Pick n Go

Garage Project have blossomed from nano to micro and now macro brewing, such is the demand of their  beersies created with a uniqueness that overlap the boundaries of beer styles. The exponential success of GP is due to the amount they export to places like Australia, America and Germany. It’s like GP’s business success is to invent a beer, test it on the NZ beer boffin for a taste check, then woof, its outta here, off overseas for the big sales. Us poor guinea pigs are then left with a fickle limited supply with a get what you’re given selection for the local supermarkets.

Such a shame about the supply cause all GP’s beers are rated.  Try these 4 cans while you can.

‘Artful Dodger’ new wave English Pale 4.3%. Toasty malts similar to the English pales billow over the front of the mouth then fresh cut grassy hops with a touch of weed, probe the back with pronounced bitterness. Huge flavour from such low alcohol, and quite possibly the perfect sessionable beer for the early morning RWC?

‘Dirty Boots’ American Pale Ale 6.6% Dirty boots has kicked the hop flavour outta the park with huge pineapple passionfruit hop flavours. Very rambunctious, saliva producing bitterness with creamy mouth feel. You’ll keep constantly sipping to keep experiencing the sensations. Inspired by the grunge music that GP listen to when they’ve hopped the mosh pit.

‘Los Lobos’ IPA 8%, means ‘The Wolves’ in Spanish and rightly so as this brew rocks (also a Grammy award-winning American rock band). It’s got those big American hops that generate the essence of mangoes and tropical fruits. Smooth bitterness, luscious body all make for a deceptively easy drinking 8%er.

‘Nerissimo’ 5.6% Porter.  A black porter infused with porcini and truffle. These fun guys add a rich hit of umami, the most enigmatic of flavours, giving this brew dark and complex earthy notes. Not sweet, definitely not sour, some bitterness and finishes with a satisfying savoury saltiness that keeps you wanting more.

Pick em from Fresh Choice, before they go.

Denis beer bum Cooper

Salubrious Selections for the Silly Season Sorted

Eight Xmas shopping days are beering down on us before the fat red man sings but if you’re like me, seven and half days procrastinating before starting. Fortunately you can’t go wrong by picking the third most popular drink in the world, just behind water and tea, it’s beer!

Here’s some great Xmas gift ideas for your most significant other.

A classic from a genuine Trappist brewer, Chimay. These Monk brewers have been refining their brews for the last 154 years and in 1956 this Monastic brewery created a Christmas beer now known as Chimay Blue. This is a 9% liquid Christmas cake with rich complex flavours of malty stewed plums and raisins and a coating of almond icing. Ranging in size options from 330mls to the special celebratory gargantuan 3 litre magnum. Drink this bad boy and believe it or not, you won’t get hungover. The brews yeast residue is recovered by the Monks, dried and compressed to form beer yeast tablets, rich in vitamin B and vitamin H and recommended as a potent natural dietary supplement. Way better than a Berocca in the morning.

The full complement of Chimay Red White and Blue can be partaken with the gift box selection including a special Trappist chalice designed to accentuate the distinctive aromas and bubbles of the brews.

 

Another Belgian heritage brewery is Duvel, with a double bottle and glass gift box. This beer exudes tradition. Tastes of champagne, dried fruits, yeast and some bitterness balanced by sweet malt and an aggressive carbonation.  Perfect for celebration.

 

But wait, there’s more.

 

A gift box of ‘Tuatara Delights’ featuring their most excellent Pilsner and APA, arguably their best rated brews, plus branded Goblet glass.

 

And for the hopheads, this is the gift box for you. Twenty years ago, Coronado Brewing Co put the IPA into San Diego and kickstarted the west coast hop revolution we have come to know and love. Their beer box selection show cases the American hop nuances, beering their four most successful examples.  

 

Gifts galore at your festive FreshChoice store.

Denis older Budweiser Cooper

Sip Pause and Enjoy

For the last five weeks I’ve been living my life totally on the edge – of the couch, fixated to the flatscreen.  The column deadline is just before the finals so the end result thus far is a mystery but certainly looking forwards to it and hopefully the resolution of the afternoon hangovers.  Commiserate or celebrate, either way you can partake with a ‘Funk Estate’.

Of the three Funk Estatians, one hails from Nelson where he crafted his craft then in pursuit of his passion absconded to Wellington to further enhance his brewing career and Wellys rep as the craftbeer capital.  The three brewers were drawn together by their love for lagers, affection for ales and an all-round passion for a pint.

Have a squiz at these four funkalicious finals refreshers

‘Parleyer Pilsner’. This brew is way bigger than its 4.5% would suggest.  A spritzy tart lime bitterness that leaves a clean crisp refreshing aftertaste.  Its got that exhilarating Savea get up and go!

‘Sophisticuffes’ 6%.  Is a hophisticated IPA with peppery orange and mango flavours and a backhand offload of bitterness. Very Rich and McCawsome!

‘Oh Lordy NZ Pale Ale’ 5.5%. Up front this brew has a punchy grassy and passionfruit hop character but also its a beer of two halves as it is equally well balanced with smooth biscuity malts.  This brew is a bit like the French side as it’s very easy to put away.

‘Pucker Up Berliner Weisse’ 4.2%. Oh’lordy, hope I spelt that right? A Berliner Weisse is a wheaty sour style of ale. The taste starts with citrusy orange then a gentle sourness  adds a multi-faceted complexity unheard of for such a low alcohol brew. Low alcohol, arrggh, you trying to kill me? Fortunately the flavours in this thirst-quenching brew will still smash ya bro with a cutting Skudder side step of crispness.

A loss doesn’t beer thinking about but thinking about beer does, so charge down a funky black magic woman from Fresh choice for a fairy-tale finish?

Denis Craft (Can’t Remember A Forking Thing) Cooper