Best Beers of 2009
December 23, 2009Another years almost up – it’s been a big year of beer for me so I thought I’d do the obligatory ‘best of’ list. I couldn’t really come up with a simple list of 10 or put them in any kind of order so here’s simply a list of the New Zealand beers that I enjoyed most (South to North):
- Boysenbeery (Invercargill Brewery)
- Emerson’s Pilsner (Emerson’s, Dunedin)
- Emerson’s Weizenbock
- Emerson’s Dunkelweiss
- Brewski (Wanaka Beerworks)
- Sauvin Pils (The Twisted Hop, Christchurch)
- Challenger (The Twisted Hop)
- The Rogue Hop (Harrington’s, Christchurch)
- Porter (Three Boys Brewery, Christchurch)
- Golden Ale (Three Boys)
- Nor’Wester Strong Pale Ale (Dux Brewing Company, Christchurch & Queenstown)
- Dakota Dark (Wigram Brewing Co, Christchurch)
- Hophead IPA (Brewmoon, Amberly)
- Fair Maiden (Founder’s, Nelson)
- Fat Lip (Founder’s)
- Cathcarts NTA (Townshend, Rosedale)
- Old House ESB (Townshend)
- Able Ale (Monkey Wizard Brewery, Riwaka)
- Easter Bunny (The Mussel Inn, Onekaka)
- Marlborough Pale Ale (Renaissance Brewing, Blenheim)
- Märzen (Moa Brewing Company)
- Gabriel (666 Brewing Co., Blenheim)
- Pot Kettle Black (Yeastie Boys, Wellington (brewed by Invercargill Brewery))
- Brewjolais (Mac’s Brewery, Wellington)
- Solstice (Mac’s)
- Hefe (Tuatara Breweries, Waikanae)
- Mike’s Mild (White Cliffs / Mike’s Organic Brewery
- Epic Pale Ale (Epic Brewing Company, Auckland)
- Epic Armageddon
Everyone needs a number one however, and this goes without a doubt to Renaissance’s Marlborough Pale Ale – I’m pretty sure this is the best beer I’ve ever drunk. Weighting in at a hefty 8.5% abv and single-hopped with new NZ hop variety – Rakau – this is a stunning beer, displaying a great balance of American and NZ hop characteristics; chewy, puckering bitterness; and sweet, rich, toffee-ish malt. Please guys, if you’re reading this – you have to brew this again in 2010!
Have a great Christmas & a happy New Year!
>
Happy new year Christian…. good list of beer there, even a couple that I’ve never tried! May 2010 prove to be even more productive.
Here’s my Xmas song in return:
Clainte mhath
Stu
I meant “slainte mhath” of course…
Cheers Stu,
Hope 2010 is a productive year for Yeastie Boys also.
It’s always hard coming up with lists like this – there are a lot of other great beers out there that I either didn’t get a chance to try or didn’t quite stand out in comparison to those above.
Still hoping that some Nerdherder will show up in Nelson.