[Dyslermergerb]

While I loved NZ (and could easily live there), I do enjoy the much larger variety and availability of craft beer here in the US. Just today my local brew pubs are offering some new brews on tap: a cherry vanilla stout, a ginger bread ale, and a red rye ale.

NZ's beer scene is about where the US was in the mid 1990's; dominated by 2-3 large brewing companies who make their own version of bland tasting "clean and crisp" lager (Steinlager/Tui/etc). One bright exception was Mac's, who's Sassy Red and Black Mac were delicious on draft.

We were humo(u)red by 12 packs of Corona for $30+ bucks and shocked at gas at $2.08/liter (3.8 liters per gallon).

The green bottles are Steinlager empties at Rich's a couple hours after we arrived: