Hopful Thinking

Hopful Thinking

I Drink, Therefore I Am.

  • Beer Recipes
  • Beer Reviews
  • Brewery Spotlight
  • Home Brewing
  • Hopful Thoughts
  • Showcase
  • Travels
  • Book Reviews
  • Featured
  • About
  • Featured

Inside The New Zealand Beer Festival 2013

Posted in Hopful Thoughts, Travels by Dan
Mar 23 2013

So for a long time, we’ve been avid fans of the New Zealand Beer Festival, ever since our first back in 2007 – where I first laid tastebuds upon Epic Mayhem and discovered the wonder that is HOPS.

However just this week, we’ve had the privilege of a sticky beak around the Cloud, and scored interviews with the organisers and some of the brewers.  So we thought we’d share a few hot tips and snippets, to get you in the mood for the big day.

(more…)

  • Tweet
No Comments yet »
Tagged as: 2013, Ale Brewing Chaps, Auckland, Craft Beer, Epic Beer, nz, NZ Beer, The Cloud, The New Zealand Beer Festival, Waiheke Brewery

BEER NATION: The Art and Heart of Kiwi Beer

Posted in Book Reviews, Featured by Dan
Jul 27 2012

There can be no doubt that New Zealand is one nation under Beer.  Since its very beginnings as a settled colony, Beer has been an essential part of our culture and history – indeed one of the first things that Captain Cook did upon landing in our beautiful country … was to make a fresh batch of beer.  So it’s little wonder that more than a few books have been written on the subject.

However, there’s always room for a fresh approach, and I was delighted when Michael Donaldson offered to send a review copy of the appropriately titled “Beer Nation: The Art and Heart of Kiwi beer”.

Right from the outset, the book has an air of quality to it, but the temptation to make a “coffee table” book too bulky to read has been tactfully avoided.  Beer Nation is a book that looks great in a way that invites you to pick it up and start reading.

Michael’s warm and flowing narrative immediately draws you in with a very personal story of his relationship with beer, and carries on to cover a broad range of topics; from the ancient origins of our favourite fermented beverage to a “who’s who” of New Zealand’s vibrant beer community.  A lot of ground is covered without becoming dry or boring.  Backing up the enjoyable narrative, there are enough tables of facts and figures to satisfy the geekiest of beer geeks, and the rich imagery throughout makes Beer Nation a great visual experience too.

I can’t recommend this book enough for anyone interested in Beer, or just New Zealand history; and with its wonderful presentation it would make a great gift for most any Kiwi Dad on Father’s Day.  The history of boutique beer in New Zealand is a real rollercoaster, and I can think of no better way to ride than to grab yourself a great Kiwi beer or three and plonk yourself in a comfy armchair with a copy of this book.

And if it’s not enough to cover history, Beer Nation may well be making history – as the first book being launched along with a companion beer, Message in a Bottle, a brew which pays homage to the early New Zealand IPAs inspired by those from the Motherland.  If you happen to be in the City of Sails (that’s Auckland, by the way) on Wednesday the 1st of August, be sure to drop in at O’Carrolls Freehouse, 6pm onwards, for the grand launch of these two fine commentaries on New Zealand beer history.

BEER NATION: The Art and Heart of Kiwi Beer by Michael Donaldson / Penguin Books / Available from 27th July 2012 / RRP $44.99 (NZD)

Message in a Bottle / Epic Brewing Company / English-style IPA / 7.5abv / Available from the 1st August 2012 / $TBA

Attend a Beer Tasting + Book Launch near you:

O’Carrolls Irish Bar, 10 Vulcan Lane, Auckland CBD / 6pm onwards, 1st August 2012 / Free admission

The Malthouse, 48 Courtenay Place, Wellington / 8pm onwards, 2nd August 2012 / Free admission

Pomeroy’s Old Brewery Inn, 292 Kilmore St, Christchurch City / 7pm onwards, 6th August 2012 / $55 with book, $30 without, call +64 3 365 1523 for more information

  • Tweet
No Comments yet »
Tagged as: beer nation, book, Craft Beer, Epic Beer, fathers day, fathers day gift, history, IPA, message in a bottle, NZ Beer, nz beer history

Hot Tips for a great NZ Beer Festival Experience

Posted in Hopful Thoughts, Travels by Dan
Mar 30 2012

Welcome, intrepid visitor, to the home of the Hopful Thinkers.

Who are the Hopful Thinkers?  We are a motley assortment of “Craft Beer Enthusiasts” – and good mates.  We get together every Wednesday, and drink, and discuss, and think about Beer.  And whatever else comes to mind.  We blog about beer, brewing, breweries, brewers, and other related beer-type subjects and we are “all up in that social media” – whatever the hell that means.

So of course, we are going to be at the NZ Beer Festival.  Come have a drink with us – we are wearing black polos, with our catch cry emblazoned on the back:

I DRINK, THEREFORE I AM.

We’ll be putting up some bits here and on twitter… to help you find the best stuff at the Beer Festival as we do.

In the meantime, here are some tips from a seasoned NZ Beer Fester to help make your NZ Beer Fest 2012 a successful one…

  • DO NOT MISS the Brewery Britomart, they are new in town and have some sensational beers, and can be found at stall zero.  We reckon they will sell out for sure so get there early.
  • Get along to Epic and seek out Luke… ask to try some Zythos (not even released yet)
  • Think carefully about what you want to taste – there’s 70 beers here and you can’t get through them all…
  • Drink in order; don’t go for anything with too much flavour or alcohol early on because you will ruin your palate for anything more subtle.  Try starting with Pale Ales or Lagers and work your way up from there.  Or skip the weak beers altogether…
  • Safety first – try to avoid having too much of anything with “Imperial” “Double” “Tripel” or “Quadrupel” in the title too early in the day… these are synonyms for “rocket fuel”.  There are two major reasons for this – one, you’ll peak too soon – we don’t want to be stepping over bodies and puddles of vomit – and more importantly, you will barely taste anything else afterwards.  Pace yourself!!
  • Most importantly though, seek out beers you haven’t tried, or maybe even heard of before, and give them a shot.  You never know, you might leave with a new favourite.

Wishing you an enjoyable and safe day at the NZ Beer Festival — and hope to see you around!

Cheers,

Dan (of the Hopful Thinkers)

  • Tweet
No Comments yet »
Tagged as: Auckland, auckland craft beer, Beer Events, Beer Festival Tips, Brewery on Britomart, Epic Beer, Hell Pizza, New Zealand, nz, NZ Beer Festival, Tips

Epic Larger

Posted in Beer Reviews by Dan
Dec 07 2011

Tigers. Balls of Twine. Pyramids. Waimea Bay Waves, Ohakune Carrots. Some things are meant to be big. Not least the Imperial Pilsener we’ve all been waiting for. Well, at least we have been here at the Hopful Thinkers. The beer we are talking about is of course, Epic Larger.

We were fortunate enough to score a couple from the lads at Epic for a wee taster. Far be it from us to refuse. So here we go.

Light in colour; white head dissipates to a lasting lace, nose reveals a fruity bouquet, smooth and wet mouthfeel, stalky red grapes, sherbety tang and a shitload of potential… The slightly bitter finish rounds it out nicely.

If you’d not read the bottle, you would have no clue it was hiding 8.5% of alcohol, I must say Larger sure goes down easy.

This is an absolutely superb example of a Pilsener. I can’t wait until it’s had a couple of weeks to open up and reveal its true colours, it’s damn good already!

For sure this will be my boozy summer afternoon beer of choice…

  • Tweet
No Comments yet »
Tagged as: Bitter, Epic, Epic Beer, Grapes, Hoppy, Larger, Pilsener

The Hopful Thinkers go on an EPIC Field Trip

Posted in Travels by Dan
Nov 29 2011

So a few short weeks ago, Chris and I were having an idle chat, on the internet, whilst at work. The subject usually strays onto beer at some point or another, and we’d been talking about the Flying Nun, a most excellent beer, and some of our other faves from Epic.

Epic - It Just Tastes Bigger

Epic - It Just Tastes Bigger

I get back into my work and a few minutes later google chat pips.. and it’s Chris. “Should I email Luke, and ask if we can visit Epic HQ?” – funny enough I’d just been thinking the same thing. And there was only one correct response… “Do it!!”

(more…)

  • Tweet
4 Comments »
Tagged as: Armageddon, Auckland, barrel aged IPA, brewery, Epic, Epic Beer, field trip, flying nun, nz, pale ale, portamarillo
Next page »

Get updates by Email

RSS Feed RSS - Posts

Twitter

  • Drinking a Stone Free by @8wiredbrewing @ GABS2018 — https://t.co/IiOBlZ3eS7 02:39:54 PM June 30, 2018
  • Drinking an Iron Dragon Waving Cat by @outliercartel @ GABS2018 — https://t.co/TbrsLJysgb 02:39:33 PM June 30, 2018
  • Drinking a Shake Your Mangos by @BrewingBones @ GABS2018 — https://t.co/LIdFaTMwj1 02:38:36 PM June 30, 2018
  • RT @justinbaragona: Rachel Maddow chokes up and cries on air as she struggles to deliver news that migrant babies and toddlers have been se… 07:53:13 PM June 20, 2018
  • RT @tarbard: I made a device that checks the council website and lights up to show you what colour bin to put out. I call it the Bindicator… 06:07:00 PM June 02, 2018
  • Drinking an Electron by @SunshineBrews - https://t.co/T95QYsHlqo #photo 06:16:47 PM February 09, 2018
  • Drinking an Avgas Pilsner by Pilot Brewery @ Giraffe by Simon Gault — https://t.co/Go7ZLtO8pk #photo 05:33:07 PM February 09, 2018
  • Cold beer, cool jazz, warm food. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon.... (Hopitoulas) https://t.co/JYlP7jFIpe 05:29:34 AM October 27, 2017
  • Drinking a Ragin' Cajuns by @BayouTecheBiere at @willajeannola — https://t.co/7GXNEWypC0 #photo 06:05:24 AM October 26, 2017
@hopfultweeting

Archives

  • October 2014
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • March 2013
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011

Recent Comments

  • hopfulthinking on New Zealand’s Answer to Munich
  • hopfulthinking on New Zealand’s Answer to Munich
  • Dave on New Zealand’s Answer to Munich
  • Jager Tron on New Zealand’s Answer to Munich
  • Dan Capper on New Zealand’s Answer to Munich

Other Guff