Going to New Zealand...

[dontblake]

And I thought that I'd see if anybody has any suggestions as far as good beer is concerned.
We're going to be in the Nelson area for a week, then up in Northland for another week.

I did see that there are some breweries around Nelson and Blenheim, but I thought that I would poll the army to see if there's anything that should not be missed.

Might even be hop harvest time while we're there....??

Cheers

[Quin]

That's funny. I was just looking at Nelson last week and spent a couple hours poking around on the internet.

Beeradvocate.com had a couple listings in Nelson.

[whoateallthepies]

Doc from Sydney (via NZ) is the guy to ask. He was back home for the RWC last year.

Do a search for Doctor's Orders Brewing and you'll find him. He was a listener to the BN from day 1.

[Bugeater]

Don, when you are there you need to heed the roadsigns.





Wayne

[TC]

If you are going to be in Nelson and you have a day or two, I'd recommend taking a trip to Golden Bay and The Mussel Inn. They make a beer brewed with manuka tips (a native tea tree) which is pretty unique, but mostly go to see it. Pretty much a brew pub in the "bush." If you've ever fantasized about society collapsing and escaping into the hinterlands, scrapping together a brewery and saloon as an oasis on a rarely traveled road you will love this place.
I lived in the area for one new zealand winter and came in 3rd at the mussel inn's annual tasting competition (match the sample to the name thing). One of the highlights of my life. A very weird place for a brew pub. Idiosyncratic to the max. And in New Zealand, that's saying something.

It does take maybe 2hours and some change to get there from Nelson, but the drive on highway 60 (if I remember correctly) is absolutely stunning. "Going over the hill" as they say, into golden bay is one of the craziest drives ever.