2009 saw some fantastic beers from local brewers hit the
shelves at Regional. The new trend of the contract brewing company meant that
some striking limited release brews graced our taps this year. We also saw an
influx of imported American craft brews with a range of hoppy west coast beers
wooing the masses. Finally some old favorites really shined this year. Choosing
a top 6 is almost like choosing a favorite Child, difficult, dangerous and sure to end in controversy!
However that aside here it is! My top six for 2009:
Three Boys Golden Ale
Three Boys brewer Ralph Bungard has seen his business grow
significantly this year. Having purchased and commissioned the old
Martinborough Brewing Company equipment Three Boys have significantly increased
their output and yet the rising popularity of the beers has meant that it is
still a struggle for Ralph to keep up with demand.
Three Boy’s Golden Ale is the summer only seasonal release
that replaces the phenomenal winter only Oyster Stout. Three Boys Golden Ale is
bursting with everything a Golden Ale should have. With profound zesty aromas
of passionfruit, citrus and tropical fruit, a tangy burst of hop flavour and a
solid biscuity pale malt backbone Three Boys Golden is summer in a glass.
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co is one of the biggest craft brewers
in the United States.
Based in Chico California,
Sierra Nevada produce a range of aromatic
craft brews with most of them showcasing the pungent hops of the Pacific North
West. Sierra Nevada Torpedo is the only India Pale Ale that Sierra
Nevada brew all year round, taking its name from the device that Sierra Nevada invented to dry hop the beer. The torpedo
device adds aromatic oils to the conditioning brew without adding undue
bitterness. Torpedo IPA utilizes Magnum, Crystal
and the new Citra hop varieties in the whole cone form.
Torpedo pours a brilliant gold with a healthy white head. On the nose there are
complex layers of tropical fruit, grapefruit, orange, black pepper, and a
herbaceous green note. In the mouth the beer is a raging advertisement for
American hops, layers of citrus and piney resin are built upon a solid malt
backbone. Finally there is a long dry finish. This is the ultimate beer for
spicy cuisine. Try it with a Thai curry or spicy barbequed food
Based on the road from Heathrow
airport Fullers is the last large independent Brewery based in the London area. Fullers brew
some fantastically complex and flavorsome beers. Rich malt profiles and a
pronounced fruity marmalade yeast note typify the house character.
Fullers Extra Special Bitter is the
classic English strong bitter presenting a complex character in a very
drinkable form. A blend of citrus notes and warm nutty malt feature in the aroma
before giving way to biscuity toffee malt flavours and a long satisfying
finish.
This year Fullers ESB has played a
big part in the Regional Beer tasting program winning the popular vote at the
Michael Jackson Memorial Tasting, and being one of the mystery beers at the
2009 Beer Options.
Renaissance Brewery Co is the creation of two expat American’s Brian Thiel and
Andy Deuchars. The brewery sits in the heart of Marlborough’s wine growing region and produces
a range of complex and aromatic ales the equal of any of the regions
wines. Craftsman Chocolate Oatmeal
Stout was Renaissance’s intensely decadent spring release. A dark rich stout with
large amounts of both coco nibs and oatmeal added, Craftsman
is the ultimate beer for any chocolate lover packed full of spicy dark
chocolate and espresso flavours and aromas with a nutty rich moderately bitter
finish. Try it with red meats or a dark berry based desert.
8 Wired Hopwired IPA
8 Wired is the youngest of the new breed of contract brewers
to take New Zealand
by storm. Contract brewing companies like 8 Wired brew their beers in other
people’s breweries meaning they can concentrate on producing striking character
full products without needing to brew ‘middle of the road’ beers to pay the
bills.
8 Wired is the creation of Danish expat Soren Eriksen.
During the day Soren works as a brewer at Blenheim’s craft brewer
Renaissance while in the evenings he dreams up recipes for his own company. So
far those recipes have proved particularly successful with his intensely
aromatic Hopwired IPA making the top 8 in the Capital Times Beer Necessities
Survey and the two kegs that Regional received racing out the taps in less than
a day. Hopwired IPA features a big complex aroma of passionfruit, rock melon,
and herbaceous citrus leading into a tangy tropical punch bowl of hop flavours
and a dry lingering finish. Available in bottle very soon!
Situated in Rosedale, a rural area near Upper
Moutere just outside of Nelson the Townshend Brewery is the work
of English ex-pat Martin Townshend and is situated next to his family home
tucked away in a wooded valley. The brewery fits into an eclectic mix of
businesses that the Townshend family runs which stretch from running the
village chippie to raising seedlings. In addition to the fantastic West Country
style spontaneously fermented cider that Martin ferments each year the brewery
produces a range of English style real ales. The brewery is housed in a shed to
the side of the house, with fermentation occurring in an old commercial chiller
unit. Bottling and cellaring occur in a shipping container down the bank.
Townshend E.S.B. is a rich malt accented English style Extra Special Bitter.
Featuring Rich aromas of nutty malt, caramel and marmalade which give way to a
rich nutty malt accented palate and a long dry finish Townshend E.S.B. is the
perfect accompaniment to a classic ploughman’s lunch of sharp cheddar, pickled
onion and crusty bread.