Field Theory by Hadyn Green

You lucky bastards. That is all.

This happened where?

You lucky bastards. That is all.

Quoted for truth.

Looks like I'll be going the long way home past Victoria Park New World to pick up a few bottles from The Crouching Brewing Company.

Trophy AND Gold (not sure how that works?) for their Czech Pilsner.

@Geoff
It was at Beervana, the BrewNZ Awards in Wellington this weekend. Sorry I can't believe I forgot that bit!

@Martin
It's a bit like Krufts. There are a number of beers that get medals (gold, silver and bronze) in each category. So there could be a large number gold of medalists in a given category (or even 0, as in the case of NZ Draught). The best beer in the category wins the trophy for that category.

I believe (but I'm not 100% on this) the number of medals is how the best brewery is decided.

Croucher were the brewery I most regret missing out on. I love their Vicar's Vice and Cherry Bock.

Thanks for the props! However, just a little correction on your opening section: our "Punkadiddle" didn't actually win any medals as it wasn't entered in the awards... it was only brewed two weeks ago, was still fermenting when the judging took place, so only arrived at the town hall the night before the festival (another beauty of low ABV beer, besides its sessionability, is the super fast turnaround - there wouldn't have been a beer there anywhere near as fresh).

There may be another beer or two in your list that didn't medal but they're all damn good!

Slainte
Stu - Yeastie Boys

I'd not heard of Beervana till a couple of days ago as it seems to have become popular since I've left Wellington. Looks pretty great though I must say

Let's go to the hop...

It's a bit like Krufts

So I guess then that some of the beers were dogs?

All my faves got Bronze, Emersons, Three Boys, Harringtons & yeah the draughts.

Sometimes my tastes go to the 4% big boys, at least if it's not craft, I can alway drink for the Crater good.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed strong beers at this tasting/beer smashing piss up. Usually I find them horrid. The Mikes DBL IPA was truly fantastic.

I drove down from Auckland for Beervana, and it was totally worth it. I loved 8 Wired's Hopwired, and the Arrowtown folks Wee Heavy. And the whole day, really. Would go again.

I'm really surprised I haven't written on this thread.

I still deeply appreciate a good beer -or 2- after working hard, or with certain foods, or on a lazy summer evening. Boutique beers, not dismal fizzy slammers. Normally, I catch up on 'em when I am in Dunedin...

...butI now have umpty dozen new ones to go find & explore - nice one Hayden!

(I think this is the first time I have ever posted to your column: but the puns & the obvious subject matter were beery enticing - cheers!)

Beervana was awesome!
I took the Friday off and went to the first session on Friday before the hordes poured in.
Going early before the crowded Friday night and weekend slots certainly made getting to the bars easier, and the brewers were not flat out serving so I was able to talk beers and methods with quite a few of them, standouts for affability and openness about beers and brewing have to be Martin from Townsend, Rhys from Peak brewing and sorry I forgot names of the following.... the owner of the twisted hop, Sprig and fern and the new head brewer from Tuatara.

Was a brilliant day off work, my only mistake of the day was trying the Double dog from the american doghead fish brewery..... Man that was nasty!!!!
Capped the day off sharing a bottle of Rogue Old Crustacean Barleywine at Hashingo Zake afterwards.