Beer - The only known cure for a case of the "Mondays"

Here is the full report on the latest tasting session at the Backbencher:

The theme for the September session of the Cellar-Vate beer tasting club was the unique “Dark and Ducky.” This moniker was devised to cover a combination of dark beers and the bottled range from the Dux de Lux. The 50 people in attendance had the Dux beers presented to them by the legendary Dick Fyfe. Given Dux de Lux means “masters of the finest”, I speculated in spectacularly poor Latin that this would make Dick the Dux de Dux de Lux – the master of the masters of the finest. I doubt it will catch on and it would never fit on his business card in any case.

Next, the first ever beer tasting event at the Ministry for Culture and Heritage:

On Friday night, I had the chance to run a fun little beer tasting at the Ministry for Culture and Heritage (who I accidentally called the Ministry of Culture and Heritage on the tasting menu and was immediately chastised. You never stop learning in this job.)

Finally, a write up in the Herald of a recent boutique beer tour:

Miller - a beer writer and expert who knows everything you could about beer as well as anyone who matters in the Wellington bar scene - is great company. He must be the only person I've met who carries around hops and barley in his bag.

In my defence, I usually only have hops and barley in my bag when I'm running a tour or a tasting!

New Zealanders are not heavy drinkers

#16 New Zealand - Kia Ora! | Cheers!

* 77 liters per person.

* The two leading breweries in New Zealand, Lion Nathan and DB Breweries, control almost two thirds of volume sales between them.

* Compared with other countries, New Zealanders are not heavy drinkers. The average New Zealander drinks:

* 5% less alcohol than the average Australian
* 12% less alcohol than the average Briton
* 30% less alcohol than the average German
* 40% less alcohol than the average Irish

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Beer Haiku Friday - Long Beer Lists

This Haiku by Captain Hops was written about Max's Taphouse but could equally apply to the Malthouse:

A beer list so long
He finishes his first beer
While reading it

Glass Tip - Beer Haiku Daily

BEER COMPETITION TROPHY STOLEN

Yes, that's right - sometime in September, some looser has lifted it from the Mussel Inn mantelpiece and there'll be no competition if there aint no trophy. Anyone who knows anything which will lead to the return of the trophy and a spanking never to be forgotten of the slimey culprit will be handsomely rewarded with copious quantities of Mussel Inn beers and ciders

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REVIEW: Beer to knock your socks off

Beer reviewer Ric Oram reviews the latest creation from local brewer Green Man, fermented with champage yeast to pack a wallop.

Dunedin brewer Green Man has produced, at 14.5%, what is probably the strongest commercial beer made in New Zealand.

It is Enrico's Cure (named after its maker Enrico Gritzner) which won a silver medal and was judged the best experimental beer at this month's BrewNZ beer competition.

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10 Food & Beer Pairings NOT to Try

People carp about food and beer pairings, griping that they're just made up pretentions that have no right being associated with something as inclusive and democratic as beer. "It's the drink of the common man," they cry, "Beer goes with everything!" To which I respond, uh, no, it doesn't. And to prove my point, here are ten food and beer partnerships guaranteed to make you wish you had chosen something else to drink.

10. Spicy food and mainstream lager: Icy beer calms the spice, does it? Anesthetizes the palate, more like. Take a dish with a good, healthy spice to it and just try to taste a plain, mainstream lager after a bite. You'll soon find that the subtleties of the beer, such as they are, will be lost underneath a blanket of fire, leaving nothing to taste.

What does work: IPA

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A Sunday Beer Sampler

There was a unique theme for the IRD Social Club beer tasting on Friday night:

Although the room was done up in its “traditional” Oktoberfest decorations consisting of German flags and pictures of David Hasselhoff with his shirt off, the actual theme for the tasting was quite different. For the first time ever, I was asked to present a flight of beers with “funny names and/or funny stories behind them.” It turned out to be a great theme.

I'm delighted to be the 23rd inductee into Adrienne Rewi's series "Meet the People – Ordinary and Extraordinary New Zealanders Doing Interesting Things":

When people ask acclaimed Wellington-based beer critic Neil Miller how he became a beer writer, he says he was simply an enthusiastic amateur lucky enough to turn professional. He says that while he had learnt how to research during six years at Parliament and how to speak through university debating, he hadn’t always appreciated good beer.

Bonus points for the use of "acclaimed"!

September Salient Points

This Salient magazine column casts an Eye Over the Monteith's Beer and Wild Food Challenge results:

Over at the Southern Cross, their wild boar loin was guarded by a “jelly which will stare you down.” Like a scene from Lord of the Rings, the plate was crowned by a single all-knowing sheep’s eye encased in Pilsner jelly. Suspending the eyeball exactly in the middle of the Pilsner cube is apparently no mean culinary feat. There may well be a thesis in there for a science student with a particular interest in jelly.

Next, an in-depth look at Beer and Politics in the most intelligent electorate in the country:

Politics and beer go together like VUWSA and financial mismanagement. With the general election approaching, it seemed timely to put the genuinely tough questions to the candidates standing for Wellington Central. This column is not distracted by peripheral issues like tax cuts, mysterious trusts or secret agendas. No, the key issue is what beer the candidates like and where they like to drink it.

Lastly, a glimpse of the Beers of Asia:

An unkind critic once claimed that saying that your country’s beers were better than Japanese beer was like saying your country’s food was better than English food. That is a tad unfair. The Japanese do make very drinkable pale lagers and many of them reach our shores (albeit with hefty price tags).

Beer Haiku Friday - President 2008

The US Elections are just 47 days away. To avoid political squabbles on a beer blog, here is a non-partisan haiku by Captain Hops:

Here’s a candidate
that we all can get behind.
Beer for President!

Glass Tip - Beer Haiku Daily

Official Photos from BrewNZ Awards Evening

Click though to see the photos

Not just beer at The 5th Nelson Beer Fete

Mic and Eelco at Dead Good Beer Events have announced the beer list for the 5th Nelson Beer Fete this Friday (Sept 19th):

Epic: Pale Ale, Emersons: Organic Pilsner & Bookbinder, Founders Organic: Tall Blonde & Long Black, Green Man Organic: Keller & Strong, Invercargill: Smokin Bishop, Boysenbeery & Alpine Honey Beer, Mussel Inn: Captain Cooker, Golden Goose Lager, Bitter Ass Bitter & Apple Roughey Cider, Moa: Original Pils & Marzen Octoberfest, Tasman: Pilsner & Black Mocha, White Cliffs Organic: Mikes Mild & Mountain Lager, Townshend Real Ales: ESB & Number 9 Stout, Twisted Hop Real Ales: Challenger Bitter or Redneck.

As usual, 10 bucks to get in, free glass to keep and 1st beer free , 5pm to 10.30pm at Founders Park Energy Centre. The venue has been cleared of industrial archeology and also has been given a brand new, flat and level floor, so no more blaming the ground for wobbly feet. But that's not all... The 5th Nelson Beer Fête will have two new dimensions:

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www.deadgoodbeerevents.com

Beer Haiku Friday - Save the World

These days, everyone seems to be imploring me to protect Mother Earth and many of her obscure inhabitants. Captain Hops puts it all in perspective with his Haiku called "Save the World".


Drink Beer. Save the World.
A mighty fine sentiment.
I’ll start with the beer.


Glass Tip - As ever, Beer Haiku Daily

Life-changing stuff as Kiwi beer comes of age at BrewNZ

But for me the most successful part of BrewNZ wasn't the beers themselves, but the public's response to them. Beervana, a two-day tasting event featuring 80 or so of the country's finest brews as well as beer and food matching seminars with top chef Martin Bosley, was a huge success.

Around 2500 people braved some of the capital's most inclement weather to attend the three sessions at the Overseas Terminal and everyone I have spoken to since has been fulsome in their praise.

Having flown down to Wellington specifically for the event, the Auckland-based editor of a well known trade magazine later told me the quality and diversity of beers available at Beervana had fundamentally changed his understanding and perception of beer. Praise indeed!

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Life-changing stuff as Kiwi beer comes of age at BrewNZ

But for me the most successful part of BrewNZ wasn't the beers themselves, but the public's response to them. Beervana, a two-day tasting event featuring 80 or so of the country's finest brews as well as beer and food matching seminars with top chef Martin Bosley, was a huge success.

Around 2500 people braved some of the capital's most inclement weather to attend the three sessions at the Overseas Terminal and everyone I have spoken to since has been fulsome in their praise.

Having flown down to Wellington specifically for the event, the Auckland-based editor of a well known trade magazine later told me the quality and diversity of beers available at Beervana had fundamentally changed his understanding and perception of beer. Praise indeed!

Full Story

Beerly Reviewing - The Beer Store

The three question I am asked most often at the beer tastings I run are:

1) What's the difference between an ale and lager?
2) Why does Steinlager give me such a bad headache?
3) Where can I obtain these magnificent libations?

The answer to the third question just became a whole lot easier with the successful launch of The Beer Store - a New Zealand on-line specialist beer supplier.

The Beer Store currently has over 300 boutique beers from New Zealand and the world including many which are impossible to source even in beer-rich Wellington. In my first order, I picked up a six-pack of Croucher Pale Ale and a six-pack of Dux de Lux Nor'Wester. Next time, I can't go past the Brew Moon Hophead IPA - I haven't seen that brew here for years.

The order process is simple enough for me to use (which means it must be very simple) and, despite placing my order late on Wednesday afternoon, the beer arrived in a robust cardboard box the very next day. One of the very nice touches about the site is that provides quite detailed information on every beer. That takes away a bit of the guesswork.

You can colour me impressed with the whole Beer Store experience from start to finish.

Kate's Blog - Beervana

(note below there are actually three different links to three very comprehensive blog posts)

All of this and more was at this weekend’s Brew NZ event, Beervana, in Wellington. Over 20 brewers from around the country and many more discerning drinkers gathered in the Overseas Terminal on the waterfront. Stalls flanked the walls and in the middle the conversation and the tasting notes hummed.

A very good and unobtrusive band played throughout the evening, and the food (which could be purchased with beer tokens) looked excellent and abundant – I saw venison sausages, mashed potatoes and mushy peas, turkey and ham rolls, and a mound of tasty cheeses. I have to admit I didn’t eat any because I was too busy tasting the beer – more of which in the next blog.

Full Blog Post
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Kate's Beervana: Tasting notes (Part 1)
Well, my head has almost recovered after a night of hedonistic beery pleasure, and this morning’s run along the Eastern walkway with occasional glimpses of the inland Kaikouras (they were just there!) has cleared the mental decks so that I can write up some rather illegible tasting notes from this weekend’s Beervana.

Full Blog Post (Part 1)

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Beervana: Tasting notes (Part 2)
So, to sum up, I drank lots of beer, I like hops and I had a great night. My top three, entirely unscientifically based upon the way I was feeling at the time are Epic Pale Ale, Yeastie Boys' Pot Kettle Black, and Croucher Brewing Company Pale Ale. Anyone else?

Full Blog Post (Part 2)

Beer, beer everywhere

Lambagreeny. Armageddon. Swinelager. Not beers you would generally find down at the local supermarket but just a sample of the boutique brews being served up at the Beervana festival last week.

The consumer tasting and education event, held at the overseas terminal, allowed the public an opportunity to sample some of New Zealand's finest and more exotic beers on offer.

Breweries from all over New Zealand were present to show off and talk up their particular tipple, but it was the tasting in the end that really spoke for itself.

Plenty of food was on hand to soak up the drink and top chef Martin Bosley along with beer expert Neil Miller provided food and beer cooking demonstrations to curious crowds during the two nights.

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Beer and Loathing - BEERVANA [Review]

And flavour was the theme of Beervana. Every brewer spoke about the aroma and flavours of their beers. The dry bite of feijoa, the tang of grapefruit, the hint of cinnamon, the richness of whiskey. This beer compliments salty fish and cheese; this one will clean out the heavy oils; this one matches chocolate cake and blue cheese. Therefore, having working taste buds was an asset.

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Photos

[VIDEO] Beervana 2008

Didn't make it to Beervana 2008, Wellington, New Zealand? Can't remember who was there, which breweries? which brewers? Well here is a quick walk by all the beer stands.



VIDEO LINK

2008 BrewNZ Beer Awards Results

Here is the full list of results from the 2008 BrewNZ Beer Awards, announced Thursday 4th September 2008

2008 BrewNZ Beer Awards Results

And the winners are...

The 2008 BrewNZ Beer Awards were announced last night in Wellington. The Best in Class winners in the following categories were:

Classic NZ Styled Beers: Biman, Invercargill Brewery, Invercargill.

Amber and Dark lagers: Hereford Bitter, Dux Brew Co, Christchurch.

International Golden Lager: James Squire Pilsener, Malt Shovel Brewery, Australia.

French & Belgian style ales: Tuatara Ardennes, Tuatara Brewing, Wellington.

New world/American style ales: Epic Pale Ale, Epic Brewing Company, Auckland. UK and other European style ales: Tuatara IPA, Tuatara Brewing, Wellington.

Stouts and Porters: Clydesdale Stout, Harringtons Brewery, Christchurch.

Strong ales and lagers: Monteith's Winter Ale Doppelbock, DB Mainland Brewery, Auckland.

Wheat and other grain beers: Emerson's Weizenbock, The Emerson Brewing Company, Dunedin.

Fruit, spiced, herb flavoured beers: Boysenbeery, Invercargill Brewery, Invercargill.

Packaging award: Monteith's New Zealand Lager, Monteith's Brewing Company.

Experimental and non or low alcoholic beers: Enrico's Cure, Green Man Brewery, Dunedin.

Champion Brewery: Tuatara Brewery

Beer Haiku Friday - Preparation Poem

Sometimes the right beer haiku just leaps off the page. Today and tomorrow, I'm doing beer and food matching demonstrations with chef Martin Bosley at Beervana. The prospect is hugely exciting but also a little nerve-wracking. That's why I chose the Preparation Poem:

hot hectic kitchen
many cooks, many dishes
pale ale calms your nerves

Glass Tip - Beer Haiku Daily

Beer a matter of taste, aroma

Eight judges at the BrewNZ Awards have the enviable task of tasting 200 beers from New Zealand and around the world over three days.

Master brewer Colin Paige, a member of the Brewers' Guild executive, which organised the awards, said the event had continued to grow in popularity over its seven-year history and this year was shaping up as "the biggest yet".

Beer appreciation was well-established overseas, but was still in its infancy in New Zealand, said Mr Paige, Mac's Brewery's head brewer.

"Things like the six o'clock swill [when the country's pubs closed at 6pm causing workers to binge-drink immediately after work] didn't do much for the image of beer in New Zealand.

"Our goal is to encourage people to savour beer."

Beers are judged on taste, aroma and appearance, and on their "individual merits" according to the different categories, including amber and dark lagers, French and Belgian ales, stouts and porters.

Meanwhile, amateur beer drinkers have the chance to refine their palates at a two-day beer-tasting and education event, Beervana, at Wellington's Overseas Terminal on Friday and Saturday.

Award-winning chef Martin Bosley and beer expert Neil Miller will be giving demonstrations on the art of beer and food matching.

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A mixed pack of beer

From the Wellingtonian, the latest column takes a close look at beer festivals and (eventually) previews this weeks Beervana event:

Perhaps the most auspicious story – and it may even be true – is that we played a small part in getting Speight’s Pilsner and Porter made commercially. Apparently, Speight’s had decided if the beers sold out by the end of the day, they would be green-lighted. At the official close, both were still pouring but the good doctor and I managed to place ourselves in such a way we could clandestinely top up our glasses as the clean-up began. I finished the last of the Pilsner, he exhausted the Porter and the beers later appeared on the market.

This is the article I still cannot believe I managed to get paid to write - my combined weaknesses of "Beer and Fondue" from the excellent Beer and Brewer magazine:

The humble fondue is alternatively derided as a laughable 70s throwback and then acclaimed as the next great leap forward in up-market gastronomy. Despite the vagaries of fashion, there has always been something very sociable about sitting around a warm pot eating melted cheese. That is perhaps why virtually every household in Australasia will have owned a fondue set at some time. Personally, I still have six.

At the August Cellar-Vate tasting, the theme was Beers of Asia:

Because of availability issues in New Zealand, the menu tended to focus on the pale lager style but it did include the superb King Cobra and the Official Beer of the Summer Olympics 2008. It also has a beer quote from Confucius. Epic Zen!