I thought it would be interesting to find out where the best physical bottle stores are around NZ for Craft / Imported Beer.
So.. List your city / town, and the name of the store (and its address) and let the rest of us know where the best (Physical) places to buy beer are ( I know where the best virtual bottle store is :-) ).
The Fresh Choice supermarkets in Nelson & Richmond are excellent
New Worlds in Nelson, Richmond & Motueka are also very good (the Mot one especially)
Even the Pac & Save has some craft beer :-)
You can also get riggers at most breweries, Sprig&Fern pubs and The Free House and The Moutere Inn
Christchurch
Closest, decent range (Emersons, Wigram, Epic etc): Liqourland, Riccarton Road
Best NZ Craft: Thirsty Bloke, Victoria St or Halswell New World
Best imported: Merivale Fresh Choice (also got a good NZ selection now, but it ain't chilled...)
After visiting Halswell NW this morning, I'm changing it to best NZ Craft & 2nd best imported. I'm sure their range just keeps getting better, and Epic Lager 6-packs are $15.99 at the moment! Massively blew my budget on 3 Boys Oyster Stout, Epic Armageddon, Mussel Inn Golden Goose, and Emersons DunkelWeiss.
I must say that Regionals have really lifted their beer game with Kieran in charge. I'm sure there is more to come too. It is conventiently on my way home so I spend the vast majority of my beer budget there.
Victoria Park- New World (great selection of local and imported)
Ashore-Birkenhead (I've plugged them in previous posts, but the have a great little selection and support SOBA)
Both address points are pretty easy to find. Victoria park, is on the western city fringe, heading towards Ponsonby. Ashore is on Birkenhead road, in the village, which isn't a big place.