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 When it comes to beer, most of us think it's a guy’s drink…
But as the nzgirl team found out, there’s a very extensive and actually very delicious (and even lady like!) range of beer, and there’s just as much reason for you to get involved with it as the guys!
We headed along to De Post in Mt Eden where we were treated to a very special course on Beer 101. Kirsty McLean, the winner of this year’s Stella Artois NZ Draught Masters was our gorgeous and totally amazing barman for the afternoon.  She took us through her perfected nine Step Belgian beer pouring ritual and showed us exactly why she took out the title, and will be representing New Zealand at the Stella Artois World Draught Master competition in Belgium next month. She also gave us the lowdown on more beers than we could poke a stick at, and smashed all our beer theories (‘it’s just a yucky guys drink’) to pieces!
Secrets of the pros (definitely not of the bros!) Show up your man and his mates with your expertise in the art of beer pouring. Kirsty and Laura Smith, quality assurance executive for Lion Nathan, let us in on all the secrets of how to pour the perfect beer (there’s no yardies, plastic jugs or kegs here ladies!)… In any good bar, if you’re ordering a Belgium beer, you can expect top quality service. Kirsty taught us that the first step is to wash the glass. Hold it by the stem and dunk into the sink, pumping it up and down. Then rinse the glass, pushing it in (still holding by the stem) and out of a sink filled with fresh water. When it comes to pouring the beer, hold the glass at a 45 degree angle. Aim the tap for the back of the glass, and as the glass rises tip the glass straight. Then, slice the head (or froth) off the top of the glass. To top it all off, serve the glass and coaster, with logos perfectly aligned and facing the drinker. Voila! 
Beer tips
- According to Kirsty there are three main enemies of beer – oxygen, light and heat. All of these factors can have a damaging effect on the quality and taste of the beer. So make sure not to leave any bottles of beers lying around in the back of your car on a hot day!
- When pouring beer the whole idea is to be in control.
- Head is good. What?! No, not that head (!), we’re talking about the froth on the top of the beer. Although some people think the less head the better, the froth helps keep the freshness of the beer for longer, and you’ll find that most New Zealanders do prefer beer with more head.
- If you want to expand your horizons and try a delicious Belgium beer – don’t be scared!Kirsty recommends to talk to the bartender, tell them what tastes you like – whether you like fruity drinks or strong ones, and even which types of wine you prefer. Kirsty says that just from that info she can recommend a beer that you’re likely to love.
 We got to sample a bunch of delish European Premium beers, read on to see the verdict and hopefully figure out which beer is perfect for you!
Stella Artois
This classic beer hails from Belgium and dates back to 1366. It was first introduced as a Christmas beer in 1926 and is now the best selling Belgian beer in the world, being sold in more than 80 countries. Taste and aroma: Has a hoppy aroma with a hint of fruitiness. Its fine, clean bitterness is well balanced with a distinctive malt flavour. Food match: It’s much like a simply dry or red wine, and is a great match with mussels and chicken dishes. nzgirl Verdict: A yummy beer that reminds us of summer. Crisp and refreshing. Hoegaarden Pronounced Hu-garden this Belgium beer originated in 1445. Containing coriander and Curacao orange peel, this beer has a refreshing sweet-sour taste thanks to its unique blend of ingredienats. Taste and Aroma: The wheat of the beer gives it a tart woodiness. It’s a refreshing contradiction of sweet and sour flavours, with a fruitiness and soft bitter aroma. Food matching: Hoegaarden is like a fine Chablis or Sauvignon Blanc. It’s an excellent aperitif and tastes best with fresh Mussels and Frites. It also goes well with Thai or Chinese food, and for dessert works well with apple pie and cream. nzgirl verdict: It has a delicious unique taste which went down a treat with all of us!
Leffe Blonde
This is a creamy, lightly spiced Abbey beer, with a great balance of strength and subtlety. Taste and aroma: Has a delicate bitterness, which lingers with a sweet malty finish. It does have a higher alcohol level which gives it a mouth warming, full bodied taste. It has a subtle dry clove aroma with a hint of oranges. nzgirl verdict: Nice and dry, with a tasty beer flavour, but not too strong. One that would go down well with both guys and girls. Leffe Brune The Leffe Brune is a dark brown beer brewed with roasted malts. Taste and aroma: This full-bodied beer has a pleasant fruity aroma with a delicate spicy flavour of vanilla and cloves, and even a hint of apple. While more bitter than the Leffe Blonde, it is balanced by the aroma of roasted barley and the rich taste of melting caramel. nzgirl verdict: This gorgeous beer had a delicious and smooth taste which went down superbly. Anya and Isla’s fav. Belle-Vue Kriek This gorgeous beer is made from fresh Morello cherries! Yes, cherries! Taste and aroma: If you love sweet cherries, you’ll love this one. It smells and taste like cherries and has a delish sweet and sour taste. Food match: Belle-Vue is so unique that there is no direct wine equivalent, however it’s a great apertiff and a perfect match with sweet and fruit based desserts. nzgirl verdict: This is unlike any beer any of us had ever had before, sweet, fresh and fruity. It got ‘mmms’ all around, and was my pick of the bunch. I’m converted! Ramarea
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