One for the Master
Note: This is an older post I was working on and just finished a little more, uh, research for. Enjoy!
My father-in-law said that I haven't been blogging enough about the differences in life between NZ and the States. This one is dedicated to him, and it's about beer, a subject near and dear to his heart. I'll include other alcohol, too, since there's a lot of misinformation out there about the sale of liquor in New Zealand.
Contrary to what most guide books say, one does not need to visit a 'bottle store' to purchase alcohol here. Beer and wine--as well as an assortment of malt liquor disguised as cocktails--are sold in grocery stores. Bottle stores, which are small package stores attached to pubs, do exist and perhaps may be the only places to buy liquor in smaller places. Here in Chch, though, we have several liquor stores that carry liquor, beer, and wine. There are also a handful of wine specialty shops, as well as at least one store that I've yet to visit that specializes in Russian vodka. If my freezer could accommodate a bottle, I'd have been there at least once already.
Liquor is very expensive here. It's pretty much all imported, so a bottle of anything decent will set you back at least 2-3 times as much here as in the US. As with other consumer items, there's no rhyme or reason to the prices. A bottle of Smirnoff vodka costs just as much as a bottle of Absolute. A bottle of the local craft vodka, 42 Below, is even more expensive.
On the other hand, absinthe, Pernod, Pimms, and Cuban rum are commonly available. I've yet to spring for any of them--or any liquor at all here--but someday ...
I could probably be killed for writing this, but the beer here is just okay. It's good, not great. To be fair, the mass produced stuff here, like Steinlager, is much better than Bud, Miller, etc. What's disappointing is that the few microbrews I've had aren't really all that great.
Of the beers I've had, I'd give the Monteith's, Mac's, Harrington's, and Speights (the NZ equivalent of Sam Adams so not a micro) grades in the 'B' range. I've yet to find anything as good as my favorites from the States. But, don't fear dear reader, I plan to keep trying.
As for imports, most of the common international brands are available. Heineken, Stella Artois, Labatts Blue, Tuborg ... even Corona! As for American beer, well ... All I've seen so far is Miller and Miller Chill. I'm sure Bud must be available somewhere, but I haven't seen it yet. (Please don't be confused ... I don't know when I last drank a Miller or Bud.)
Beer here generally comes in two size bottles: stubbies and swappas. The name 'stubbie' pretty much says all you need to know about the Kiwi attitude toward drinking. The little bottle is 330 ml or just short of 12 ounces. However, if you are a real Kiwi, you get yourself a swappa crate--a wooden box of 12 745ml bottles. I guess the 25 ounce size is better if you like your beer warm by the time you finish it. When I happened to be in the liquor store on a Friday afternoon I didn't see any blokes leaving with just one. I guess they couldn't pass up the bargain--one swappa crate will set you back about $30, which is less than a 24 back of comparable stubbies.
The better brands are available only in stubbies, and most of those only in six packs. A six pack of the better brands costs about $12-$14, though most stores have one on sale each week for $10.
The wines deserve a post all to themselves, so I'll save that for later.
My father-in-law said that I haven't been blogging enough about the differences in life between NZ and the States. This one is dedicated to him, and it's about beer, a subject near and dear to his heart. I'll include other alcohol, too, since there's a lot of misinformation out there about the sale of liquor in New Zealand.
Contrary to what most guide books say, one does not need to visit a 'bottle store' to purchase alcohol here. Beer and wine--as well as an assortment of malt liquor disguised as cocktails--are sold in grocery stores. Bottle stores, which are small package stores attached to pubs, do exist and perhaps may be the only places to buy liquor in smaller places. Here in Chch, though, we have several liquor stores that carry liquor, beer, and wine. There are also a handful of wine specialty shops, as well as at least one store that I've yet to visit that specializes in Russian vodka. If my freezer could accommodate a bottle, I'd have been there at least once already.
Liquor is very expensive here. It's pretty much all imported, so a bottle of anything decent will set you back at least 2-3 times as much here as in the US. As with other consumer items, there's no rhyme or reason to the prices. A bottle of Smirnoff vodka costs just as much as a bottle of Absolute. A bottle of the local craft vodka, 42 Below, is even more expensive.
On the other hand, absinthe, Pernod, Pimms, and Cuban rum are commonly available. I've yet to spring for any of them--or any liquor at all here--but someday ...
I could probably be killed for writing this, but the beer here is just okay. It's good, not great. To be fair, the mass produced stuff here, like Steinlager, is much better than Bud, Miller, etc. What's disappointing is that the few microbrews I've had aren't really all that great.
Of the beers I've had, I'd give the Monteith's, Mac's, Harrington's, and Speights (the NZ equivalent of Sam Adams so not a micro) grades in the 'B' range. I've yet to find anything as good as my favorites from the States. But, don't fear dear reader, I plan to keep trying.
As for imports, most of the common international brands are available. Heineken, Stella Artois, Labatts Blue, Tuborg ... even Corona! As for American beer, well ... All I've seen so far is Miller and Miller Chill. I'm sure Bud must be available somewhere, but I haven't seen it yet. (Please don't be confused ... I don't know when I last drank a Miller or Bud.)
Beer here generally comes in two size bottles: stubbies and swappas. The name 'stubbie' pretty much says all you need to know about the Kiwi attitude toward drinking. The little bottle is 330 ml or just short of 12 ounces. However, if you are a real Kiwi, you get yourself a swappa crate--a wooden box of 12 745ml bottles. I guess the 25 ounce size is better if you like your beer warm by the time you finish it. When I happened to be in the liquor store on a Friday afternoon I didn't see any blokes leaving with just one. I guess they couldn't pass up the bargain--one swappa crate will set you back about $30, which is less than a 24 back of comparable stubbies.
The better brands are available only in stubbies, and most of those only in six packs. A six pack of the better brands costs about $12-$14, though most stores have one on sale each week for $10.
The wines deserve a post all to themselves, so I'll save that for later.
posted by Jon A at
8:01 PM
1 Comments:
i'll drink a yuengling for ya tonight!
(note: when i first started drinking yuengling, i thought it was the bestest beer ever. now, i just drink it because it's the cheapest thing at the bar -- well, at least the cheapest decent beer. i have no idea what they charge for bud/miller/coors etc.)
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