There was a time when beer meant a slab of Speight's or a swappa crate. Now even supermarkets are making room for vast arrays of boutique brews. By Nikki Macdonald (The Dominion Post)

Beer enthusiast Simon Smith likes to buy single bottles of different brands: Photo: Craig SimcoxSimon Smith had always poohpoohed that watery brew drunk by ignorant louts. ‘‘It turns out I was probably that myself. I was quite happy drinking wine at the time. I thought beer was a commercial swill that came on large tankers from Auckland.''

More info:

http://brewersguild.org.nz/news/2010/ale-and-hearty