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.