Beers of Auckland Advent Calendar 2014
DAY 10 – Bob Hudson Bitter by Galbraith’s Alehouse

TAP: Bob Hudson Bitter
BREWED: On Site – Galbraith’s Alehouse
ABV: 4.0%

It’s been a while since I’ve been to Galbraith’s Alehouse.

I had a glass (Colonial size 425ml, I’m guessing this is vs Imperial size) of Bob Hudson Bitter. It was exactly as I remembered it. Perfect balance of malt and hops. This has to be the original Auckland craft beer pint you can session on.

From the cask this beer is lovely and clear, and presents with good foam. The rich juicy malt and hop flavours are seamless, yet flavourful. There is a bitterness which you don’t notice without looking for it. And the bitterness lingers in a way that it creates the desire to have another mouthful.

A really great beer, which put a smile on my face.

It has been even longer since I have had a meal at Galbraith’s. Something they have always done well is the food. (sorry still not got the turning of the images sorted out yet).

Today though I was seriously impressed. I think I might have had the best burger I have ever had in a restaurant in New Zealand. It was simple, and had all the basic fixings, but the flavour and the ratio of meat/bun/fixings just was magic. This was on par with some of the best burgers I have ever tasting (burgers from the land of the burger, USA).

Just go and try it for yourself. It might have been a little situational, and the other feel good feelings I was having around a great beer might have helped too.

I had a sip of the session IPA Redemption 4.0%. That is a face full of hops. I’d say I will be heading back here again very soon to try the rest of the beers. (also had a little sip of Epic IMP too, which is currently on tap there, and it was a taste of big ripe nectarines)

Mr Sam Williamson you are doing a very excellent job on brewing the beers I tasted, and I hope Mr Galbraith is proud of your workmanship.

Presented by Luke Nicholas of Sparging Magazine — This little picture frame can be seen in the entrance at Galbraith’s. It was presented in 1999 by Luke Nicholas of Sparging Magazine

Craft Beer in Auckland

#craftbeer, #auckland, #newzealand, #galbraiths #adventcalendar

These links might help you find out what is on tap around Auckland

https://twitter.com/TapHunterAKLD
http://auckland.taphunter.com/location/
https://twitter.com/NowPouringAKL

When I started this blog on the 1st January I didn’t have much of a plan other than to share my journey through the world of beer. It has been pretty cool to be able to record and share my adventures, as well as my opinions on what I am thinking about and what is topical.

I have also been playing around recently with a new version of RealBeer.co.nz. The effort is patchy and not sure of when there will be anything to show publicly. The one thing about this side project is that I have come across a lot of old posts, and has made me look back and reflect on my first websites.

I created a website called “The New Zealand Brewers Network” back in 1996 after returning from living in California. It was a cute little website, and I am raking my brain on where I might have a backup of it, so I might up load it again. (a version from 1998)

I’m also considering uploading copies of the print version of Sparging and newsletter I use to produce for the brewing industry in the late 1990’s. It became a digital version around in 1999 – here is a link to the archives of Sparging Online

It’s amazing to think that this first website I created for craft brewers in New Zealand was 18 years ago. Maybe I will find it in time for its 20th anniversary.

(Here is an example of a copy of the print version of Sparging January 1999 )

UPDATE: haha this is cute too My goal for Sparging is ……. “to raise the actual and perceived quality of beer in New Zealand”

Tag: Sparging

Day 10 – Beers of Auckland – Bob Hudson Bitter

Craft Beer in Auckland

100 Posts & Looking Back, Wayback