Toast 2012

To spark a little mid winter cheer for the folks in the office I decided to organise a brewing and beverage making competition, Toast 2012. Our friends in Auckland decided to jump on the band wagon and before we knew it, we had a right old shin dig in the making!

One Friday in August, the usual Friday beers were supercharged by a flurry of budding brewers and cocktail artists. There was whirring of the blenders the clanking of shakers and dedicated temperature checking ensuring one’s brew was just so.

The standard was incredibly high, from beautifully hand crafted syrups using homegrown bounty to branding and labeling that would have looked at home in any craft brew shop.

The big attraction here in Dunedin (especially for our brewing enthusiasts) was the opportunity to have Richard Emerson taste, judge and make meticulous notes on each of the tipples presented that day. Richard was a delight to have here, and he took on the role of chief judge with serious dedication. His genuine interest, commentary and advice was the real prize for our budding brewers.

This month we will hear from our champion brewers both in Dunedin and Auckland and will share some recipes for some tasty beverages. We have been baking with beer, and also have some superb treats to serve up with your favourite bevies. I do hope you enjoy…cheers!