Professional_Gypsy

BEER!

Ive lived in the US and Australia - and found the choice and quality of beer to vary considerably from place to place. By far the worst place - Texas - basically had a choice of Bud - or Texas brewed: Shiner Bock (which was disgusting).
Australia was not too bad - while not as much choice as the UK, there were some decent brews (not Castlemaine XXXX, or Fosters of course!)
How is New Zealand?
Any decent local breweries, or plenty of imported goodness?

simonmarkellis

Lion Red!

RobClubley

Speights, Tui

Monteiths (nice). Mac's

Lots of NZ beers.

Guinness and Murphy's in lots of places, Tetley's, Boddington's, belgian beers, all sorts.

There's lots of places to get a good choice of beer in Wellington at least.

There's one place that has about 200 beers on tap. Some interesting ones too

Though I think they server the Guinness too cold.

lapsed kiwi

You can't get the true real ales here, but where other than UK can you? Apart form that, as Rob says (thanks for the exhaustive research) the range isn't bad. Some of the traditional NZ brews (Lion Red, DB Draught) are IMHO, awful, but they're popular!

RobClubley

Littletoe

Oh my god, beer is my holy water, I love beer more than life its self. So I suggest Speights (golden and Old Dark), or Monteiths. Beautiful. Love it, best beer in the world.

RedMonsk

Can't wait to do my own 'market research' if and when I get over there!!

What about cider!!!

Littletoe

Cider?? What are you 16 or something?!! YUK!

RedMonsk

I wish!

I know, I know, makes me sound like a live on a park bench with suspect bottle in brown paper bag!

kwprwn

Oi you I drink cider I wish I was 16 again though...i didnt get hangovers then

in answer to the original question they have several different types

Harvest...crap shite in my book
Emerald - is ok, a cheapish cider
and brightstone, they do a classic and a dry version, this is my own opinion is the nicest
Bulmers - this is ok
strongbow- have only ever been able to get this in speakers corner (brit pub in browns bay)...this is what I used to drink in the uk so its nice to be able to get it occassionally here

RedMonsk

Ooooh good! Any doubts about a move to NZ are now erased!

I do prefer Strongbow myself, not a fan of any sweet ciders or Blackthorn (YUK!).

What are the prices of lager, cider, etc.. if we were to go to a pub in NZ??!!

AlbieLittle

No you can! Imported from the UK. If you live in Welly they have an excellent real ale selection at Regional Wines and the new world island bay/waterfront is good.

If you want a decent local oz brew try coopers pale ale. Like Mcquirries as well. There are loads of fairly good micro breweries in NZ. Montheiths is pretty shit I think. Mac's copper top is ok.

Hmm what time is it?

kwprwn

ok we frequent a place called breakers which is a bar and the cider (bulmers) is $5 a pint and the other half who is a Lion Red/Tui or export gold they usually are about $4.50 or $5 a glass (now the glass is not quite a pint) now the reason the cider is a pint is because (or i think it is) the bar only opened in december and I suspect they got promotional glasses from Bulmers so probably when they are all broken etc then will probably get the normal size beer glass which is not quite a pint

Cider to be honest is not always widely available in pubs, some have it some dont, but is generally available to buy in liquor stores

RedMonsk

I am very sad to report that the price of a pint is now around £2.90 in the UK!!

kwprwn

*faints in shock*