Capital Times Beer Necessities Survey 2009
Emerson’s are thrilled to have taken out four places in the NZ beer eight-pack picked in the annual Capital Times Beer Necessities Survey.
Capital Times Beer Necessities Survey 2009
By Kieran Haslett-Moore
Copyright: Capital Times, Wellington
www.capitaltimes.co.nz
Brewing up diversity
The top rated beers from this year’s Beer Necessities Survey represent a near perfect cross section of brewing in New Zealand.
Represented in the top eight are New Zealand’s largest brewer Lion Nathan, one of the country’s biggest independent craft brewers Emerson’s, a small craft brewer, Croucher Brewing, one of the new generation of contract brewing companies, 8 Wired and a tiny farmhouse brewer, Peak.
After the controversial Supreme Champion and runners up format of last year, this year the judging panel decided to instead highlight all the top scoring beers resulting in 8 top beers ranging in style from a light crisp lager, through to a “marmalady” malt accented strong ale.
These 8 beers portray the diversity of New Zealand brewing with beers that will suit many different tastes and situations.
This year we have included 10 broad style categories and we have continued last years practise of including a succinct style description at the beginning of each category.
The beers were blind judged on their appearance, aroma and flavour with some thought given to their stylistic integrity.
The judges assessed the beers according to technical and stylistic criteria rather than according to their own subjective tastes. Often after competition results are announced judges are approached and asked why certain beers that many people may think are boring are awarded medals.
There are beer style categories which are not overly character full, a technically and stylistically excellent beer entered in these categories will and should do well.
The beers were all scored out of 5 with the panel coming to a consensus on which score each beer would get. Beers scoring less than 2.5 were not included in the write up while beers that scored 4 marks or higher earned inclusion in the top 8 Pack.
I would like to thank my fellow judges. While to many the idea of a days beer judging may seem like a dream job in practise it makes for an enjoyable but incredibly fatiguing days work.
The overall standard this year was high with a clear majority of entry’s earning a mention and some fantastic beers making the Top 8 Pack. Brewing in New Zealand is becoming increasingly diverse both in terms of the beers that are brewed and the companies that brew them. I suggest we all drink to that!
Cheers,
Kieran Haslett-Moore
The 8 Pack
Emerson’s Pilsner, Bookbinder, 1812 India Pale Ale and Old 95
Undoubtedly the biggest winner from this year’s survey is Emerson’s Brewing Company from Dunedin. Having taken out the coveted Champion Brewery title at this year’s BrewNZ it is perhaps no surprise that Emerson’s have done so well several months later.
Steinlager Pure
Lion Nathan has achieved significant success with its heavily advertised Steinlager Pure brand and the result here shows that behind the marketing there is a crisp clean well made beer.
Croucher Pale Ale
Croucher Brewing have been building up a reputation for their range of pale, complex, aromatic beers which they brew in Rotorua making them one of the few craft brewers to fly the flag for brewing in the North Island.
8 Wired Hop Wired IPA
8 Wired is one of the new generation of contract brewers who are using other peoples breweries to produce their beers. Unhindered by the commercial necessities of running a seven day a week 12 month a year business, theses brewers don’t need to brew everyday beers for mass consumption but rather can focus on producing remarkable special one off brews that are full of character.
Peak Great End ESB
Peak is a small farmhouse producer in the Wairarapa producing a wide range of organically produced beers.
Judges:
Geoff Griggs
Colin Mallon
Kieran Haslett-Moore