Beer aficionados

[Mekk]

Over the last year or so I've become interested in beer as more than just something to get me fucked up. I really like my stouts and old ales and am rather passionate about pairing them nicely with the right food.

So anyway, I'm going to head along to the 2008 New Zealand Beer Festival at the Ellerslie Racecourse in February and was wondering if anyone has been to one of these before? I did a search for threads and found a notice for the 2007 one but it had garnered very little attention.

I just want to know what to expect, really. Is it like those snobby wine-tasting events or more of a casual kiwi kind of thing or is there a bit of both or what?

Cheers.

[James Deuce]

I have no idea, but when you get there look up Tuatara, try the Pilsener and tell me that isn't the best you've ever tasted.

+2,000,000,000,000 cred points for starting a beer thread.

You little ripper.

[Gubb]

Around 6000 people turned up to the '07 one.

Amazing time, not snobby at all, real down to earth. Supposed to be 24 suppliers there in '08, 4 up from last year.

Cool bands playing too.

Tuatara is sensational, but i'm all about red beers at the moment. (Mmmmm. Sassy Red) and the occasional Hoegaarden.

[Indiana_Jones]

Well my bro went in 2007 I'm fairly sure and he had a enjoyable time.

I don't think it's like a wine show for 50+ etc

-Indy

[Zuki Bandit]

One of my mates is right into beer. I would him a "beer aficionado". He brews his own, each batch by the keg, once the brew is ready, he puts the new keg into a modified fridge that has the hose connected to a pouring tap attached to the outside of the fridge. It even has a drip tray under it.
He often sits there studying the colour, after taste and headiness of each new beer and suggests complimentry foods. I reckon it has it's place for critique just like wine does.

[Indiana_Jones]

I reckon it has it's place for critique just like wine does.

Too true.

I enjoy nice ales from the Galbraiths ale house in Mt. Eden (just past Mt. Eden motorcycles). They brew all their own ale on site and it tastes wicked

here's there site: http://www.alehouse.co.nz/

-Indy

[sAsLEX]

a pouring tap attached to the outside of the fridge.

So last century





Best use of robotics in the world!

[Steam]

... but i'm all about red beers at the moment. (Mmmmm. Sassy Red) and the occasional Hoegaarden.

What the heck is this Red sensation about? It doesn't seem to be a recognised style, just a marketing creation of the brewing companies.

EDIT: Oh, it is a style after all. Not much of one, not very dstinctive apart from the colour, but I guess it deserves to have its own name.

[bell]

One of my mates is right into beer. I would him a "beer aficionado". He brews his own, each batch by the keg, once the brew is ready, he puts the new keg into a modified fridge that has the hose connected to a pouring tap attached to the outside of the fridge. It even has a drip tray under it.
He often sits there studying the colour, after taste and headiness of each new beer and suggests complimentry foods. I reckon it has it's place for critique just like wine does.

Your friend has seen the light. Or rather he's tasted the shite that passes for mainstream beer in this country and decided that life's too short to drink DB, Lion Red, Speights [insert mainstream beer of choice here]. Your friend could be your ticket to a new level of beer appreciation.

I'm onto a Chocoalte Stout tonight and it's affecting my typong, er, typing. If you've never had good "home-brew" then you're missing out. There are brewers out there in your neighbourhood creating beer that could win awards. But, rather sensibly, they only share it with their wives or good friends!

Of course, there are also brewers in your neighbourhood brewing stuff that could strip grease off engines. Sadly, this is the home-brew that most people have tried and suffered from the next day. "Good" beer, such as that which comes out of my kegs will not give you a headache the morning after as it's not full of preservatives and shit that commercial beers are.

I have no idea, but when you get there look up Tuatara, try the Pilsener and tell me that isn't the best you've ever tasted.

+2,000,000,000,000 cred points for starting a beer thread.

You little ripper.

I suspect that our dear friend Jim already knows that beer is a man's best friend. His critique of the Tuatara Pils is about spot on. It's one of the best that you'll find in NZ, and believe me I've been trying over the past few years. Don't think for 1 minute that the "Pilsener" that is being poured from Monteiths bottles around the nation is worthy. I give it a 6/10. Tuatara's offering rates into the 8/10 range.

Oh to live about 200kms closer to the Malthouse...

[Motu]

After numerous personal studies conducted late into the night into the early hours - it seems beer of all kinds seem to go with carrots....even if you haven't eaten a carrot for a week,the evidence is at your feet.

[Zuki Bandit]

After numerous personal studies conducted late into the night into the early hours - it seems beer of all kinds seem to go with carrots....even if you haven't eaten a carrot for a week,the evidence is at your feet.

To true there Motu. Funny that ay, same applies to corn as well!

[Steam]

Everyone here must try La Trappe "Quadrupel"
It's simply astounding.
It's 10%.
Full, heady, strong stuff, yet mellow and mild too. It's almost like a wine, but still beer. Made by monks in the Netherlands.
It's at your local supermarket and really is worth a try.

[Bikernereid]

If you want to know what beer is about then get yourself to the nearest shop that sells BELGIAN beer none of this gnats piss yank stuff that is branded about. Stella or wife beater as it is known in the UK is ok but it is the crap that isn't good enough for the Belgians. Try any Trappiste (can't spell) beer, Duvel, Chimay or Kreik if you like your fruity beers (don't drink too may they are sweet and make you want to hurl if you aren't into that). Belgium has hundreds of different types of beer so you can't go wrong.

[Mekk]

Thanks all for your responses, I am pretty excited about it. I've heard legends about the Tuatara...

I'm keen on broadening my tastes and figure the festival would be the best way to do it. I recently got a really good book on all things drink and am glad part of the beer-tasting process is swallowing it as opposed to wine-tasting...

My flatmate and I are keen on home-brewing too so that's a goer, especially as we inherited a drinks fridge from the previous owners!

[Sanx]

Black Sheep Ale. You can buy it (sometimes) from the Glengarry's on Dominion Rd. Should be served between 10 and 15 degrees C. Not cold, not warm - the temperature of a cool cellar.