United Nations of Beer

Steinlager beer

by Jon Albright
(Beer Delegate, New Zealand)

Steinlager beer (5% ABV)
Visit the UNOB's New Zealand Beer Guide

Steinlager is New Zealand's mainstream beer, made popular through crafty advertising campaigns and the world famous All Blacks jersey. It was first brewed in 1958 as Steinecker and served in brown bottles.

It was renamed Steinlager in 1962 and switched to its famous green bottles by the 1970s.

The drink has a good, crisp taste. It is brewed by the Lion Nathan brewing company in Auckland and has, without modesty, proclaimed itself as "New Zealand's unquestionably finest beer." Personally, I am always wary of a product that uses so much positive reinforcement as part of its advertising campaign.

Steinlager beer goes down well after a rugby match, or on a hot summer day. Don't expect it to keep you warm on a winter's afternoon; the drink is at its best ice cold. It tastes rather disgusting at room temperature.

This mainstream beer has an unusual twist. During my four-year stay in New Zealand, I never once saw someone drink Steinlager at a bar, party, or elsewhere despite the massive advertising campaign with the New Zealand All Blacks and numerous sporting events.

However, Steinlager is readily available at most wine and liquor stores in Canada and the United States and is usually the only New Zealand beer available.

As a result, I and many others drink Steinlager only outside New Zealand, but never in New Zealand.