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Craft Beer - a thread of beer snobbery and looking down one's nose

308 replies · 38,792 views
about 11 years ago

As the title says. Craft Beer...

  • What's a fav?
  • Which breweries do you enjoy?
  • Which is over rated?
  • Who has an Untappd profile?
  • What's new?

We've got a good thing going on in Wellington, let's celebrate and discuss...

"...sure beats doin' stuff."

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about 11 years ago

Renaissance Stonecutter (Scotch Ale) is my personal fave I reckon. Simpsons reference gives it bonus points too

People like Coldplay and voted for the Nazis. You can't trust people.

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about 11 years ago

Agree - nice drop

                                                                        COYN    

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about 11 years ago

Renaissance Stonecutter (Scotch Ale) is my personal fave I reckon. Simpsons reference gives it bonus points too

Most of their beer is decent to very good. Wasn't sure about the Renaissance Abundance Baltic Cherry Porter I had recently. Was quite a confusing beer. Their Craftsman Oatmeal Chocolate Stout is brilliant.

"...sure beats doin' stuff."

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about 11 years ago

LeighboNZ wrote:

Renaissance Stonecutter (Scotch Ale) is my personal fave I reckon. Simpsons reference gives it bonus points too

Most of their beer is decent to very good. Wasn't sure about the Renaissance Abundance Baltic Cherry Porter I had recently. Was quite a confusing beer. Their Craftsman Oatmeal Chocolate Stout is brilliant.

Absolutely agree re. Stonecutter and the Oatmeal Stout.

Some of my other favourites:

Panhead Supercharger APA

Tuatara Aoteoroa PA

Three Boys Oyster Stout

No 8 Wired Big Smoke

Epic Hop Zombie

Good George IPA

Parrot Dog Devil Bird


Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.


Phoenix fans. We have to win them over one fan at a time.

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about 11 years ago

Back in 2000 I tried to go to every single brewery in NZ. Made it to more than half I think (just had no money as I was a student). The thing was there was nothing in Wellington until Tuatara started up and the Lion Brown (now Macs) brew pub on the water front (yuck), it's amazing how things have exploded.

I like me the classics, Bitter Bitch, Hop Zombie, Aro Noir...

Whats a Baltic Cherry style beer?  I quite like the beers from the Baltic, especially Bauskas Alus but they are a Germanic style and definitely not fruity.

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about 11 years ago

Ryan wrote:

Back in 2000 I tried to go to every single brewery in NZ. Made it to more than half I think (just had no money as I was a student). The thing was there was nothing in Wellington until Tuatara started up and the Lion Brown (now Macs) brew pub on the water front (yuck), it's amazing how things have exploded.

I like me the classics, Bitter Bitch, Hop Zombie, Aro Noir...

Whats a Baltic Cherry style beer?  I quite like the beers from the Baltic, especially Bauskas Alus but they are a Germanic style and definitely not fruity.

Marketing speak but here it is Click Me for a Gooood Time

"...sure beats doin' stuff."

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about 11 years ago · edited about 11 years ago · History

bwtcf wrote:

LeighboNZ wrote:

Renaissance Stonecutter (Scotch Ale) is my personal fave I reckon. Simpsons reference gives it bonus points too

Most of their beer is decent to very good. Wasn't sure about the Renaissance Abundance Baltic Cherry Porter I had recently. Was quite a confusing beer. Their Craftsman Oatmeal Chocolate Stout is brilliant.

Absolutely agree re. Stonecutter and the Oatmeal Stout.

Some of my other favourites:

Panhead Supercharger APA

Tuatara Aoteoroa PA

Three Boys Oyster Stout

No 8 Wired Big Smoke

Epic Hop Zombie

Good George IPA

Parrot Dog Devil Bird

Big fan of Garage Project, Mike's Organic, Hop Federation, Yeastie Boys and Liberty Brewing as far as NZ brews and one or two of the Three Boys offerings.

Rogue from the US puts out some great (and some crazy stuff).

Specifically, a few favourites at the moment are:

  • Garage Project Summer Sommer & Bourbon Barrel Baltic Porter
  • Mike's Vanilla Coffee Porter and Milk Chocolate Stout
  • Panhead Port Road Pils
  • Liberty Yakima Scarlet and Knife Party
  • Hop Federation Golden Ale
  • Yeastie Boys Gunnamatta & Pot Kettle Black

Also, if anyone is every in Nelson, pop over to Mapua about 25 mins drive away and visit Golden Bear Brewery. Amazing beer but only available on tap at Dockside at the moment in Welly.

"...sure beats doin' stuff."

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about 11 years ago

Good to know there's somewhere in Wellington pouring Golden Bear. Probably my favourite brewery but I've only ever gotten it from the source.

You know we belong together...

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about 11 years ago

+1 for Panhead... loved "The Vandal", also their mates at Kereru are doing some really good stuff. Upper Hutt eh!

YB's PKB is an old fave too.

E + R + O

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about 11 years ago

My wife got me a whole bunch of different Parrotdog brews for Xmas - can't remember the names but the IPA and red ale were both good

People like Coldplay and voted for the Nazis. You can't trust people.

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about 11 years ago

Yeah.... but is it made by women,beautiful women, who swim in a river at lunchtime?

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about 11 years ago · edited about 11 years ago · History

sthn.jeff wrote:

Yeah.... but is it made by women,beautiful women, who swim in a river at lunchtime?

I've seen the sort of women who live in tiny rural settlements in the lower North Island, such as Mangatainoka....

People like Coldplay and voted for the Nazis. You can't trust people.

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about 11 years ago
They must have pee'd in the Mangatainoka river to make the beer taste like that. Kereru is brilliant, Toasted Coconut Porter is magic.

"...sure beats doin' stuff."

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about 11 years ago · edited about 11 years ago · History

pak n Save in Upper Hutt sell some craft beers that you can buy per bottle. And a few ciders. Just as an aside has anyone tried that butterscotch schnapps cream that you pour on icecream? Friggen nice with a kick.

Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!

The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!

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about 11 years ago
All Pak n Saves & New Worlds have decent selections, Countdown are terrible! If you're in Lower Hutt, try Waterloo Liquorland, very good and two craft taps.

"...sure beats doin' stuff."

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about 11 years ago · edited about 11 years ago · History

I've still not tasted anything better than an Adnams Ale even though it's traveled a few thousand miles to get here in a bottle and left on the bar for two hours to get it to the right temperature. The craft beers here are still a little too sweet and still try for the light lagerery/light IPA kiwi flavor.

You are getting there though and to be fair I've not really tired anything for a few years. Just the overpriced crap you get in supermarkets as we don't go to pubs very often. 

there is no way you should be paying $8 for a bottle of beer even if it is the p*ss of the gods.

Even with Camra we never let an ale become the sole possession of the rich.  The craft beer market over here appalls me.with its kiwi middle class wankery.

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about 11 years ago

ForteanTimes wrote:

I've still not tasted anything better than an Adnams Ale even though it's traveled a few thousand miles to get here in a bottle and left on the bar for two hours to get it to the right temperature. The craft beers here are still a little too sweet and still try for the light lagerery/light IPA kiwi flavor.

You are getting there though and to be fair I've not really tired anything for a few years. Just the overpriced crap you get in supermarkets as we don't go to pubs very often. 

there is no way you should be paying $8 for a bottle of beer even if it is the p*ss of the gods.

Even with Camra we never let an ale become the sole possession of the rich.  The craft beer market over here appalls me.with its kiwi middle class wankery.

Very rarely do you pay $8 for a regular bottle (330ml) off the shelf unless the alcohol content is higher but the way they charge $8 for a Steinlager Pure in bars is criminal! That bascially means that they paid $20 for a dozen with their trade price and then charge $96 for that dozen...insanity!

I think craft beer is much better even than 3 or 4 years ago with a lot more proper ales, Porters and Stouts. NZ is still finding it's place and style but we did the same with the wine boom in early to mid 2000's and now we're world renowned so green shoots of something bigger maybe.

"...sure beats doin' stuff."

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about 11 years ago

Nothing wrong with a good IPA.

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about 11 years ago

Ryan wrote:

Nothing wrong with a good IPA.

Like Tui? 

"...sure beats doin' stuff."

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about 11 years ago

There's a tiny bar in Carterton back of the Istanbul eatery that serves up a damn fine 6.3% ESB. I had two after cycling the foothills of the Tararuas on Saturday and had trouble getting back on my bike.

"At the end of the drive the lawmen arrive...

I'll take my chance because luck is on my side or something...

Her name is Rio, she don't need to understand...

Oh Rio, Rio, hear them shout across the land..."

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about 11 years ago

Jerzy Merino wrote:

There's a tiny bar in Carterton back of the Istanbul eatery that serves up a damn fine 6.3% ESB. I had two after cycling the foothills of the Tararuas on Saturday and had trouble getting back on my bike.

Was it Regent 58?

Brown label?

"...sure beats doin' stuff."

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about 11 years ago · edited about 11 years ago · History

LeighboNZ wrote:

ForteanTimes wrote:

I've still not tasted anything better than an Adnams Ale even though it's traveled a few thousand miles to get here in a bottle and left on the bar for two hours to get it to the right temperature. The craft beers here are still a little too sweet and still try for the light lagerery/light IPA kiwi flavor.

You are getting there though and to be fair I've not really tired anything for a few years. Just the overpriced crap you get in supermarkets as we don't go to pubs very often. 

there is no way you should be paying $8 for a bottle of beer even if it is the p*ss of the gods.

Even with Camra we never let an ale become the sole possession of the rich.  The craft beer market over here appalls me.with its kiwi middle class wankery.

Very rarely do you pay $8 for a regular bottle (330ml) off the shelf unless the alcohol content is higher but the way they charge $8 for a Steinlager Pure in bars is criminal! That bascially means that they paid $20 for a dozen with their trade price and then charge $96 for that dozen...insanity!

I think craft beer is much better even than 3 or 4 years ago with a lot more proper ales, Porters and Stouts. NZ is still finding it's place and style but we did the same with the wine boom in early to mid 2000's and now we're world renowned so green shoots of something bigger maybe.

Are you kidding? When I make a steak and ale pie I often spend that much. Which supermarkets do you shop at? I'm not just talking about imports either.

totally agree about the wine - fantastic but expensive.

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about 11 years ago
$8 - $10 for a 500ml bottle seems ok to me. Most 330ml are $5 - $8 at most Pak N Saves or New Worlds

"...sure beats doin' stuff."

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about 11 years ago

$5-$8 ish at Moore Wilsons in town

End of an era.  Vinnie - It's over.

If anyone cares for my inane babbling follow @iluvnix17 on the Twitter.

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about 11 years ago

LeighboNZ wrote:

Ryan wrote:

Nothing wrong with a good IPA.

Like Tui? 

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about 11 years ago

Bloody Snobs!

If anyone wants me i'll be over in the Whisky Appreciation Thread!

"Ive just re-visited this and once again realised that C-Diddy is a genius - a drunk, Newcastle bred disgrace - but a genius." - Hard News, 11:39am 4th June 2009

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about 11 years ago · edited about 11 years ago · History

LeighboNZ wrote:

Jerzy Merino wrote:

There's a tiny bar in Carterton back of the Istanbul eatery that serves up a damn fine 6.3% ESB. I had two after cycling the foothills of the Tararuas on Saturday and had trouble getting back on my bike.

Was it Regent 58?

Brown label?

No label. From the tap. Black felt tip wrote on tin/chalk on blackboard. This is the sticks.

"At the end of the drive the lawmen arrive...

I'll take my chance because luck is on my side or something...

Her name is Rio, she don't need to understand...

Oh Rio, Rio, hear them shout across the land..."

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about 11 years ago

My three main brews I'm into at the moment would have to be: 

  • Garage Project's Death From Above (IPA - Indochinese Pale Ale)
  • Panhead's QuickXchange XPA (Xtreme(?) Pale Ale)
  • ParrotDog's Bitterbitch (IPA). 

I probably have an unconscious bias towards Wellington based breweries but am trying to branch out. Does anyone know exactly where Tuatara's new micro brewery/tasting room "The Third Eye" is going to be? I heard Cuba Quarter but wasn't sure exactly where.

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about 11 years ago

It's on the bypass.

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about 11 years ago

Does anyone know anyone at a craft brewery? I've always wanted to get someone to do a Yellow Fever canned beer on licence.

Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.

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about 11 years ago

When Wilso and I were at FNZ in Welly, we worked with a guy who was part owner of Funk Estate. At the time, they seemed fairly keen to do a YF special edition. Wilso might still have Dan's contact deets.


Yellow Fever - Misery loves company

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about 11 years ago

Jerzy Merino wrote:

LeighboNZ wrote:

Jerzy Merino wrote:

There's a tiny bar in Carterton back of the Istanbul eatery that serves up a damn fine 6.3% ESB. I had two after cycling the foothills of the Tararuas on Saturday and had trouble getting back on my bike.

Was it Regent 58?

Brown label?

No label. From the tap. Black felt tip wrote on tin/chalk on blackboard. This is the sticks.

i used to live in those sticks. Pretty sure it's Regent 58. Their beers are at Petone Pak n Save

"...sure beats doin' stuff."

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about 11 years ago

Smithy wrote:

Does anyone know anyone at a craft brewery? I've always wanted to get someone to do a Yellow Fever canned beer on licence.

I have a contact at Yeastie Boys and also Kereru I could try?

"...sure beats doin' stuff."

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about 11 years ago · edited about 11 years ago · History

Garage Project does it quite a lot, they did a Chardonay beer for the Ballet for instance.

What would a yellow fever beer be like?

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about 11 years ago

Ryan wrote:

Garage Project does it quite a lot, they did a Chardonay beer for the Ballet for instance.

What would a yellow fever beer be like?

GP have done a few beers for a few different groups. I think they did something for the NZSO as well.

Surely it'd be something smokey (Phoenix/Ashes) with some honey to match the black and yellow stripes?

Smoked Manuka Porter?

"...sure beats doin' stuff."

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about 11 years ago

Ryan wrote:

Garage Project does it quite a lot, they did a Chardonay beer for the Ballet for instance.

What would a yellow fever beer be like?

Full bodied, long finish, acquired taste, a bit sh!t in the middle.

One for the cognescenti.

"Phoenix till they lose"

Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion. 

Genuine opinion: FTFFA

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about 11 years ago

Ryan wrote:

Garage Project does it quite a lot, they did a Chardonay beer for the Ballet for instance.

What would a yellow fever beer be like?

A cross between a light yellow lager and the blackness of a stout to show the colours. Yellow and black striped label or can?

Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!

The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!

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about 11 years ago

Junior82 wrote:

Ryan wrote:

Garage Project does it quite a lot, they did a Chardonay beer for the Ballet for instance.

What would a yellow fever beer be like?

Full bodied, long finish, acquired taste, a bit sh!t in the middle.

One for the cognescenti.

"At the end of the drive the lawmen arrive...

I'll take my chance because luck is on my side or something...

Her name is Rio, she don't need to understand...

Oh Rio, Rio, hear them shout across the land..."

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about 11 years ago

I bave seen this person in the Fever Zone.

Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!

The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!

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