Tag Archives: New Zealand

May 18 2013

Beer – #169 – Queenstown Brewers – 25oz Pilsner


Queenstown Brewers – 25oz Pilsner - Brewed by Queenstown Brewers in the style of a Pilsener and of course from Queenstown, New Zealand

Queenstown Brewers - Pilsner

330ml bottle of a 5% ABV beer (1.3 standard drink units) and 31 IBU things – Pilsner being 25-45 range

A crisp Kiwi style Pilsner made from premium NZ malt and hops. Not fined or filtered.

in1870, a 28oz gold nugget was found by the miners at One Mile Creek. They celebrated with barrels of beer…

it says.

Tang of hops on opening, Pale Golden pour with a nice headsworth of froth, the unmistakable lager  aroma. And passionfruit.

Grassy mouthfeel,  but it’s all up-front and doesn’t finish to much. I’m mildly disappointed in this, it seems, again, the brewer has settled for middle when they should be aiming higher. The pdubyah-o-meter says 6 things on its scale of things. Making this a beer that sits in a whole lot of other beers clamouring for attention that they don’t deserve.

I feel a bit mean and spiteful when I say there is not a lot of body, carry, or love in this. The brewer has two beers a brown one and a yellow one. Market covered. And they’re both a bit “emperors new clothes”  It’s a way short of any mark that would make it memorable or remarkable.

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May 10 2013

Beer – #164 – Geek – Coconut Porter


All in then on a Geek Coconut Porter- Brewed by Geek Beer in the style of a  Porter and they weave this magic in Windy Wellington, New Zealand

Never had a Geek beer – but couldn’t pass this one up. A 330ml bottle of a 6% ABV beer (1.6 Standard drinks), and at 30IBU this isn’t going to be too challenging middle range bitter.

Geek - Coconut PorterGeek Coconut Porter is a dark robust porter with a depth of flavour created from a wide range of carefully selected malts with the addition of toasted coconut. The intriguing aroma and rich chocolate flavour makes for a truly delicious beer. You could even say it’s Geekalicious.

Aroma on opening of desiccated coconut and of chocolate, it’s like confectionery.

Dark pour, no head, not even a hint of one, it’s almost dead flat calm, even though I know I could hear carbonation a happening. The Aroma remains a dark rich fruity base.

And a confusion of tastes follows. Mostly burnt fruit. But of coconut there is some, not all up in your face but you can hear it singing on the wings.

I’m betwixt and between on this, it seems like it should be heavier but it’s a bit thin on length. There is a magnificence of chocolates and fruits and coconuts, but  there could be more.

It’s ok, but they could all be turned up to 11, as it is though this lacks lenght, and turns into a rather sweet experience that might make it a longer drink than you’d like.

The pdubyah-o-meter after a first flush peters out to a rather disappointing 7 things on its scale of things. I would have liked more, I’m glad I came, and it won’t put me off another.

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May 2 2013

Beer – #161 – Brewaucracy – In Triplicate


Brewaucracy  - In Triplicate is an Abbey Tripel beer from a new brewer in the ‘Tron.  Brewaucracy Brewed at Shunters Yard Brewery in the Style of an  Abbey Tripel in the glorious Waikato town of Hamilton, New Zealand.

500ml of a  10.3%ABV beer, and at 35IBU things (bitter/stout bitter).  Oh it’s 4.1 standard drinks.  Thse website says 9.6, the bottle says 10.3, these boys are onto it with batch measurements, I do say well done to that!.

Brewaucracy - in TriplicateA Belgian-inspired beer, roughly straddling the Tripel and Belgian Golden Strong styles, if we’re being all style nerd about it. If we’re not, it’s a warming, spicy, zesty, and disturbingly drinkable beer for 9.6% abv. It’s a beer designed for celebrating the good times in life, and to toasting the eventual defeat of every wowser who would try to tell you how you may or may not enjoy those times.

Share In Triplicate with the people you love, and try it with a crisp summer salad, ideally featuring chorizo, or perhaps corn fritters or crab cakes.

Of just with some cheese and a cracker, which is all I have left.  That and the Rolling Stones on Spotify.

There doesn’t appear to be a rush of sweet aroma / alcohol with this. It’s very pale, well carbonated and again nice white fully head on the pour. Still not a sweet aroma but a touch of yeast perhaps. O hit really is pale translucent pale.

Gosh though how do they do that. There is a massive amount of caramel and sweet in the taste, I’d thought it was going to disappoint, and whilst it didn’t stun me it surprised me. The alcohol that you expect from a Tripel is there making itself known, it’s a little sour and not as sharp as I’d expected.

It has a fair length of taste in it too, and I’m comfortable that this is hitting the spot. And I’m also a bit amazed they’ve got the taste into such a pale beer. Oh and I’m glad I’m at home because this is a fairly strong beer that could become quaffable and get you into trouble .

There is thought a disappointing lack of any aroma in this, there is one, you have to work hard to get it though, it’s delicate for no reason I can figure,  and frankly I’d rather there was one. I’d like the nose of caramels and sugars before the crash of tastes onto the tongue.

It is a little sour and might not sweet enough, the alcohol note might be just right, I like that the batch ABV is measured and noted. But you know what it’s a chuffing good beer, and it made me smile.

I especially like that Brewaucracy haven’t picked an IPA, or plain old Lager to kick off with and have taken a high ground in craftiness, I especially like that the “Smoko” and this are totally different beers and not beers on a theme of…  I just like it.

The pdubuyah-o-meter loves this a lot at 9. it’s fairly decent and something I’d buy again, and that makes it ok. I’m not going to offer you money back if you don’t like it, you just will, it’s good.

Apr 28 2013

Beer – #159 – Garage Project – Hops on Pointe


Garage Project Hops on Pointe – a beer for the New Zealand Ballet. Brewed by Garage Project In the style of a Premium Lager and they do that in a garage in Wellington, New Zealand, probably.

Garage Project - Hops on PointeBrewed with premium German malts, Nelson Sauvin hops and finished with champagne yeast, the result is a pale gold lager with a crisp, clean palate, rich tropical fruit aromas and tight champagne bubbles forming a dense white head of foam. 

Hops on Pointe is brewed to celebrate the world’s first ‘Beer Ballet’ called Bier Halle that Royal New Zealand Ballet are staging.

A 650ml bottle of a 6.7% ABV beer, making it about 3.7 standard drink units.  I get a sense that this is a very limited edition under this label, but I’m easily led.

Saison hops promise much, and champagne yeast should make it light. I hope this does not end up thin and ‘meh’ and fashionable amongst those that ‘get’ Ballet.

There’s a lovely instant aroma, citrusy and hinting at light bitters.  Overly carbonated, very ‘champagne’ fizzy, pale yellow, thin but present head. Soft hoppy aroma, bit pine and wet grass. The aroma is also a bit passion fruit come to think of it.

The taste though is grassy or green hops, which remains the end taste. I’d hate to say it’s ‘the taste’ but it does not define it or detract that this isn’t all bad.

So, where are we?. This is a fairly muted drink. It’s presentable and inoffensive by ay of dominant taste. It’s a head and shoulder above ‘commercial’ lagers, (you know Stella, Heineken, Grolsch, Becks, or even Steinlager et al) and does not carry the roughness of the hops.

The presence of the hoppiness makes this a really pleasing lager, because the hopiness is part of the thing, not the thing. I could be in the first flush of love.

I’ve managed to drink a fair amount of this whilst musing on it, and I haven’t yet changed my mind, I’d so buy this again.  As it warms the hops get more prevalent and you end up confused in the thinking as there are no citrus or other notes to maintain you in that this is a lager.

The pdubyah-o-meter says this is a bit good and not a bit great at 8.5 of its unfathomable scale of things.  I’d go this as a session beer and regret it too soon as the alcohol level is well hidden and deceptive.

Made my day as I had no expectations but got a little gem of a thing that being honest with you I had an expectation of,  and this beat it, in spades. It’s a lovely beer, well crafted, not difficult and easily shareable with friends without making them frown of regret being  in you beer circle.  Very good.  Very very good.

Apr 20 2013

Beer – #152 – 8 Wired – Tall Poppy India Red Ale


Back to something from a more established NZ brewery – the 8 Wired Tall Poppy India Red Ale - 8 Wired Brewing which is brewed at Renaissance Brewing, this one in the style of a  Amber Ale
and they’re in Blenheim, New Zealand.

500ml bottle, 7% ABV, thats 2.8 Standard drink units, and 60 IBU’s so at the lower end for IPA …. stand by for incoming……

8 Wired - Tall Poppy India Red AleTall Poppy – India Red Ale This is an ale that is not afraid of standing tall among other great beers. The intense, sharp and fruity hoppiness is backed by its complex, caramel-like malty structure. Big, yet refreshing. Bold but balanced. This beer has been designed to have it all, to be the greatest common denominator.

Love the play on words they manage.

This sounds like the business but this is s brewer who takes risks and has delivered a mixed bag, in my opinion.

The immediate hop aroma is really nice, not ones I’m familiar with (Warrior, Columbus, Simcoe, Amarillo) Fantastic dark red colour, reasonable head,  and that fantastic aroma, almost spicy.

There’s a mouthful of flavour too, caramel malts, backed with a fair hit of bitterness.

If anything this ends a little “dry” in the mouth, but there isn’t a lot to tell you you’re drinking a reasonably strong beer by way of alcohol astringent.

In the glass, given a few minutes, this really begins to bloom and blossom. this might be that I’m a bit over average beers in my enthusiasm, but this light up a lot of buttons on the pdubyah-o-meter. It could be that I’m comfortable with the bitterness that this delivers, or the way that the caramel and malt combine with the whole to make a nice.

The pdubyah-o-meter says 8.5, which makes this a fair decent beer. I’m happily necking this like there is no tomorrow, and I’ll suddenly realise that there is only the one, and this is it.

For all it’s good points I didn’t get a head, I get no lacing, and if anything it’s under hopped. It’s easily drinkable, and if I was where this was on tap I’d be more than happy to pull up a barstool order me some fries and have a another, or two.

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Apr 19 2013

Beer – #150 – Zeelandt – Helles


Something a bit new – Zeelandt – Helles - Brewed by Zeelandt Brewing Co in the style of a  Dortmunder/Helles- and they’re in Napier, New Zealand

Zeelandt - HellesThis Bavarian styled lager has a creamy white head and brewed with NZ hops of noble lineage. Medium to low hop bitterness, this beer is a thirst quencher.

New Brewery, they have two beers, this and a Pale Ale.

Low at 16 on the IBU scale, in a 500ml bottle and at 5% ABV (just under 2 standard drink units),  this appears a safe bet.

Nicely carbonated, and I understated that with a whole glass comprising of head. So a new glass and another go. Tad of yeast on the aroma, and a slightly bitter note. Nice golden colour.

Bitter gives over to musty. This is really lively in the glass, and almost uncontrollable head, and you know I’m no expert in the pouring.

I should also have paid a heed to the fact this is a bottle conditioned beer, and that of course comes with the dregs, and that clouds up the final pour. It remains very lively in the glass and still pours a head.

So how does this really rate? Quaffable isn’t something that comes to mind, but it’s not unpleasant, it’s not bursting full of any flavour in particular. It’s not leaving me wanting to take another mouthful to enjoy, but it’s not a beer that you put down and discuss around.

A safe middle of the road beer, doing what it should in the way it should, possibly under hopped, it’s not bitter it’s not sweet. Despite being lively and heady it’s not overly carbonated on the tongue.

The pdubyah-o-meter says a solid effort at 7. Plenty better, a lot plenty worse.

Apr 4 2013

Beer – #141 – Golden Eagle – Big Yank American IPA


Oh yes I did.  Golden Eagle Big Yank American IPA, on a Thursday!, Brewed by Golden Eagle Brewery Styled as a American Strong Ale in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Golden Eagle - Big Yank7.5% ABV in a 500ml glass, making it 3 standard drinks.

During 1944/45 the B17 Bomber – Big Yank – completed 50 combat missions, attacking targets throughout Germany.  

In true American IPA style, this beer packs a nose and mouthful of hops with a malt backbone and bitterness to match!

Not even much on the Golden Eagle website about this, but I’m looking forward to this, as I’ve not yet had a bad experience with the Golden Eagle.

Lovely hoppy aroma straight up, Fantastic dark brown colour, decent carbonation, and a good attempt at a head. A fair wallop of bitterness in this, the right amount, and backed with a decent malty back.  Nice citrus in this too, and decent length.

What this also does is hide that it’s a strong beer.

I’d hunt this out if it was on tap, this hits my spot nicely. The pdubyah-o-meter says 8.5 things on it’s scale of things. There’s not a lot not to like about this to be honest. If you’re up for an IPA, like the bitterness at a level that decent and carries itself well then this is the go.

Apr 1 2013

Beer – #140 – Harrington’s – Big John Special Reserve


Harrington’s Big John Special Reserve, which after the disastrous Belgium Tempest I’m slightly wary of.  This however a Limited Edition, and at the same time a Special Reserve !  Cover both bases.

Brewed by Harringtons Breweries (Christchurch) Styled as a Dunkler Bock and as always that’s al majicked in Christchurch, New Zealand.

500ml of a 6.5% ABV beer, (2.6 standard drinks), in a standard brown bottle.

Harrington's Big JohnDunkler Bock – The dark Bock has a deep copper to dark brown color. Medium to full-bodied, malt sweetness and nutty or light toasted flavors dominate. Hop flavor and aroma can be light to non-existent.

but they say in the notes – Strong dark ale, full flavoured brew with a hint of spiciness. Smooth roast malt flavour balanced well with hops.

Sets some expectations.

Aroma is sort of chocolate, and I thought faintly of orange  but it’s not insistent, or overpowering, dark beer, reasonable head, not overly excitable carbonation.

They’re right that the flavour in this is mellow and low key, you can get the roasted/chocolate -notes, you get a mouth of fizz, and a linger on the palate. There’s a fairly decent lacing on the glass as well, not something I mention enough.

The top of this though carries an alcohol note, and that’s not something you generally look for in a beer of any kind, sure some have it and you know that you’re likely to find it, but I wasn’t expecting it with this.

The pdubyah-o-meter finds it a struggle to get to a 6 from 10 on this in it arbitrary way or all thing. My bottom line with this is that I have a friend, oh yes I do, called John, and would I give it to him as a novelty gift? And I think not.  I rate it better than ‘meh’ as it really isn’t very offensive, it’d be ok to share with a friend and might spur you forward to try other dark beers, the porters, stouts etc.

But I’m glad I don’t have another if I was being honest.

Apr 1 2013

Beer – #139 – Schipper’s – Scallywag


Schipper’s Scallywag – a Rich Amber Ale - From the Schipper’s Beer Company Brewed at Aotearoa Breweries in Newmarket, Auckland, New Zealand

Schippers Scallywag5.5% ABV in a 500ml bottle. (2,2 Drink units) of either an  Amber Ale or ESB ?

This beer has a velvety balance of malt and hops that makes it very easy to drink.

Seems they dropped the premium packaging and went for comedy label ?

Brewery in Newmarket – let me guess….. Lion!

But I had a pif of a day and perhaps a comedy beer will make things better.

So: Light, Amber, no so bitter, and a bit chemical is what I have in mind….

It’s actually decently hoppy!, I could be eating my own words (or drinking my own beer), very decently hoppy and has a fair bash of sweet malt note too. a decent off white head and me licking my lips, Seems like a bit of a winner.  Lovely dark chestnut colour too. All round goodly good.

This already has session beer all over it, an IBU of 45 means that you’re not going to end up puckering every moutful and a bit looking forward to the next one. And at low/mid strength this will carry you all evening.

There’s no hint of the alcohol or any additive that I was afeared of, and I’m refreshed and altogether in a much better place than I was earlier.

The pdubyah-o-meter says 7.5 things good on it’s scale of arbitrary, making this a beer to reach for if you have any doubts about the other offerings in front of you .  It could do with a bit more malts and a bit of length on the palate if it was to push through and become a benchmark, as it is though it’s a good solid if unspectacular beer.

If only I had another !

Mar 28 2013

Beer – #133 – Liberty – C!tra


Liberty C!tra, Brewed by Liberty Brewing in the style of a  Imperial/Double IPA in New Plymouth, New Zealand

500ml of a 9% ABV beer (thats about 3.6 standard drinks) in a simple bottle.

Liberty Brewing C!traWhat is in a name? Under conventional language guidelines you would expect to find any number of consonants, and to a lesser extent, you will find the odd noun. But if your have a look at the name of this beer, you will find that it has an exclamation mark right in the middle of it. What’s that all about? Doesn’t that just seem a little unusual? It’s definitely not a typo – and if you’re reading this, then I guess it’s done it’s Job. The next step is to take this bottle home. Go on. You won’t regret it.

at 9% ABV you might regret it, is what I’m thinking. This is beer that has nothing but good reviews though, so I’m not expecting any regrets, except if its only having one bottle.

Double IPA, so Hoppy, bitter (99IBU bitter) and a full noise nose is what I’m expecting. A head on the pour would be a bonus.

Before I pour there is an abundance of hop aroma, this is something you should bottle, it’s pretty o for owesum. It’s hoppy but sweet. Its chestnut brown and pours with a nice settled head. MrsPdubyah agrees with me , a first, that this has an aroma to die for. Grapefruit,  citrus, a little grass. I may have gone on a little bit about the aroma, it’s worth it!

There’s a banging amount of hop bitter on the taste too, not lip puckering whince but a fair goodly amount of ‘gosh, how fine and subtle that is’, and how fabulous the length of the taste, I’m sitting here grinning.

There a lovely sweetness to offset the bitter in this, the whole experience is something to savour and if you’re drinking to enjoy you’re unfolding a many layered thing.

After a bunch of average this stands shoulders above many many beers, and leaves you wondering what  the others might be up to, or what they missed on their journey.

As it sits the grassiness begins to take hold of the taste, the length remains the smile still lingers. They’ve really crammed the hops into this, and managed at the same time to keep them in check. I can see why this is well liked.

The pdubyah-o-meter likes this too. It’s a solid 9 things on the scale of things. Not a 10, there just aren’t enough things to keep you looking for the next thing, but as a thing on and of itself this is the thing!

One of those beers where if you like an IPA, then this would really ring you bell, and if you brought this and didn’t like it I’d offer you the money back. Quite spectacular, quaffable and a beer that would get you wobbly in short order should you forget that this i a big hitter 9% abv beer. Would easily stand up to some strong taste foods, would easily make grown men start waxing lyrical about the 80′s, 90′s, and confess many things.

Hats off to you Liberty, I’m a bit in love.

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