New Zealand Beer

Welcome to a New Zealand Pub Crawl.

I'd been warned that the craft beer scene in New Zealand was going to be intoxicating. It certainly was a great diversion. Aided and 'topped-up' from day one by Tim Newman, who offered tips and advice along with bottles and glasses of some choice brews.

Tim, Eileen, Bill & Margaret (after drinks) in the crazy pub in Puhoi, north of Auckland.

Monteith's
This was my opening draught. A 150 year old brewery from Greymouth on the West Coast of South Island, with a selection to boggle the mind of any beer drinker.
No way did I get round to tasting them all, but had fun trying. Favourites:- Original Ale on draft; the Highway 6 IPA (Hwy 6 passes through Greymouth); Double Hopped IPA (pictured below) and 'best beer name' being their Red IPA called RIPA.

(left) a selection box and (right) Double Hopping.

Moving onto the South Island and shopping in the supermarkets I discovered beers from BRB Boundary Rd brewery way back up in Auckland. Their New Zealand Double IPA at 7% was my best buy here. Just one of these at a session, I'd say a recommended dose.

Altitude 
Queenstown had lots of local beers, (and a tour bus trip) including the Altitude Brewery. We had drinks at the Stratosfare Skyline bar with an amazing view (see pic). I had a Wheat beer called 'Persistent High' on draught and they also brew an IPA called 'Mischievous Kea', after the cheeky New Zealand alpine parrot.

I'd been told Speight's was the beer everywhere on the South Island, but I found this to be fairly bog standard. 
Continuing round South Island I missed the Wanaka bar 'Kai Whakapai' ('Wh' is pronouced as an 'f' - truly), and the Beerworks Brews.
Then the timing wasn't right for the famous Historic Empire Hotel in Ross and finally the brewery tour at Monteith's was bypassed, which was just as well as I had to take over the driving soon after Greymouth.

However in Hokitika, in the museum, I heard a song with the lyrics:

So I'm holed up in Hokitika

                                                   Living on white bait and Monteith's bitter

The song's called 'Karamea Cowboy' and I found a version on YouTube by a group named Hot Club Sandwich. If you want some music while you read on click on the arrow ⏩ . Name dropping places in New Zealand along the way.

A tuatara is an ancient reptile endemic to New Zealand,
 dating back to the time of the dinosaurs. 

Back to North Island and Wellington was full of opportunities. And some wonderful names.

Tuatara
Temple of Taste - The Third Eye was a brew pub serving Tuatara beers. See left.


Garage Project
Then there was the Garage Project and their Pills 'n' Thrills an irreverent take on the classic Bohemian Pilsner. German malts combined with American Summit hops. A real winner.


At this point you may be asking about prices. A pint usually set you back 8 NZ$, so about £4.25, occasionally 10 NZ$ = £5.25. Supermarkets were roughly £3.68 a litre in a 6-pack.

Crafty Trout
One of Lake Taupo's drinking attractions. Great selection on tap. This brew pub (kafe) is fashioned to resemble an alpine lodge. 

Croucher
Based in Rotorua, Croucher have a some entertaining beer descriptions on their website: i.e. ENDURO PALE ALE, 5%

Packed full of New Zealand hops, the Enduro Pale Ale is a bit like launching yourself down the Rotorua Redwoods at near terminal velocity while eating fruit salad on weetabix. We don't suggest doing that - but we do recommend savouring the smooth, lingering finish of this new world best bitter beer.

Drink responsibly, wear a helmet. 

Bill Blogs: Top of the Glass
I've gone for a top three: Croucher's Pale Ale / Garage Project Pills 'n' Thrills / Boundary's Hoppelganger
CHEERS 

Some of these New Zealand beers are actually available in the UK. Not cheap mind, though not crazily expensive either. See:
www.beerhawk.co.uk/browse-beers/browse-by-country/new-zealand-beers?p=1
& shops > www.webroughtbeer.co.uk/we-brought-new-zealands-finest/