Brewer’s Reserve February 2010 Release
EMERSON’S EXTRA PILSWhat beer to start off the 2010 Brewer’s Reserve series? None other than a variation on our most popular beer at Emerson’s…The Pilsner!
The Pilsner is a very simple recipe with the emphasis on the NZ Riwaka hop that gives the distinctive flavour to our brew. In this Extra-Pils, we have steered away from that characteristic hop to brew a strong version with two Nelson hops, Rakau and Nelson Sauvin.
Rakau is a new hop variety recently released as result of the dedicated work of Dr Ron Beatson’s research team. The other, Nelson Sauvin, has been on the market for the past ten years and is now proving popular as the new “in flavour” with craft brewers. Both hop cultivars share similar flavour traits with Riwaka except they are more powerful in bitterness and higher hop oil content.
The extra oomph from those hops are the just the thing to balance against the higher alcohol and generous malt recipe. There is some resemblance to the usual Pilsner on the nose however, the beer is stronger at 6.2% abv, more golden in colour as well as the significant “gooseberry” aroma and flavour from the Nelson Sauvin. The lemony flavour and bitterness comes from the Rakau hop to balance the extra malt richness.
Prosit!
The Emerson’s Brewing Team
Alcohol: 6.2% vol
Original gravity: 1065
Malts: Gladfields Lager, CaraAmber
Hops: NZ Rakau, NZ Nelson Sauvin
Available from the brewery shop and selected bars.
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
Brewery shop hours over 2009 Christmas / New Year break:
The brewery shop will be open for public sales during the holiday period as follows:Mon 21 Dec: 9 am – 5 pm
Tue 22 Dec: 9 am – 5 pm
Wed 23 Dec: 9 am – 5 pm
Thu 24 Dec: 9 am – 1 pm
Fri 25 Dec: Closed
Sat 26 Dec: Closed
Sun 27 Dec: Closed
Mon 28 Dec: Closed
Tue 29 Dec: 10 am – 3 pm
Wed 30 Dec: 10 am – 3 pm
Thu 31 Dec: 10 am – 3 pm
Fri 1 Jan: Closed
Sat 2 Jan: Closed
Sun 3 Jan: Closed
Mon 4 Jan: Closed
Tue 5 Jan: 9 am – 5pm
Wed 6 Jan: 9 am – 5pm
Thu 7 Jan: 9 am – 6pm
Fri 8 Jan: 9 am – 6pm
Sat 9 Jan: Closed
Sun 10 Jan: Closed
From Monday 11 January, normal hours will resume:
Monday – Wednesday: 9 am – 5 pm and Thursday and Friday: 9 am – 6 pm.
New Brewer’s Reserve: The temporary return of an old favourite…
MARIS GOLD December 2009 ReleaseEvery now and then we like to look into the recipe archive and resurrect a beer. This release, Maris Gold was one of those recipes that had to be painfully dropped from the production line-up to free up tank space for the popular Pilsner. Notably there were a few upset Maris Gold fans!
Maris Gold was first brewed at the number two Brewery at 9 Grange Street in October 2000 as a stand in when we couldn’t get any malt for the Pilsner for the summer. There were several changes to the recipe over the years in the “search for the perfect golden beer”
Unlike the original October 2000 recipe with all NZ Cascade hops, we have added American hops as well in the kettle boil and
dry-hopping in the maturation tank. This gives a subtle level of hop flavour complexities while still refreshing as a summer golden ale.
As the warm days are coming, this should be the ideal refreshing beer with moderate alcohol content, a great match for prawns on the barbie!
Alcohol : 4.7% abv
Available from the brewery shop and selected bars only.
Weissbier available now!
Summer must be on the way… Our popular summer wheat beer is now available. On sale November until March. Serve at 4 – 8 C. Delicious accompanied by weisswurst (veal sausages) or with mature Stilton or Kikorangi cheese. Cheers from the team at Emerson’s.Emerson’s Beer and Sausage Tasting
The Bar @ Ombrellos, DunedinWednesday 25th November. 6pm
Come and join us with special guest Richard Emerson as we sample a variety of house-smoked sausages including Ombrellos famous Chorizo sausages! All matched with some stunning Emerson’s beers brewed at New Zealand’s Champion Brewery for 2009!
Hand Pump Pints of London Porter available for one night only!
Tickets are just $15 per person. Available from Ombrellos.
10 Clarendon Street
Dunedin
Ph: 4778773
New Guest artist
Ron Esplin “Barock” Digital art $1200An interpretation of dance, conveyed by multiple images of Barbie dolls. Inspired by the dance project of Barbara Snook, the Otago University Caroline Plummer Fellow 2008.
Multiple photographs were downloaded to a computer and manipulated to produce the ethereal images in the finished work. The unanimity is achieved by accentuating the linearity of each individual image by representing them almost like a platoon of dancers represented in four lines of eight so the work is taller than it is wide. The individuality of dancers is represented by the variety of poses.
www.esplinart.com
Ginger Beer – Brewery shop only
Brewer’s Family Special: GINGER BEERA couple of summers ago we brewed our ginger beer for the staff Christmas party and shop sales. Over subsequent seasons the recipe has been fine tuned with plenty of quality control by Emerson’s staff and families. This recipe passed with flying colours!
It is boiled with chopped root ginger, ground ginger, sugar, lemon juice and clover honey. It is naturally hazy. This is a non-alcoholic ginger beer with no yeast.
Back early for the summer season, by popular demand… Happy summer!
Cheers from the team at Emerson’s.
Retail Prices including GST:
New PET (1.25 ltr) $ 3.50
Refill PET (1.25 ltr) $ 3.20
Refill Green Flagon (2 ltr) $ 5.11
Refill Amber Flagon (2.5 ltr) $ 6.39
Available only from the brewery shop.