CHCH Beer Festival

[James P]

It was good to catch up with Ged, John, and HerrSchnapps (or should we say MeisterSchnapps!!) A day of cutting wood, sun and little food took it's toll on me and I bowed out about 5-6pm, with a belly full (and I'm sure there was a swagger).

I have now tried a range of craft beers... all I can say is yum. I would not have said I found a session beer, however I have definitely found beers that I will try again.

I thought the Pink Elephant Mammoth (7%) was good, RNA was another fine ale hopped up, as was Epic, and Tuatara IPA took my breath away on my first sip. My initial thought was I got a single malt depth charger in my glass! Skull Buggery gave me both barrels, but I'd do it again, and the Mussel Inn Bitter Ass had a nice kick, maybe worth a visit over summer. Challenger special bitter and Golding bitter have to get a mention also.

I found the Croucher and Greenman Pilsner both very nice, and I'm happy that my own pils lagers are very similar just not as refined (means I have some work to do!).

I think my favourite for the day was the Tuatara IPA for the wake up call to my taste buds.

[Rusty Chch]

I had a very brief stay.

Mussel Inn Bitter Ass: Not a bad drop. I liked the idea of a nice bitter beer at session strength. It might have been a little too bitter for my taste (It's anaethema to say that, I know) but it's decent.

Galbraiths Mr. G: Not a bad little dark mild. There was some weird flavours that I couldn't place. This may have been down to my palate though. It's great to see beers like this and Bookbinder making a place for themselves in the craft beer marketplace.

Another darkish beer from the top o' th' north. Didn't really give this beer enough consideration as I was testiculating* wildly at Ged.

I didn't read the back of the tasting sheet properly. It was only later that I saw they were selling the Sam Adams Utopia. I think I might have given it a try. Though at $20 for a 30ml shot, I would only have had a half pint ;-)
* Waving hands about while talking balls

[BeerNZ]

Sorry I didn't get to catch up with you guys for much. Interested in your comments on the beers. I thought the Bitter Ass was great, didn't get much of the Tuatara IPA but what I did was fab. Other notable mentions to the Renaissance Blonde, Hoppy Jim, Skull Buggery etc etc - Maybe it's the novelty factor. Had discussions with some about a Soba ChCh meeting similar to the Aucklanders - you guys keen...???

Cheers.....Craig

[James P]

I'll put my hand up for that... although I do have to join SOBA!

[Rusty Chch]

Yup, I'd be up for that. Any excuse really!

If Saturday was anything to go by, the company would be passable at the very least.

An interesting thing that Paul Owner (as opposed to Paul Brewer) from Wigram mentioned. A group of them got together over a number of months a while back and went throught the BJCP styles and got to grips with them. I'd be keen to try that over a year or so!

[Ged]

I don't remember you testiculating wildy Rusty CChurch...We were too busy trying to figure out downstairs or upstairs at that point :)

Would deffo be up for a SOBA style event down here - think JP started chatting about that later in the evening before dawdling off home...

[BeerNZ]

Cool - I was involved with the BJCP so more than happy to let you know how that all worked. CB