Auckland-area SOBA news (and lots of it!)

[Martin Bridges]

There are a bunch of activities coming up over the next couple of months so there's lots to tell you about.

Next Auckland-area meeting
The next regular Auckland-area meeting will be held at Galbraiths on Saturday 11th April at 2pm. No real agenda for this, just an opportunity to get together and have a chat over a few excellent beers.

Steam brewery tour
As you will have seen from another thread in this forum, Shane Morley from the Steam Brewing Company has kindly offered to run a tour of the brewery (which makes the Cock & Bull beers as well as Epic) on Saturday 18th April. If you want to go along post a response in that thread as soon as possible as spaces are limited.

Leigh Sawmill Brewery visit
The May monthly Auckland-area meeting will be held at the Leigh Sawmill Brewery in Leigh (near Matakana) on Saturday 9th May. I need you to let me know ASAP if you plan to come along so we can sort out transport options. I've had an initial look at coach hire and it's fairly pricey, but I'll get some other quotes once I've got some certainty on numbers. Car-pooling might be an option. There will be a charge of $10 per head from the Brewery for the tour and tasting. Let me know if you plan to come along.

Kid Chocolate at Galbraiths
Those of you who made it along to the New Zealand Beer Fest at Ellerslie had a chance to sample the Yeastie Boys' latest creation, Kid Chocolate. If you didn't manage to get some or if, like me, you'd like to get some more you'll be glad to hear that a keg is currently waiting to go on the guest tap at Galbraiths. I propose an informal gathering up there when it goes on. Hopefully Yeastie Boy Sam will let us know when it's about to appear.

Mac's Brewjolais is back
Mac's seasonal Brewjolais (this year made with unkilned NZ Cascade hops) is back on tap in the Mac's brewery bars. I had a couple in the Northern Steamship on Quay Street today and it was tasting pretty good. Anyone based in the CBD who fancies a lunchtime pint sometime, drop me a note and I'd be happy to meet up.

Right, that'll do I think. Please let me know (by direct email rather than to the forum if possible, other than for the Steam tour) if you plan to come along to any of the events. I hope to see many of you at some or all of them.

Cheers & beers,

Martin

[denimglen]

Do we know if Kid Choc will be on tap on Sat?

[Sam Possenniskie (TGM)]

Alas, it won't be so. Unless you get along there tomorrow are drink the remaining Perri.

Popped in for a couple tonight and it looks like it will probably go on next week. But don't fair, good things come to those that wait ;-)

[Barry]

What channel will the news spread by Sam? This forum?

I'm champing at the bit.

[Sam Possenniskie (TGM)]

You'll hear it here first!

Champ away!!

[Greig McGill]

Where does that Perri come from? It smells like pears, but is soooo sickeningly sweet! It's not like the nice dry ones I tried in England, or the beautiful one Steve at Hallertau did a couple of years back. I see he has done it again, but I've not tried it yet. Maybe it's that? If so, Bad Steve! Back to the old recipe please! ;)

[Greig McGill]

In other awesome Galbraiths news, I was talking to Ian yesterday and he said they are looking at a cask swap with the Twisted Hop, with Challenger being the first to hit Galbraiths. Very soon apparently! I believe the Hop are getting Bellringers (which was tasting great yesterday, as malty as I've ever had it - biscuity and satisfying).

The sad news (well, for me) is Mr. G's Luncheon Ale is selling so poorly it's going away and not coming back.

[Sam Possenniskie (TGM)]

Managed to get myself a Bellringers after you left Greig, and I agree, it as tasting superb. Probably has been my pick in the last couple of months.

In more Galbraiths news. Go along on Sunday with an easter egg (any easter egg), and buy a glass of Ressurection for $1. Yip, that's right, $1.

That's my kind of communion.
Sam

[Martin Bridges]

Yay! It'll be great to get some more cask ale up here.

Boo! I loved Mr G's. I'll have to give it a farewell hammering on Saturday if there's any left.