BAR OF THE MONTH - July

New Zealand Real Ale Bar of the Month for July is Little Beer Quarter, Wellington.

LBQ has just celebrated its second birthday. It has become a pleasantly civilized pub for the craft beer enthusiast over its first couple of years, during which time it has installed a couple of handpumps. They generally keep their barrels upright directly beneath the bar, with a nod towards reducing temperature by sheepishly adding bags of ice cubes around the barrels, although on their website they proudly declare that their handpulled beer is "Served through a traditional beer engine, at room temperature with low carbonation". Wellington has been erroneously styling itself as NZ's craft beer capital for some time despite having neither any real ale breweries nor any pubs that consistently serve cask-conditioned beer (surely Christchurch, Nelson and Auckland have a more genuine claim?). LBQ should be acknowledged for taking a step in the right direction, but beer-loving patrons might want to suggest that they go the final step and actually serve cask-conditioned beer at 12 °C through their handpumps.

BAR OF THE MONTH - January

New Zealand Real Ale Bar of the Month for January is D4, Wellington.

D4 was one of the earliest bars in Wellington to install a handpump, and their barstaff are adept at ensuring that the beer pulled through is fresh and served at the correct temperature. It is usually used to dispense a dark beer such as Emerson's London Porter or Tuatara Porter. Unlike most of the faux, kitsch Irish bars around the world, D4 is the genuine article. It is warm, welcoming and understated: a genuine reflection of the true hospitality and atmosphere that one enjoys in the best establishments in the Emerald Isle.

Meow

Meow, Edward St, Wellington.

Meow, opposite Little Beer Quarter, have installed a handpump this year. It doesn't get much use during the daytime, but apparently gets more action in the evenings. Unfortunately they are following a disturbing Wellington trend of keeping the barrel directly beneath the bar, so you are likely to get room-temperature beer from the likes of McCashin's Brewery at Stoke.

BAR OF THE MONTH - November

New Zealand Real Ale Bar of the Month for November is The Malthouse, Wellington.

It's almost embarrassing to note just how far ahead of the competition The Malthouse is in Wellington. Alas, there are only two handpumps, but their offerings change regularly, and include a wonderful variety of beers. Unlike some of their neighbours (who shall remain nameless), The Malthouse's knowledgeable bar staff realise that real ale should be served fresh and at about 12 °C, and ensure that it is. It's not uncommon when requesting a pint to see two or three pulled through first and poured down the sink before you're presented with your beer in order to ensure that any stale, warm beer in the pipes has been expunged. How refreshing! Other bars, please take note!

As an addendum, it is worth pointing out that the Malthouse's handpumps are, of course, genuine, unlike the fake ones round the corner at The Bruhaus and The Tap Haus, where the beer is pushed up to the bar by carbon dioxide at the pull of a switch. Admittedly, the artificial carbonation is relatively low at those establishments, but the beer served is some of the most unpleasant, stale, metallic-tasting rubbish that has ever passed this drinker's lips. These places' pretence at serving proper beer simply give the genuine purveyors of the drink we all love, such as The Malthouse, a bad name.

As a further and final addendum, the team behind the Malthouse are responsible for the Fork and Brewer on Bond St, where brewing finally started after various delays in September. Apparently they've had repeated requests to install handpumps and serve real ale. Strangely, they have, as yet, not succumbed.

BAR OF THE MONTH - September

New Zealand Real Ale Bar of the Month for September is Hashigo Zake.

Since opening three years ago, Hashigo Zake has established itself on the Wellington beer scene as one of the foremost advocates for both new local and international breweries. The bar staff have a first-rate knowledge of, and passion for beer. The beers dispensed from their three handpumps change regularly, although Townshend is virtually always featured. Beers from the likes of the encouraging young Garage Project Brewery and the Peak Brewery (whose bottle-conditioned beers are impressive, by the way) have recently been available on handpump. Knowledge about beer isn't everything, though. Your present correspondent's experiences of hand-pulled beer at Hashigo Zake have not, until recently, been favourable. On dozens of occasions over the last three years their beer has been too warm, stale or cloudy, and it is for this reason that it has not been recommended on these pages before. This seems to be becoming less of a problem, though, with recent visits leaving a far more pleasant taste in the mouth. Hashigo Zake deserves great success. Let us hope that the quality of their beer continues on its upward trend.

Little Beer Quarter

Little Beer Quarter, Edward St, Wellington.

See also BAR OF THE MONTH - July 2013.

LBQ, which opened last year, has recently had a handpump installed. It is expected to be in use soon.

The Hop Garden

The Hop Garden, Pirie St, Wellington.

The Hop Garden, established by Bar Edward's owner, opened at the end of January, and purports to be a relaxed restaurant and 'craft beer' outlet. They have one handpump, pulling beer from a brewery such as Yeastie Boys or Pink Elephant up from a barrel beneath the bar. You may wish to enquire whether the beer being dispensed is cask conditioned, and object if it is being served at room temperature.

BAR OF THE MONTH - September

New Zealand Real Ale Bar of the Month for September is The Malthouse, Wellington.

The Malthouse is one of NZ's best known 'craft beer' pubs, and is currently celebrating two decades since opening originally in Willis St. They gave up their slightly 'tucked away' feel and pleasant balcony in 2007 when they moved over to Courtenay Place, to socialize with all the other outlets drawing inebriated teenagers into the capital on a Friday night (or any other night, for that matter). If you can find an evening when you don't have to navigate around abusive, intoxicated youths in what was once Wellington's cultural heart, then a visit to the Malthouse may be in order. On some evenings it can be difficult to get through the oxygen-depleted entrance and into the building, let alone close enough to shout your order to the barman, but on quieter nights you may even manage a conversation about beer with a knowledgeable member of the bar staff. Over the last two or three years, it has become increasingly common to find a beer dispensed by handpump. These days, both handpumps are often in service, and might include offerings from breweries such as Tuatara or Townshend or, most recently, the Cock and Bull Fuggles Best Bitter. It is worth checking whether the beer being served is actually cask-conditioned.

Boon Brothers Joint - Crumpet // Pollux

Boon Brothers Joint - Crumpet  //  Pollux Wine Bar, Manners St, Wellington.

UPDATE: Pollux had a major makeover during 2012, becoming a Boon Brothers Joint - Crumpet. On a visit in September, with promotional advertising being shot, and new signage being mounted, the handpump had been removed. Considering how warm and off the beer usually was, this is probably no bad thing, but the barman assured me that three new handpumps were on their way. We await this development with some trepidation!

This bar, next to the Opera House, keeps a Moa beer on handpump, such as Imperial Stout in winter or Five Hop Winter Ale in summer.

Bar Edward

Bar Edward, Newtown, Wellington.

Beer from breweries such as Townshend or Tuatara may be available on handpump.

D4

D4, Featherston St, Wellington.

See also BAR OF THE MONTH - January 2013.

One handpump is installed, dispensing a beer such as Tuatara Porter (5.0%).

Hashigo Zake

Hashigo Zake, Taranaki St, Wellington.

See also BAR OF THE MONTH - September 2012.

Two handpumps are installed, with beers from breweries such as Townshend and Twisted Hop regularly being available.

The Malthouse

The Malthouse, Courtenay Place, Wellington.

See also BAR OF THE MONTH - November 2012 and September 2011.

There are a couple of handpumps, with one or two real ales such as Tuatara Porter often available.