Fresh Choice Springlands

No Longer In Business

Once a mine of interesting beers, now a Countdown and a selection that’s not too bad but contracting. Countdown has a one for all mentality to its beer selection with this place initially the exception. Still, as it stands, not a bad array of imported and local beers.

Stopped in here on our way through to Picton to catch the ferry to Wellington. I hadn’t researched this place before stopping (it was a random stop to get some groceries for dinner), so I was happily surprised to find a gold mine of NZ micros. This store, along with Regional Wine and Spirits in Wellington, has the best selection of kiwi craft beer that I have seen in the country. It is a bonus that they have a solid selection of UK and belgian beers as well.

Keeps a fantastic beer range of NZ micros at good prices. Also the store appears to specialise in Belgian ales as there’s a huge range and bloody cheap (well compared to prices in Oz). This place was a good stop to find some great beers in Blenheim.

So I’ve just flown into Christchurch from Melbourne and jumped straight into a hire car for a 4hr drive to Blenheim. Duuly arrive at the motel, throw bags into room and stroll over to the supermarket over the road for supplies. I stick my nose in the beer section, expecting few mainstream offerings at best. What I didn’t expect was to walk out with 18 beers, and $150 lighter.brbrThis place has nearly 300 beers including the entire ’who’s who’ of the NZ micro scene - Emerson’s, Wanaka, Harrington’s, Moa, Pink Elephant, Renaissance, Limburg, 3 Boys. It also had 10 serious lambics from the likes of Cantillon, Oud Beersel, Boon and Liefman. Every serious abbey and strong ale from Belgium bar Westy. How can this be? Why can’t I source and sell such a great range in Australia? What a great result for the NZ beer geek. BTW didn’t find a better store in the whole of the South Island for the remainder of my trip.