BEER REVIEW: DB raises prices; still upset over use of 'radler'

It is time to stock up. DB Breweries a month ago announced a 3% increase for packaged beer and 1% for tap beer from March 5.

Lion Breweries has told the hospitality industry of a pending increase, but has not told the drinker yet - but expect a similar hike and timing.

The brewery increases are only on beer leaving the brewery on March 5 - so keep an eye on what you are charged, because any beer you buy for the next few days afterwards will probably have been bought in at the old price.

Independent Liquor, which produces the Boundary Road range, Haagen, Ranfurly and NZ Pure, and Toburg, Kingfisher and Carlsberg under licence, is not moving prices.

• At it again

DB Breweries, which makes Monteith's Radler, has challenged someone else's use of the word "radler".

First, it "reminded" Dunedin brewer Green Man that it had the right to "radler" (a style of shandy) as a beer brand - and that was confirmed last year after a hearing by the Intellectual Property Office.

Green Man now calls its shandy "Cyclist" - since radler, in German, means cyclist.

DB wrote to Boundary Road Brewery (owned by Independent Liquor) after it released Lawn Ranger (with lemon and lime) towards the end of last year, describing it as a "radler-style" beer. The brewery now refers to Lawn Ranger as being "in the style known internationally as Radler" - hoping that will end DB's lawyers' letters. DB says it is still keeping an eye on the way Lawn Ranger is marketed.

• Brews

The McCashin brewery near Nelson produces about a dozen beer styles under the Stoke label, including one made especially for the Rugby World Cup. Nelson was host to the Italian team and the brewery made Bionda (blonde), a 4.5% Italian-style lager, to make the team feel at home. It is still around. The label features a saucy donna (woman) and the brew is a nice drop, with fruity malt flavour and restrained hop bitterness.

Another, Bohemia Ale (5.3%), is my favourite of the year, even though less than two months old. It has some wheat in it to produce a big long-lasting head and has a lovely balance of malt and hop aromas and flavours.

Stoke Biscuit Lager (4.5%) will not, however, suit many lager drinkers because it is quite malty. But stout drinkers will love its burnt malt character and hop bite.

• Mainland brew

DB Draught has now been a mainland brew for 35 years. It was made only at DB Breweries' Auckland plant from 1930 until 1977 when production was expanded to DB's Mainland brewery in Timaru.

• Facelift

DB Export Dry celebrates its 25th birthday this year with a facelift. It is now going into a green bottle with new labels and packaging. It is a good drop: champion lager at an international competition and gold medals in the past two years.

• Beck your pardon

German lager Beck's, which is sporting new song-inspired labels for the next three months, is made here by Lion Breweries, not DB Breweries, as stated in the previous column.

lojo.rico@xtra.co.nz