Virtual Happy Hour (Brews & Spirits, Pics & Reviews)

[Zardnaar]

Gorkovskaya Brewer
IPA 5.9% 440ml Bottle

Around a year ago this was one of my favorite beers. Fits perfectly in my Grolsch glass.

IPAs are very big in NZ. The problem is they just add more and more hops.

This one's more subtle still has that nice hop flavour one expects from an IPA but it's not so in your face. Better balanced and smoother than most NZ IPAs.

It's also a lot cheaper $3.50 NZD vs around $6 for something similar.

I quite like this one. And their APAs also pretty damned good.

Going to be generous here 8.5/10.

 

[Cadence]

Schneider Weisse Original German Hefe-Weizen Ale. Brewery founded 1872, 5.4% ABV. 89 Very Good, 4/5 on Beer Advocate. Didn't get any of the stereotypical Hefe banana. Might have caught a hint of what some places describe as the bubble-gum flavor in the background but wasn't sure. In any case, it was certainly at least very good (8/10).

 

[Zardnaar]

Emerson's Orange Roughy.

Named after a fish the barmaid said it's a tropical pale ale.

Turns out it looks like a hazy IPA. The hop taste wasn't as strong which I like as NZ tends to overdo the hops in IPAs.

Closest thing I can think of is a hazy APA. It's just a very nice almost orange/fruit juice coloured beer.

Double thumbs up currently enjoying it. 9/10 gonna get some at the supermarket.

Also a local beer brewed in a new facility (brewed locally since 1992). Early start on craft beers.

 

[Zardnaar]

No comment.

Stuff

i.stuff.co.nz

 

[Zardnaar]

Emerson's 1812 Pale Ale.

1812 | The Emerson Brewing Company

1812 is a English Pale Ale style beer brewed by The Emerson Brewing Company in Dunedin, New Zealand. Score: 86 with 42 ratings and reviews. Last update: 02-04-2023.

www.beeradvocate.com

5% 83 on beer advocate.

Emerson's is a local company that has been doing craft type beers since 1992. Bought out by one of the big boys they haven't changed afaik.

Just a nice slightly hoppy pale ale. Bought a 6 pack of various beers from Emerson's and this is the first one. Beer advocate us a fair score ar 83 IMHO.

I like the canon on the label.

 

[Zardnaar]

Emerson's Big Rig 5.2%

Fairly typical APA slightly bitter. Probably prefer one less bitter but still tasty. Still had better APAs no regrets.

Not that different to the previous one.

8/10.

 

[Cadence]

Julius Echter Hefe-Weissbier Hell. 90/100 Outstanding, 4.02/5 on Beer Advocate. 5.3% ABV. Apparently (according to the internet) in addition to banana or bubblegum, a Hefe could also have a taste of wheat bread or cloves. This one might be more of the bread side than some? It was certainly drinkable, but it wouldn't be one I'd go out of the way to get. 7 out of 10 on the Z scale.

 

[Zardnaar]

Public holiday tomorrow. Happy afternoon vs hour.

Gorkovskaya Brewery APA, 5.5%.

Similar price to Emerson's last night. Stronger though and not as bitter so goes down easier. This and their IPA probably on my shortlist of favorite beers.

8.5.

And some Aussie candy water. Grape flavoured.

 

[Zardnaar]

Emerson's London Porter 5%

The Russian beer hit me hard. This one weaker but tastes pretty damn good.

Normally I don't drink a lot of porters but developing a taste for dark beer. 8/10 not to bad.

 

[Zardnaar]

Emerson's IPA Bird Dog 7%

One of the better NZ IPAs I have had. Slightly bitter but not overwhelmingnhops flavour. Nice cloudy color.

On beer advocate but not enough reviews.

Bird Dog | The Emerson Brewing Company

Bird Dog is a American IPA style beer brewed by The Emerson Brewing Company in Dunedin, New Zealand. Score: n/a with 9 ratings and reviews. Last update: 02-10-2023.

www.beeradvocate.com

8/10 for me it's hard for Emerson's to balls up a beer. Probably prefer the Gorkovskaya Brewery IPA as it not as bitter. Need to try side by side.

Pretty damn good though.