Reply To: Give a man a beer, waste an hour. Teach a man to brew, and waste a lifetime!

[Universal Head]

Sorry for the late response Kent, I was in Sydney for a few days. Indeed, this is my other recent passion; ever since I moved to NZ 4 years ago in fact, and discovered the fantastic craft brewing scene here. My appreciation and understanding of beer skyrocketed, and now I can’t even comprehend how I used to drink the bland chemical watery garbage I used to call beer back in Sydney.

Next month we have a really fun festival called Marchfest here in Nelson. There’s a beer and food matching lunch with talks by the brewers and excellent food; music, food stalls, lots of beer and it’s all held in a large park/convention area so it’s a great day in the sun. A calendar highlight! There’s also a strong homebrewing scene in the area that has run events in the past, though I haven’t bothered to get into the nitty gritty of homebrewing myself. Motueka hops are grown nearby, one of the country’s most popular and best hop varieties.

I’ve heard the US craft beer scene has exploded as well, though of course I haven’t had the opportunity to try any US beers. Down here, I’m currently enjoying NZ beers by Townshends, Panhead, ParrotDog, Tuatara, and Golden Bear (their brewery is just down the road on Mapua Wharf).