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We understand it's kind of sad, but we have to admit to getting a little excited when we learn of new foreign beers arriving on the Shanghai market. So we read with curious interest these two stories about two New Zealand beers that have washed up on our shores. The brewery is DB Breweries, a big outfit that owns the likes of Heineken and Amstel. The beers they are sending to Shanghai are Tui and Monteith's Original Ale. Here are the commercial descriptions for the two beers:
- Tui: Brewed since 1889, Tui typifies typical kiwi humour. An East India Pale Ale, Tui is equally renowned as a great tasting, 4% alcohol session beer with a strong but smooth taste. Tui's loyal following among mates is thanks to quality brewing and hard-case advertising such as the hugely successful 'Yeah Right' campaign and supporting television commercials. A proud supporter of rugby, Tui is the beer brand behind Wairarapa Bush, Taranaki and Hawkes Bay rugby as well as the Auckland Blues, Crusaders and Wellington Hurricanes.
- Monteith's Original Ale: Monteith's richly hopped Original Ale delivers a full, round and complete beer flavour. It’s the hops that dominate aroma and taste. However, on closer inspection, there’s a subtle blackberry aroma which originates from the female flowers of the Pacific Gem Hops.
OK. But what do they really taste like? The people over at RateBeer.com give Tui a 2.19 our of 5, putting it in the 10th percentile. Monteith's gets a 2.73 out of 5, and sits at the 25th percentile. For comparison, Coopers Original Pale Ale scores a 2.79 and Coopers Sparkling Ale gets a 3.18. Samuel Adams Boston Lager also gets a 3.18.
Both stories say the Kiwi beers came to Shanghai after a promising showing at a promotion of New Zealand products at Parksons in the city. Supposedly the beers have been available in "two bars" in the city and increased demand prompted a recent order of 600 cases. Neither story, regrettably, mentions which two bars carry the beers. But before you get too excited about these new options on the market, read this quote from the brewer's business development manager:
"Realistically, I think it's going to be fairly niche because we're a premium product. Price is going to be high, so you're really only targeting the consumers who can afford it."
So maybe we'll be sticking with 11.5 kuai Sam Adams from the supermarket.
Does anyone know where we can find Tui or Monteith's in the city? Has anyone tasted either beer? Let us know.
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Tui Indian Ale is a fine crisp ale perfect for a hot day.
In fact, I'd rank it second behind my preferred hot day beer - an icy cold XXXX.
As for Tui being a premium beer? I was buying cartons/slabs of Tui for AUD$23 in comparison to a usual AUD$30 for comparable full strength beers in Australia .
Nonetheless, it looks like the perfect weather for a Tui or two (not to be confused with this Toohey's or that Toohey's).
I think I'll go beer hunting this weekend.
Hey Dan....
I had both beers about 3-4 months ago. I bought them at Parksons during the Kiwi food/bev promotions. The beers are refreshing, but very light. I did not expect that from a pale ale. A little disappointing really. I prefer body and some bite to my IPA. Isn't this the point?
Anyway, I am in the pacific northwest - beer heaven! If you want me to send some real IPA your way, just let me know.
In the meantime, stick with Sam. Or Coopers Sparkling. When next in Seattle, be sure to come my way. I'll take you to Microbreweries with $2 beer specials!
Cheers!
Glen
Yeah I've tried the New Zealand beers -- they're boring. Stick with Sam Adams, when you can find it in stock. Why aren't the bars carrying this????
Boring.......?! Steinlager is an excellent definition.
Monteith's is fantastic the range of beers they produce is amazing. Sam Adams is okay but taste like tap water compared with Monteith's.
I currently live in the US and miss the quality of beers from Australia and New Zealand.
US beers are like a limp handshake campared with KIWI and OZ brews
I came across Monteiths in Melbourne, Australia. It was a hard beer to find but worth the hunt. I don't think it was the 'original' but was smooth and crisp all the same.
Sam Adams is rubbish.
Did someone link to this on the "Mate, I Hate Samuel Adams Beer" message board?
Samuel Adams Boston Lager is widely considered to be a very solid brew.
And Jeffrey, if you can generalize and lump together all "US beers," you obviously haven't been living there very long (or you live in the middle of nowhere ... and if that is the case, I feel your pain). There are tons of great American beers -- ask anyone who knows beer.
Dan - I believe Senses carries Monteith's, and maybe Tui. Had a Monteith's there a few months back and, much like Cooper's, it was better (and marginally hoppier) than a Carlsberg or Heineken but still light and thin. Refreshing, yes. Complex, no. I don't think anyone lays the hops on as thick as American micro-brewers, which is a shame once you develop a taste for it.
Senses also has San Miguel on draught now - another beer that might be margianlly better than what we're used to for a few sips, but won't turn any heads.
Of course nobody would agree, but it'd be fun to see a Shanghaiist article rating the top beers available in Shanghai, regardless of whether Chinese or not...I'd put down a recommendation for Hoegaarden White or even Haidao Black, but yeah as an American I go for hoppier, stronger beers than what's available here.