What are you drinking ?

[jt]

Ok, so What Are You Brewing was a hotty, as topics go.

Now I'm 15 pints into a keg I only filled on Tuesday and wondering if anyone else has a favourite at the moment ?

It's my second brown with US-Oh05 and it's better than the forst, maybe Ikept the temps down a bit during the scorcher we had in januray

[Matthew]

Following on the English ale route: I've just finished Greene Kings' Suffolk Strong Vintage Ale.

Mix of their BPA and 5X ales I believe. It was like christmas pudding in a glass. Lots of raisin, plums, prunes, cherry, toffee. Thoroughly enjoyed it. I'll get another for christmas.

Had Speckled Hen a little while back on tap, it's definitely an acquired taste. Not one I'd rush to buy again but you have to try these things...

[Mike Neilson]

I remember cask Speckled Hen in the brewery tap in Wimbledon Village well. It was a fantastic drop!! That and Black Sheep!!

[Greig McGill]

In Breeeeeesbane. Been to the Grand Central Hotel. Great bar, excellent service. Really friendly and smart staff. That's the good news. The bad news is that the selection of beer is great, but the quality is highly variable. Here's brief notes so far based on the beers Alex and I have shared this afternoon.

Stone and Wood Pale Ale (or perhaps Helles?) - Cloudy yellow and freezing cold off tap. Tasty though. Zesty, lemony, fresh, and quaffable.

Little Creatures Bright Ale - refreshing, decent malt character, though dull and a little thin bodied.

Matilda Bay Fat Yak - Passable pale ale. Nice balance between malt and hops.

3 Ravens Bronze - Oxidised and a little harsh. Not a favourite.

Mountain Goat Hightail Pale Ale - worst of the day. Thin, watery, caramel, and no trace of hops.

3 Ravens Black - HELL yeah, now we're getting going. Just after I texted Luke to say how bad the beers were here, I hit this. Wow. A celebration of malt. Reminds me more than a little of 3 Boys Oyster Stout. Only critique is a touch thin bodied - seems to be a common issue with these Aussie beers.

Mountain Goat Steam - Again with the thin mouthfeel. A little stewed tasting, but quite nice anyway, with some really interesting candied malt flavours.

Coopers Mild Ale - Pale, very fizzy, yeast bitten, but still quaffable. Not bad.

[Sam Possenniskie (TGM)]

why do they freeze their beer so cold - ludicrous!

[Greig McGill]

Probably because it's so stinking hot here! I'm still getting over the fact that there's this big outdoor mall here which they blast AC into to keep it cool. And it's only September. Scary.

To be fair to the Grand Central, they have their craft beers in a fridge which maintains a much better temp to drink at. The tap beers are icy though, even the craft ones. I must say though, I've awoken with a hankering for more of the Stone and Wood icicle...

[Stu McKinlay]

Steph's post-BrewNZ Vollies and Friends BBQ...
Pelican Tsunami Stout (thumbs up)
Avery IPA (thumbs up)
Unita Porter (one thumb)

Plan K

About to crack a Redoak Baltic Porter. I hope it isn't like the rest of their beers I've sniffed recently...


Money lost on the Saints... they choked and let me down.

[David Wood]

Last night:
Mikkeller Big Worse Barley Wine - Amazing! An American hopped Thomas Hardys
SN Torpedo IPA - Awesome as usual
Emerson's beWITched - Polished off the last of my rigger, tasting just as good.

[Simon David kelly]

Moa 5 hop winter ale. Very nice indeed.

[Martin Bridges]

Last night was:
Ninkasi Total Domination IPA - distinctly lighter-bodied than most of the other Yankee IPAs and all the better for it. Lovely citrus fruit, very drinkable.

Stone Arrogant Bastard - Not as challenging as I expected, actually pretty balanced. I love this stuff.

This lunchtime we called in at Tahi Bar in Warkworth on the way through to a fill-your-own day at Heron's Flight in Matakana. I had a tasty Emerson's Pilsner and a great chat with Ian. He is a very nice guy, and is really looking forward to hosting the SOBA contingent in 3 weeks.

[Matthew]

Emersons Pilsner - Like the Sauv of beer
Moa Poppet Cider - I'm pretty fussy about my cider but I loved this. The granny smith apples give it a nice tartiness and she's pretty dry to boot. Not to mention the 9% ABV! Woot
Millsreef 2000 Vintage Port - I know it's not beer but it's so damn good!

[Steph]

I had the pleasure of Stu's home brew at my BBQ and they day after. If Mike can teach me how to make a beer half as good I'll be very happy. The pale ale was eminently quaffable and I could have drunk more of it. Yum. Thanks Stu. Off to Aussie for 3 weeks now...Shame their craft brew is not as good as ours.

[Stu McKinlay]

Cheers Steph - I'm pretty pleased with the pale. if Mike can't sort it for you (though i know he can), you should be able to taste the pale ale off tap come December/January. It's to be the next Yeastie Boys beer.

The other was a dubbel, 7.5%. This one is quite classically dubbel-like but I prefer the previous one I made.