New Zealand Beer?

**auld argonian** · 25th January 06, 05:09 PM

So...I was headed for the checkout at the market today and spotted a twelve pack of brews in the "last chance" pile near the register. Twelve bottles of "Steinlager" New Zealand beer...price $5.00 American.

Just so our Canadian buddies can feel our pain, there was tax on that $5.00...45 cents. I know...in Canada the tax would have been more than the price of the beer but this is Chicago!

So I have to ask any of our kilted brethren from down there around Peter Jackson/Lord of the Rings land whether I scored here or whether I got my money's worth. Drink it or fill up the sprayer and give the lawn a treat (a tip from an old Scottish greenskeeper that I ran into on a Suburban Chicago golf course)? I know that most folks hold their local beer in either contempt or reverence...which is it? Do you guys relish this stuff or do you hang out at the beach hoping that a case of Budweiser will wash up on shore and make your day?

It's chilling now so I'll check back in as soon as it's down to temperature and I can sample it.

Best

AA

**Moosehead** · 25th January 06, 06:22 PM

Even if its horrible stuff, bet they'd still prefer it over Bud.

**macwilkin** · 25th January 06, 06:31 PM

I've had it, back in the 90's -- as I remember, I was not that impressed. As Moosehead said, I would drink it over Bud anyday (and this from the chap who lives in A-B's backyard!), but it wasn't that memorable.

Now -- Emu Bitter from Australia and Swan Lager -- they were good. I even liked the Fosters Dark in the green can -- but sadly, I can't seem to find any of them anymore in my "neck o' the woods".

Now...I'm off in a mo' to have a nice Irish Ale from Boulevard Brewing in Kansas City! :mrgreen: Not quite as good as the Irish Ale at Diamond Bear Brewery in Little Rock, but it is certainly quaffable!

Cheers,

Todd

**KiltedCodeWarrior** · 25th January 06, 07:11 PM

So AA, its been 2 hours or more, how are you chilling that beer? Mythbusters on Discovery channel showed that you could take a cooler, fill it with ice and water, add salt, and chill a can of beer from 80 degrees down to a frothy and delicious 38 degrees in 5 minutes! And even in the standard freezer it would only take 75-90 minutes. Are you using some kind of hand powered cooling device and have to stop for breaks? I know that age is creeping up on you! :grin:

**auld argonian** · 25th January 06, 07:17 PM

The reference to Bud was quite off-handed...my brother spent a while in Ireland for his company and came back with tales about how the locals woouldn't touch a Guinness but were crazy over Bud...none of us got it either. I'd like to say that Bud was the "beer of last resort" here but you can always find SOMETHING else...Schaeffer's (a real sleeper from Wisconsin) being a prime example...that can keep you from having to drink Bud.

The local beer thing has always been funny to me: we sucked up a lot of Old Style when I was younger but if you ever met anyone from Lacrosse, Wisc, where the stuff was made, they'd look at you like you were nuts if you told them that you liked their beer. I guess it was probably because they knew guys who worked in the brewery.

As far as American beers, it's kind of like guitar strings: there's only, like, three companies making the national brands and they all come out tasting about the same. When in Washington DC I once asked for a local brew and they brought me a bottle of something that the waiter later admitted was basically Sam Adams with a local label on it.

It's like the old joke..."Sean, you idiot....now we'll have to pee in the boat!"

Best

AA

**auld argonian** · 25th January 06, 07:21 PM

Originally Posted by KiltedCodeWarrior

So AA, its been 2 hours or more, how are you chilling that beer? Mythbusters on Discovery channel showed that you could take a cooler, fill it with ice and water, add salt, and chill a can of beer from 80 degrees down to a frothy and delicious 38 degrees in 5 minutes! And even in the standard freezer it would only take 75-90 minutes. Are you using some kind of hand powered cooling device and have to stop for breaks? I know that age is creeping up on you! :grin:

It's in my 125 square foot walk-in refridgerator that was labelled "screen porch" on the survey I got when I bought the house. It's 30 degrees outside so it's probably like 31 degrees on the porch...I better check on it soon.

(and those are those good old Fahrenheit degrees for the benefit of those cursed by the metric system...just try to buy a pound of ANYTHING in Montreal...sacre bleu!)

Best

AA