Thanks - will definitely let you know if/when we're coming down.

Hi Shane,

We're thinking of having the monthly SOBA Auckland meeting at the Cock & Bull in Ellerslie on Saturday 12th July - would you be able to organise something (say a question & answer session) then?

Cheers,

Martin

Hi Shane - just a reminder that we're planning to come down for the SOBA meeting at C&B Ellerslie on Saturday. I'll try and give you a call sometime early this week.

Cheers.

Hi Shane - sorry I haven't called, but it has been a manic week at work. So far I've got 9 confirmed attendees for Saturday, and we usually get one or two extras that I hadn't planned for so I'd expect somewhere between 10-12 people turning up.
I'll try to give you a call tomorrow to figure out how we organise stuff on the day.

Cool - see you tomorrow.

Hey cheers mate,

Would I be able to come and pick it up in the weekends at all? Or does it have to be during the week?
Cheers

I couldnt pay you to courier it could I? Its just gonna be quite hard for me to get out to Otahuhu during a working week, I work 8am till 5pm in Albany, so a bit out of the way... Ill courier you back a few beers?

Give me your address and I will see what I can do. Maybe you can buy me a beer if we meet at one on the SOBA meetings.

Hey sorry mate, didnt see your last comment till now and was off work yesterday... Id be happy to buy you a beer :o)

My adress is 17B Masterton Road, Rothesay Bay, North Shore...

Cheers buddy, really appreciate it!

Mate, youre an absolute legend, was enjoying a beer out the front yesterday afternoon and was greeted with a courier and my package :o)

Just wanted to say thanks heaps mate, i really appreciate it! Grains still seem nice and hard which is tops :o) Cheers

Damn, a wednesday! I won't be able to make it, but if you like I'll put a note up on the SOBA website.

Will any of the Marzen make it to the Hamilton C&B?

Great stuff mate - I'll put the word out when you know the dates.

That sounds great Shane. I look forward to it.

http://realbeernz.ning.com/profile/Nigel this is Nigel from Croucher Brewing

Not bad feedback overall Shane. Well done. Awards aren't everything, of course, but it is great to get that independent feedback. I hope you got your money's worth.

I certainly like where the Dark is right now, as a drinking beer it is really nice. It's probably a little less hoppy than I remember it - and I think that is good, it makes it a little rounder. Reminds me of fresh Bay's Dark in Nelson a few years back - that was tasting superb at our hostel's pub, and was backed up with the best company I could imagine and perfect spring weather.

As for Monk's... I needn't say anything, I love that beer. Keep tweaking it to keep us guessing.

Yeah the Dark is nice at the moment. You would think there is chocolate malt in there( but there isn't).
The Monks is more about a slight adjustment is fermentation profile in regards to attenuation and maybe some more bitterness. Apart from that it is almost were we want it.
Anyway, maybe next time you are up we can catch up for a beer and I can try your beer.

Will let you know - I'd love to get up to auckland soon but definitely have a return trip to Chch in my sights first.

I'd love to share our beer with you too but I have none left! Last sample dropped off today. I can't believe it - no matter how much I brew, there is never enough.

Hopefully one keg will get out to Hallertau and another to Ruakura in Hamilton. If so, try to hook up with Sam (the other Yeastie Boy) and go for a taste. He's on here as "The Grandmaster" - love his chess ;-) and "Eyes Wide Shut".

Next Yeastie Boys beer is in the planning. We don't intend to have a continuous supply, just a beer for each season.

Let us know if you are coming to Wellington. Hopefully we can say hello (and hopefully you'll come here "in season", or we have more samples).

Hi Shane,
Comments were really disappointing - lots of contraditions (too hoppy, not hoppy enough - or too malty not malty enough). Tough to know what to take from those comments.
I see you guys are releasing a seasonal - will have to try to get in to a CnB to sample.
Nige

Unfortunately I didn't make it - things went a bit pear-shaped at work. Not sure if I'll make it to Ellerslie (in-laws are still here), but I'll definitely get into one of the pubs soon to try the Marzen.

Hi Shane - I'm thinking about having the next SOBA meeting at C&B Newmarket on 8th November. Not necessary to organise any sort of tasting (we will have a few other things to talk about) but I wondered if you had a contact for the manager so I can get an area reserved?

Cheers,

Martin

Thanks Shane - I'll be aiming for 2pm. In terms of numbers I'd expect no more than 15.

Cheers,

Martin

We had a good afternoon - service was very friendly. The Fuggles was very much on form - I'd agree with you that it's tasting the best I've ever had it. I just wish it wasn't served quite so cold. The Rhinefire probably suffered by me tasting it ater the Fuggles - it just didn't seem to have as much going for it. Not as good as the Doppelbock was, I reckon. Is there another seasonal coming up?

Hi Shane
Nice of you to get in touch! I had it Christmas eve at about 5.30ish in Hamilton (could have been in the lines for a while because there weren't many people there), i didn't want to be harsh with a rating because i've always enjoyed it when i've been at the cock and bull and will pretty much drink it exclusively unless i'm feeling saucy and go for a pint of Monks! :0) I've also heard that the lines in Hamilton can be a bit variable....no i haven't tried your new one but i really enjoyed Rhinefire! had that on tap at the malthouse after beervana and thought it was a really good! If i'm up your way i'll certainly drop you a line, thanks for the offer!

James

Wow that's almost worth a trip to Auckland by itself! Love Monks and would love to see it with more bitterness! First time i tried Fuggles was after coming back from the UK after working at Fullers and i thought it was a damn good pint! Just wish they would take the sparkler off the handpump! ;0)

Shane
Now i'm obsessed with trying the new Monks!!! I can't get up to Auckland but if i give you some cash will you send me a flagon down? No problem if it's not possible :0)

James

Yes, I will be there this year. Hoping that my luck is better than the last three years (girlfriend and baby were sick so I was steward and scorer all week but not an event attender, grandmother died so I was chief steward all week but not an event attender, and then I was out of the country for last year's event!!!).

My granny had a great wake on the Thursday 0f 2007's event - Twisted Hop Oatmeal Stout and Emerson's Bookbinder on handpump! Thanks to Martin and Richard.

Hi Shane

we spoke at the recent SOBA visit, about the Diploma in Brewing. You mentioned you had some CD material. Any chance of having a look at that? I am free to pop out and see you, if that is possible?

Thanks Shane. I appreciate your opinion. The notes are great, still trolling through them. I shall return the disc asap.

The yeast for the brown ale, was a tim taylor- west yorkshire ale. It fermented out really quickly, but cleanly (I thought). Are you suggesting the fermentation temp was too high?

The pilsner was a Wyeast California lager. I think I acquired it from someone. It was hard to keep the temp down in summer, as I don't have a chiller large enough for my fermenter. What would cause the yeast strain, temperature?

Thanks Shane

have corrected :)

When is the tasting night?

May just make it before 7.00 at Ellerslie. I live in Meadowbank so not too far away. I'll look out for you.

No probs, should be there just after 6.30

my personal one is sakiwi69 at hotmail.com