Beer More Healthy Than Wine

Bamforth, author of the book Beer: Health and Nutrition says beer also has soluble fiber, which is good for digestion, and the active ingredient in alcohol—whether from beer or wine—helps counter blockage of the arteries.

“People say red wine is key to that,” Bamforth said. “But beer, if you looked at it holistically, is healthier than wine. But it is not perceived that way.”

“I have a friend who is a doctor who says, ‘Don’t drink beer because it has fat,’ said Bamforth. “There’s no fat in it at all.”

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Lucky For Some

Last week I had the privilege of hiding from a chilly Wellington southerly in the warmth of the Regional Wines and Spirits tasting room.  It was warm when we arrived but it was about to really heat up.  Geoff Griggs chaired the evening, as Richard Emerson presented a tasting full of rare treats.

A Richard Emerson tasting is always a feast for the senses and this one was the tastiest treat yet.  Pondering the line-up below makes me want to revisit the evening again and again:

• Maris Gold (4.5%) – the hoppy standard; a lovely palate cleanser to get things underway.


• Weissbier (5.0%) - so fresh, and much softer than I've ever tasted it.


• Dunkel Weissbier (6.3%) – at long last the return of an old favourite; caramelised banana on the nose, spicy and tart in the mouth.


• Pandora's Box (9.3%) - the brain numbing begins with this warming dunkel (a triple dunkel?).


• Old 95 2006 (7.0%) – fresh and floral, with juicy malt, biting hops and a slight earthy element.


• Old 95 2004 (7.0%) - brighter, sherry-like, drier and more rounded in the mouth.


• 'Old Dick' 2003 (8.4%) – like a cross between the '04 and ‘06 vintages but warmer and breadier.


• Bourbon Porter (9.3%) - already well-aged and unbelievably drinkable. Dangerous!

The Dunkel and the Porter, alongside the normal range, will soon be available at Ragional's.  Don't miss out.  The Pandora's Box and Old Dick are playthings from the brewhouse, treats for those of us who were lucky enough to sneak a ticket (the room could have been filled several times over).

Richard's quick wit and frankness make for a good evening.  He's never one to miss a chance to joke and he keeps very few brewing secrets up his sleeve (discussing grain bills, mash temps and hop additions quite openly, though keeping one secret "spice" out of his Taieri George description).  Unsurprisingly it becomes more and more boisterous as we work our way through the tasting.  Geoff Griggs allows conversation to flow, while settling it all down at the right times.

During a final few words Richard lavished particular praise upon Invercargill's Steve Nally, as a young NZ brewer to watch out for, while also mentioning most of the usual suspects of the craft brewing industry (i.e. most of BrewNZ's gold medallists from the last couple of years).

Geoff Griggs ended the evening by asking for a round of applause for one of the brightest stars in the New Zealand brewing industry.  A bright star on the world brewing industry, I say.  The ratings and praises at the knowledgeable beer community Ratebeer would tend to agree with me.

Germans not happy about Budweiser

Dish water. Insult to your tongue. The american »beer« Budweiser has faced many – mostly desperate – descriptions. »Official Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup ´06 in Germany« was usually not amongst them. Sadly enough, this expression is as true as all the others since the american »brewery« Anheuser-Busch will be the official »beer«-supplier for the football World Cup this year. An insult to all true beer lovers, taste buds and football-fans.

What have we become? Self-denial for 40 million US-Dollars? What are our children supposed to think of us?

»A time to make friends« - with a bud in our hands?!

However, we won’t give up without a fight. United we’re strong. Your voice does matter. Become part of the BudOut-Community and send us a picture with you anti-bud-message. Two minutes of your life for the good taste. Two minutes of your life for a better future.

Be into beer.

Also news report:

Bud Kicks Up World Cup Brew-Haha:
German Soccer Fans Treat King Of Beers Like A Pauper

Heineken in Brown Bottles

Everards "try" All Black stout

Leicestershire brewer Everards, known for their Tiger Best Bitter, are re-introducing their All Black stout ahead of the Six Nations rugby tournament in 2007.

Initially released in January of this year, sales were huge, and Everards will meet demand by re-releasing again well before the start of the Tournament.

All Black is named for the New Zealand rugby team, and is a relatively light-bodied, cask-conditioned stout.

Perhaps a challenge to a Kiwi brewery to step up and produce something even better to both promote local beer and bolster national pride?

New Brewery to open in Waikato

Waikato is to gain just its second commercial brewery.

Shunter's Yard Brewery is in the throes of being constructed at Robinson Sports Museum and Gardens at Matangi, adjacent to the Piko Cafe on Woodside Rd.

See the Waikato Times article on Stuff for the full story from Bruce Holloway.

Here's hoping that the region supports this new endeavour better than it did the ill-fated Kahikatea Brewery.

Founders Tasting at Hallertau

A launch and tasting at
Hallertau
1171 Coatesville - Riverhead Highway
Riverhead, AUCKLAND
Saturday the 1st of July
Time: 2pm - 6pm

The tasting will be an informal affair with John Meehan and Matt Duncan (John Duncan's son) set up in the bar with a tasting and food match for any and all who turn up.
Stephen Plowman (Hallertau) has kindly given us a couple of taps for the month and we will be pouring the Founders Long Black and Generation ale on the day with the Ale to be the featured beer for the month.

Bomb squad mobilised over six-pack of beer

TOKYO: Police in southern Japan closed off roads, evacuated residents and even brought in a bomb squad after spotting a suspicious box in a police station, only to find out it was a six-pack of beer.

A bomb squad was rushed to the scene after an X-ray scan showed metallic cylinders inside the box. A local television station broadcast the incident live using helicopters, he said.

Link

Here's To Beer

Here’s to Beer campaign by Anheuser-Busch, USA.

See website

British breweries cooperate for ‘good taste’

Regional brewer Everards has stuck a chord with breweries that are in one sense competitors, getting them to sign up for its “tasting notes” campaign.

In mid-April the British brewery invited 18 regional brewers up to the brewery in Leicester to explain why they should get involved. So far 16 regional brewers have opted to use the scheme, including Caledonian, Wadworth, Hook Norton, Batemans, Charles Wells and Fuller’s.

The program provides drinkers with simple tasting notes on each beer’s pump clip, as well as beer mats and drip mats. Bitter or sweet scores are given out of five and everyday language is used to describe each beer’s “see, smell, and taste” profiles.

RealBeer.com

White Cliffs brewery on the market

White Cliffs organic brewery, home of "Mike's Mild", is on the market. I had to find this out via an advertisment in CAMRA's "What's Brewing" monthly newspaper, airmailed all the way from England. Isn't it funny how beer news travels? Edit: Perhaps I should read the realbeer.co.nz forums more often...

While the quality and character of Mike's Mild has fluctuated drastically over the years, it's a great "brand", as Michael Jackson has written about it, and it even made his Great Beer Guide. Mike's Mild has also won several awards.

Now it seems, there is an opportunity for a beer loving kiwi to snap up this well known brewery and continue (and perhaps improve upon) a legend.

Dutch fans watch match in underwear - beer blamed...

From Stuff and others:

BERLIN: Hundreds of Dutch soccer fans had to watch their team's 2-1 World Cup win over the Ivory Coast in their underwear in Stuttgart on Saturday (NZ time) after stewards at entry points to the stadium rumbled an ambush beer marketing ploy.

The Netherlands supporters all turned up in garish orange lederhosen displaying the name of Dutch brewery Bavaria and were ordered to remove them by stewards before being allowed to enter the Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion.

They then went into the match and watched it in their underwear.

Anheuser Busch's Budweiser is the official beer for the tournament and world soccer's governing body, Fifa, fiercely protects its sponsors from brands which are not Fifa partners.

Peer Swinkels of the Dutch brewery, said it was "absolutely ridiculous" and "far too extreme" to order the fans to take off their lederhosen and said the brewery had complained to Fifa.

"I understand that Fifa has sponsors but you cannot tell people to strip off their lederhosen and force them to watch a game in their underpants. That is going too far."

Most people had hopefully been wearing orange underwear, he added, denying that the trousers were an ambush and describing them instead as a Dutch nod to German culture.

Monteith's Wildfood Challenge

Press Release from Monteiths

New Zealand's most popular beer and food matching competition, The Monteith's Beer and Wild Food Challenge is back, providing diners with a uniquely Kiwi wild food experience.

The Monteith's Beer and Wild Food Challenge allows diners to experience wild cuisine, expertly matched with a craft brew at their local restaurant, café or bar.

"Over 160 restaurants have entered in this year's competition, which we believe is the only one of its kind anywhere in the world," says Monteith's brand manager Phillipa Cameron.

"We're into our 9th year this year and the number of entries has steadily grown, along with the variety of dishes on the menu. "

Some interesting items found on this year's menu include: Cactus salad, Emu Salami, Pig Trotter and ear, Croc fillet, Kangaroo, a selection of snails and of course huhu grubs.

Eight regions participate in the nationwide competition, which runs for three weeks in Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton, Tauranga, Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown, and West Coast. Participants compete for their regional title and then the coveted National title.

The Monteith's Beer and Wild Food Challenge commences on July 23 in the North Island and July 30 in the South Island. Finishing on Sunday 13 August in the North and the following Sunday 20 August in the South Island.

Cheddar Master's Dark Ale - Press Release on Launch

Press release on behalf of Fonterra

CHEDDAR MEETS DARK ALE IN MAINLAND CHEESE PERFECT MATCH!

Cheddar cheese is as much a kiwi icon as a pint of beer and now the team at Mainland have combined the two by crafting a new twist on an old favourite: Mainland Cheddar Master's Dark Ale.

For the first time in New Zealand, Mainland has crafted a match made in heaven to bring cheese lovers the taste of mature aged cheddar soaked in traditionally brewed dark ale.

Described by respected US cheese critic John Greeley as a "satisfaction of hopsand barley with a full cheddar flavour and an elegant marbled appearance", Mainland Cheddar Master's Dark Ale is testament to the Mainland mantra that good things take time. "This is a beautifully aged, full-bodied cheddar with a clean 'dark ale' aroma,"explained Greeley, on his recent New Zealand visit to judge the CuisineChampions of Cheese Awards 2006.

Mainland Cheddar Master's Dark Ale is available from all leading supermarketsnationwide, in two sizes (125g and 250g).

Ends

Dead Possum = Free Beer

Congratulations to the Mussel Inn – an award and some thoroughly deserved publicity for one of New Zealand’s more unique breweries.  The moral of the story: pick up any roadkill you see on the way out to Onekaka and you’ll drink for free.  You may want to buy something too, just so they can pay the bills and keep the place running.

Liquor baron's will rewards staff with millions

Liquor baron Michael Erceg, killed when his helicopter crashed into bush near Raglan last November, left 15 of his employees large sums in his will - making five of them instant millionaires.

Sunday Star Times
NZ Herald

Americana and Ale

Handpumped Tuatara ales will accompany the release of The Dunstan Rangers new album, "Unhugged", at Bar Bodega this Saturday, June 10, at 4pm.

Paddy Burgin, Chris Nichol and Peter "Guitar" Parnham combine to offer an extraordinary set of songs that plant the americana tradition deep in the soil of New Zealand.

With guests Tom Callwood (Little Bushmen), Charlotte Yates, Murray Costello (Mockers, Let's Planet) and Martin Durrant (Let's Planet).

Free entry, great music, Tuatara Porter and IPA on handpump - what more could you ask for?

The Beer Passport - Gateway to Good Times

There is an interesting new beer promotion running at Leuven - Wellington's Belgian Beer Cafe and a personal favourite.

The brainchild of Todd Hunter, Leuven have produced a nifty little beer passport called "Tour de Bieres Belges" or the "Great Belgium Beer Tour".

Looking a bit like a real passport (but enough to worry those nice people at the Passport Office), it promises a "wet your whistle stop tour of Beligum". I have passport 003. No one is really surprised.

Basically, you get your passport stamped each time you try a beer. Collect a stamp for every beer in the range and you win a beer appreciation pack worth $50.

There are 24 beers to sample - the passport wisely says "In the interest of public order, we suggest your passport will take more than one visit to be fully stamped."

So what is in the beer appreciation pack? Well, I don't know. I haven't filled my passport - yet.

Mt Eden Mecca

I’ve only just heard the old news that one of Auckland’s few beer havens, Galbraith’s Ale House, is also now also serving Emerson’s award winning Pilsner and Maris Gold on tap.  Alongside the fantastic house range of ales and lagers it makes for a very tempting line up indeed.  It just gets better and better for those lucky locals at Mt Eden.  All I need now is a teleporter.

Emerson’s and Galbraith’s – both too busy creating great beer to bother updating their hopelessly out of date websites.

Hops recognised

Motueka man Thomas Inglis has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit. He was recognised for his services to the hop industry, a plant used to give beer its flavour.

Mr Inglis has dedicated most of his working life to raising the profile of New Zealand-grown hops overseas. The industry is now worth more than $8 million a year.

Full Story

NZ Herald

Beer Column - Limburg

Reprinted with kind permission of The Wellingtonian Newspaper

A beer for every occassion

It was a visit to Europe which started Chris O’Leary’s brewing. “I launched myself into Belgian, German and Dutch beers. This experience really got my passion for great beer started. On arriving back, I struggled to enjoy New Zealand amber lagers with friends. I discovered that I loved to see kiwis enjoy beers similar to those I had experienced in Europe.” he says.

He started brewing for friends and family over a decade ago and in 1999 he opened his Limburg brewery (www.limburg.co.nz) in the Hawke’s Bay.

Chris says his brewing philosophy is simple: “Make the best beer I possibly can and brew according to the brewing practice used in the country of origin. Who am I to deny centuries of history and knowledge?”

The result is a passionate brewer producing full flavored, award winning beers. He is at the vanguard of the microbrewery revolution which keeps raising the bar every year when it comes to the quality of beer in New Zealand.

Limburg Hopsmacker is a based on the English Pale Ale style which showcases full fruit flavours and hearty hop bitterness. Hopsmacker pours a slightly cloudy marmalade colour with a small fluffy head. It throws a lovely big citrus fruit nose with a touch of spice and blackcurrant near the end. The beer itself is fruity – reminiscent of orange and grapefruit marmalade – followed by a gentle citrus hop finish.

The Limburg Witbier is a Belgian style wheat beer. Raw wheat is used in the brewing as well as coriander and Curacao orange peel. Slightly cloudy, the Witbier is golden, almost orange, in colour with a sweetish aroma of oranges and spice. The strong orange and coriander flavours are often complimented by a clove note to produce a refreshing and spritzy beer.

Limburg Weissbier is a cloudy German style wheat beer called Hefeweizen. The powerful nose has plenty of banana and bubblegum notes. In addition to the abundance of flavours expected in this style (bananas, cloves and Juicyfruit gum), the Weissbier also has toffee, cinnamon and apple notes which call to mind a freshly baked apple pie. The beer ends with a refreshing, slightly tart finish. Perfect for summer quaffing.

The latest addition to the range is the Limburg Czechmate Pilsner. In keeping with his philosophy of using the traditional ingredients, Chris has imported Moravian malt, Czech Saaz hops and a Czech yeast. Only the water is local. The result is an appealing pale golden beer with a rich white head. The nose is dry, grassy and spicy while the beer has the classic Pilsner balance between a juicy sweet malt middle and a crisp clean finish. Chris says this is “a classic, dry, crisp pilsner with a big focus on drinkability for a broader appeal. This is a beer we are really proud of.”

Chris is adamant that there is a perfect beer for every occasion. You won’t go wrong if you start looking in the Limburg range.

Cheers

Neil Miller

The Croucher Brewing Company - Launch Party

The Croucher Brewing Company, wants to invite you to their launch party in Rotorua,
from 6pm Saturday June 10th, 2006. Read all about it here:

Beer Elsewhere

Regular readers of Realbeer's Ale Files will have noted that Neil Miller and I are contributing some much needed good taste to the mixed bag that is Not PC (lovers of art, architecture, engineering, politics and/or beer, plus all 948 Libertarianz supporters, will be likely to enjoy the varied posts at the site).

Government and opposition supporters alike will certainly enjoy the fantastic camera work of Luke Nicholas in my latest 'Beer O'Clock' post.

They've got some strange ideas, those Libertarianz, but they sure do like a decent beer.

Link to more beer at Not PC.

Slainte mhath (and enjoy your rugby free weekend).
Stu

A website dedicated to employment in NZ's liquor industry

Liquorjobs.co.nz connects employers and job seekers throughout the liquor industry, whether their specialty is beer, wine or spirits. "We cover the full spectrum of positions from sales and marketing to admin, retail, distributors or brewing," says site operator Heather Battersby. "We've taken the winning formula from our successful winejobsonline.com site and expanded it to serve the entire liquor industry."

Full Release

Liquorjobs.co.nz

Speight's 130 years old

The brewery continued to amass awards up until they ceased entering the brew in the late 1890s. Then, after resting on their laurels for over 100 years, they entered Speight's Three Star Gold Medal Ale in the Australian Beer Awards in 1993 and won first prize!

Full Press Release

[interesting statement that they won in 1993 at the Australian Beer Awards, because that year Red Back from Matilda Bay actually won according to the current event manager of the Australian International Beer Awards]

Lion may splash out on distiller

Lion Nathan, Australia's biggest brewers, may bid for New Zealand's Independent Distillers Group in an attempt to boost sales of spirits and pre-mixed drinks as beer sales stall.

Lion Nathan's Rob Murray wants to attract younger consumers who are switching from beer to sweeter drinks, such as spirits mixed with cola or lemonade.

In New Zealand, Independent has about two-thirds of the pre-mixed drinks market.

Lion Nathan might have to sell some New Zealand assets if it bid for Independent, because its leading position in beer and imported spirits might raise competition issues, money manager Matt Hoult said.

Full Story

Tripel and strife by Geoff Griggs

By contrast Monteith’s Tripel weighs in at 8% and pours a bright golden hue with a far thinner, wispier head. Offering a combination of fermentation-derived esters, the aroma and palate have a certain ‘Belgian-ness’ about them, but overall the beer lacks the herb and spice notes, malt intensity and delicate hop character I associate with the style. In short, it tastes like a strong, estery lager!

All of which begs two questions: Why on earth did Monteith’s attempt to recreate such a revered Belgian ale style with a lager yeast? (To me that’s like trying to make a red wine with Riesling grapes!) And secondly, given DB has recognised the potential appeal of the style, why doesn’t it start importing Affligem Tripel, a wonderfully spicy, hoppy and fresh-tasting Belgian Tripel that’s brewed by a subsidiary of its Dutch parent, Heineken?

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