Galbraith's Alehouse

Galbraith's Alehouse is located at 2 Mount Eden, Grafton, Auckland.
The Mount Eden (Maungawhau in Māori) volcanic cone and Eden Park internation rugby and cricket stadium are nearby. As it serves a range of traditional ales, the alehouse is likely to be busy when the 'Barmy Army' are in town for sporting events.

Keith Galbraith opened his eponymous alehouse in 1995 'with the heart-felt desire to reintroduce real ale to New Zealand'. With a background in New Zealand's growing wine industry he foresaw the similar opportunity for beer to develop. The website for Galbraith's Alehouse describes it as 'a proudly independent traditional English-style pub serving unique European-inspired ales hand crafted with authentic, natural ingredients'.

The central main entrance leads to a lobby with views through to the on-site brewhouse on the right.

A blackboard explains that all food and drink orders should be placed at the bar.

The bar itself, on the left side of the building, is certainly traditional and impressive. If it's shorts and t-shirts weather, an outside patio drinking area is also available at the back.

One blackboard behind the bar gives details of the regular cask conditioned beers brewed on the premises and served from handpumps at 10ºC including Bob Hudson's Bitter (4% ABV) named after Kentishman John 'Bob' Hudson who taught Keith Galbraith 'how to brew the old way'. A matching blackboard gives details of chilled beers brewed on the premises.

 Tasting notes are included in the beer menu found on the bar.

A blackboard on the wall lists Galbraith's seasonal ales, including my choice, Mr G's Luncheon Ale (3.7% ABV) also served from handpump.

 A larger wall mounted blackboard lists current guest beers.

On my visit, five different cask conditioned ales were available from the six handpumps mounted on the bar. (The other pubs and bars I visited in New Zealand usually had one handpump at the most with other beers served from taps.)

On a Tuesday afternoon, the alehouse was not busy and this gave me an opportunity to take some photos in the main bar.

 'No tricks or gimmicks, just good honest beer.'

 Recent gold awards for Galbraith's Rurik Russian Imperial Stout and Bohemian Pilsner at the 2017 International Brewing Awards were highlighted on a framed blackboard.

There was also a chance to have a chat with Stephen, a barman, and pass on a copy of Ullage, the West Berkshire CAMRA magazine.

Leaving the bar after my beer, I looked into the brewhouse which was quite busy.

There was clear evidence of the authentic ingredients including a stack of empty Marus Otter malt sacks from Thos. Fawcett & Sons Ltd of Castleford.

To visit Galbraith's Alehouse soon after the Brewhouse's International Brewing Awards achievement was a highlight of my Auckland visit. Happily, Keith Galbraith's quote above shows that it is possible for brewers to embrace nonconformity and win recognition.

Twitter: @GalbraithsAles
Facebook: @galbraithsales

Vultures' Lane

Located at 10 Vulcan Lane, in Auckland's Central Business District, Vultures' Lane is a well known craft beer bar would be the first and one of the last that I would visit during my trip to New Zealand in March 2017.

Vultures' Lane sandwiched by other bars - Vulcan Lane

It was surprisingly quiet on the Saturday evening of my first visit, which suited me as I was able to find a table near the bar and get some iPhone photos as a record.

Keg beer taps in centre and single handpump on right of bar

As a member of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and as the cask beer on the handpump was my favourite American Pale Ale style, I ordered a Tuatara Tomahawk.

The 425ml measure is less than an imperial pint and the price of $NZ10 equates to approximately £5.60 (March 2017). Beers can also be served in 330ml measures or in litre jugs for groups to share.

Served without gas pressure and at a cool rather than cold temperature this was a fine introduction to beer in New Zealand. Vultures' Lane has 22 rotating taps and 75 bottle choices in the fridge and the beer menu on a clipboard has the relevant details including brewery, ABV, IBU, style and price.

The beers on the taps are also listed on a blackboard behind the bar. These are mainly from New Zealand but the photo from my second visit, on a Monday night (above and below), shows that Guinness and Adnams Ghost Ship from the Northern Hemisphere were also available on draught.

On entering the bar, there are high and low tables on opposite sides of the narrow room. The bar is at the back of the room faced by further high tables. Typically, cricket may be shown on the TV screen above the entrance with the sound off. There are also seats immediately outside the pub and as Vulcan Lane is a pedestrian street, these seats are popular during warm weather.
With its handpump and bar service, any UK visitor is likely to find Vultures' Lane a familiar and friendly place to enjoy New Zealand beers from some of the best breweries.