2018 – The Year that Was (Beer Edition)
This time of year is called “the silly season” for the media and politicians.
This time of year is called “the silly season” for the media and politicians.
The dictionary definition of Epic is: “Noting or pertaining to a long poetic composition, usually centred upon a hero, in which a series of great achievements or events is narrated in elevated style: or Heroic, majestic, impressively great: or Slang: Spectacular, very impressive, awesome.”
To celebrate 25 years in the business, Malthouse will be hosting the penultimate Project Silver beer launch and tap takeover on Saturday 24 November showcasing our old friends ParrotDog Brewery.
It is no secret that I am quite a fan of McLeod’s Brewery from Waipu, the beautiful shiny heart of plucky little Northland. That has probably been revealed by my previous expressions of devotion in print and on-line, and the fact that I am wearing one of my two McLeod’s t-shirts while writing this, and drinking a McLeod’s Tropical Cyclone Double IPA at the same time, though solely for research purposes of course.
The year 1993 – or the year MCMXCIII as us classical scholars prefer to call it – was a momentous twelve months indeed. One of the global highlights was the opening of a groundbreaking craft beer bar upstairs on Willis Street called The Malthouse.
Sweden – the country which produced the Vikings who brutally raided Britain and France, and ABBA who launched a harrowing assault on popular music
September is a month of celebrations – Malthouse is celebrating 25 years in the business with twelve brewery events, it is Democracy Day in Tibet (actual results may vary) and Malty’s sister brewpub Fork & Brewer marks its own 7th birthday. It seems therefore fitting that the September Project Silver tap takeover will showcase Fork Brewing.
Over 2018 Malthouse is celebrating the best in beer through monthly tap takeover events known collectively as “Project Silver”. The name refers to the metal traditionally associated with a 25th anniversary which Malty just happens to be marking this year. In previous Project Silver events, only one brewery has been highlighted such as 8 Wired, Emerson’s and Moa.
Secrets can be powerful – Who poisoned the All Blacks at the 1995 Rugby World Cup? Are we alone in this universe? Who really shot JFK? Why is Dai Henwood still a thing? Is it true that JFK shot first? A person with those answers would be a force to be reckoned with.
The day of the Malthouse West Coast IPA Challenge is one of just seven dates to be written into my paper diary at the start of every year – Mum’s birthday, Dad’s birthday, Brother’s birthday, Lovely Partner’s birthday, Said anniversary, Wrestlemania Day, and the Challenge.
When I think of California – the 31st state to join America - my thoughts are drawn to Disneyland, Hulk Hogan, Silicon Valley, the Los Angeles Lakers of lore,
By my reckoning, New Zealand just endured its longest night of the year. This insightful reckoning was based on the actual calculations of experts in the field of astronomy who are much smarter than me, and the fact that I read about it on the internet so it must be true. In retrospect, the information was posted on the New Zealand Herald website which is frequently the exception to that otherwise inviolable rule.