NZ Book Month: Of Beer and Books

Media release: for immediate use, 14 October 2009

Of Beer and Books.

A glass of wine at a book launch is as natural a combination as fish and chips on the beach, and there are many who feel passionately about both situations.

Last year New Zealand Book Month held an event in Auckland which promised free beer - Oh the wrath received from cultural curmudgeons; that such a thing should be thought of. But New Zealand Book Month is a campaign for all Kiwi tastes and palates so, once again, Kiwi beer is on the menu for 2009.

Boutique breweries across the country have taken up the challenge of beverage with books: Auckland's Epic Beer, Nelsons Founder's brewery, Hawkes Bay Brewers, and the Twisted Hop in Christchurch are just a selection of the brews that can be found with books at this year's events.

The spectacular NZ Book Month Good Word Debate presented by TVNZ7 for example, saw the fine pale ale of Epic Beer drunk by Auckland's literary community with great enthusiasm. (The Good Word Debate airs on Saturday 17th at 9.10pm, Sky 97, or Freeview channel 7)

Chairman of the New Zealand Brewers Guild, David Cryer isn't surprised, "Books and Beer are a match made in heaven, I'm a book lover myself and I can tell you the fit is just right in tone and taste. Historically the association of these two has been strong, with beer providing inspiration for writers and readers alike. Long may it last."

Moreover there are many in literary circles who prefer a fine frothy drop with their reading. "A book and a glass of wine is great, but a book and a beer is perfection," says Geoff Walker, Publishing Director at Penguin New Zealand.

Is it because beer is seen as an exclusively male sup, and that books and boys don’t go together as well as women and wine that commentators lambasted the idea last year? Surely not. New Zealand Book Month would like to invite all book lovers across the country to enjoy a beer with us, or a wine, or a glass of orange juice, just so long as they think it goes well with their New Zealand Book.

To sample beer and books concurrently try:

-- Off the Radar at the Nelson Arts Festival. Thursday 22nd October, 6.30pm for a complimentary tasting of organic beer from Founders Brewery. Tickets through http://www.everyman.co.nz

-- Crest to Crest book launch in Christchurch at The Twisted Hop Brewery. Tuesday 27th October, 5.30pm.

-- The 10pm Experience Dessert and conversation with Kate De Goldi, 29th October, 8.30pm. A special 10pm cocktail available or fabulous Kiwi beers Epic or Moa.

For further information on upcoming events see http://www.nzbookmonth.co.nz

ENDS

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