Claire Rogers All about beer www.sunlive.co.nz

If you like a good beer, then break out and try a craft beer.

We produce some stunning craft beers in New Zealand which will be available for tasting at the Liquorland Spring Fest 2012 on Friday November 9 at Farmer Auto Village.

It was great to catch up with Sam Wilson, head brewer from the McCashin's Brewery in Nelson. Their distinctive range of beers is handcrafted from traditional recipes that have been the pride of the McCashin family for almost 30 years. They use only the finest natural ingredients, sourced mainly from the Nelson region, a region renowned for its organically rich soils and perfect climate.

The Stoke Kiwi Pale Ale: This ale had a really nice copper hue, while the nose delivered a caramel malt sweetness with light biscuit notes, and lively spicy fruit aromas. It's vibrant, smooth and full biscuit malt flavours were quickly backed up with tangy fruity hops, finishing off with a zesty bitter/sweet fruitiness.

The Stoke Smoky Ale: A rich rusty colour, with a light caramel sweetness on the nose, and a hint of smoke. To taste the smoke becomes more evident, but does not over dominate, plenty of body and toffee sweetness to balance, and a wee bitter bite to finish. Best enjoyed a little warmer (7 degrees) to really experience the smoky malt flavours. We tried it on our English visitors, and it really got the thumbs up, they especially liked it with our goose and venison salami.

The Stoke Oatmeal Stout: This was my favourite, I have to admit, I am a real dark beer fan. This beer absorbs all light that touches it, but gives off a sweet well-roasted malt aroma that is backed with light aromatic hops. Full malty sweetness is quickly followed by rich roasted flavours and subtleties of cereal and nut, giving way to crisp hop bitterness and flavours. Make sure you try this beer!

Stoke Bohemian Ale: Everyone will enjoy the interaction of delicate wheat and lightly roasted barley with the lively citrus and pepper flavours. Fully rounded mouth-feel and engaging honeyed malt complexity and spice. A real classic Bohemian Ale.

Stoke Biscuit Lager: An enticing blend packed with Motueka and Nelson Sauvin hops layered over specialty malts. Autumn brown, with notes of peach and citrus, then toffee and toast, this one rated right up there also with our test panel of English beer experts.

Next time you have a dinner party why not try a beer and food match for something different, it is sure to spark good conversation.

The Weekend Sun has an assorted six pack of McCashin's beers to give away to a lucky reader who can tell us how long the recipes have been in the McCashin family.

You must be more than 18 years old to enter.

Enter online under the competitions section.