NZ beer trip - cycling in the south

Sunday 21 November, Wanaka

Got a lift up the Haast Pass, but then long ride ending up with ascent of the neck between lakes Wanaka and Hawea. Found yet another brewpub-type establishment, for a Wanaka Beerworks Tall Black (and their Gold is very good too), and a Monteith's Pilsner (5%). Score: Trip days 17 Beers drunk 25

Monday 22 November, Queenstown

Long long drag up a hill past gold mining shack at Cardrona, then more up to top of pass with amazing descent then down to river to watch bungy jumping. Then briefly to Arrowtown - more gold, but bit of a tourist hole albeit with excellent brewery - after tasting, tried Arrowtown Brewery IPA (8%! more a winter ale). Then had another Moa Weka lager at the Dux-de-Lux later in Queenstown. Quite a day. Score: Trip days 18 Beers drunk 26

Tuesday 23 November, Queenstown

A day off so we rode round the lake to the golf club on the hilltop - a lot tougher than it sounds, getting towards singletrack. Great views. To the Speight's Bar for a pint of their Pilsener. Score: Trip days 19 Beers drunk 27

NZ beer trip - cycling West Coast

Thursday 18 November, Punakaiki

Beer crisis! It turns out our motel is dry! This after a long hilly ride then ace descent in warm air to beach. So had quick pint of DB Export Lager in pub, walked back up hill carrying bottle of Monteith's Black, only to find our guides (well done Kate and Lofty) had got in some Budweisers. Barbecue, but indoors because of the dreaded sand flies. Scenery spectacular. Score: Trip days 14 Beers drunk 21

Friday 19 November, Fox Glacier

Longish flattish ride (good for me) to chilly Fox. Saw a Kiwi (in captivity, but there we go) in afternoon. Soon found yet another good pub, for a Monteith's Celtic Red. Score: Trip days 15 Beers drunk 22

Saturday 20 November, Haast

Haast was a revelation, reached after an almighty hill and an endless trudge into the wind (how come the wind was always against?!). Suddenly one crossed a bridge over a vast sunlit estuary, to a huge flat space surrounded by snow-capped mountains. So tired (and last, of course), I sunk into bar with pint of Speight's Distinction, just glorying in hills. Utterly fab, view and beer. Forgot to change for dinner.... Distinction bears some resemblance to London Pride, fruity, full bodied. A nice symmetry. Pride upside down? Also a Monteith's Old Ale on draught. Score: Trip days 16 Beers drunk 23

NZ beer trip - cycling north

Tuesday 16 November, Hanmer Springs

We meet the cycling group in Christchurch, where our guide leads us around a flat (=hilly) route to test us and the bikes before we make off to cycle near Hanmer Springs. Not being a hot pools type, I opt for the pub - Jollie Jack's Bar - and a bottle of Moa Weka. This in honour of our trip, the Weka cycling tour by Active New Zealand. The Moa Brewery is in Blenheim, which we passed on the train. Also a half of Speight's Old Dark Ale, a great South Island brew. Then a very good dinner with the group. Score: Trip days 12 Beers drunk 17

Wednesday 17 November, Murchison

We cycle over two mountain passes to gold mining town of Murchison, fording several rivers on the way. Barbecue under stars, after bottle of Paddy Sweeney's Good Bastards (4% dark ale), and a handle, a smaller measure than a pint, but bigger than a half, of the West Coast Brewery's Green Fern organic lager (5%), both ace. Brilliant pub-cum-restaurant. Great local beers. Score: Trip days 13 Beers drunk 19

NZ beer trip - South Island 1, Christchurch

Sunday 14 November, Christchurch

Up early yet again to get the ferry across to Picton (with me hiding in the caff), then train down the coast to Christchurch. Amazing the rail tracks have all been put back together after the recent earthquake. Hotel was close to the Twisted Hop Brewery, so made off there and sat down with a pint of their old black ale, Twisted Ankle (5.9%) - as I put the beer on the table, there was a big aftershock, the room and everything moved - turned out to have been a grade 5 shock, the real thing was 8 - phew. This beer is strong stuff...... Score: Trip days 10 Beers drunk 14

Monday 15 November, Christchurch

After a walk in the hills, off to another brewpub, the famed Dux-de-Lux for dinner and a pint of Nor'Wester, their excellent old English ale (6.5%). The cycling starts tomorrow! Score: Trip days 11 Beers drunk 15

NZ beer trip - North Island

Wednesday 10th November, Auckland

Began with a bit of a disappointment - had arranged to meet at Mac's Northern Steamship brewbar on the quayside for our first New Zeadlandish pint, when we arrived were turned away by a couple of heavies who jeered that the bar was shut for a private party, a load of accountants! This place does resemble the City of London (as we found, it is not like anywhere else in NZ, tho they do seem to enjoy their private parties here). Anyway, explored elsewhere in Auckland to find (from S Island) a fab Monteith's Black - I am a fan of these dark beers - and a Tui. Score: Trip days 6 Beers drunk 9

Thursday 11 November, National Park

Up first thing to take the Overlander train down to National Park, next to the volcanoes (Lord of the Rings country - like everywhere here!) for a couple of days. Great place to stay, had a Mac Black (at last!) in our log cabin-like hotel, then a tremendous Monteith's Winter Ale (6.00%, the beer of the trip) at the excellent station restaurant. Score: Trip days 7 Beers drunk 11

Friday 12 November, National Park

Walked in Tongariro National Park today, between the volcanoes - not the great crossing walk, but still ace for views (and probably Hobbits....). Earned my beers, another Mac Black, and a Mac White, a wheat beer. Score: Trip days 8 Beers drunk 12

Saturday 13 November, Wellington

Back on the Overlander, heading for Wellington where we arrived early evening and headed to quayside, lovely fish restaurant where I drank yet another Mac Black and a Monteith's Golden Lager. Shame not to be here longer. Score: Trip days 9 Beers drunk 13

NZ beer trip - Hong Kong

Monday 8th November, Hong Kong

Hong Kong, or rather Kowloon - across the water from HK Island, and thus giving us a splendid view of the high-rise blocks - is totally new to me, and so was my first beer, Blue Girl lager. This is a bottled 5% lager, imported from Germany into HK since 1906 by Jebsen & Co. So nice I had a couple. Score: Trip days 4 Beers drunk 5

Tuesday 9th November, Hong Kong

Off to the airport, but time for a Tsingtao and an Asahi Dry before taking off for Auckland. Both 5%, not up to Blue Girl standards! Score: Trip days 5 Beers drunk 7

New Zealand beer trip 2010

Had to leave Razzle behind - in fact he loves his kennels at Home from Home in Heddon - when we went to New Zealand for nearly a month in November-December 2010. Beforehand, I was told their microbreweries were fantastic, and found out that was absolutely right. Here's my drinking diary of the trip.

Friday 5th November, London
Have to start somewhere, and as I've a conference in London tomorrow and we're not flying until Sunday evening, my first beer of the trip will be a local London brew. A pint of Fuller's ESB, enjoyed in the pub opposite the British Library. Score: Trip days 1 Beers drunk 1

Saturday 6th November, London

After the excellent Ecclesiology and Empire symposium (a word which apparently also means a drinking party) organised by the Victorian Society, it was off to St Pancras and the Betjeman Arms for a pint of Adnams Bitter (the first beer I ever tasted) and a swift half of Sharp's Betjeman Bitter. The latter was a fine drink, and it seems is actually their Cornish Coaster in London disguise. Score: Trip days 2 Beers drunk 3

Sunday 7th November, London

Evening at Heathrow, and time for a pint of - what else - but Fuller's London Pride before taking off for Hong Kong. Score: Trip days 3 Beers drunk 4