Free Beer

[Kempicus]

Ok here's another starter for 10...

What's your favourite brewery based on the amount of free beers you've received....a thinly veiled discussion about who the most generous brewer is ;0)

[Kempicus]

I've only ever received one free beer and that was an Armageddon from Luke.....i've heard that i'm off the three boys christmas list though...

My vote is Luke although the Armageddon looked like shit in the glass!

[nzbrewer]

5/5 for appearance

be at the Malthouse next Thursday 18th

[Reviled]

The only real "free" beer that I have ever got was when Speights Summit came out, and that didnt make Speights my favourite brewery at all! :oP

[Kempicus]

good point, i got a free export 33....volume was less though so Luke still comes out on top

[Mike Neilson]

If it was by brewerys it would be Youngs, John Young himself always offered me a free pint or Brandy with him, when he poped in but I think it was only to get wife to sit down with him too the dirty old bugger :)))

[Kempicus]

Was your pub tied to Young's? if so doesn't count! ;0)

[Mike Neilson]

It was!! Never said I like there Beers, Well the ordinary anyway.

[Kempicus]

I had Special London ale (the bottled beer) on cask once at a beer festival....it was AWESOME!

[James P]

Wigram Brewery, however not sure it's actually free though as I tend to buy more to take away.

[Stu McKinlay]

Where to start…?
Do you count brewery tours? Craig at Tasman (nee Harrington’s) was very generous a few years back when we cycled all around Nelson. Everyone was good there actually – besides Mac’s, who made us wait for a tour that never eventuated – Founder’s gave us a free platter of food that must have retailed for around $30-$40!! Very handy at the end of a day of cycling and drinking.
I’ve been lucky in that I’ve given a lot of time to BrewNZ over the years, so most of the people involved at the heart of that event have been overly generous to me. Martin at The Twisted Hop especially – it’d take me week to list the things he’s been generous with. Richard gave me the most awesome tour of the Emerson’s Brewery about a year ago. Luke had us filling glasses direct from the fermenters at Steam on one memorable afternoon, we conducted quite a bit of mixing and matching… I think I may have even worked out a pretty good Mayhem blend that day ;-)
And Steve Nally at Invercargill, I’ve been involved in a fair bit of “testing” of his developments (and the odd pint before, during and after Yeastie Boys brew day). Tammy at Mata just sent me some beer as thanks for some contacts I’ve passed their way… Martin at Townshend Brewery has done the same out of the goodness of his beer loving heart…
And sometimes it’s the bar owners that pull out special surprises. James at Bar Ed and Colin at The Malthouse have poured me beers from their private cellar that I never thought I’d get a chance to taste.
A few friends who have worked at beer events that I’ve not been involved in have grabbed some real gems for me. Again, beers that I never thought I’d get a chance to try.
Then there’s the time that people have spent telling me about their business, and the pros and cons of heading that way… Keith at Galbraith’s, Steve at Hallertau, Martin at The Twisted Hop.
I’m sure I’ll remember others later. Overall I’d consider most NZ brewers, and those involved in the wider industry, to be very generous folk. I guess if you give a little bit to a lot of people, you get a hell of a lot of little bits back in return… hopefully the same applies to them.
Oh no!! I’ve given away my secret to an eternal supply of beer!

I have a winner though. It’s me. I’ve given myself the most beer (by making it and buying it).

[JoKing]

Steve Plowman and Paul Croucher. Great beers all the time and very very generous people. Steve is quite innovative with the beer - and I always enjoyed testing some of the stuff he's been brewing - especially some of the porter noir out of the barrel... Awesome... fun times... good times... great times! Why the hell did I move down to New Plymouth??? sob.

[Barry]

Steve Plowman and Keith Galbraith, at the SOBA meetings at Hallertau and Galbraiths both were spectacularly generous, both with time and product. Thank you.

Richard and Chris at Emersons have been very generous to me this year. I appreciate it. Thank you.