BAR OF THE MONTH - January

New Zealand Real Ale Bar of the Month for January is The Twisted Hop.

Following Galbraith's win last month, New Zealand's second real ale brew pub is this month's winner. Opened in 2004, nearly a decade after Galbraith's started the ball rolling, the Twisted Hop has been keeping the citizens of Christchurch happy ever since, and setting the standard for other South Island breweries to aspire to. Set in the former industrial Lichfield Lanes area, the Twisted Hop has been somewhat bullied of late by bigger, less stable surrounding brick buildings, safety barricades, and road works as the tram line extension is laid. Within days of last September's earthquake, and the pub's re-opening, regulars could be seen single-mindedly navigating circuitous routes down old alleyways and over piles of rubble to converge upon the Twisted Hop. If anything, the earthquake seems to have shaken the beer clear. At times in the past, there have been problems serving their beer fresh and clear, but in recent months there has been a noticeable and commendable improvement in this area. Aside from the three regular, eminently drinkable, beers (Golding Bitter, Challenger and Twisted Ankle), this past year has seen some outstanding seasonal brews. At the moment, the Beach Bum and IPA are both drinking extremely well. Other favourites from earlier in the year included the excellent winter annual Oatmeal Stout, and the legendary Magnitude 7.1 (pictured above in the Snug, dating from last October) brewed, as some of their other beers are, at the Three Boys Brewery. The Twisted Hop offers exactly what a good pub should: high quality real ale, and a great atmosphere for genial conversation, or quietly doing the crossword over a pint whilst keeping a watchful eye on the brewer at work behind the bar. It can be busy with diners at times (too often disdaining the handpumps!). The upstairs function room and recently opened No.8 room could be better used to seat diners, leaving more space for drinkers to sit in the main bar, rather than having to stand, blocking the cramped approach to the bar. Losing the background muzak - alas ubiquitous inside and outside everywhere in New Zealand - would be an improvement too. These quibbles aside, there's nowhere better to drink in the South Island.