![]() However, austerity measures during both World Wars, as well as increasing pressures from the temperance movement drove the alcoholic strength of New Zealand’s beers down to approximately 4% ABV. Only too soon however, I grew to hate the sweetish, destroying flavour of lemonade, and always called for a Speights straight.” So next time I called for a Speights I asked for a glass of lemonade with it. When I made a grimace the barmaid told me that I should have it as a Shandy. It was too bitter for my young untried palate. I remember the time when it was held in awe as a mighty and mystic brew, that’s alcoholic strength was considerable. In the 1965 book “The Froth-Blowers Manual”, Pat Lawler recalls that “in the early part of the twentieth century there was a time when beer drinkers were divided into two camps of intense rivalry, those who drank Speights and those who didn’t. Speights is New Zealand’s oldest brewery, and we know that in the early twentieth century they were known for producing a Burton-style ale that was lauded as being a “beer as fine as those from England”. To understand New Zealand Draught, we must first look at what we know about some of New Zealand’s most historical brews. However, what seems most likely is that New Zealand Draught began as the much stronger and more flavourful, Burton Ale and was slowly stripped of its malt flavour and bitterness until it became the beer that we know it as today. The actual origins of the style are a bit murky, and there are a few different origin stories floating about, including one belief that the NZ Draught is a descendent of the English Mild. Moreover, it is a true beer style that evolved over time due to conditions specific to New Zealand, which – in this author’s opinion – makes it a unique Kiwi beer style that is worthy of a certain appreciation. But New Zealand Draught is a completely different beer, and though it would still be fair to say that it is not exactly a challenging style, it is by no means a flavourless brew. Especially when it comes to the overtly bland American Light Lagers of the world, which are (arguably) designed to be as pale and flavourless as possible. One can almost understand a certain degree of craft beer snobbery when it comes to the way we view many popular styles. A surprising omission, given that even the infinitely younger and less established style “New Zealand Pilsner” has made the BJCP’s “provisional style” list. In fact, the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) – the internationally recognized cataloguer of beer styles – doesn’t even acknowledge New Zealand Draught as an established style. This article was originally published in the September issue of the Shout NZ.įor a beer style that is responsible for more sales-by-volume in New Zealand than any other style, New Zealand Draught certainly has an underwhelming reputation. YOUR GUIDE TO NEW ZEALAND’S MOST POPULAR UNPOPULAR BEER STYLE
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