Friday Drinks...Sol

The Sol in Mardi Gras guise...

This is by no means a drink I have often, if at all, but I happened to have a few sitting in the fridge as the result of party leftovers, and today I felt like having one. Previous experiences with it have been in Ponsonby bars, or drinking with "noters", and always with a slice of lemon or lime shoved down the neck...now I know why. As a real bloke, I don't normally carry spare citrus in my house so had a couple of these without the additive and while they taste OK, they hardly send the DT's running for the hills, or the taste buds racing. Watery would be the worst thing I could say and while I don't consider myself to have one of the finer palettes about, I figure that most who drink this just want to be noticed and considered classy...all I say to you is harden up and drink a real beer! And only women, stereotyped mincers, and middle-aged men on singles cruises have any sort of fruit in their alcoholic beverage. And at that price? Just like Lexus...cool name, big tag, but ultimately disappointing.

Nah, not for me, unless there was nothing else in the fridge.

Friday Drinks...Tui

It wasn't so long ago I considered this one of my top beers...in fact I had 300 stubbies at my wedding, but of late I have found myself only drinking because of its price, not because I like it. Obviously I cannot say it is because of a change in brewing, but is more likely due to a palette that (dare I say it) has become more accustomed to other flavours.

In saying that, Tui's India Pale Ale is a pretty fine drink, especially on a hot day over the BBQ, and even more so after a game of rugby.I have found in my rugby and cricket teams, you are either a Speights or Tui which is kind of interesting, even down here in Canterbury where non-Red & Black brews don't get much of a shoe-in.

Tui, a whole ad campaign that centres around bull-shitting and hot chicks (both which we can't do well) is part of the Kiwi psyche now, although more and more of the 'Yeah, Right' ads are becoming desperate.

'Honestly babe, they're not hot'...Yeah, Wrong!

For me personally, I find smoking while having Tui makes the after smell and taste seem all that much stronger. Weird.

There was a time where my whole wardrobe was almost fitted out by Tui; hats, jandals (they didn't last long), rugby jerseys, shorts, you name it. But now only with a duck hunters hat and woolley hat with a pom-pom (which she won't let me wear in public) it has all moved on.

A very good run of the mill brew, competitively priced to take on Speights with ad girls we can only dream of having (although for the sake of my marriage I will note here that I take no notice of the Tui Girls). Best had with red meats off the BBQ, definitely not a restaurant beer.

Friday Drinks...South Island Draught & Heritage Draught

Both of these draughts are from the Harringtons' stable, the former also known and labelled as SID.

SID; at time of writing, this draught was selling at $14.50/doz, and I have to admit I wasn't expecting much, however this is actually a very pleasant and easy to drink draught. While draughts have a bit more of a darker taste to them, this one is actually quite light to drink, although the first stubbie tends to bite somewhat. But subsequent bottles go down nicely. And as an odd twist, it accompanies sweet meals well...I happened to have an early Hot Cross Bun, and SID washing it down was very pleasant. Word from the brewer;
A commercial style draught light in mouth feel, sweet overtones accompanied with a biscuit and like flavour and lightly hopped.

Heritage Draught; at time of writing a dozen of these went for $15.50. Very much like SID, this is an easy to drink draught with a biting first bottle and then easier as each follows, however is nice to have to wash down red meats.
The Heritage Range is a series of beer brewed  traditionally, our in-house special, only available from our Christchurch bottlestores.
Heritage Draught is a smooth and clean drinking draught. Distinctive and traditionally styled.

Buy Red & Black

Friday Drinks...

Well this week I was going to note another local brew from Harringtons, but today a mate and colleague brought round some Stella Artois, a perennial favourite of mine.

One of the oldest beers going round, this is a Belgian classic, and sits somewhere between a Pils and Lager. It accounts for 75% of all production in Belgium itself however is not the most consumed in that country!

Here in NZ, it is pretty much a 'noters' beer whether you like it or not, as it commands a higher price in pubs and clubs than most other international and all local beers.


For me, it is a luxury item, it would have to be selling at less than $2/stubbie which is not often, and other beers normally take precedence before it on price alone such as Tuborg and Carlsberg. In saying that, I am a big fan, funnily only after the first one...the first not quite hitting the spot, but subsequent (and there are a lot of subsequents) going down well. This is the quintessential BBQ beer, but is probably more associated as a dinner beer, and to me is best served in the bottle.

The traditional way to drink Stellar;
it pays to have a cheap shirt in case
of spillage

This is one of those beers that should never be served anything short of bitterly cold, and probably is why I drink so many so quick as it loses it's class as it warms.

For a wedding or a night where you don't intend to drink to excess, this is one of the first choices, or if you're trying to impress a bird at dinner. And to bring that home, quote some facts to show your alcohol dependence;

• While being listed as far back as 1366, it only became Artois in 1717 named after the master brewer of the time
• Stella is Latin for 'star'
• The label itself was only designed as late as 1988
• The heir to the Stella fortune plays in a band called "Lords of Acid"

Have a Drink On Me...

Normally I reserve this for my blog Friday Drinks, but in light of the CHCH earthquake, I present some liquid refreshment for those here in Canterbury.

This is two-fold; people will gather, share stories and have a drink, and the two I present here are local beers, all the more poignant as it helps a local industry and provides an escape, a moment, and a time to reflect in the best way we know how.

Last week I critiqued Harrington's Rogue Hop, a beaut of a Pilsner I had recently has in their bar in Belfast. In popping into the bottle store next door, the Pils was $25/doz, and yet I saw the Heritage 'series' at less than $20/doz. I asked the guy what it was "really like", and he said it was a nice easy brew. So I bought it, and here are my thoughts...

There are generally two types of beer lover - those who love strong malty tastes, and those who don't. I fit more into the second group, and this lager is definitely one to fit my pallet. This is a silky smooth drop, similar to export Steinlagers, and some imported beers. If you like your Steinlagers and Heinekins, this might not be your cup of tea.


A lot of beer makers try to make themselves more sophisticated in copying wineries in advising the right drink for the right meal...I find it a load of bullocks personally; I love my food, especially strong, spicy and savoury types, and as most beers have a strong malty taste I don't drink while I eat as it tends to immediately overpower the food taste, this lager is ideal for me as it does not do this. this will not be relevant to a lot of you, but it is also an easy beer to have with a smoke. Some beers foul the taste of cigarettes, and some make the smell of smoke even stronger (Tui is a classic example for me with my Menthols). Not this beauty...



Disclaimer - this beer may not make
you a good singer...or fashion
designer



From Harringtons;

Heritage Lager 4% - Malt Lager

The Heritage Range is a series of beer brewed  traditionally, our in-house special, only available from our Christchurch bottle stores.

Heritage Lager is a smooth and clean drinking lager.

At $15.50 for a 12 pack (at time of print) this is a very good value for money beer, more so than our 'big boys' DB and Lion...and being a local brewery it is all the more important that we support Harringtons as they will have been affected by the quakes, and we must support them to continue to operate through these tough times. Where the hell are Speights? Tui? Lion and DB???? Not a skerrick out of them. Support Canterbury, buy local.

Friday Drinks...Harrington's Pilsner

A couple of days ago I caught up with a mate for an afternoon drink in the Harrington's bar in Belfast and smapled their Pilsner - seemed the thing to do as I had commented on Speights' Pils last week (still means I delay rating two others - and no, I am not biased to Pils). Now playing rugby for Ohoka, we are sponsored by Harrington's, specifically our own "Swamp Duck" which I am not particulary fond of, but this beer is a fine drink and I highly recommend it to anyone, and is best served (like all beers) on tap as this was, on a hot afternoon.

The official word from Harringtons;
The Rogue Hop 5% - Pilsner2010 Silver Medal Winner - AIBA
Our pilsner is brewed using organic malt and hops. Brewed to the style of a bohemian pilsner with our own “rogue hop” to give it an exciting strong yet lingering hop finish. A great one for a mouth feel challenge with lots of hoppy aftertaste and very refreshing.

If you're in Christchurch and happen to drive past the pub, pop in and have a taste of this Pils, you won't be disappointed.

Cold Kiwi - 2007 Pt IV

Another instalment of photos and vid from the weekend in the middle of the wops...some more of the Burn Out Competition, and the Helmet Run, and the night's festivities...

 Above; what not to do with your Harley V-Rod

Left; The Salute to fallen riders, quite a din, especially amongst the two-strokes. Photo M. Tierney

Right; seemed appropriate at the time, I pull out my Bee Gees moves. Photo M. Tierney



 

Below left and right; the sausage competition - riders on the back of a bike must take as big a bite from a frankfurter hanging from a hook...sauce is sometimes added to make it more difficult...what is hard to watch is a guy on the back...hmmm, maybe in the wrong place, buddy.

Above; the infamous Helmet Run - the least clothing the better, and it is not so disappointing to see the ladies not get right into it, but damaging to the eyes that skinny white boys do!!

 Below left; where there's smoke...someone's bike (not the ZX from previous post) catches fire!
 Below right; the start of the dismantling - the main tent where the bands played on the Sunday morning - view from the food hall.

Below; discussions take place over a coffee, or a beer, something along the lines of "You know what, I think we should just cruise back at about 80km/h, and not worry if harleys overtake us, and make sure we stop for any Police officer who requests as such". Or something like that...

Below; the sight that greeted us every morning...Mt Ruapehu in all its splendour.

The Hurunui Hotel...

The first time I entered the historic Hurunui Hotel I was 15 and was taken in by my older brother Warren. We had just played Senior Reserve rugby up at Culverden (about 10km north) and were pub crawling home. I feel in love with the place there and then, but it would be at least 20 years before I enjoyed another drink there.

A few years ago Katie was doing a horse trek out the back of Hawerden with a couple of friends and I came down from Auckland to spend a week in and about North Canterbury. I booked in for a couple of nights in the Hurunui Hotel at the grand price of $45/night. I have fallen in love with the place, the quaintness of the rooms, the time warp that the place seems to be in (and should be as it does hold one of the oldest licenses in the country).

Travis, the licensee is one of the best around. Serving beers, sharing ditties, and cooking your breakfast the following morning (yes, breakfast is included in the fare!!), there is no better example that I have seen of a forthright, and stereotypical barman.

After Katie had finished her week-long trek, we flew back to Auckland and that night, being Leap Year, she proposed to me. So after we got married last Xmas, and she said we should head away for a couple of nigihts, I found she had booked us a night in the Hurunui in recognition of a few years before (I had joked we should have our honeymoon there knowing full well that she wouldn't - no TV, communal shower yadi yada).

I would like to see the place become a stop over for bikers on their way to the Brass Monkey or Burt Munroe, if not to have a dedicated bike rally - there is a camp site just over the Hurunui River.

For anyone wanting to stop for a beer, or their cracking gourmet pies and pizzas, or need a place to put your head, this is the place for you. Say "hi" to Travis and tell him I sent you.

 

Above left; Hurunui Hotel as I sketched it

Above right; old horse-drawn cart out front of Hurunui Hotel

 

Above left; the old stables next door to the Hotel, at time of drawing was a wine cellar (and seller) to the vineyard over the back - now it appears to be a tacky diner, complete with neon and LED signs!

Above right; The Homestead for the Hurunui Horse Treks where the girls finally got to have a clean up after their five days on horses.

I apologise for the sketches, they haven't scanned up that well.

Cold Kiwi - 2007 Part I

This Cold Kiwi had us bringing a few of the boys down with us, and as usual the Cold Kiwi didn't live up to it's name. Not much to mention, same old thing happens year in year out, but that suits us well.

Me - Suzuki SV1000S
Rob - Ducati ST4
Ray - Honda Firestorm 1000
Mike - Triumph Rocket III
Steve - Honda CB1300
Roy - GSXR 1000
Brett - Moto Guzzi VII Sport
Dane - Triumph 955i
Chris (who didn't really ride with us) - GSXR600

 Black Night, Rob's ST4 and 749S - a photo now would have a Suzuki GN250, Laverda, Triumph Triple, and a Suzuki RGV500                                  

Right: Ray and Brett checked out the bitumen at Papakura servo. A popular place for bikers to meet before hitting the Bombays.

Left: Brett and Roy at lunch, Taumaranui, a beaut place to eat, especially when you get two feeds! Sorry Dane! I ate a meal put in front of me (upset they scrambled instead of poached my eggs) and then when mine finally came, Dane didn't want it so I had that too. I was 20kg heavier in those days, that's why I needed a V-Twin!

Right: the boys meet up with Chris in Ohakune - he rides like a Nana, he left two days before!

 Left: Dane cannot understand why then girls haven't put up the tent for him already! this is one of the sweeter sounding 955s around, beaut pipe on it.

Right: Some of the bikes - Black Night, Brett's Guzzi, Rob's ST4 (he dropped it and broke the mirror), Roy's Gixxer, Steve's CB1300

Left: me, Mike and Dane share a broke back moment. It was a bit cool judging by the clothing.

Right: everyone does what they do best - argue, gossip, talk bikes, and waffle shit over beers and around the fire. The conversation makes no sense when girls are about to impress. From l to r, Chris, Rob, Roy, Dane, Steve, Ray, Brett (back turned), Mel (Brett's fiance) and Becky (Steve's daughter).

Friday Drinks...Speights Gold

In a new waste of the information highway, I will feature a beer worth considering...it is about this time of the week when one starts to feel the dry scratching at the back of the throat (let's be honest, that starts for me 0800 Monday morning!) and the mind wanders to getting out of the office, or off the building site, or out of the truck, and into a pub, bottlie, or self-invitation to a mate's for a glass, pint, handle, stubbie, longneck, or whatever you want to call it.

The box of Speights...what was orignally used
as seats in Jake The Musc's house, but failed.

So this is the first of my choices in beers, the tried and true Speights Gold. World famous for it's "Good onya Mate" campaigns, Here is the 'official explanation from Speight's brewery on their bevvie;

Speight's encapsulates the needs of thirsty yet discerning Southern Men. Probably the least sweet of all New Zealand mainstream brown beers, this characteristic allows the full flavour of the malt and hops to shine through.
Speight's Gold Medal Ale is a great accompaniment to any meat dish and is superb with gamey Southern dishes such as venison, duck and rabbit.

Now I'm not much of a rabbit fan personally (and I wouldn't expect too many Southern farmers are!) what with calicivirous (sic) and lead-poisoning prevalent, but I would have this Ale in my top 10 of all beers, and personally for me is best when over the Barbie (although I prefer to call mine Joss, as she's HOT!) with some home-kill sausies, chops, and maybe some garlic prawns sizzling away. Also the perfect beer to share with the missus when she asks for a Shandy...it's criminal, I know, but at least she's not drinking Khutze Lager!

As we used to toast in the Navy..."To Wives and Sweethearts...may they never meet!".

Pride of the South...I can only assume they mean the beer???