Little more than a year after starting brewing, McCashin's Brewery at Stoke, near Nelson, has extended its range.
It started with Stoke Gold, Amber and Black. It has now added six more.
The lager (4.5%) is not overly bitter, allowing the malt flavours to come through. The four hop varieties in the IPA (India Pale Ale), however, impart rich aroma and flavour.
Smoky (5.7%) is an English ale-style made with smoked malt which overlies the malt and hop flavours with a light smoky character.
It is much more subtle than Invercargill Brewery's Smokin' Bishop. KPA (Kiwi Pale Ale) displays a burnt bitterness that, say, stout drinkers enjoy.
The low-alcohol 2-Stoke (2%) awaits my next drink-drive and the Oatmeal Stout (5.2%) the next, and probably last, cool spring evening.
The labels of the stout, KPA and Smoky, which are in larger 650ml bottles, feature "Bombs away". This is in reference to Americans calling that sized bottle a "bomber".
McCashin's Brewery is in the old Rochdale cider factory, converted into a brewery in 1981 by former All Black Terry McCashin. McCashin sold the Mac's label in 1999 to Lion Breweries which leased the brewery until 2008 when Terry's son, Dean, and wife, Emma, restored the operation, starting with vodka.
• Berry attractive
Isaac's is now producing a boysenberry version of its apple cider. Just a touch of berry flavour and tartness competes with the apple flavour.
It is dangerously drinkable and has an encouraging red tint (which neighbour, Derek, intends to use to brighten up the family's dinner table on Christmas Day).
Sales of cider in New Zealand have grown by about 45% in the past year.
• 'beery back
Invercargill Brewery uses much more of the berries (about 15% by volume, in fact) than Isaac's in its annual Boysenbeery (6.5%) beer.
The brew has a berry aroma, and the fruit and malt fight for dominance. Neither wins, leaving a tasty balance of flavours.
It was first released three years ago and has since won a trophy and gold and bronze medals. It should be around until the end of January and costs about $5 a 330ml bottle.
• Year old
DB Breweries released Monteith's Single Source lager a year ago, claiming a new variety of malt used in it keeps the beer fresher longer than other malts, and bottled it in dark brown (but black-looking) bottles to protect it from the light.
I opened a year-old bottle and a six-month-old bottle and could not discern any difference: most drinkable, even though the "best before" is only nine months (like most lagers).
• Rugby drop
Lion Breweries is commemorating the All Blacks' Rugby World Cup win with a limited edition bottle declaring "All Blacks' 2011 World Champions".
Leading up to the tournament it reverted to the old white can for Steinlager, producing 4.4 million, and an additional 1 million in all-black bottles.
