Beer Cup. If we were a little sad that Kiwis missed out, imagine how a country with a 1000-year tradition of brewing feels about Australia walking away with the Gold for South German-Style Hefeweizen/Hefeweissbier. According to the film, there is a focus within the German market on mass production while innovative brewers seem to moving to America. One brewery highlighted is Schneider-Weisse, a family-owned Bavarian brewery that uses traditional techniques to make a range of wheat beers. There is Aventinus, the dark wheat beer which inspired Joseph Wood to start brewing. There is also Unser Original, a traditional style beer hefeweizen, or yeasty wheat beer. Coincidentally, we had picked up a couple of bottles this week at Nelson New World. The beer is on a heavy discount as it is past its use by date. While admittedly lacking the punchy clove and banana yeast character of fresh local versions, we found the beer to be in good stead. . Schneider-Weisse is an innovator, despite their traditional techniques. In 2011 they brewed Mein Nelson Sauvin, featuring the ever in demand Nelson Sauvin hop. The beer is in stock at Regional Wine and Spirits in Wellington, and can be purchased via the store's website. BEER NEWS The Moutere Inn is running a showcase of Auckland brewery Galbraiths with six beers serving from June 21. Galbraiths is the other New Zealand specialist real ale brewery, alongside our Townshend Brewing. Beervana tickets are now on sale, and selling briskly, with the Home Brewing Masterclass