Worst beer in NZ
15 June 2007 - 11:00am
Okay everyone, I know climbers tend to not be too picky about what beer they drink, so which beer from NZ do you consider the absolute worst? You know, the one that you just can't stomach!
Edit: d'oh forgot to start things off... My vote goes to DB. The NZ brew that tastes the closest to vomit!
Just realised everyone would probably think I meant DB=Double Brown, not my intention at all.
I meant DB Draught:
15 June 2007 - 2:41pm
#2
Two words:
Double Brown
Double Brown
C'mon, it isn't great, but it isn't that bad...
16 June 2007 - 10:41am
#3
Two words:
Double Brown
Double Brown
spoken like a true connisuer. i take my hat of to you good sir :D
16 June 2007 - 12:38pm
#4
Two words:
Double Brown
Double Brown
spoken like a true connisuer. i take my hat of to you good sir :D
Hunh?
Well, now I am curious, I really don't remember it being that bad. Next time I am in a pub that has it, I will have to have one.
16 June 2007 - 2:35pm
#5
you sneaky bastard. very funny though. For the record i love double brown, I am however not such a fan of export gold or tui. New Zealands worst beer may have to go to DB bitter
16 June 2007 - 5:33pm
#6
you sneaky bastard.
:lol: :lol: :lol:
16 June 2007 - 9:05pm
#7
swinelager, i mean steinlager, closely followed by waikato draught.
17 June 2007 - 12:10am
#8
waikato draught.
now there's one I haven't tried yet...(doesn't sound like I should either)
17 June 2007 - 9:44am
#9
It's revolting swamp juice from the muddy waikato (which Aucklander's now drink as their water supply :P )
17 June 2007 - 1:46pm
#10
It's revolting swamp juice from the muddy waikato (which Aucklander's now drink as their water supply )
whats wrong with a bit of waka2, you can't be a waikato local if you don't enjoy the local offering.
now sba, i have to agree with 1080 on this, you are one sneaky weasal.... i would like to affirm my vote for double brown as a good beer, not one of the worst:)
for my vote as worst... steinlager is right up there, but not quite as bad as flame! *shudder*
17 June 2007 - 5:23pm
#11
I'm pleased too see that someone else noticed sba's trickery, and even more pleased to see a fellow do bro fan. However while flame may be horrendous beer it does have its uses and I have to admit that i'm quite partial when it comes as low as 8.99 a doz at pack'n'save.
don't forget its partner in tastebud crime; black ice
17 June 2007 - 5:46pm
#12
i would like to affirm my vote for double brown as a good beer, not one of the worst:)
ah, but....the point of my OP was not "good" vs "bad" (it is now :wink: ), but rather simply pointing out an "unusual" beer that those who like to try new things *might* be interested in. Mentioning beers like DB (pick one) or Steinlager is like telling someone to go to McDonalds when they want an interesting hamburger. It is just the same old boring thing, regardless of whether or not you "like" it.
17 June 2007 - 6:24pm
#13
while flame may be horrendous beer it does have its uses
That being its rather strong and esay to drink. My vote would have to go to the mighty "Sid". If only for how in reads whilst drinking it upside down.
17 June 2007 - 6:46pm
#14
speaking of interesting beers, who doesnt love the mussel inn beers? pizza at the dangerous kitchen followed by a trip to the mussel is now a must for all my paynes trips.
but back to poor beers, Rhieneck, not sure if its brewed in NZ (it sure isn't expensive) causes soom real damage in terms of hangovers if drunken in large quantities. Also it's only a disapointing 3.5%
p.s Ranfurly
17 June 2007 - 7:22pm
#15
who doesnt love the mussel inn beers?
There you go! The north of the SI has a whole bunch of good and/or interesting beers.
(Renaissance beers, from Blenheim, are probably the "best" in the country right at the moment)
Rhieneck, not sure if its brewed in NZ (it sure isn't expensive) causes soom real damage in terms of hangovers if drunken in large quantities. Also it's only a disapointing 3.5%
Yup, Rheineck is brewed by Lion Nathan. At 3.5% it is hard to call it beer, and you definitely wouldn't be able to tell by taste...of which there is practically none. But, I suppose if you drank 20+ of them, you get what you deserve :twisted:
18 June 2007 - 9:41am
#16
Haast Lager
18 June 2007 - 10:23pm
#17
ngahere gold, a real man's beer :shock:
fantastic for those cold nights stuck in the lincoln lodge on craigeburn :D
19 June 2007 - 1:32pm
#18
I'm with RockFrog: Sid is just mank.
Rheineck is pretty laughable too. it's more like lemonade.
smak and rave were selling it for 3.99 a six pack!
20 June 2007 - 2:36pm
#19
what about best New Zealand beers? I tend to enjoy Double Brown and Speights when I can afford it. But if I really wanted to splash out I would have to go for Monteiths original (only $6.50 for a jug at the Takaka Hotel happy hour!). Your thoughts?
20 June 2007 - 2:50pm
#20
Your thoughts?
Well, to be honest, I think "best" is a very relative term.... :P
You are voicing a valid opinion on what tastes good to you when you say, "I tend to enjoy Double Brown and Speights...", but is unfortunately not a criteria the rest of us can use to decide what beers are the "best" in New Zealand.
Best by who's standards/tastebuds?
Edit. okay, all I wanted to ask is, do you mean to ask, "What NZ beer tastes the best to you?"?
If yes, then it should be easy for many here to give you a quick and valid answer.
If you mean, on the other hand, "What is the best quality beer in NZ?", then you are going to have a much harder time in getting good answers. Basically, because "knowing" beer is like "knowing" wine, it is more than just always drinking the cheapest swill you can stomach.
Knowing what tastes good to you is all that really counts. If you are truly wanting to find "better" beers, or you are just curious about what else is out there, then there are tons to learn about.
..and of course taste-test 8)
But, many aren't cheap, unless you live close to the brewery!
20 June 2007 - 5:02pm
#21
It was you who entittled the thread worst beer in New Zealand wasn't it? didn't you mean which beer tastes the worst to you?
Yes I'm talking about taste of beer.
20 June 2007 - 5:10pm
#22
didn't you mean which beer tastes the worst to you?
No...I clearly specified...
so which beer from NZ do you consider the absolute worst? You know, the one that you just can't stomach!
...as a criteria on which to base your opinions :!:
I said DB Draught, because it tastes horrid to me. Others mentioned other beers, because they tasted bad to them. All valid opinions based upon my criteria.
(I didn't argue with the few mentions of Steinlager, even though personally I don't find it all that bad, because those people were simply indicating it tasted horrid to them.)
PS, it was meant to be a piss-take anyway, not entirely serious.... :wink:
20 June 2007 - 5:27pm
#23
Okay, sorry, after really just being a pedantic jerk above, I will attempt to answer the question as intended....
(disclaimer: all of these opinions are based purely upon my own palate)
Some to get you started, they may not be what I call the absolute "best", but they are the first to come to mind:
Scotch Ale = Renaissance Stonecutter
Pale Ale = Epic(?), Limburg Hopsmacker (there are so many good ones to choose from...)
Pilsner = Tuatarta Pilsner, Limburg Czechmate or Crouchers Pilsner (very hard to choose)
Stout/Porter = Three Boys
Belgian Ale = Cock & Bull Monks Habit
Barley Wine = Twisted Hop Epiphany
Edit: and I have heard that the Crouchers Wheat beer is to die for. Haven't had a chance to try it yet myself...
20 June 2007 - 5:40pm
#24
Okay, sorry, after really just being a pedantic jerk above, I will attempt to answer the question as intended....
there that makes me feel so much better :D
You seem to know your beers, being a uni student (having left home I have even less money than I did as a college student :( ) I rarely wander out of my 1 dollar a drink rule so I lose out on some of the more enjoyable brews. However I will tend to shell out when confronted with something new, it just doesn't happen all that often
20 June 2007 - 5:55pm
#25
Okay, sorry, after really just being a pedantic jerk above, I will attempt to answer the question as intended....
there that makes me feel so much better :D
You seem to know your beers, being a uni student (having left home I have even less money than I did as a college student :( ) I rarely wander out of my 1 dollar a drink rule so I lose out on some of the more enjoyable brews. However I will tend to shell out when confronted with something new, it just doesn't happen all that often
I fully understand the uni student trying to pay for beer dilema.
I survived on Old Milwaukee (something between CD and DB) during my stint as a uni student. I just couldn't pass up $7.95 for 12 bottles, and after the first few evenings on the piss my stomach came right and I had no further troubles. :lol:
Unfortunately, I can't recommend anything for $1/beer, but if you are willing to splurge and spend $2/beer, there are plenty of drinkable beers around.
Actually, I tell a lie. I can recommend beer for <$1/beer, but you would have to brew it yourself. I make some half-way decent stuff for ~$0.75/beer.
20 June 2007 - 6:15pm
#26
Having tried a fair proportion of what's on offer here I think I'm safe in saying the world beer manufacturing industry isn't trembling in its boots about the competition from this part of the world! ...I'm yet to find anything here that resembles anything close the the real stuff!
Sorry guys but beer in New Zealand ranges from mediocre (at best) to apalling...
...and before you ask...Yes, I am a beer snob :wink:
20 June 2007 - 6:53pm
#27
Sorry guys but beer in New Zealand ranges from mediocre (at best) to apalling...
I think it is a lot like wine, if you expect it to taste exactly like the "old world" stuff, you will be disappointed. But, if you are willing to appreciate it for being well brewed and distinctly New Zealand, then you might grow to like it.
(Edit, I am referring to decent beer here, not swill. Every country produces its fair share of the that :roll: )
For example, I am a huge Pilsner fan (was probably quite obvious), but when I first tried the Pilsners brewed here, particularly ones brewed with hops grown here in NZ, I was completely thrown. They all tasted "sweet"! Not sugary sweet, but more fruity sweet. Not what I was expecting, after spending 3 years in northern Germany, where "bitter" isn't a type of beer but rather a flavour, and a popular one at that.
After trying many different beers from different breweries here, I have come to realise that it is simply a characteristic of NZ grown hops, and either you grow to appreciate it for what it is, or you don't.
20 June 2007 - 7:22pm
#28
[quote="sbaclimberI fully understand the uni student trying to pay for beer dilema.
I survived on Old Milwaukee (something between CD and DB) during my stint as a uni student. I just couldn't pass up $7.95 for 12 bottles, and after the first few evenings on the piss my stomach came right and I had no further troubles. :lol:
well my 1 dollar beers include do bros (you might have noticed) at 20 for 19.99 and tasman bitter at 22.00 for 20 440ml cans. My upper price range includes speights, and when on sale I have lowered myself to tui and export gold.
I guess that a major limiter in my beer sampling is that I mostly purchase from a botle store or a supermarket, as pubs and bars tend to be too expensive for me to spend alot at.
My old man however brews a supreme homebrew, which I never pass up while at home, I feel I may have to invest in making myself some next year
20 June 2007 - 7:25pm
#29
My old man however brews a supreme homebrew, which I never pass up while at home, I feel I may have to invest in making myself some next year
Sweet, and you even have a good contact to learn from.
I have gone through a lot of trial and error, which though fun starts to effect the overall savings... :oops:
20 June 2007 - 8:54pm
#30
I'm yet to find anything here that resembles anything close the the real stuff!
Sorry guys but beer in New Zealand ranges from mediocre (at best) to apalling...
yes but at least we know what temperature to drink it at. :wink:
21 June 2007 - 10:32am
#31
and the wine is pretty damn fine
21 June 2007 - 11:24am
#32
No arguments from me on the wine front
CraigM...I guess it's just a clash of cultures (or the civilized world -v- the "new world :lol: ) but here's a test for you ...find your favourite beer...take it out of the fridge...leave it somewhere cool for a couple of hours (yes it's supposed to be served below room temperature)...drink...Does it taste any good to you? If not , find another "favourite" beer because that's what it really tastes like! :shock:
To illustrate my point about the awful stuff produced down here, even the breweries aren't convinced about the carbonated foul tasting rubbish they're flogging....My favorite tag-line for an beer has to be "Lion Red...the measure of a man's thirst"...It's quite an ambiguous statement isn't it...Does it mean that Lion Red will quench a thirsty sole or does it mean that some poor sod has got to be dehydrated before he'd consider drinking the stuff :? :lol: :lol: :lol: ? Food for thought!
21 June 2007 - 11:30am
#33
find your favourite beer...take it out of the fridge...leave it somewhere cool for a couple of hours (yes it's supposed to be served below room temperature)...drink...Does it taste any good to you?
This is an excellent test for pretty much any beverage. If it tastes like crap at room temperature (or just below), then it is crap.
This also applies to many NZ wines, especially many whites. Just because it is a white, and it is supposed to be drunk cool, doesn't mean it should taste nasty warm!
Beer snob or not, it sounds like you have just been drinking swill and expecting a miracle. :roll:
21 June 2007 - 11:49am
#34
Beer snob or not, it sounds like you have just been drinking swill and expecting a miracle. :roll:
NOOooooo!!!...Haven't done swill in a long time. ..I just spend a lot of time seeking out the best I can get...Fortunately I have an importer not too far from home that understands my addiction :lol: !
Anyone who's keen might find this site interesting.
21 June 2007 - 12:22pm
#35
While that may tell you how good the beer is it might not be the best way to enjoy it. For example double brown cans should be taken out of the box and since they have one of those 'guzzle really fast' wide open tops I take this to mean that it should be chopped back at pace and followed by 11 of it's friends. Speights should be enjoyed at a rugby game. Cricket? well this is an endurance event so after an hour or two you just stop caring really, all they seem to sell is tui though, tui, tui, tui. So you're stuck unless you're at the Basin and can get a mate too chuck some real beer over the fence.
21 June 2007 - 12:58pm
#36
Cricket? well this is an endurance event
Ah yes...five Ashes tests watching England get flogged with nothing but half strength Australian b**r (doesn't really qualify for the honorific!) on offer...that was certainly a test of endurance :shock: :shock:
21 June 2007 - 2:27pm
#37
..I just spend a lot of time seeking out the best I can get...
So do I, which is why I am actually very curious why you made such a blanket statement about NZ beer earlier...
Anyone who's keen might find this site interesting.
Seeing as you brought it up...notice that on that page there are three threads under Breweries of New Zealand dedicated to specific breweries. I may be wrong, but I believe it is because many people consider them some of the best here in NZ. I could add to the list, but lets start with those three.
What do you think about their beers? I am asking for a subjective opinion, because I am just curious about what you seem to personally (and specifically) have against NZ beer!?
I gave a list of beers I personally think are quite good, and I can mention a few that are generally considered quite good (won awards and all that) that I am not impressed with at all (e.g. anything from Wigram). Please give some examples of (non-swill) NZ beers that you aren't impressed with. I just looking to put some names with your opinions...
21 June 2007 - 2:56pm
#38
The blanket statement is because I havn't found anything yet that suits my palet...
As for beers that I don't like...I attended the beer show in Ellerslie earlier this year and you can add just about everything to the list...Although for me the worst would have to be the much lorded Epic Pale Ale!
21 June 2007 - 3:00pm
#39
The blanket statement is because I havn't found anything yet that suits my palet...
Okay, fair enough.
Then I suppose to satisfy my curiosity, I need to ask what non-NZ beers suit your palate!?
If you say something like Erdinger Hefeweizen, then we are clear. I have yet to come across something here that even remotely resembles the style, never mind the taste. (Croucher's might change that, but I am not holding my breath...)
26 June 2007 - 4:03pm
#40
The most memorably bad beer I ever tasted was the sewer run off called Kiwi Lager. What a mingher !
No longer on the shelves as far as I know. Should cut down on birth defect numbers.
27 June 2007 - 12:45pm
#41
[Then I suppose to satisfy my curiosity, I need to ask what non-NZ beers suit your palate!?
I'm a big fan of seasonality in beer drinking, English ales mostly...
Something like Hook Norton's Cotswold Lion is tailor-made for the spring/summer season (and a damn fine brew to boot!) & a good Red Oktober brew (the ale not the larger) for the darker nights in front of a fire.
27 June 2007 - 1:01pm
#42
I'm a big fan of seasonality in beer drinking, English ales mostly...
Something like Hook Norton's Cotswold Lion is taylor-made for the spring/summer season (and a damn fine brew to boot!) & a good Red Oktober brew (the ale not the larger) for the darker nights in front of a fire.
Ah....yes....a "good" english ale can be a bit tricky to find here, unless you you don't mind a Kiwi-fied version of one (which you obviously do).
I will be looking for the Cotswold Lion and some Red Oktober style (do you recommend it from any particular brewery?), for comparative purposes of course. :)
Had a couple of tasty english ales last night myself.....
Daleside Crack Shot Trooper Jane
and the Hogs Back A Over T
27 June 2007 - 10:17pm
#43
[Ah....yes....a "good" english ale can be a bit tricky to find here, unless you you don't mind a Kiwi-fied version of one (which you obviously do).
I have to admit that some of the brewing by Galbraiths is very close...I do drink the Bob Hudsons & Welsh Ale!
I will be looking for the Cotswold Lion
Give up now...It's not exported...It's actually pretty hard to find outside the Oxfordshire/Gloucestershire area!
28 June 2007 - 4:03pm
#44
I have to admit that some of the brewing by Galbraiths is very close...I do drink the Bob Hudsons & Welsh Ale!
Sweet! I will make a trip to Galbraith's when I am in Auckland in a few weeks then. :D
29 June 2007 - 9:27am
#45
Galbraiths is also only 5 mins drive from the Quarry. :D Perfect way to end a day.....
24 July 2007 - 10:51pm
#46
Drank every beer on the menu except the Bob Hudson's (sorry Red), and was very impressed!
I found the pilsner had a distinct NZ flair, but the Twisted and Bitter was absolutely awesome! They do have a number of beers that are definitely not the NZ norm.
Also hit Shakespeare's....not nearly as good as Galbraith's, imo :(
25 July 2007 - 9:37am
#47
What do Americans know about beer? Only the Euro's aka the Brits and Germans really know aboutthe stuff :roll:
25 July 2007 - 11:32am
#48
What do Americans know about beer? Only the Euro's aka the Brits and Germans really know aboutthe stuff :roll:
Thhhbbbtttt!!!
25 July 2007 - 12:22pm
#49
Crag...
I'm glad to see you omitted the Antipodeans from your list of those who understand beer... But to be honest you forgot about the Belgians and the French and all of the other bit part players in the beer world :lol:
SBA...
Good to see you've found something akin to fine ale...Did you manage to find time to sample the Scotch Ale?
...I found a small cache of beer from my favourite UK brewery... Unfortunately for the rest of you I bought everything the shop had! It cost a fortune & my other half is really impressed with me at the moment :shock:
25 July 2007 - 12:40pm
#50
Crag...
I'm glad to see you omitted the Antipodeans from your list of those who understand beer... But to be honest you forgot about the Belgians and the French and all of the other bit part players in the beer world :lol:
SBA...
Good to see you've found something akin to fine ale...Did you manage to find time to sample the Scotch Ale?
...I found a small cache of beer from my favourite UK brewery... Unfortunately for the rest of you I bought everything the shop had! It cost a fortune & my other half is really impressed with me at the moment :shock:
Hehe, I know "the look", and the doghouse, well! :lol:
I would've definitely tried the Scotch Ale, if they had had it... :cry:
The beer list was:
Bob Hudson's
Bellinger's Bitter
Grafton Porter
Bitter and Twisted
Bohemian Pilsner
Munich Lager
Ressurection
The cask conditioning makes a huge difference, especially the Mahogany they use for the Bitter and Twisted. MMmmm, yummy!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the tip :)
Two words:
Double Brown
one serving of vertical reality is guaranteed to get you high