2 Mt Eden Road,
Eden Terrace
Auckland,


(09) 379 3557

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5 out of 5 stars

This is probably going to upset all the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir fans out there, but it's a little known fact that the world of beer is actually more complex and interesting than the world of wine. Think about it. Countless varieties of beer are made from different combinations, of hops, malt and wheat - even fruit like strawberries if you're an easily bored Trappist monk in Belgium. On the other hand wine is a lot more straightforward. Still undeniably interesting, but in essence just the result of treating a few bunches grapes - or kiwifruit if you're an inventive hippie in Golden Bay - with respect.

With new microbreweries popping up regularly around the country, it's a great time to be a beer fan in New Zealand. And if you're living in Auckland, Galbraith's Alehouse is ground zero for the Kiwi beer renaissance.

Housed in the old Grafton Public Library, Galbraith's is the kind of place that where it's ridiculously easy to become a regular. A range of Galbraith's own beers are on tap - all brewed on the premises - and there's also a good array of "guest beers" from around the country featuring such goodies as Emerson's from Dunedin and the mighty Three Boys from Christchurch.

Yes, I have seen punters sidle up to Galbraith's huge bar made of 40,000 year old swamp kauri and order an Export Gold, but with scores of interesting global bottled brews also available why would you bother? Brewer Keith Galbraith is a keen student of beer, and his own beers include faithful versions of well-known styles as Bohemian Pilsner and cask conditioned English bitter. Don't settle for bland beers like we've come to expect from some multi-national brewers, but dive in and try something different.

If Galbraith's beer is a cut above from your average pub, so too is the food. The menu focuses on robust dishes like bangers and mash and fish and chips, but also includes a few lighter options like Moroccan Chicken Salad. If you're planning on trying a few different brews a tasty option is to mix and match with snacks from the good-value bar snacks menu, including Filo Prawns and Beer Battered Scallops for around ten bucks.

And if you still can't be convinced of the merits of beer, then Galbraith's also has a thoughtful wine list that's a combination of well-known and more obscure Kiwi labels.