I’ll add a more detailed post on my NZ adventure when I’m not preoccupied with drinking and sand flies biting…but what’s interesting about the NZ craft beer world is how it’s seen as so normal, mainstream, call it what you will. It seems to have started as a way of creating a different offer to the larrikin beer venues but now every bar, restaurant and supermarket/liquor store wants to major on its craft beer offer.
I guess spinning off the wine estate tastings idea has led places like Hallertau and Mac’s on the waterfront on Wellington to offer paddles of beers and decent food. As a committed traditionalist on UK brown beers I have to admit it feels like we’re a bit slow in the UK to catch on to changing tastes and consumer demands for craft beer and food.
More later.