BAR OF THE MONTH - October

New Zealand Real Ale Bar of the Month for October is Pomeroy's Old Brewery Inn, Christchurch.

It's a couple of years since Pomeroy's last received honourable mention in these pages. During this time the building has gone through a period of repair, additional strengthening, and some minor internal rearrangement. The new brewery, Beer Baroness run by Ava Wilson, has also opened on site. Its excellent beers are found with increasing frequency in bars around the city, and as far south as the likes of The Portsider in Port Chalmers. In many cases the beer is happily dispensed by handpump without artificial carbonation. In Pomeroy's itself, three handpumps are now to be found in almost continuous operation. Unfortunately the beer does tend to come from bags, but it still tastes fresh and is (generally) at an appropriate temperature. It's rarely cloudy, presumably indicating that the beer is bright. It's certainly far more flavoursome, aromatic and drinkable than the wide array of gassy beers on offer.

BAR OF THE MONTH - October

New Zealand Real Ale Bar of the Month for October is Pomeroy's Old Brewery Inn, Christchurch.

The welcome from Steve and his family is second-to-none, making this traditional pub a firm favourite with its loyal customers. This characterful old brick inn was originally Ward's Brewery, but has just celebrated a decade since being established as Pomeroy's Old Brewery Inn. Many of the surrounding buildings were destroyed in the earthquake, but Pomeroy's had sufficient earthquake strengthening to withstand the devastating February quake and the seemingly never-ending aftershocks. The photo above dates from the beginning of April, just after Pomeroy's had moved outside the cordon and been able to reopen much to the delight of those of us who were going stir crazy in the city. At the time, getting to it was an arduous task, with long and treacherous silt-filled detours necessary by foot or by road. The effort was more than repaid. In the months since February, when it was one of very few establishments open near the city centre, Pomeroy's has gone from strength to strength. An on-site boutique brewery is planned (brewing and serving real ale, please!), and a second handpump has been installed, with two handpulled beers virtually always being on offer. Breweries represented on the handpump have recently included Townshend, Liberty Brewing, Twisted Hop (as and when barrels get rescued from months of suspended animation in the Red Zone), Three Boys and Golden Eagle. Despite the beer sitting in barrels or bags beneath the bar(!), its temperature isn't usually too far above the correct 12 °C temperature since it is consumed so quickly. Not all of the beers finding their way onto handpump are naturally conditioned either. Despite this, they are generally remarkably good which is, likewise, down to their short shelf life. Surely it wouldn't be so difficult to order cask-conditioned beer in proper barrels, store them in a temperature-controlled area behind the bar and then tap the beer straight from the cask? Now that really would set Pom's apart, and give it a good run at the title of NZ's best pub!

Pomeroy's

Pomeroy's Old Brewery Inn, Kilmore St, Christchurch.

See also BAR OF THE MONTH - October 2013 and October 2011.

UPDATE: The original entry is now rather misleading, since the Four Avenues Brewery has been operating on site since November 2012 (beer artificially carbonated, unfortunately), and there are now three handpumps installed, and all on active service. Unfortunately the beer comes from bags beneath the bar, but it's usually fairly good since the bags get used up fast, and don't generally reach room temperature unless you get your timing wrong.

Despite the name, Pomeroy's don't brew their own beer, but they may have a brew such as Three Boys Brewery Oyster Stout on handpump in season.