Planet Rugby Forum

I'm a bit of a fan of Emerson's passionfruit notes without being too sweet, though.

I checked out Moa dry hopped pilsner. Slightly too off/acrid an after taste for me.

usermame wrote:Just checked out some Emerson's Pilsner. Yes, it's better balanced than Bouncing Czech. I don't think it's twice as good, though, so I might stick with Bouncing Czech at half the price.

usermame wrote:I'm a bit of a fan of Emerson's passionfruit notes without being too sweet, though.

I checked out Moa dry hopped pilsner. Slightly too off/acrid an after taste for me.

Moa started out with a hiss and a roar, but tried to expand too fash I think, and their quality went down as a result. They still do the occasional brew that pretty good, but most of the range is pretty average these days.

Fat Old Git wrote:

usermame wrote:I'm a bit of a fan of Emerson's passionfruit notes without being too sweet, though.

I checked out Moa dry hopped pilsner. Slightly too off/acrid an after taste for me.

Moa started out with a hiss and a roar, but tried to expand too fash I think, and their quality went down as a result. They still do the occasional brew that pretty good, but most of the range is pretty average these days.

Their packaging makes me feel like I should be drinking wine. I finally had a good one of theirs a year or so back. Not really a fan.

usermame wrote:Just checked out some Emerson's Pilsner. Yes, it's better balanced than Bouncing Czech. I don't think it's twice as good, though, so I might stick with Bouncing Czech at half the price.

Boundary Road is $12 per 6-pack at Countdown. Bugger me.

SaintK wrote:

happyhooker wrote:

SaintK wrote:

happyhooker wrote:I think that the improvement, certainly in range, has been noticeable in the last 9 months. It took them that long to get the hang of the brewery and it's capabilities. Also, they were pretty skint when we finished the build so they concentrated in boshing out the old favourites.

Ps, they haven't got a canning line yet, I'm installing one soon-they use mobile canning atmo.

Aaah thanks.
I’ve noticed since our visit last summer. Will it be 100% cans when you’ve done?
Need to book another visit there and to the Experiment now the rugby seasons finished
You mentioned on another thread you were heading to Newcastle for the ERC final, any pubs you’ve made a note to visit or recommend? I’m up there for a long weekend and going to the final though staying with a mate in Corbridge.

I'm still waiting on confirmation on my ticket, so haven't planned anything yet, although the wylam brewery is always a must.

I'm not 100% sure, but we're putting it where the bottling machine is. I'll let you know in two weeks. Let know when you're down.

Sorry HH, mate's son has taken the spare ticket!

No worries, thanks for letting me know.

mr bungle wrote:

usermame wrote:Just checked out some Emerson's Pilsner. Yes, it's better balanced than Bouncing Czech. I don't think it's twice as good, though, so I might stick with Bouncing Czech at half the price.

Boundary Road is $12 per 6-pack at Countdown. Bugger me.

A good price don't you think? I certainly do.

usermame wrote:

mr bungle wrote:

usermame wrote:Just checked out some Emerson's Pilsner. Yes, it's better balanced than Bouncing Czech. I don't think it's twice as good, though, so I might stick with Bouncing Czech at half the price.

Boundary Road is $12 per 6-pack at Countdown. Bugger me.

A good price don't you think? I certainly do.

It's fully fake craft at that price. You could tell straight off from the packaging, really. But... if it tastes good, get into it. My brother lives in Prague, much lower cost of living, but he's shocked at what a round of drinks costs in NZ. I'm basically right into Panhead, Emerson's, Garage Project, Liberty, 8 Wired etc. I do sometimes buy a doz cans of Speights for a change up. Might have to get into some more Macs and Boundary Road and ease the wallet.

Although, these days we consume much less beer, and drink better quality, sample more styles.

mr bungle wrote:

usermame wrote:

mr bungle wrote:

usermame wrote:Just checked out some Emerson's Pilsner. Yes, it's better balanced than Bouncing Czech. I don't think it's twice as good, though, so I might stick with Bouncing Czech at half the price.

Boundary Road is $12 per 6-pack at Countdown. Bugger me.

A good price don't you think? I certainly do.

It's fully fake craft at that price

What are the attributes of fake craft beer?

edit...Have you tried Bouncing Czech?

usermame wrote:

mr bungle wrote:

usermame wrote:

mr bungle wrote:

usermame wrote:Just checked out some Emerson's Pilsner. Yes, it's better balanced than Bouncing Czech. I don't think it's twice as good, though, so I might stick with Bouncing Czech at half the price.

Boundary Road is $12 per 6-pack at Countdown. Bugger me.

A good price don't you think? I certainly do.

It's fully fake craft at that price

What are the attributes of fake craft beer?

Firstly, I don’t have any issue with drinking any beer at any price. I’ll often go for a handle of Speight’s, and enjoy it. I do laugh at those who proudly drink ‘green bottles only’ and can’t get their heads around traditional beer styles in the craft scene, let alone anything with a touch of hops.

Boundary Rd has faux reliced packaging and craft style beer names, selling itself as craft, but is made by our third largest brewer and is at a price point probably to entice those sick of the big batch brews and looking for something different, but not too out there.

edit...Have you tried Bouncing Czech?

I have a Czech sister in law and find the name offensive.

I’m getting a sixer this weekend and will report back. Although I’m not a huge fan of traditional pils like Pilsner Urquell. My father in law’s favourite beer is BRB’s Golden Lager, but then again he used to have cans of Rheineck on his boat... I gotta draw the line somewhere.

Pilsner Urquell is utter muck, bloody awful stuff

sewa wrote:Pilsner Urquell is utter muck, bloody awful stuff

Sometimes it's all you got when jonesing for some Czech.

sewa wrote:Pilsner Urquell is utter muck, bloody awful stuff

In comparison with many lagers out there it really isn't.

Do any of our kiwi lot know crafty trout brewing in taupo? Just met the brewer who seemed remarkably ignorant about beer.

Saintk, no worries, cheers for the thought. Meeting my possibility tonight so fingers crossed.

happyhooker wrote:Saintk, no worries, cheers for the thought. Meeting my possibility tonight so fingers crossed.

Good luck!!

usermame wrote:What's a worthy Pilsner then?

IMO grab some Epic awakening, Liberty Halo or as mentioned thrills and pils. The panhead port rd pilsner is not bad either

JPNZ wrote:

usermame wrote:What's a worthy Pilsner then?

IMO grab some Epic awakening, Liberty Halo or as mentioned thrills and pils. The panhead port rd pilsner is not bad either

Will look for them, but my Emerson's experience makes me think I may not be a convert.

usermame wrote:

JPNZ wrote:

usermame wrote:What's a worthy Pilsner then?

IMO grab some Epic awakening, Liberty Halo or as mentioned thrills and pils. The panhead port rd pilsner is not bad either

Will look for them, but my Emerson's experience makes me think I may not be a convert.

One taste didn’t do it for me either. If you’re beginning to expand your taste experience for different beers, it takes time.

SaintK wrote:

happyhooker wrote:Saintk, no worries, cheers for the thought. Meeting my possibility tonight so fingers crossed.

Good luck!!

Enjoy Newcastle

usermame wrote:

JPNZ wrote:

usermame wrote:What's a worthy Pilsner then?

IMO grab some Epic awakening, Liberty Halo or as mentioned thrills and pils. The panhead port rd pilsner is not bad either

Will look for them, but my Emerson's experience makes me think I may not be a convert.

You can buy all of those in single bottles, so you don't waste 5 if you don't like it. You sound relatively price driven? If so craft may take some getting used to, I will happily pay $9 to $14 per 500ml bottle/can of decent craft beer.

JPNZ wrote:

usermame wrote:

JPNZ wrote:

usermame wrote:What's a worthy Pilsner then?

IMO grab some Epic awakening, Liberty Halo or as mentioned thrills and pils. The panhead port rd pilsner is not bad either

Will look for them, but my Emerson's experience makes me think I may not be a convert.

You can buy all of those in single bottles, so you don't waste 5 if you don't like it. You sound relatively price driven? If so craft may take some getting used to, I will happily pay $9 to $14 per 500ml bottle/can of decent craft beer.

What's the exchange rate nowadays?? 2:1.

£7 would be on the high end of my price bracket and would have to be something exceptional, but I regularly pay £4-5.

happyhooker wrote: What's the exchange rate nowadays?? 2:1.

£7 would be on the high end of my price bracket and would have to be something exceptional, but I regularly pay £4-5.

Yes spot on with exchange. That would be the most I'd pay too, its quite funny that decent craft beer in NZ is very similar in price between local pubs and supermarkets. Mass market beer of course is always cheaper at supermarkets or bottle stores.

JPNZ wrote:

happyhooker wrote: What's the exchange rate nowadays?? 2:1.

£7 would be on the high end of my price bracket and would have to be something exceptional, but I regularly pay £4-5.

Yes spot on with exchange. That would be the most I'd pay too, its quite funny that decent craft beer in NZ is very similar in price between local pubs and supermarkets. Mass market beer of course is always cheaper at supermarkets or bottle stores.

It's starting to get cheaper here in supermarkets, but that's mostly due to a few breweries selling up and leads to the discussion of whether they're actually craft or not. It'll be interesting to see where magic rock and Beavertown go.

A base level acceptable pale ale in a shop kernel/5points, starts at £2.50 for a 330mml can/bottle but can ramp up rapidly

happyhooker wrote:

JPNZ wrote:

happyhooker wrote: What's the exchange rate nowadays?? 2:1.

£7 would be on the high end of my price bracket and would have to be something exceptional, but I regularly pay £4-5.

Yes spot on with exchange. That would be the most I'd pay too, its quite funny that decent craft beer in NZ is very similar in price between local pubs and supermarkets. Mass market beer of course is always cheaper at supermarkets or bottle stores.

It's starting to get cheaper here in supermarkets, but that's mostly due to a few breweries selling up and leads to the discussion of whether they're actually craft or not. It'll be interesting to see where magic rock and Beavertown go.

A base level acceptable pale ale in a shop kernel/5points, starts at £2.50 for a 330mml can/bottle but can ramp up rapidly

Beavertown appear to be going mainsteam, Waitrose and M&S are stocking them! Still good beers though.
I've been buying directly from some of the breweries as well as my local beershop. Not cheap though I get a 10% investors discount from Verdant. Generally you can pay anything between £4.00 to £6.00 for a 440ml can at up to 6.5%ABV and anything up to £8.00 for an 8% to 10% strength!

Had my first taste of a Yonder beer this week. Dunstans Exile Belgian style pale. Beautiful drop, complex, dry and really well balanced. It was a guest beer in Brewdog Covent Garden of all places.

happyhooker wrote: A base level acceptable pale ale in a shop kernel/5points, starts at £2.50 for a 330mml can/bottle but can ramp up rapidly

Went to West Berkshire Brewery in Yattingdon on Sunday. Shocked at how expensive a 330ml can of pale ale or bitter is (£3.30 each), but they'll sell you a pint of the same stuff for £4.00

Speaking of M&S, I've only recently become aware of the range below

https://beertoday.co.uk/british-world-b ... nd-s-0918/

Some really nicely done beers for nothing. The Cornish Saison will be my go to beer for Summer Sessions.

The Magic Rock Luminance is quite a remarkable thing in Tesco now for £3, just a smashing NEIPA but boy I feel guilty buying it these days.

unseenwork wrote:The Magic Rock Luminance is quite a remarkable thing in Tesco now for £3, just a smashing NEIPA but boy I feel guilty buying it these days.

I spoke to Stu about this the other day.

He feels he's let the industry down but the offer was too good to refuse and his partners were pushing him heavily in this direction. He's tied in for the next few years so hopefully will keep quality going. I'll still buy the beers as long as they're decent.

Next brewery I know to sell up: 5 points.

Sandstorm wrote:

happyhooker wrote: A base level acceptable pale ale in a shop kernel/5points, starts at £2.50 for a 330mml can/bottle but can ramp up rapidly

Went to West Berkshire Brewery in Yattingdon on Sunday. Shocked at how expensive a 330ml can of pale ale or bitter is (£3.30 each), but they'll sell you a pint of the same stuff for £4.00

About 6.50 pounds a pint in Oz

Craft beer is increasingly being sold in 4 packs fornthr old 6 pack price. Tax on craft breweries is extortionate

Ok, Tuatara Motueka (edit...I just noticed the label, Moteureka). I like this better than Emerson's at 2/3rds the price. Instant passionfruit, where with Emerson's it's more mid range. No passionfruit at all in Bouncing Czech. Midway rough between Bouncing Czech and Emerson's.

I guess I'll have to keep exploring, but I think this is better value than Emerson's, maybe as good a value as Bouncing Czech.

usermame wrote:Ok, Tuatara Motueka. I like this better than Emerson's at 2/3rds the price. Instant passionfruit, where with Emerson's it's more mid range. No passionfruit at all in Bouncing Czech. Midway rough between Bouncing Czech and Emerson's.

I guess I'll have to keep exploring, but I think this is better value than Emerson's, maybe as good a value as Bouncing Czech.

Tbf, I wouldn't normally pay the extra price for Emerson's pilsner either as it's a relatively simple style and the difference in price when compared to the difference in Quality is quite high.

But for other styles such as IPAs it can make a huge difference, and will to some extent reflect the additional costs of the ingredients.

Macs Miss Conduct is also a pretty good pilsner for the price. Although I've only ever had it at the end of a long day in the Koru Lounge so have never actually paid for it, so my opinion may be slightly colored. Beer at the end of a long day always tastes better. It similar to the lawn mower effect.

Fat Old Git wrote: Macs Miss Conduct is also a pretty good pilsner for the price. [...]

Beer at the end of a long day always tastes better. It similar to the lawn mower effect.

I'll certainly check that Mac's out.
Yeah, I'd just finished mowing the lawn when I tested the Tuatara but later sampling confirmed my opinion.

So, just checked out MIss Conduct. Similar style to Emerson's and Tuatara, close in effect/style and value to Tuatara imo. Looks like around $17.00 a half doz in West Liquor is the price point at which NZ Pilseners show fruity hop characteristics.

Won't buy BRB Golden Lager again, nor Moa's dry hopped Pilsener. BRB IPA was quite drinkable, at the same price as Bouncing Czech.

My friends up North are raving about Garage Project's May fresh hop. Keen to try as soon as its in stores down here.

Just picked up the last 4 cans of Behemoth's Chocolate Fish stout, and 2 of their new Hazy double IPA (So fresh so mean) Have heard good things about the stout

happyhooker wrote:

unseenwork wrote:The Magic Rock Luminance is quite a remarkable thing in Tesco now for £3, just a smashing NEIPA but boy I feel guilty buying it these days.

I spoke to Stu about this the other day.

He feels he's let the industry down but the offer was too good to refuse and his partners were pushing him heavily in this direction. He's tied in for the next few years so hopefully will keep quality going. I'll still buy the beers as long as they're decent.

Next brewery I know to sell up: 5 points.

HH
You know anything about Two Tribes in Kings Cross? Son went there on Friday and reckons it was pretty good. Not overly impressed with the Dancing in Fields IPA he bought back for me, was a bit ordinary. Got a Wylam collab sour to try and a porter to try which I hope are better
Never come across them before

I think I've worked out my current Pilsener equation. If Mac's Miss Conduct has a price differential of =/< $2.00 greater than Bouncing Czech for half a dozen 330ml bottles, it's Mac's; otherwise the Czechs never stop bouncing.

SaintK wrote:

happyhooker wrote:

unseenwork wrote:The Magic Rock Luminance is quite a remarkable thing in Tesco now for £3, just a smashing NEIPA but boy I feel guilty buying it these days.

I spoke to Stu about this the other day.

He feels he's let the industry down but the offer was too good to refuse and his partners were pushing him heavily in this direction. He's tied in for the next few years so hopefully will keep quality going. I'll still buy the beers as long as they're decent.

Next brewery I know to sell up: 5 points.

HH
You know anything about Two Tribes in Kings Cross? Son went there on Friday and reckons it was pretty good. Not overly impressed with the Dancing in Fields IPA he bought back for me, was a bit ordinary. Got a Wylam collab sour to try and a porter to try which I hope are better
Never come across them before

I've only had 2 of their beers - flaming galah and whatever their heferviessen is called.

Not impressed. Maybe if they stopped being cool and learnt to brew it might help. I left after 30 mins, but then it was loud, even for a Friday night.

happyhooker wrote:

SaintK wrote:

happyhooker wrote:

unseenwork wrote:The Magic Rock Luminance is quite a remarkable thing in Tesco now for £3, just a smashing NEIPA but boy I feel guilty buying it these days.

I spoke to Stu about this the other day.

He feels he's let the industry down but the offer was too good to refuse and his partners were pushing him heavily in this direction. He's tied in for the next few years so hopefully will keep quality going. I'll still buy the beers as long as they're decent.

Next brewery I know to sell up: 5 points.

HH
You know anything about Two Tribes in Kings Cross? Son went there on Friday and reckons it was pretty good. Not overly impressed with the Dancing in Fields IPA he bought back for me, was a bit ordinary. Got a Wylam collab sour to try and a porter to try which I hope are better
Never come across them before

I've only had 2 of their beers - flaming galah and whatever their heferviessen is called.

Not impressed. Maybe if they stopped being cool and learnt to brew it might help. I left after 30 mins, but then it was loud, even for a Friday night.

Hmmm. Their website bears out your “cool” comment. Haven’t found too many reviews so will give it go next time in London, it’s only a 10 minute walk from Kings Cross. Not holding out much hope mind you

usermame wrote:I think I've worked out my current Pilsener equation. If Mac's Miss Conduct has a price differential of =/< $2.00 greater than Bouncing Czech for half a dozen 330ml bottles, it's Mac's; otherwise the Czechs never stop bouncing.

The Mac's is passable, but I wouldn't generally venture south of the Tuatara. 3 Boys, Parrot Dog and Panhead all do decent pils.

Had a pint of Pikes DIPA last night.

Having a pint of beer baroness madam brown at the moment. Can confirm it's still lovely.

And as the pub is attached to the brewery it's nz$11 for a proper 568ml pint.