New Craft Bars In Auckland

[Hugh Grierson]

If you find a new bar in Auckland with some craft beer, tell us about it. I just dropped some Croucher off to the new Corner Bar on High St. They are running a pure craft range, no Steiniken or Heinlager! That part of town is getting pretty good now with Mezze, O' Carrol's , My Bar. Almost enough for a decent crawl.

[Hugh Grierson]

You are the Automation, Shane. And I have seen you working, all shiny chrome and coiled springs.

[Raffe]

I stopped by the new Corner Bar last night for a drink with my gf. It was about 6pm on an Auckland Friday, so there were plenty of office workers out for a drink. The place was full, mostly people in their 30-50s, about an even male/female split.

 

It is not a beer geek bar, nor a pub for a session, but it does do well what it sets out to do - provide a small establishment with good food & drink and conversation, in a nice environment. There wasn't even music for the first half hour we where there, just the noise of people enjoying themselves. Judging the place on its merits, it is a success.  The fitout is stylish without being fussy, the beer, wine and food lists are not extensive but carefully chosen.

 

What is most important about this is that there were lots of people drinking craft beer, such that it was almost mundane. This bar used to be a place where suited types would sit at the tables on the footpath outside drinking their bottles of Heineken & Corona. Now they were drinking Moa, Epic and Emersons. I consider this bar an excellent Trojan Horse, it will introduce good beer to a lot of people, it will normalise it, and hopefully will encourage other establishments in the downtown area to sell good beer.

 

Also, first time I have had Moa Pale Ale on tap, what en excellent beer - perhaps the most bitter of all the NZ pales in that bracket? 

[Hugh Grierson]

Coco's Cantina on Krd has Glabraiths on tap, and are running a guest tap, currently with West Coast Pale Ale. The last keg of this lasted 5 days. I am sorting out more intertesting brews for the guest tap. They also have a good selection of craft bottles.

[Martin Bridges]

That West Coast Pale Ale is awesome - might have to make my way up to K Road sometime soon.

[Hugh Grierson]

Yep, I love it, a nice option and first equal with the Croucher APA for me. As a shareholder and thirsty man, I am stoked they have hired a brewer who is so good...Word is the West Coast Lager is rejigged and now has some flavour...

[Martin townshend]

Can you give me a ring Hugh? I've lost your number.

Cheers, Martin Townshend

[Hugh Grierson]

West Auckland Rejoice. The Hardware Cafe in Titarangi has started stocking Croucher and West Coast beers, if the customers like this, more will follow. The chances are good they will let me rip out the DB taps (please remove your arse glycol system) and drop a tap or two.

[Matt Smith]

Just stumbled across this website: http://www.dcbrewing.co.nz/default A new brewpub in Browns Bay, looks promising ! Anybody know much about it ?

[Martin Bridges]

It's a couple of SOBA members setting up a brewpub. If you know Browns Bay it's on the main street, down the end near the police station, with entrances from the street and from the beach side also. They're planning to be open in early August.

 

Two of their beers in the planned lineup won medals at last year's National Homebrew Competition, so it's very promising! As a Browns Bay resident I can't wait for it to open.

[Matt Smith]

Sweet, that's awesome news! The beer list looks pretty impressive.

[Reviled]

I also cant wait for this place to open!! Very exciting!

[Matt]

A plug for deep creek, I was lucky enough to have a peek at the rapidly evolving canvas in there yesterday, so shiny!