Tuatara Beer Review
By: Kristine Aitchison
This month I tasted the Tuatara Beer range from the foothills of Tararua, just in time for the start of the Rugby World Cup. I’m not sure about the rest of New Zealand, but it seems to me that Auckland City has undergone a huge transformation in preparation for this event. Eden Park is now looming its huge presence over Sandringham Road, dairies have been rebranded to Coca Cola and K Road’s iconic, unsightly, bus stop has received a flash new makeover. It’s amazing, that bus stop has been a seedy tip for many years and all of the sudden it’s transformed overnight. Thanks to the Auckland City Council, the local alkies’ and bums of K Road now have a fancy new place to sleep.
Nevertheless, the excitement is mounting and I’m sure the beer will be flowing, so as mentioned, this month tasting was the Tuatara beer range. With humble beginnings of home brewing, according to the website the brewers go to great lengths to use traditional brewing methods and even source their yeast from the country in which the beer style originated.
Starting with the Tuatara Munich HEFE Smooth German Lager (5% ABV) it’s a vibrant golden colour with a slight bitter hoppy taste, refreshingly bubbly and crisp and just an easy drinking lager with a little hop. The Tuatara ARDENNESS Strong Golden Ale was next on the tasting list. The highest in alcohol at 6.5%, appeared to be a little more flat, but still bright and golden colours, smelling of orange citrus aromatics and tasting of a slight tang, but a strong bitter hop aftertaste.
Tuatara Bohemian PILSNER (5% ABV) smelled sweet and fruity, still golden but less vibrant than the lager in colour, the bubbles were fresh and lively in my mouth and although smelled of sweet aromatics, it had a dry hoppy taste that lingered. The Tuatara Bavarian HEFE (5%) was my favourite, a slightly murky lively golden colour, this beer smelt of banana and vanilla with a slight sweet taste, balanced with a dry and slightly hoppy taste and not too bitter.
Tuatara India PALE ALE (5%ABV) is a golden brown caramel colour appeared to be slightly less bubbly, smelled sweet and tasted slightly sweet at first sip with a long lengthy bitter hops finish. Finally the Tuatara London PORTER (5%), a dark beer, but not too heavy, it has toasty roasted aromatics and an extremely lengthy bitter taste. The label says smooth, but I actually found it extremely sharp and bitter.
These retail at about $18.00 for a six pack, or anywhere from $3.50 - $3.80 per bottle, or I have actually seen them at the supermarket for $12.99 for a 4 pack. So finally enjoy the Rugby World Cup everyone and GO THE ALL BLACKS!!!!