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.

BAR OF THE MONTH - August

New Zealand Real Ale Bar of the Month for August is Cassels & Sons CBD Bar, Christchurch.

Cassels Brewery is a real success in Christchurch's recent times. Following extensive earthquake strengthening to one of the city centre's few remaining buildings, Cassels have just opened their second hostelry, the CBD Bar, within a stone's throw of the site of Poplar Lane and The Twisted Hop. This comes as a huge relief to those who live and work in the city, many of whom have become acclimatised to seeing only desolate, half-deconstructed buildings around them, and have forgotten what it is like to be able to enjoy a quiet pint on their own doorstep. Ironically enough, CERA's recently announced plans for the city rebuild would have this building demolished to make way for a rugby stadium. Considering the outrageous proposed desecration of Christchurch's primary symbol, the Anglican Cathedral, by its own bishop, it becomes desperately dispiriting for anyone wishing to preserve a tiny sense of place and history in their city. Sitting in Cassels CBD Bar, surveying the flat expanses of rubble through the wide windows as one looks towards the Port Hills in early spring, with a pint of foaming (or rather, creamy) ale in hand, is one way for us to drown our sorrows. Here we can reflect for a while on the lunacy of the power-crazed (or perhaps just remarkably inept and indifferent) petty bureaucrats who continue unnecessarily to fence off vast swathes of our already-demolished, now sanitized city, or who would tear down the few remaining buildings of any note for their own squalid self-aggrandisement.

Cassels CBD Bar, Madras St, Christchurch

Cassels & Sons Brewery CBD Bar, Madras St, Christchurch.

See also BAR OF THE MONTH - April 2013 and August 2012.

Cassels new CBD bar has opened up in a quality fitout of a fine heritage building on Madras St. Not surprisingly, having opened just a few days ago, it is already proving extremely popular with locals, passing workers, and earthquake tourists doing the round of the CBD red zone cordon. The four handpumps serve Cassels' exemplary beers, presently being delivered daily from the Woolston brewery. Expect to find Best Bitter (4.3%), The Alchemist Golden Ale (4.6%) and Milk Stout (5.2%).

Dark Room, Christchurch

The Dark Room, St Asaph St, Christchurch.

The casual visitor may find the darkness of this establishment presents its difficulties in finding one's way to the bar, and the unsavoury, stale odours are likely to drive said visitor in the opposite direction, but anyone who makes it this far will note four handpumps, dispensing the like of Twisted Hop and Yeastie Boys beers (most likely 'from the bag', alas). Those wishing to imbibe a quiet beer beware: this is a 'live music' venue!

Gorilla Bar, Ferrymead

Gorilla Bar, Waterman Place, Ferrymead, Christchurch.

UPDATE: Gorilla's brief flirtation with hand-pulled beer was an unhappy one, and their handpump has since gone back to the Twisted Hop. The 'craft beers' available are all artificially carbonated.

An excellent tapas menu complemented with a couple of handpumps sets this industrially-sited establishment apart from its neighbours, a Speights 'Ale' House and the (now sole) Winnie Bagoes pizza restaurant. The drizzle of beer squeezed through the sparkler head from the bag beneath the bar is hardly going to entice beer lovers, but it's a small step in the right direction. Breweries such as Cassels and The Twisted Hop, are represented on the two handpumps.

Cock and Bull buyout kills real ale

It is reported that the recent acquisition of the Cock and Bull chain of five pubs, which were distinguished for their Fuggles Best Bitter dispensed by handpump, will result in their beers being terminated. This deeply regrettable move instantly cuts the number of North Island establishments where something vaguely resembling real ale might be found by one third. No beer enthusiast is likely to choose to drink bland, mass-produced, fizzy beer in a Cock and Bull bar from early August when their award-winning beers are scheduled to be phased out. Surely the new owners are shooting themselves in the foot?

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1207/S00666/a-cock-and-bull-story-end-of-an-era-for-brewpubs.htm

BAR OF THE MONTH - July

New Zealand Real Ale Bar of the Month for July is The Free House.

The Free House in Nelson remains one of New Zealand's most appealing pubs. It is a laid-back place where beer and civilised conversation take pride of place. Things are done a little differently in Nelson. There are a number of attractive hostelries in or around the town, including the commendable Sprig and Fern establishments, which are only let down by virtue of the fact that their beer is artificially carbonated! The Free House, however, does the job properly. Their three handpumps are usually devoted to the local Townshend beers, which are generally in good condition so long as a little has been pulled through the pipes and they aren't too warm. The yurt in the garden which seems to have become permanent may not be to everyone's taste, but if it attracts people to keep the real ale flowing, then that's in all beer lovers' interests.

Port Hole, Lyttelton

The Port Hole, London St, Lyttelton, Christchurch.

The Port Hole is a container bar established on the site of Lyttelton's iconic Volcano Cafe and Lava Bar, which was demolished as a result of fatal earthquake damage on February 22nd 2011. There is one handpump serving a beer from a brewery such as Cassels, Three Boys, or The Twisted Hop.

Volstead

Volstead Trading Company Craft Beer and Cocktail Lounge, Riccarton Rd, Christchurch.

See also BAR OF THE MONTH - February 2013.

There are three handpumps serving a regularly changing selection of local ales from the likes of Cassels, The Twisted Hop, Golden Eagle and Raindogs breweries.

BAR OF THE MONTH - June

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

Thirteen months ago, it didn't seem like there would be any prospect of drinking the Twisted Hop beers for a very long time, with the brewery off limits in Christchurch's ghost town of a city centre. Virtually all the buildings in Poplar Lane have now been demolished, with the Twisted Hop's building remaining forlorn, and awaiting its own terminal fate. They are part of the estimated 80% of city centre buildings that have been or will soon be demolished following the devastating earthquakes. Despite many obstacles, the Twisted Hop team have remained true to their word: they have been brewing again for several months, their beers are available in a handful of local establishments, and plans to open two new Twisted Hop pubs are well advanced. The Ferry Road, Woolston building is nearing completion, and scheduled to open by the end of the year. It's a bit of a cheat to name the brewery in Wigram as 'Real Ale Bar of the Month', since you can't drink there. On the other hand, it would be a real injustice to ignore it, since you won't get real ale tapped straight from the cask into a bottle in front of your eyes anywhere else in the country. And the beer is oustandingly good too! Open on Fridays from 2-7 pm, the brewery shop is a quiet oasis for real ale lovers. Unless at a crucially delicate stage in the brewing process, you are sure to get an opportunity to chat to the brewers at work and to learn about the plans for the Twisted Hop's rebirth. Casks of the old favourites are conditioning, and await tapping. The Golding Bitter on the shop's opening night in April was spectacular, and the newest brew, Hopback (5.8%) is a sublime example of intensely restrained hoppiness, that some of NZ's less subtle new world, APA-style brewers would do well to sample. It's great to see the Twisted Hop recovering so well. It promises to be even better than before, and thoroughly deserves the local support it is getting - and more! The brewery shop can be hard to find, so see the map below. See also The Twisted Hop website for regular updates.

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