Lion Red lager

by John Albright
(Beer Delegate, New Zealand)

Lion Red lager: once were warriors

Lion Red lager
Lion Nathan, Auckland, New Zealand
Visit the UNOB's New Zealand Beer Guide

Lion Red, brewed by Lion Nathan in Auckland, is an average-tasting beer at best. But what the beer has become associated with creates a rather intimidating scene.

I personally think of violence and brutality when I see the red, white and yellow logo. It is the beer of the rough, working classes of Polynesian and Maori New Zealand.

Simply put, Lion Red is associated through sponsorships and a spiritual affiliation to the sport of Rugby League. (Rugby League is a bastardized version of the modern Rugby Union sport that most are familiar with, with the critical difference being the throwing of a punch after every tackle in League).

Lion Red supports all levels of Rugby League in New Zealand, from the smaller clubs to the Warriors of the NRL and the National Team: Kiwis.

Their logo is prominently displayed on the sleeves of League team jerseys, billboards and the supporters' pubs.

As a result, the beverage of choice during and after games is, copious amounts of Lion Red lager.

To create another setting for Lion Red, see the movie Once Were Warriors. This New Zealand-based film chronicles the life of Jake 'the Mus' and how his drinking affects his family life. He wears a "wife beater" singlet and his actions personify that image to perfection. Watch the movie and you'll understand.

Lion Red lager, despite its reputation, is not a bad beer. It was officially known as Lion Beer until the mid 1980s, whereby it was changed to Lion Red. This lager, at 4% abv, can still be found in swappa-crate form in the southern parts of Auckland.

But be warned, if you want the true Lion Red experience down there... be prepared to be part of a beating (most likely as the victim, but possibly the aggressor).

Most unfortunately, the violence associated with Lion Red lager doesn't do the beer justice. It is best enjoyed in a crate of 12 king-bottles in south Auckland after a League match.

Its full benefits will be noted when you stagger home, wake your wife up, raise your fist and shout out "Cook me some eggs!" Once were warriors, indeed.

Comments for
Lion Red lager

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Mar 13, 2012
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Bigoted Much? NEW
by:

Over all Kiwi Beers are good, better and cleaner than your average US rice beverages and more grounded than the fruity concoctions coming out of Belgium, that seem to be the taste of the year for all beer connoisseurs (read poncy farts that would otherwise be swilling wine—pretentiously). As for the rest of Jon Albright's opinions, Wow... what a bigoted douche.

Mar 31, 2011
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Ledge
by: Anonymous

Doctor you ledge

Apr 23, 2010
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Lager?????
by: Matt

So when did Lion Red turn into a Lager?
it's about as much a lager as the pope is Hindu!
This "review" is just a piss-take.
Nice work John Albright U NOB.

Mar 15, 2010
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fukin idiot
by: Anonymous

for 1 loin red =s best beer made for 2 im white and i drink loin red proudly and thridly rugby league is the single best sport ever created. by doctor

Feb 18, 2010
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idiotic critique.
by: Anonymous

Some people just don't know a good beer when they see one. Lion Red is a peopular beer of all Kiwis, not just the Maori. True that barfights are a cliche of NZ, but that hardly stems from the rather weak alchohol content of just 4%. Funny how a review of a beer swiftly turns into a country and sport bashing - if you think you're reviewing a brew instead of your own racial prejudices, look again.

Sep 07, 2009
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Reference - comment made by John Albright
by: Pete

John, Once Were Warriors depicts Double Brown not Lion Red. Double Brown is produced by Dominion Breweries whereas Lion Red is made by Lion Breweries a subsidiary of Lion Nathan!

Credibility of any article or written observation hinges on its content being accurate in its entirety. Any less, and your work becomes nothing more than fiction loosely based on fact. This is exactly what was demonstrated by your cultural comments. Don’t know beer? Don’t know people? By the sound of things you don’t get invited to many parties either?

Aug 09, 2009
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Lion Red For White People Too
by: Avi Sutton

i agree with jons assertion that Lion Red is an average beer. it is in the same family as any other provincial beer in NZ eg. Waikato/Tui/Lion Brown/ DB Export etc... it has 4% alcohol and tastes like unchallenging summer or after work beer. it is a relatively cheap drink as are all the "4 percenters" in NZ. this means that it is accessible to working class, blue collar folks.
what i object to in jons review is his comments regarding race and class. He is a man clearly afraid of "Darkies", that has no understanding of Rugby of either code. to review a beer in the way he has would be to couple Stella Artois/ Carlsberg/Tuborg soley with the violence associated with the Hooligans that drink it and the Soccer teams that they sponsor, or guinness with the "Troubles" in Ireland. Jon, you are undoubtedly a nice guy who just got it wrong, but you have created in my mind an image of yourself huddling defensively in the corner of a posh pub , nursing a tiny bottle of microbrewery beer making all the standard comments about the ABs (All Blacks). in saying what you have said you have alienated yourself from About 25% of NZ and at least 40% of Auckland. it is an ignorant and silly rant about the people that scare you, thinly disguised as a beer review.

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