BAR OF THE MONTH - April

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

Since opening eight months ago, Cassels CBD Bar has quickly become established as one of Christchurch's best bars. Of course, there's not a lot of competition at the moment, but they set high standards in terms of the quality of their building and its fittings, the warm welcome and friendly atmosphere and, most crucially, the quality of their beer. It is true to say that Cassels beers are not of the same exquisitely high standard that they were a year ago, but they have settled back to consistently drinkable quality after going through a temporary bad patch six months ago. The four handpumps get a good workout, with barrels rarely staying on for more than a day or two. Unfortunately, limited cellar space means that barrels aren't always allowed to condition and settle for as long as would be ideal, and sometimes the beer is even pumped from bags (brought fresh from the brewery at Woolston).

Smash Palace, Christchurch

Smash Palace, Corner of Victoria St and Bealey Ave, Christchurch.

See also BAR OF THE MONTH - December 2013.

Smash Palace is one of Christchurch's ubiquitous 'pop-up' bars, and has been running, out of a decommissioned bus, for nearly a year now. They have two handpumps, with beers from the likes of Cassels pulled through 'from the bag'.

BAR OF THE MONTH - March

New Zealand Real Ale Bar of the Month for March is The Woolston Hop.

In the five months since opening in Woolston, The Twisted Hop has swiftly reclaimed its spot as Christchurch's premier purveyor of real ale. They had a rough patch shortly after opening due to a problem at the brewery, but they took the sensible option of pouring the beer down the drain, and have worked hard ever since to ensure that their customers leave with a positive experience. The welcoming and knowledgeable bar staff know their beer, and they are always ready to chat about it. As well as the usual beers (from which the Golding Bitter has been a particular stand-out recently), there have been some small-batch specials such as the Skullbuggery Double IPA, tastings of Hopback IPA with different hops, and one (of the twelve) handpumps often has a guest offering from the likes of Raindogs and Golden Eagle. Beer lovers on the west of the city will be disappointed to hear that the brewery shop at Wigram is no longer open on Friday evenings, but the staff at The Woolston Hop will happily fill take-away riggers of ale. The Lincoln Hop (which will also contain the original Twisted Hop's brewing equipment) is on track for opening later this year.

Peak Brewery

Peak Brewery, Masterton.

The Peak Brewery, situated on a lifestyle block midway between Masterton and Carterton, has been running Sunday sessions recently, during which their Mendip Bitter has been served on handpump. The brewery's excellent bottle-conditioned beers can be found in the Wairarapa area, and their cask conditioned beers are occasionally available too in Wellington at establishments such as the Malthouse. It would be wise to contact the brewery prior to visiting to see whether the Sunday sessions are continuing into the winter.

BAR OF THE MONTH - February

New Zealand Real Ale Bar of the Month for February is Volstead.

In the immediate aftermath of the Christchurch earthquake a couple of years ago, friends and neighbours met in each other's homes and garages to drink and socialise. Where else were they to go? All the familiar drinking venues had collapsed or were closed and off limits. Volstead, in a small converted industrial unit just off Riccarton Road, has been a wonderful continuation of this spirit over the last year and a half. Ostensibly inspired by the American prohibition-era speakeasy, Volstead is happily different to the other soulless, bland and tacky theme bars in the area. Its spartan appearance, complete with mismatching furniture which really does look like is has come out of a skip may not be to everyone's taste, but if you're looking for a laidback place where beer and amiable conversation rule, then Volstead should not disappoint. On summer evenings, the huge main door is completely opened up, leaving happy drinkers to spill out into the front courtyard area, enjoying the last of the day's sun. In winter, it can be a little chillier inside, but at least that ensures the beer does not get too warm. Early demand saw handpulled beer feature strongly, and there are now five handpumps. Unfortunately, at this stage all the handpumps are connected to bags of beer, but the staff go to trouble to ensure the beer pulled through is fresh, close to the correct temperature of about 12 °C, and not unduly cloudy. The beer is usually pretty good, and it's revealing to drink some of the unfiltered and unpasteurised beers that they dispense by handpump, comparing them to identical beers pushed up to the bar and impregnated by artificial carbonation in other bars. It would be great to see Volstead going the final step of installing a small refrigerated room behind the brick bar and tapping beer direct from the cask! Beers on handpump are likely to come from breweries such as Twisted Hop, Cassels, Townshend, Four Avenues, Golden Eagle and Yeastie Boys. Keep your eyes open for a microbrewery next door.

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.

BAR OF THE MONTH - December

New Zealand Real Ale Bar of the Month for December is Albar, Dunedin.

Since last being nominated as NZ Real Ale Bar of the Month a year ago, Albar seems to have become busier, and is successfully serving four relatively fresh-tasting beers from their handpumps. The selection generally includes brews from the likes of Emerson's (whose sale to multinational brewer Lion is of great concern), Renaissance and Tuatara. Long may their success continue.

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 - October

New Zealand Real Ale Bar of the Month for October is The Woolston Hop.

It would seem churlish not to nominate The Woolston Hop as NZ's Real Ale Bar of the Month when its opening a few days ago marked such an agreeable and rightly acclaimed return to normality for Christchurch. The city's recent misfortune with earthquakes is well known and, even as these words are typed, a magnitude 3.6 aftershock not far from Woolston gives long-suffering residents a reminder (as if it were needed!) of what has passed. The industrial concrete of the new Hop is redolent of the old, although the building itself also has a warm homely feel to it already. It would be difficult to heap enough praise on the owners and staff who have struggled to get things up and running again over a tough year and a half, but the enthusiastic response of former regulars already indicates how pleased we are to see the Hop back up and running again. Initial beer quality is encouraging. Truth be told, the best beer available in New Zealand at the moment is tapped straight from the cask at the Twisted Hop brewery in Wigram every Friday, although it remains to be seen how fresh their firkins will remain when trade to the door drops off with Woolston's rise. Hopefully some of Christchurch's outstanding new real ale establishments will realise that handpumps are merely a step along the road towards beer nirvana, and that a foaming pint tapped fresh from the cask is an experience that cannot be bettered. There's another challenge set for this astonishingly adaptable city!