BoozyBanter - The After-Grog Blog

Our New Zealand adventure is moving steadily south, and we've found ourselves in Wānaka. There's four breweries to check out in this town, but seeing as we're only here for one night, for the sake of expediency I decided to visit Ground Up Brewing as it's closest to our digs for the night and I am a lazy man.
My slacker decision paid off though. Ground Up are throwing together some sensational beers from their little brewhouse. And while I normally extol the virtues of anything with loads of hops (which they do with aplomb) I reckon their Alpine Start Oatmeal Stout is where it's at. A nitro pour that's smooth and creamy while packing plenty of flavour, and is apparently so popular that it's become a core range brew.
Once again, the team were incredibly welcoming, and are more than happy to have a talk about their wares and chat all things beer, which is always appreciated. And once again, I walk out with a shirt. I'm starting to think I may have to up my baggage allowance.

Spent a great couple of hours at the Garage Project taproom last night. As expected, the beers were fantastic, with the Helles on a Good Day on the side pour tap really tickling my fancy.
Friendly locals and good chat with the bar team never goes astray, and it was interesting to hear from the team about the NZ beer scene, and how GP differentiate themselves and innovate with different styles.
A quick stop across the street at their cellar door for some obligatory brewery swag, and I left there a happy camper indeed.
Tick another brewery off my NZ bucket list!

Boozey's New Zealand beer adventure continues with a visit to Rogue Hop Speakeasy in Napier after dinner with the fam bam.
Dealing exclusively in New Zealand products, and sporting about 18 taps of varying beers and ciders, this place isn't mucking about. Of course, being the shameless lupulin-slut that I am, I gravitated towards the hoppy stuff and got myself a pint each of the The Sawmill Brewery + Smoko Room Hazy Pale, and Liberty Brewing Company God of War West Coast IPA. With the latter recently taking the top spot in the Malthouse West Coast IPA Challenge. Which is no mean feat when you're up against 31 other Kiwi breweries.
A quick chat with one of the team was enough to tell me that they knew what they were talking about, and could rely on them making a solid recommendation as to what I should put in my face-hole.
So if you find yourself in Napier, and want a completely New Zealand beer experience, Rogue Hop is the place to go.