Brewaucracy

An old post from my old blog, in which Alex and I once again head to Wellington for the delights of BrewNZ.

Alexandra and I went down to BrewNZ 2006 in Wellington last week. I’m a bit sad to see that it seems less supported, and much more of an “industry only” type event now. There was little advertising, and what was available was a hastily updated version of last years brochure with new (and occasionally incorrect) information on it.

The festive brews themselves were not very inspiring. Monteiths in particular putting in another pathetic effort, and hiding what tiny amount of character it may have had beyond the horrid sugary sweetness by serving it ice cold and carbonated to the point of pain. Next year Monteiths, I suggest you just don’t bother. If other “large players” can make an passable if not stellar effort (Mac’s, I’m looking at you here), then surely you can do better than trying to pass of cold fizzy sweetened yak urine as a festive brew. Perhaps the BrewNZ organisers should consider a “you must be able to brew a quality beer to be allowed to enter” rule? Anyway, enough ragging on Monteiths. It gets boring, and it’s far too easy.

I mentioned Mac’s entry in passing. They were interesting. Their “No. 8 Pale Ale” tasted suspiciously similar to their new version of Sassy Red. I’d had it before a group of friends tried it (two were stewards for BrewNZ, so I trust their palates), and their verdict was the same, without me saying a word. Spooky. Conspiracy theories anyone? That said, as Sassy Red is a decent beer, I was OK with that. It has a kind of chemical taste common (at least to my palate) to NZ Saaz-B hops that I really don’t care for, but it’s a well balanced beer that doesn’t try to dumb itself down too much for the mass market. I give it a 5/10, but that just reflects that other entries were so much better rather than No. 8 being poor.

I’m not really going to rate Rennaissance’s Marlborough Pale Ale, as it was clearly flawed. All I could taste was diacetyl – it was like sucking on a butterscotch flavoured sweet. A shame, as it could have been good.

The Tuatara Publican’s Pale Ale was a very nice drop. Far more of a traditional English Best Bitter than its seriously hoppy fellow contenders, it was very well balanced, with that nice earthy goldings aroma and flavour, sweetish full body, and lingering dry finish. I could drink pints of it. 8/10.

Limburg’s IPA was not very memorable. I don’t mean that in a bad way, I just really don’t remember it, so won’t rate it here. What I will say is that Shed 5 should be reconsidered as a choice for a BrewHQ. It seems quite cold and sterile, with staff who don’t really “get” beer, and an atmosphere not very conducive to drinking. Sorry Limburg, I’ll try to remember you better next year. I do remember having nothing bad to say about it, so that’s something.

Hallertau’s entry was the most complex and interesting of the lot for me. Their Stuntman Imperial IPA was a beer that I’d like to have taken more time to get to know. My glass was served too cold (unfortunately that’s just how it comes at the Malthouse), so I spent a while letting it warm, but the temptation got the better of me and I dived in too soon. Very little aroma was noticable from such a hoppy beer – perhaps due to the temperature, low carbonation, and the high alcohol impeding head formation. What was there was pleasant and herbal, with a faint noble-hop type twang. The body was full and tongue-coating, just the way I like it! There was an explosion of flavour which I am still unable to accurately describe. I got herbal, slightly medicinal notes, with even a suggestion of pine needles, or mint – not a flavour I am used to tasting in a beer, but one I could get accustomed to. The finish was initially strangely short, but accumulated after a few sips into a hanging pall of bitterness. A seriously impressive experience, and one I’d like to savour again. 8/10.

Now for my two favourites… Epic Brewing’s Mayhem, and Emersons 1812 Anniversary Edition IPA. The Mayhem was just a big hoppy blast. So refreshing, and with a beautiful “green hop” taste, reminiscent of the only wet-hopped beer I’ve ever tried. I love the flavour, but have not the vocabulary to describe it yet. What a shame, I’ll need to work on that! The 1812 was subtle, yet strong. The dominant flavour was a heady mix of vanilla and oak, with the bitterness from the hops coming late and hard. The aroma was just stunning. I could have just inhaled it all day, and not drunk a drop. Two very different beers, yet both so amazingly pleasing. I had a very hard time choosing between them, but I think the Mayhem won on the basis of me seeing myself drinking pints and pints of it, whereas the 1812 was a wonderful beer to contemplate, but not something that would be regularly consumed. It was a “mood beer”. I give them both 9/10.

Same time next year… I’ll be there!