Galbraith's Alehouse on Mt Eden Rd. Photo / Janna Dixon
Address: 2 Mount Eden Rd, Mt Eden
Ph: (09) 379 3557
Website: alehouse.co.nz
Open: Sun Noon-10pm, Mon-Sat Noon-11pm.
We're not worthy I'd better get Galbraith's out of the way early.
It's a cathedral to beer and fine drink and it stands alone in Auckland. In fact, it probably stands alone in the country.
Part of this is down to the atmosphere. It's unashamedly based on the
classic English pub, where conversation kills the effects of alcohol, rather than the other way around, as happens all too often in New Zealand. It's the sort of pub where even the most cripplingly shy Trappist monks feel duty bound to strike up a conversation.
But the main attraction is the beer. Mostly brewed on the premises, the cask-conditioned ales on offer are as good as any beer to be had in England. From the invitingly honeyed Bob Hudson's Bitter to the Abbey-style Resurrection, there is something for everyone.
Then there are the guest beers, which change regularly. Galbraith's has done a lot to get micro-brews out to a wider audience through its guest ale taps and deserves applause for doing so.
The food is exceptional for a pub. Sure, there are the fried, crispy, nibbly bits but further up the menu it reaches restaurant heights and beyond, yet is still recognisably pub-related.
What is most remarkable is the look on people's faces when they're in the pub. There is almost a reverence there, alongside a genuine contentment. This is not a place for raging or roaring, but a place to talk, debate, laugh and enjoy the best that hops and malted barley can offer.
And if the beer gets too much - perish the thought - then the list of ciders alone is enough to make a teetotaller's mouth water. The wine list, too, manages to be both comprehensive and thoughtful, a reflection of Keith Galbraith's background in the wine industry.
I feel almost embarrassed saying this, but I can't think of a bad thing to say about Galbraith's, without being reduced to silly things like complaining about how quickly the free car parks fill up.
It is a slice of heaven on earth for anyone who treasures the sacred art of brewing or the sacredness of a truly great pub.
Scores
Service: 5/5
Drink: 5/5
Food: 4.5/5
Atmosphere: 5/5
Overall: 5/5
