New Zealand 1993

[agent86]

"The thing about beer in NZ ,was the fact that the most expensive and popular beer is bud"

What?? Where were you drinking? At Operation Deep Freeze??

Millers is seni-drinkable and is now reasonably common here because Coca-Cola import it, but Budweiser is considered a light beer here and tastes like weasel's p*ss, so no-one seems to waste their money on it.

You never see Bud in bars here, not even in the bottle fridge with the alco-pops for the ladies. Occasionally it may appear in the specialty beer import shops, but I don't know anyone who buys it. I'd rate it as one of the least popular beers.

Lion Red used to be more popular than it is now. I was a big drinker of it in my youth and still have it occasionally when it's cheap but I discovered about ten years back there are much better brews out there, even NZ made ones.If I have the choice and the cash I fully think the best beer in the world comes from the Trappiste breweries of Belgium. Chimay is awesome for example. But it's a bit too dear for me to drink all the time so I usually drink Speights (which is much the same as Lion Red).

Actually if you're interested in the current kiwi beer market I spotted a link to a story on just that very topic on Radio New Zealand National's site here which you can listen to. I haven't had a listen but you might find it interesting, under the heading Beer Scene:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/thiswayup

amigo,Chimay is tops with me too,however,I was with lotsa Kiwi's who spent lotsa money for Bud.true story.been there,done that

[agent86]

And Budweiser costed (cost?)more money than NZ beers.am I lying about this fact? never saw it in pubs but saw many kiwi's with baskets full lined up at the cash register,or am I having another alzheimers moment? tell the truth you Bud drinking Kiwi's

[agent86]

oh,and did I tell you Kiwi's that I love you and your beautiful country and I forgive you for your Budweiser jones.many people here also jones for Bud

[agent86]

only saw a real kiwi in a zoo.with a kaka and a few weta's and maybe a kia

[PinecastleAAF]

Budweiser is considered a light beer here and tastes like weasel's p*ss

I'll drink to that.

[avenger2504]

And Budweiser costed (cost?)more money than NZ beers.am I lying about this fact? never saw it in pubs but saw many kiwi's with baskets full lined up at the cash register,or am I having another alzheimers moment? tell the truth you Bud drinking Kiwi's

No no you got it wrong. We Kiwis are a friendly lot you see, so what you saw was Kiwis buying Bud for their American friends/visitors/etc.

[ErrolC]

As I happened to be the the local supermarket at lunchtime (buying beer even), I thought I'd check. They had several pricey imported brews by the single bottle, less-pricey imported brews by the four/six-pack, six-packs (or was it four-packs) of Millers, cases of Heinekin, Stella, and something else European, and a couple-three of dozen NZ types by the six-pack or case (and maybe a couple by the single bottle). NZ beer prices overlap the imported ones.
No Bud, although I wouldn't have been surprised (and I'm sure some places have it). I would guess it would retail at about the higher end of the the NZ beers.
In 1993, I would have expected less variety, and more emphasis on the low-end.
In a desperate attempt to get on-topic, I think I've seen 'American' re-enactors at airshows with period-appropriate beer bottles.

[agent86]

oh and did I mention the fact I got nothing but love and good vibes from the locals.Budweiser drinkers!

[Dave Homewood]

only saw a real kiwi in a zoo.with a kaka and a few weta's and maybe a kia

Yes it is rare to see a kiwi in the wild nowadays, I have never seen a wild one. I've seen them in zoos but that is sadly it. Cats, dogs, ferrets, weasles and other imported animals have decimated their populations.

Kaka can be seen occasionally around here and more often further south. In winter they often leave the deep bush and fly into cities looking for food. They are gorgeous parrots. In hamilton at the zoo there's a few there in a big aviary which is proper bus but enclosed so predators don't get in and the birds don't get out. My sister visits there often and she discovered if you go to the right place, stand quietly and wait, the kakas come and sit on your shoulders. It's awesome to have rare parrots doing this and it gets lots of strange looks from other zoo-goers. I have been there a few times with her and it always works. I think the keepers feed them there so they're looking for a feed.

Wetas are everywhere where it's dark, dank and creepy. Caves and woodsheds especially.

Kea are the most awesome birds there as, in the world. They have been studied and found to be brainier even than dolphins. You won't see them in the wild here, but down south in the mountain regions they're always present and up to mischief. They love stealing from humans and wrecking anything they can get their beaks and claws on. There used to be one in the Hamilton Zoo which could talk, now that would be a great pet to have, a talking Kea.

As for your mates buying Budweiser, I think Baz is right, they were being polited for their US visitor and ensuring you didn't get anything too high in alcohol or taste that you might not handle. Or maybe they were just Aucklanders and it was trendy at the time?

[agent86]

I did see lotsa dead possums.streets are paved with dead possums

[avenger2504]

As I happened to be the the local supermarket at lunchtime (buying beer even), I thought I'd check. They had several pricey imported brews by the single bottle, less-pricey imported brews by the four/six-pack, six-packs (or was it four-packs) of Millers, cases of Heinekin, Stella, and something else European, and a couple-three of dozen NZ types by the six-pack or case (and maybe a couple by the single bottle). NZ beer prices overlap the imported ones.
No Bud, although I wouldn't have been surprised (and I'm sure some places have it). I would guess it would retail at about the higher end of the the NZ beers.
In 1993, I would have expected less variety, and more emphasis on the low-end.
In a desperate attempt to get on-topic, I think I've seen 'American' re-enactors at airshows with period-appropriate beer bottles.

Buying beer Errol? Slumming it are we ha ha.
Baz

[ErrolC]

Buying beer Errol? Slumming it are we ha ha.
Baz

The beer I drink isn't slumming it! Also, my partner drinks hardly any wine, and I don't always want to drink half a bottle of wine in an evening.

Last edited by ErrolC on Mon Jun 27, 2011 6:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[RMAllnutt]

oh and did I mention the fact I got nothing but love and good vibes from the locals.Budweiser drinkers!

Perhaps when you were there Budweiser was a freshly imported product that was of curiosity to the locals, so they were buying it. I know the same was true in England when I was a student there in the mid/late-eighties. I couldn't understand so many of my friends paying top price for the stuff, when much better beers were available at half that rate. Budweiser is only drinkable on a super hot day, when you're super thirsty, and the beer is super cold... We call it GP in England... short for Gnat's P!

Ok... back to warbirds. That TBF is looking marvelous! What markings have they in mind for her once she's done?

Cheers!
Richard

[agent86]

its horrible beer.sorry scott and Mr. Ztex.kinda off topic

[Dave Homewood]

I have been told Richard that the plan is to paint the Avenger into the colours of one crewed by New Zealanders in the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm, and it will be displayed alongside the Swordfish replica in the Fleet Air Arm Museum of New Zealand section of the MOTAT complex. I think their association is putting funds towards the restoration.

In one way being an important aircraft in its own right in the deveopment of topdressing it's a pity it won't be in its postwar RNZAF markings. But I am much more supportive of it going into FAA colours. NZ had over 1200 aircrew members in the FAA and they made up over a quarter of all the aircrew in the British Pacific Fleet, and of course were in many other fleets in the RN too, so it's very important they are properly remembered.

We have one other Avenger on public display in No. 31 Squadron RNZAF colours, at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand at Wigram, Christchurch. There is another under slow restoration at Gisborne which will go into No. 30 Squadron RNZAF colours. So it is nice to think this one will be a bit different.