482207 Wed Jan 23 09:00:34 -0800 2008 5 35 Beer 0 3324016 I'm headed to NZ (mostly South Island) for the Brew, Blues and BBQ Festival in Blenheim next week. I'll probably discover a couple of favorites while there, but I'm wondering if anyone thought that there are a couple of breweries or brewpubs that I should go out of my way to visit in the flesh? Wed Jan 23 09:00:34 -0800 2008 124991 nyctreal 1 3328490 I've had two extended stints in New Zealand, so maybe I can help. As a devotee of flavorful microbrews, I found NZ fairly tough-going, beer-wise. However, I *loved* the Shakespeare Tavern in downtown Auckland. It's on Albert Street. All their brews were good - and I *LOVED* their Pistols Old Soldier and King Lear ales. Both were strong, dark ales -- and both were so delicious that I couldn't leave the tavern without buying a flagon of one or the other to take home. The owner proudly told me that the late, great Beer Hunter, Michael Jackson, gave both brews high marks -- and it was not hard to believe. I actually miss both beers quite a bit. I tried many bottled Kiwi and Aussie beers while down under, and only two truly impressed me: Speight's porter (their other beers were boring; but they really nailed the porter); and Mac's Malt Mac, a strongish (by NZ standards), smoky, Cascade-hopped Scotch Ale. I could not find a good stout or IPA down under. The so-called IPAs I tried there tasted more like milds to me; they had low-to-nonexistent hopping, and very low (4 - 5%) ABV rates. If I visit NZ again, my first stop will be the Shakespeare. Thu Jan 24 11:41:18 -0800 2008 3324016 90936 Kenji 2 3342498 Thanks for the heads up on Shakespeare. I have but one night in Auckland before continuing on South, so I'll try to check them out. I know there is another Brewpub in town there as well that starts with an A, the exact name is eluding me at the moment. As for your stouts quandary, I had Emerson's while I was in Melbourne in March and thought it filled the void quite nicely. I don't remember the exact name, but I know that their Bourbon Porter is remarkable as well and stands up extremely well to American versions of the style. Mon Jan 28 17:09:56 -0800 2008 3328490 124991 nyctreal 3 3348474 Well, there once existed in Auckland a brewer called Australis which made -- according to Michael Jackson -- some fine interpretations of Imperial Stout, IPA, and Abbey Ale. I was eager to try each of them. But by the time I last made it to NZ, Australis was history. Wed Jan 30 10:43:15 -0800 2008 3342498 90936 Kenji 1 3329308 I've only had one beer from New Zealand the Baroona Dark Ale from the Waiheke Island Brewery. Excellent! http://www.waihekebrewery.co.nz/ My former next door neighbor and now a resident of Waiheke Island, an island off Auckland brought me back a six pack on a visit. I contacted the brewery and alas they had no way to ship to the States. It was very good. Thu Jan 24 14:56:03 -0800 2008 3324016 10675 Davydd 1 3356168 Every beer I tried (a dozen or so) in NZ were good to great! You're gonna have a blast. One brewery that may be worth a side trip for is Tui on the North Island. It's a big brand, but they have a great sense of humor, which they bring to their advertising and merchandising. Their web site gives you a sense of that. http://www.tui.co.nz Another good source of info on kiwi beer is: http://www.realbeer.co.nz Have fun! Kia ora! Fri Feb 01 11:21:12 -0800 2008 3324016 13136 Loren3