The dust is settling after the biggest
fortnight on the beer world calendar. The Brewers Guild NZ Beer Awards and
Beervana were both very successful this year and both provided a great showcase
for our industry.
This year the Champion Brewer Trophy was awarded to Søren Eriksen from 8 Wired
Brewing Co. In second place by a whisker was Emerson’s Brewing Co. It’s a huge
achievement for Søren who has only been brewing
commercially for the last 2 and a ½ years!
New Releases
This week we have 3 beers out that all suit
the icy weather we are experiencing. Mike’s Whiskey Porter has finally been
released after substitute bottles were sourced. This year’s vintage is subtlest
so far with a fantastic balance between single malt whiskey, barrel character
and the rich smooth chocolaty porter.
8 Wired have released the first of what
will be an annual Belgian release called The Sultan. The Sultan is a Belgian
Quadruple which has been brewed with an addition of sultanas. The Sultan
combines rich malt, spicy Belgian yeast characteristics, warming alcohol and
fortified wine dried fruit notes from the sultanas. The beer world’s equivalent
of a tawny port!
From Emerson’s we have the now annual
release of Southern Clam Stout. Brewed in conjunction with Southern Clams
Limited, Emerson’s Southern Clam Stout is a rich roasty stout that includes a
dose of briny clams in the boil. Southern Clam Stout is roasty and rich with a
hint of briny saltiness and makes a fantastic match to smoked shellfish.