There's a better beer than Speight's

[Ixion]

I have found a better beer than Speight's Old Dark. I never thought to hear myself say that but it is true.

I made the pilgrimage to Blackball a couple of weeks ago (Every true Kiwi should pay his respects on that hallowed ground at least once in his lifetime ). And discovered Blackball Miner's Stout.

No lesser beer could bear such a revered name.

Alas they do not export it. It is a long way to go for a drink.

[piston broke]

is speights old dark beer?
i thought it was syrup

[Supertwin Don]

Don't you mean you found ANOTHER good beer - just remember, there are NO bad beers, just some are better than others.
Try Theakstons "Old Peculiar", Everards "Old Original" etc etc.

[cave weta]

I have found a better beer than Speight's Old Dark. I never thought to hear myself say that but it is true.

I made the pilgrimage to Blackball a couple of weeks ago (Every true Kiwi should pay his respects on that hallowed ground at least once in his lifetime ). And discovered Blackball Miner's Stout.

No lesser beer could bear such a revered name.

Alas they do not export it. It is a long way to go for a drink.

Ten years ago - I discovered a wee jem of a dark in Westport, Miners Dark it was called, made by the Miners Brewing company. It travelled as far north as Karamea and as far south as Greymouth. for years I would share the knowledge with only those who I deemed would appreciate the depth of such a beverage.

then ...... two weeks ago at The Kawasaki Sandpit I met this guy on a bike who was a brewery rep. It turns out, Good Barstards Brewery are the new owners of the westport brewery and its him and his dad!!!
they still employ the same brewmaster and make the same beers. and the best bit is....... the miners dark is now available in the north island

dont tell anyone

[Ixion]

Yes indeed, all good beers to be sure. But I am talking about the supreme accolade, the BEST beer.

[Tank]

Great pub the 'ol Blackball.

Scary assed locals down that way tho'. Its obvious that the girls don't see that much 'fresh talent'.

[piston broke]

Yes indeed, all good beers to be sure. But I am talking about the supreme accolade, the BEST beer.

wel that would have to be steiny then.
is there another nz beer that has won more awards?
beer,lager,ale,dark and stout etc all being beer of course

[Supertwin Don]

OK, not having been around NZ much in the last 20 years - where is "Blackball" ?

P.S. "Steinie" is a lager, not a beer!

[vifferman]

Define 'best", Professor Ixion.
I've had many beers I like better'n Speights, but only two dark beers I can remember offhand: Emerson's Taieri George (6.8%), La Trappe Quadrupel (23,497%, despite claiming to be only around 11%). Because of the aforementioned beers, I can't remember any other names.
Taieri George is the world's perfect Easter beer.

I've decided I prefer REAL beers - not that bilge that's produced in huge vats, pasteurised and then recarbonated. Real beer is matured in the bottle, and has a memorable taste.
I'm beginning to REALLY HATE the growing trend of NZB and Lino Nathan (yeah it's a spelling mistake, but I think I like it!) of taking perfectly respectable furrin beers and "making them under licence" - that is, TAKING a licence with them. It's a cunning plot to make all beer sold in Un Zud taste like Steinlager. Then eventually, that will be the only beer you can buy, despite a multitude of labels...

[Ixion]

I tried the Taieri George (it's not a mis-spelling). It was good , but not the best. Best is what I declare it to be.

[LBD]

Mac's Black is up there with Old Dark which is my usual (When I am not drinking Russian shyte)....Looks like Blackball is on the agenda. yessiree

[vifferman]

Taieri George is INTERESTING. But no - not the best.
I'm finding it very hard to go past Belgian beers. Even though Belgium mostly sucks, its beers are good. Especially when you buy them in Belgium, because then they're also CHEAP. You can buy them at the corner dairy!
At least, I did... Bought some fine beers for around 1.3 Euro each. Needed 'em in Italia and France, coz their beers are mediocre.

[Ixion]

I'm buggered though if I know how you South Island buggers ever keep y' buggery licences. Every buggery corner y' go round, there's another pub. And the worst of it is, that like as not, they have some new and different beer, so y' can't even just say 'yeah yeah same old". No choice but to stop n' check.

Only disappointment, ironically, was the iconic Cardrona pub. It's been totally poofterised. Full of giggling bimbos and flashy ponces. Wouldn't bother to stop again. Even the building's not the real thing , just a façade. Says it all really.


Buggered if I knbow how Naseby keeps TWO pubs busy though. Or how Ophir keeps even one!

[cave weta]

Best is what I declare it to be.

Ive just started to crack into a new batch of a Brewing Kit 5 Malt Dark Ale made with NO sugar. and only 1/2 the amount of water.

Alcohol is low but the taste is multi award winning in my humble opinion.
In fact I gave it 7/5 last night after digging 30metres of footings for my garage floor.

[cave weta]

Taieri George is INTERESTING. But no - not the best.
I'm finding it very hard to go past Belgian beers. Even though Belgium mostly sucks, its beers are good. Especially when you buy them in Belgium, because then they're also CHEAP. You can buy them at the corner dairy!
At least, I did... Bought some fine beers for around 1.3 Euro each. Needed 'em in Italia and France, coz their beers are mediocre.

Erdinger - a cloudy wheat beer ismy fave euro beer, no cheap at $10 a glass though