Devotees of Monteith's New Zealand Lager had better stock up, because the last of this brew is on retail shelves: DB Breweries has just stopped making this lager just two years after launching it.
The lager's departure is part of a rebranding and repackaging exercise and DB says it is not at this stage planning to replace it with another premium (5%) lager.
However, with DB Export the brewery's only premium lager (apart from a couple of its Monteith's labels and overseas labels such as Heineken and Tiger brewed here) it must have plans for another local product.
Watch this space: perhaps the reappearance of Waitemata Sparkling Ale.
The ale was introduced as a 5% brew in 1930 when Dominion Breweries was formed and reduced to 4% during World War 2.
The 4% brew remained available on tap and in 750ml bottles until it was phased out in 1999 and the brewery lost a generation of devotees.
The original stronger recipe was used as a festive present to DB clients last Christmas.
DB was impressed by the enthusiastic welcome back to life of the label; probably impressed enough to, before long, reintroduce the stronger version in stubbies.
New Monteith's
DB's Monteith's range has seven labels (Radler, Pilsner, Original, Celtic Red, Black, Golden Lager and Crushed Apple Cider) as well as autumn (First Harvest), winter (Doppelbock Winter Ale) and summer (Summer Ale) limited releases.
Spring Brew will be added to the seasonal range on September 1 to mark the end of winter.
It will be available only on tap at the 26 Monteith's concept bars around the country, including the southern four - Craft (Dunedin), Montys (Queenstown), Monteith's Brewery Bar (Alexandra) and The Kiln (Invercargill).
World Cup winner
The All Whites might not have won the World Cup, but Monteith's Golden Lager has.
A brewery from each of the 32 countries with teams in the football cup submitted a brew for a beer world cup organised in Britain by a newspaper.
The contest followed the same format - group stages, top 16, quarterfinal, semifinal and final.
A pallet of Golden Lager immediately made its way to the All Whites' South African hotel.
Hoppy newcomer
Dunedin brewer Emerson's latest brewer's reserve is Hoppiest Indian.
It is a 5% brew with four malts which are overwhelmed by two hop varieties (one from the United States).
Drink it unchilled to help the malt flavour to compete.
The brew will be available for about six weeks at the Wickliffe St brewery or on tap at several bars around the city.
Wild food leader
The Monteith's Wild Food Challenge, in which cafes and restaurants around the country match a beer with a dish made from meat not normally farmed, has a fortnight to run.
Wanaka's Uncle Mike's BBQ was third in diners' voting, behind Christchurch and Wellington eateries, after the first two weeks.
The winning match will be announced towards the end of next month.
