tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182604512024-03-07T21:11:43.316+13:00ScienticianBecause you can't really call it science anymoreAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358008470558124726noreply@blogger.comBlogger462125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18260451.post-69008868567575641642015-06-28T15:40:00.000+12:002015-06-28T16:15:53.248+12:00Brothers Beer
I have a love hate relationship with Brothers beer, ok scratch that. I don't hate Brothers beer, but sometimes I find myself extremely annoyed.
I love the vibe of brothers, especially when its only just full. I like the old school thunderbird toys dotting the bar, plenty of beer mags to pour over while waiting for friends and seventies style furniture retrieved from the grandparents batch.
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358008470558124726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18260451.post-27417029157911932822014-09-28T18:15:00.003+13:002014-10-14T20:37:25.946+13:00Cheap Hearty Easy Tasty EatsI've been challenging myself to save more money.
But hell, I'm used to a decadent life of drinking and eating. Thankfully the home-brew takes care of the drinking however food is another joy in life and I'm not about to downsize to ramen every night.
Here's a couple of my go to dishes when I'm on a budget. They are very easy and super delicious.
Red Lentil and Carrot Soup
Don't freak out. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358008470558124726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18260451.post-57229047378420631532014-08-31T17:39:00.000+12:002014-08-31T17:39:29.063+12:00Bullying over Hop namesSo I'm drinking the delicious Croucher St. Ella, a sweet easy drinking IPA hiding a dangerous 7% ABV. As of today you can find it on tap at Hopscotch. Its $18 for 1L but get in quick, those taps are ever changing!
The hops featured in the beer are Ella, developed in Tasmania. These are interesting hops, I'd love to see them used in a belgian beer or maybe blended with something a bit sharper. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358008470558124726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18260451.post-16947824146558956972014-03-18T12:03:00.004+13:002014-03-18T12:11:00.592+13:00The New Zealand Beer Fest 2014
Last year I went as a patron, this year I had the chance to work behind the bar with an amazing team from Tuatara.
The first session was easy, busy, but turnover was quick in the queues. Waits for a refill seemed short. There was plenty of time to talk about the beers. I didn't see much in the way of bad behaviour except at the very end where someone decided to give one of our Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358008470558124726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18260451.post-19174843445189713722014-02-10T16:26:00.000+13:002014-02-10T18:13:31.875+13:00Auckland bars improving, but more education needed.A couple of weeks ago I handed over some of my hard earned dollars for the privilege of trying a beer I was completely unfamiliar with.
De Molen Donder & Bliksem (thunder and lightning) has such an appealing name, it jumped off the beer list, how could I not try it. "Bring me a bottle of your Donder and Bliksem" was met with a bit of a blank stare and then a "huh?" so I pointed it out on theAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358008470558124726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18260451.post-15683205578453859522014-02-01T13:30:00.002+13:002014-02-05T10:10:35.729+13:00Sunshine Brewery - Gisborne Gold
So I picked this up for 2.99 at my local Pac'n'sav. Sunshine brewery was sold last year to 4 new owners one of whom owns Vintners Ltd (Mark Young). Vintners is a national wine distribution and marketing company and they have also taken over distributing Gisborne Gold. Thats probably how it managed to get a spot on the shelf at Wairau Pac'n'sav, home to a usually dismal selection of craft beersAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358008470558124726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18260451.post-74007653656313917832013-12-29T17:55:00.000+13:002013-12-29T17:56:20.440+13:00Green Flash - Green Bullet
Who can be sad about beer for christmas, unless you get sick and don't even feel like a beer till 4 days after christmas. I've been plenty sad about all the beer I can't drink. Plenty sad.
Today I feel well enough to crave an afternoon beer and thankfully my clever husband picked up on all my subtle hints and bought me a delicious selection of beers from The Beer Cellar for my Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358008470558124726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18260451.post-47626816363921224652013-12-16T20:36:00.002+13:002013-12-16T20:36:20.408+13:00Croucher - Patriot, American Black Ale.
In the fading light of a Monday evening a cool bottle of Croucher Patriot waits, while I clean the kitchen, a beer waits. While I make an urgent phone call while my husband cleans the kitchen, a beer waits.
Well wait no more Patriot, I've been eyeing you up for days now and its time to imbibe! Really sturdy dark red/brown colour, slightly tan head that persists and leaves lovely lacing andAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358008470558124726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18260451.post-69773149363780256492013-12-14T14:42:00.000+13:002013-12-14T14:50:25.406+13:00Kegerator Drip Tray Bargain
My kegerator in the garage has been making a bit of a mess, there's two stains on the concrete right under the taps from wayward beer. It's enough to make my husband give me that look, y'know the one. Where they look at you sideways and grumble "suselorrrrre.........". So I've been looking for a drip tray but the options online were well over $100 and I'm on a budget. Lab technician Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358008470558124726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18260451.post-22442302945368461572013-12-08T15:04:00.001+13:002013-12-08T15:04:05.246+13:00Is It Safe to Leave Star San in My Keg and Beer Lines?Is It Safe to Leave Star San in My Keg and Beer Lines?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358008470558124726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18260451.post-82076149027518157822013-11-18T15:51:00.003+13:002013-11-19T20:32:10.763+13:00Bairds Brewing - Single Take Session Ale
Monday afternoon, its hot, the weekend was too short and I've got 101 things to do but I've always got time for a beer. Which is why I've still got 101 things to do. Anyway today I'm sampling a beer from Japan by Baird brewing. It's bottle conditioned and long travelled so hopefully stored well in transit and not suffering too much.
Pouring cloudy amber orange with a persistent thin whiteAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358008470558124726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18260451.post-41581646527827805042013-11-16T17:54:00.003+13:002013-11-16T17:54:28.697+13:00Paderborner - Pilsner
Original German Beer!
So as it says on the can its original german beer, which is good to know I guess. I wouldn't want to be drinking a non-original beer, I think that violates some rule of the craft beer enthusiast code book.
However I get a bit suspicious when the ingredients include hop extract.
Currently I'm more attuned to the NZ styles of pilsner with the Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358008470558124726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18260451.post-34690306671845652922013-11-08T16:25:00.001+13:002013-11-08T16:25:18.195+13:00Renaissance Enlightenment - The Age of Raisin
Here's a smart little offering from Enlightenment Brewing. The age of Raisin.
It certainly smells like raisins, and a bit like walking through the back rooms on a winery tour when the guide decides to go off plan.The malt aroma's are lovely. I guess I'm used to malt aroma's hiding shyly behind the hop aroma but in this beer I get a fresh cake smell, a golden syrup sultana cake thats Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358008470558124726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18260451.post-89509410640192911262013-10-14T18:40:00.000+13:002013-10-14T18:42:14.359+13:00Brewers Collaboration Series. Townshend's and Liberty Brewing Co - Chatham's Rise
I love collaborations, whether they are fraught with tension and infighting for creative control or are a gentle melding of minds that lets idea bloom in a nurturing environment. I think its always a good idea to test your boundaries from time to time with a good ol' collaboration, like when I let my husband cook with me, its a testing time indeed.
Domestic tensions aside let us return to Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358008470558124726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18260451.post-32112526346908364542013-10-07T17:37:00.002+13:002013-10-07T17:37:54.336+13:00Spruce Beer - Wigram Brewing CoClassic label and classic bottle, this brew caught my eye about a month ago and its been shamefully sitting in my fridge for too long. Spruce beer sounds intriguing doesn't it. I know spruce is variety of conifer but I just learned fresh young spruce tips are a good source of vitamin. Captain Cook knew what he was on about when he had this brewed this up for the crew.
This beer seems to be Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358008470558124726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18260451.post-43831910874718115992013-09-21T18:39:00.002+12:002013-09-21T18:39:46.907+12:00Bach Brewing - HopsmackerThe last couple of weeks have had their ups and downs. On the plus side I got my kegerator up and running. On the downside I got all four wisdom teeth out and my taste buds were decimated by the 14 days of prescription mouthwash. So its been a while since I've had the chance to enjoy a beer.
What a pleasure it is to start drinking beer again. There is nothing else that can substitute those hoppyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358008470558124726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18260451.post-10594738920975128112013-09-03T17:55:00.002+12:002013-09-03T17:55:54.794+12:00Golden Eagle - South Island Pale Ale
Golden Eagle is relatively new brewery having been around since 2010. I've had the pleasure of sampling their Coal Face Stout which is an excellent brew especially for such a young brewery. I also thought the Solo Lupulus was pretty outstanding too.
So with great anticipation I pop the cap. A nice little burst of cascade type aroma hops out of the bottle, well I think its New Zealand Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358008470558124726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18260451.post-78744694482727044582013-08-14T19:45:00.001+12:002013-08-14T19:50:58.371+12:00Mikes - Heavy Petal
Contrary to popular opinion around the office there are actually things I like, and this is one of them.
Firstly I like colour, its a dark orangey red with a creamy off white head. It looks like heaven in a glass and it smells like water passed from the lord himself. Roses and hops. Sweet malt. Turkish delight, caramel!
Theres a pleasant hoppy floral bitterness, a bit of citrus zest and Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358008470558124726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18260451.post-80807359174733163202013-08-14T18:28:00.000+12:002013-08-14T18:28:20.308+12:00Invercargill Brewery - Smokin' Bishop
Its a good colour, crystal clear and catching the light with a deep amber brown hue. It makes an elegant first impression with its delicate little tan head. Aroma wise I'm a getting a smoke with ethanol and hints of charcoal embers in a dying fire.
The first sip is smokey with a sweet impression and a little fruitiness. After a few sips all I can think of is wood smoke, smoked pork Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358008470558124726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18260451.post-64336202252338815882013-07-28T17:22:00.000+12:002013-07-28T17:26:56.264+12:00Boundary Road - Jack the Sipper
Its still winter, while Auckland's been blessed with a few non-raining weekends I have been blessed with working Sundays. Today's post work beer is a hasty grab from the supermarket. A Boundary Road offering. While I haven't been blown away by any of their beers yet I remain hopeful.
I flip the cap and am greeted with a thin little aroma, hints of hops and dark caramelised sugar and maybe a Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358008470558124726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18260451.post-20291117820093163582013-06-25T19:33:00.001+12:002013-07-03T19:16:39.665+12:00Renaissance - CraftsmanI've been trying to wrap my head around New Zealand stouts. Some of them have been amazing and some of them have been real clangers. I even had my first ever un-finishable bottle of beer. I wept as I thought of the money I'd wasted on the grossest beer of my life.
But onward to better things! I can't possibly go wrong with a Renaissance beer after all it was voted champion international small Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358008470558124726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18260451.post-33854861101526998322013-06-10T17:39:00.001+12:002013-06-10T17:42:06.976+12:00Rogue - Juniper Pale Ale
In the depths of a Glenfield winter, there is always the light and well being that is a glass of beer.
Just look at this golden lovely! A glowing gold with hints of orange, its like a beacon on a cold winters eve.
Sure its head is thin, but it make up for it with good looks. A juniper pale sounds like a good match, my only experience with what juniper tastes like is of course gin, and probablyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358008470558124726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18260451.post-76302169636797770732013-06-08T15:19:00.000+12:002013-06-08T15:19:54.959+12:00Krombacher - WeizenKrombacher, its German, and really cheap at my supermarket. I hate wheat beers so naturally I keep buying them.
I keep buying them because I live in vain hope that there might be one out there I really like, the closest so far has been a New Zealand offering, the Tuatara Heffe. However I've heard rumours that ze Germans make a good wheat beer, so being ever so I brave, I opened a bottle.
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358008470558124726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18260451.post-22059052584653147332013-06-01T17:37:00.001+12:002013-06-01T17:37:31.216+12:00Garage Project - Aro NoirGarage project, I need you. I need you to be just down the road and serving kegs up at my local on a weekly basis.
But until I manage to concoct some brilliant plan to *cough* "encourage" you to look at moving to Auckland I will have to make do with the kegs that make it our way and the odd bottle offering.
Stylish label is it not? Garage project are not afraid to experiment with labelAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358008470558124726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18260451.post-54649240264643267152013-05-30T17:11:00.001+12:002013-05-30T17:11:59.732+12:00Fuller's London Black Cab Stout.Ah English beers, I have a awkward relationship with you. I sometimes like you but sometimes you are so weird to my new world palate.
But the more I drink you, the more I like you and not just in a everything tastes good after the fifth glass way.
So I had the stout out of the fridge while I did a little housework and let it warm up to New Zealand winter room temp (don't know why I Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358008470558124726noreply@blogger.com0