barrelboy wrote:You want us to feel sorry for you?!!?
Cheers BB
Well, I'm back in NZ this week. I arrived yesterday (being Sunday). Here's a rundown of things so far.
On the way over on the plane I had a James Squire 'Golden Ale'. I waited until after the "early lunch" (which was served at 10am, an hour after we took off) for my first drink, although the hour didn't stop many of my fellow passengers partaking in the free grog. You've gotta love Qantas for having JSGA as one of its in-flight beers (along with, of course, brewed-in-Holland Heineken. Sadly, VB is another offering, which many choose).
On arrival in Wellington there wasn't much to do except go on a mini pub crawl by myself.
Venue: The General PractitionerBeer: Yeastie Boys 'Digital IPA'. 7%, 330ml bottle, $11
Tropical fruit - maybe pineapple Icy Pole rather than real pineapple - and a strong, lingering bitterness that doesn't hit you straight away. Made with NZ hops. Nice, but not loving it. Sorry Yeasty Boys.
The bloke behind the bar outed himself as a fellow South Australian after I commented on how much the kiwis like their Coopers. This place had Sparkling and Stout in bottles.
Venue: Hashigo Zake Cult Beer BarBeer: Mike's 'APA'. 300ml off tap, $8.50
Smells like musk drops, tastes like a proper APA. A pretty nice beer.
Venue: The MalthouseBeer: Tuatara 'Aotearoa/American Pale Ale'. 300ml
Very similar to the Mike's APA but almost a little smokiness from the hops. This place has 19 pages of bottled and tap beer on its menu. And they declare those brewed under licence. For example:
"Heineken (Auckland, New Zealand) 5%. Brewed under license here in NZ (by DB) ..."
"Peroni 'Nastro Azzuro' (Sydney, Australia) ..."
"Sapporo 'Premium' (Adelaide, Australia) ..."
The beer list even has Little Creatures Rogers (for $9.50/330ml!) and explains why an apostrophe is missing from the name.
One time when work is paying I'll have to come back for an O'Hanlon's (formerly Eldridge Pope's) Thomas Hardy's Ale, which range from $22 for a 250ml bottle of the 2009 vintage to $50 for the 2004.
Venue: Great India restaurantBeer: Speight's 'Old Dark Malt Ale'. 330ml, 4%
This is a lot more biscuity and less chocolatey than I remember it from my visit to Christchurch about 15 years ago, when I first tasted it. A fine beer nonetheless.
Venue: My hotel roomBeer: 8 Wired Double Coffee Brown Ale. 500ml, 8%
No wonder I was a bit dusty this morning! I bought this little number on the way home from dinner and didn't really pay much attention to the fact that it is 8%.
As I recall, I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that there was a reasonable amount of body to it, which is unusual for coffee-infused beers in my experience.
Venue: My hotel roomBeer: 'Bristol Best Bitter'. 500ml, 4.5%, $7.55 from the supermarket
It's a lovely beer in the English style with a deep, deep copper colour; fine, long-lasting head; and good bitterness. Getting even better as it's warming up.
Stoke Bomber KPA (Kiwi Pale Ale) and Three Boys IPA are in the fridge.
Oliver