Beerly Writing - July

From the pages of The Wellingtonian newspaper, a column on beer at the Wellington food show:

Once through the gates, the first question facing every attendee at the Food Show is “left or right?” My decision to go left was immediately vindicated as virtually the first stall I saw was the Epic Brewing Company from Auckland. The impish brewer Luke Nicholas was handing out samples of his crisp Epic Lager and massively hopped Epic Pale Ale to big and appreciative crowds.

From The Salient, a short but intense look at stupid beers:

While many students live by the creed that the best beer in the world is the one right in front of them (preferably that someone else paid for), there are some beers which are simply stupider than Paul Holmes in a burka.

Finally for this update, The Salient column on dark beers:

A surprising number of people have absolutely no idea how beers get a dark colour. Depressingly, the majority seem to think that artificial colour is simply added at some specified point in the brewing process and – hey presto – instant dark beer. Tragically, that is precisely how a couple of breweries do it.

Beer and Food Match of the Month: Proper French Roquefort cheese and Invercargill Smokin Bishop - magic.

Beer Haiku Friday: Long Range Planning

Not content with simply producing haiku about beer, this week's offering - Long Range Planning - also includes some sage advice for these uncertain economic times:

My long-range planning:
Buying two cases of beer
instead of just one

Glass Tip: Beer Haiku Daily

SAB Miller Brewery, New South Wales, Australia

The new brewery will have a capacity of around 500,000 hectolitres per year, employing 100 to 120 personnel and is expected to be opened by 2010. The required investment for the project is $30m. The brewery will be jointly funded by SAB Miller and Coca Cola and as of June 2008 is going through a planning application phase.

Full Story

Guess which beer this is?

" [insert beer name here] we believe will come to be known as an easy drinking lager beer with a smooth finish and a clean crisp aftertaste," he said

Find out which beer

Beer Haiku Friday - That Guy!

Captain Hops does it again with his Haiku called "That Guy." We all know That Guy. In fact, I think I talked to about 27 of them at the Epic launch of Armageddon IPA and Hallertau Maximus Humulus Lupulus last night.

First to the party
And always the last to leave
At least when there’s beer.

Glass Tip - Those Fine Fellows at Beer Haiku Daily

Dancing with the Stars judge returns to NZ for the love of beer

The Brewers Guild of New Zealand today announced popular Dancing with the Stars judge, actor, dancer and out-of-the-closet beer lover, Paul Mercurio, as the MC of New Zealand’s official beer & brewing awards, BrewNZ.

Mercurio has been home brewing for 20 years, and for the last 4 been doing full mashing, which is the ‘real deal’ according to experienced brewers. His passion for beer and brewing has prompted his return visit to New Zealand in September.

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Countdown to IPA Challenge - 17th July

This Thursday (17th July) night at the Malthouse sees the unveiling of two big beers created as part of a joint project referred to as "The West Coast IPA Challenge".

The idea for creating two similar beers came after a recent trip to California by Luke Nicholas (EPIC) and Stephen Plowman (Hallertau). Having spent 10 days trying mostly American and Imperial IPA's, it was more the need to get another fix of massive hops than anything that got these two brewers to brew such big beers. (both definitely not commercially viable in this country)

Hallertau brewed using New Zealand malt and hops, and Epic brewed using English malt and US hops. Both target 7% alc/vol, a similar colour, and massive levels of dry hopping. Be warned these aren't your usual beers. (Photo essay of the story behind these beers)

Both Luke & Steve will be present for the launch on Thursday at the Malthouse and will also be around on Friday for Interntaional Brewers Day, in the company of Carl Vasta (Tuatara), and possibly a couple of other guest brewers.

Brewery cashes in on straight shooting ethos

Chief executive Paddy Sweeney said he was hoping to raise another $1 million by the end of August to fund expansion of the Westport brewery and a chain of bars around the country.

On average shareholders had chipped in between $13,000 and $15,000 each. Aucklanders had taken about $900,000 of the company following a "free beer for investors" offer last year.

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Beer Haiku Fridays - Friends don't let friends...

This is a classic 2006 Haiku from Captain Hops. It is called "Friends don't let friends..."

I should know better,
but the beer made me do it.
Never let me dance!

Glass Tip - Beer Haiku Daily

This is BNN - Beer News Network, 8 July 2008

Invercargill Brewery has announced the return of their Smoked Bock specialty beer Smokin' Bishop:

Back by popular demand the Smoked Bock that won gold at last year’s BrewNZ Awards. Last year we brewed 600 litres as a trial beer which won rave reviews from Beer Geeks – this year we’re brewing 2400 litres of which 1200 litres has already been sold.

Export Gold has undergone a major revamp with a new look and a new website coming soon:

Export Gold has a great new look and an excellent communications campaign that’s set to keep the lads on the move. The beer in the bottle is the same great Export Gold but the brand is going through a big revamp – new logo, new look, new labels and new communications. Export Gold’s Jonathan Goldwater says that the key to ensuring that the brand is relevant is to spend time focusing on really understanding its consumer.

Beer Haiku Fridays - The Gathering

From the vaults, this 2006 Haiku from Captain Hops is called The Gathering and sums up the socialable effects of beer:

A small group of friends
Always honest, but with beer
Their tales grow taller

Glass Tip - Beer Haiku Daily