New beer venues in Auckland

Apologies for the lack of updates recently. No real reason, as I've had plenty of beer-related things to talk about, but I just haven't managed to focus on updating the blog. I will try and rectify that.

Although I very much like living in Auckland, I have to agree that in terms of beer venues the city lags behind other areas of New Zealand. Up until recently I would have said there were only 2 must-visit beer venues - Galbraiths Alehouse and Hallertau brewbar/restaurant. There are a few other places such as the Cock & Bull pubs, the Shakespeare brewpub and one or two decent bottleshops but for one reason or another I wouldn't put them right up there. Contrast this with Wellington, Nelson & Christchurch (to name but 3) which are all smaller cities but with much more to commend them in terms of beer.

However, just recently a couple of places have opened up in downtown Auckland which give me some hope.

The first of these is Brew On Quay, a new bar which has opened up on Quay Street. It's a lovely building (used to be the old dockside police station) which has been sympathetically renovated inside. There is a big bottle fridge with a good selection of New Zealand and imported beers, plus a couple of New Zealand craft beers on tap (currently Epic Pale Ale and Tuatara Pilsner). Unfortunately there are a larger number of taps pouring the products of one of the Big Two breweries but I guess it's a commercial reality that a bar serving only craft beer could not survive in such a location.

The owners of Brew are clearly looking to align themselves with the cause of good beer - the local launch of the Beervana beer festival (to be held in Wellington later this month) was held there, as was the Auckland launch of the mega-IPAs from Epic and Hallertau. Both events brought beer lovers out in force and I hope they'll continue to support this new venture. Personally I'd like to see less of the mass-produced swill and more of the craft beer, but let's give them some time.

The second new venue is Prenzel, a small shop/bar located in the fashionable Elliott Stables enclave on Elliott Street. This area was already a favoured lunchtime haunt of mine due to the presence of Frankie's Wurstbude (an amazing sausage shop) but now I have another excuse to go. Prenzel has a decent-sized bottle fridge with a good selection of New Zealand craft beers from breweries such as Tuatara, Emersons, Renaissance and Epic, as well as a couple of draught beer dispensers from the Whitecliffs brewery. Customers can enjoy a pie and a pint, or buy a beer to enjoy with their food from one of the other shops nearby. Off-license sales are also available and there is a 10% discount for SOBA members. The owner (Mike) is planning to put on beer tastings in one of the very atmospheric rooms in the Elliott Stables complex.

It's early days for both of these new ventures but I wish them well. If they succeed it will confirm that it is possible to sell quality beer in the notoriously fickle Auckland market.