Our Range of Beers

The hallmark of an Emerson’s is the intensity of flavour. Savour the flavours and aromas.Celebrate the brewer’s art; from the dark, dry and mellow London Porter to the distinctive, spicy and effervescent Weissbier. Emerson’s has a beer for every occasion and palate, suited as thirst quenchers, social relaxants and restoratives after work or exercise.

Pilsner

A ‘Kiwi Classic’, Pilsner is a showcase for Nelson grown Riwaka hops.

Its overt fruitiness begs comparison with Marlborough’s world-beating Sauvignon Blancs.

Emerson’s Pilsner oozes citrus and passionfruit aromas and flavours. The beer’s palate shows a hint of early malt sweetness but develops a lengthy dry finish.

Serve: 5 – 7 C. Style: Pilsner. ABV 4.9%

1812 India Pale Ale

India Pale Ales were developed by the English brewers for troops serving throughout the Empire. To survive the long sea journey, large quantities of hops were added as a preservative. The defining essence of Emerson’s 1812 IPA is the sheer ‘Englishness’! The beer has a delightful marmalade character with toffee maltiness, balanced by complex, orangey and earth hop notes in both the aroma and palate. Tangy hops dominate the beer’s lingering, dry finish.

Serve 8 – 10° C. Style: India Pale Ale. ABV 4.9%

London Porter

Porter is the oldest commercially brewed style. Dark, dry and mellow with some hop characteristics, it was the favourite tipple of London’s porters. London Porter pours a deep brown colour with reddish tints, and the aroma is toasty, with a hint of sweetness and some earthy hop notes. Firm-bodied, but not heavy, with a creamy texture, the dryish palate is full of roasted malt, coffeeish notes and a sustained bitterness.

Serve 8 – 10° C. Style: Porter. ABV 4.9%.

Bookbinder

A wonderfully drinkable interpretation of a classic English ale. Bookbinder Bitter is a blend of four malts combined with two classic Nelson grown European hops (Fuggles and Riwaka). The beer pours an attractive reddish brown, with a cream coloured head. Bookbinder Bitter has a sweet, perfumey, malt and hop aroma with a soft, malty, fruit and vinous palate that is both full flavoured and refreshing with a long, gently drying finish.

Serve 6 – 8° C. Style: Ordinary Bitter. ABV 3.7%

Old 95

This strong heady ale is full-bodied with toffeeish malt sweetness followed by complex, fruity notes and hop flavours. The late palate is full of floral hop flavours, followed by a long lingering bitterness. Bottle conditioned Old 95 should be decanted carefully, leaving the yeast in the bottle. After a year the beer is slightly drier with more vinous, tart fruitiness, but still shows stunning flavour developments and a robust hoppy finish. Bottle conditioned.

Serve 10 – 12° C. Style: English Old Ale. ABV 7.0 %

WeissBier SUMMER ONLY

An especially imported Bavarian yeast strain gives Emerson’s Weissbier its authentic German character. The beer pours a cloudy, pale golden colour, and has a sweet bready aroma with notes of banana and sherbet. In the mouth the beer is spicy and tart, with some grainy sweetness. With age, Emerson’s WeissBier develops a clove-like aroma and the taste becomes softer and more cidery. Bottle Conditioned.

Serve 4-8° C. Style: Bavarian Hefeweizen. ABV 5.0%

Dunkelweiss WINTER ONLY

A winter stablemate to the Emerson’s Weissbier, a delicious dark wheat beer brewed with a potpourri of different malts to achieve the tasty complexion; Canterbury lager malt, German wheat malt, crystal, caramunich, then finally caramelised and roasted wheat to complete the malty depth of flavours.

Serve 6 – 8° C. Style: South German dark wheat. ABV 6.3%

Weizenbock

Seasonal Release: August

A Bavarian cloudy Weiss or Wheat beer brewed to bock strength. The overall impression is a beer that is strong and malty, rich, full bodied and warming. Flavours of chocolate, Christmas cake, raisins, dark fruits and even a hint of Easter spices and clove characters. Serve at 8 C. 8% abv

Taieri George

Seasonal Release: 6 March

This exquisite spiced ale, released annually and brewed with the addition of three spices and organic clover honey from Central Otago is bottle-conditioned for five months prior to release on March 6^th every year. Cinnamon and nutmeg notes are evident in the aroma and on the palette with the combination of spices evoking flavours reminiscent of hot-cross buns. Serve 8-10° C. Style: Spice Ale. ABV 6.8 %

2010 vintage SOLD OUT

JP

Seasonal release: June

The annual JP release is in honour of the late Professor Jean-Pierre Dufour, formerly Dean of Food Sciences at the University of Otago. Belgium born JP, as he was affectionately known, was an icon in the international brewing industry and a valued friend of The Emerson Brewing Company.

Each vintage varies in beer style, flavour and aroma – each brew reflecting one of the many beer styles for which Belgium is renowned.

JP 2010: AVAILABLE NOW!
An India Pale Ale brewed to the Belgian Tripel style with Belgian yeast and the addition of NZ and American hops.

Serve at 8 – 10°C. 8% ABV
Foodmatch: A pungent, tangy cheese.

Brewer's Reserve

This beer changes often. It is a chance for our brewers to try new styles and ingredients. Brewer's Reserve is only available on tap at selected bars and from the brewery shop.