Green Man Brewery: Journal Entry

Luke & Kelly with Green Man's Enrico & Jeremy

From the NZ Craft Beer Journal entry, 26/1/11:

Green Man Brewery in Dunedin takes a sustainable approach to brewing and actively encourages used bottle and cardboard box returns.  Not only that, they are fully organic and produce all of their beers under the German Purity Law (Reinheitsgebot). This is helped by the fact that their brewer, Enrico is a trained German brewmaster, so each of the beers we tasted had a definite German character to them. The Krystal Weiss, their filtered wheat beer and the only example of this style in the country, had a good blend of light caramel malt and banana ester character and was ridiculously thirst quenching.

The Pils and Lager showed great hop bitterness, again highlighting the style of beer that Enrico enjoys brewing. The star of the show, however, was the 14.5% ABV Enrico’s Cure from 2008. This beer had been produced with a Champagne yeast and had no sugar at all added to it. Enrico explained that he preferred the character that malt sugars give, compared to any artificial sugars that are sometimes added to produce beers of this strength and I can honestly say that this approach paid off. The rich fruit and chocolate nose of the beer amalgamated perfectly in the mouth, where more chocolate and vanilla and luscious sweetness melded to soften the warming alcohol finish.

We were also lucky enough to try a relatively fresh sample of the Stout, which although young, tasted absolutely perfect to us! We chatted with General Manager Jeremy Seaman and he mentioned that Green Man were affiliated with a bar, Metro, just off the Octagon. We headed off to drop the campervan back at the site so that we could all enjoy a tasty beverage or two.

Green Man Brewery: About

From the Green Man Brewery website: 

Green Man's head brewer is Enrico Gritzner.

Enrico is our German Braumeister, and he has a long and impressive brewing background, with a four year degree gained at the Doemens Academy in Munich, and subsequent 21 years brewing experience around the world.

His favourite beer is his own beer, of course, Green Man Premium Pils.

Green Man Brewery's range of beer: 

Ginger Beer - a blend of ginger and selected spices, it will warm you up on those cold winter nights. Relax and enjoy with great spicy cuisine.

Celt - Pronounced Kelt, this is a blended beer, half Whisky Bock half Dark Mild. Gold Medal winner at the September BrewNZ 2008 awards. The Dark Mild, having less hops and bitterness, brings out the voluptuous whisky flavours, and the beer is maltier and darker than the Strong. The inaugural release was brewed for the Dunedin Celtic Arts Festival in October 2007, which sold out in a few short days.

Best Bitter - The most common reaction to our Best Bitter is how British it is. Well, you be the judge! Enrico has crafted a truly authentic, traditional Best Bitter, brewed with Pale Ale malt, Crystal malt and special hops, and fermented with a true Ale yeast. Deeply copper-coloured, it has all the hallmarks of a classic Best Bitter.

Tequila Beer - Hola amigo, this is something special for you...This fantastic new beer from Green Man has a shot of Mexico in it, with the addition of Tequila and a dash of Lime.... So when you're in the mood to go south of the border, have a Tequila Beer. Adios

Strong - Awarded Editors Choice in the #1 beer mag in the UK, Beers of the World. This is a blend of 2 beers; half Whisky Bock, half Best Bitter, resulting in an amazingly complex beer with delightful whisky, vanilla and oak flavours and aromas. Finishes with very approachable hop and whisky notes. Bronze Medal winner at the NZ International Beer Awards June 2008.

Stout - One of only 13 NZ beers listed in the new book, 1001 Beers You Must Taste Before You Die. A style known as Extra Stout, this is an over-strength black ale with rich, mouth-filling, coffee & mocha flavours, and malty aromas from the addition of four German malts. As the label says, it's Dark BLACK... and it's powerful too... The accolades and positive feedback this Stout has received, particularly from drinkers of the world's most famous Stout, have us bursting with pride. 

Premium Pils - A true Premium Pilsner, lavished with only aromatic hops and very well balanced by the sweetness from our Pilsner malt. Refreshing and delicate flavours, perfect for a hot summer's day. Simply the best from our German Brewmaster.

Lager - This German-style Lager is crafted by our German Brewmaster according to the German Purity Law of 1516, using only the finest quality organic ingredients. Crisp and refreshing, it has delicate citrus and floral flavours from the Hallertau hop, which is very well balanced. Bronze Medal at BrewNZ 2005. 

Krystal Weiss - A filtered effervescent and fruity Bavarian-style beer, traditionally crafted by our own German Brewmaster, Enrico Gritzner. Banana and clove aromas leap from the glass. 

Keller - Keller is a very rare style in New Zealand. It is a lusciously rich Lager which is really quite simple to make because it is what we don't do that makes it so full of flavour. We don't filter it and we leave it for up to two months before bottling. A Keller beer will often appear cloudy due to the sediment, which is full of organic vitamins. Pour this beer straight from the fridge, cold from the bottle into a large glass. Silver Medal winner at the NZ International Beer Awards in June 2008.

IPA - Green Man IPA 5.4% ABV is so hoppy it will pop your taste buds with flavour! This artfully crafted pale golden coloured ale is delightfully different. An IPA which is full of hops but still very drinkable. 

German Black Lager - Green Man German Black Lager (4.5% ABV) is a Schwarbier. With light Chocolate and Coffee flavours and a nicely balanced hoppiness. Although similar black lagers are milder and less bitter then English styled Porters and Stouts.