier with time, and you will stay up to date every time we post, which some days can be multiple times.

Cheers
Luke