Craft beer drinker and NZ Herald reporter Belinda Feek sits her VB drinking mate Kevin Holmes down try a series of Kiwi craft beers. Photo / Belinda Feek
Craft beer drinker and NZ Herald reporter Belinda Feek sits her VB drinking mate Kevin Holmes down try a series of Kiwi craft beers. Photo / Belinda Feek
Herald reporter and beer aficionado Belinda Feek is on a mission - to sample as many fine summer brews as possible and educate her sceptical mate Kevin along the way. Welcome to day one: lager.
While there are a plethora of Kiwi craft breweries, what do those who've hardly evertried the stuff actually think of it?
Having been a fan of craft brews for about 15 years or so, my opinion doesn't really count.
However, I was keen to carry out some sort of unscientific study and work out if they think craft beer is worth all the hype.
So, I wrangle in my VB - Victoria Bitter - drinking mate of mine, Kevin Holmes, who's forever dubbed craft beer as "overpriced homebrew" or that he could run his lawnmower on it.
Should be an interesting time.
The plan? Get five Kiwi breweries on board and try five of their beers.
So, we parked up on the deck of his Raglan property on a steaming hot Saturday and set about solving the world's problems - aka, trying some beers.
Fortunately, the good guys and gals at Lakeman Brewing, Taupō; Garage Project, Wellington; McLeod's Brewing, Waipu; Behemoth Brewing, Auckland and Good George Brewing, Hamilton were all prepared to take part in the "experiment".
Throughout this week, we're going to try five different styles and rate them out of 5.
From left, Behemoth's half way down lager, Lakeman lager, McLeod's Longboarder lager, Garage Project beer and Good George Pilsner. Photo / Mike Scott
Today, it's all about the lager.
Lakeman - Lager - 5 per cent
Pitched as a good match with fish and chips, according to the brewer.
Kevin - "Would be a nice one to sit watching the sun go down over the lake. It's not too malty, nice tangy taste, hint of lemon." 4.5/5
Belinda - "Easy drinker, light and refreshing. A great one after mowing the lawns." 4/5
Garage Project - Beer - 4.8 per cent
A Czech lager that's an easy pair with almost any food, particularly something with heat.
Kevin - "Very smooth, tasty, and thirst-quenching." 4/5
