All signs point to a jolly fine tipple in the top of the south

There's a wealth of information available for those planning a wine tasting tour of Marlborough.

A quick search of the internet reveals a multitude of links on the subject and both the Destination Marlborough and Wine Marlborough websites offer a downloadable map to help visitors find their way around the province's wineries.

With no less than 13 of the nation's 54 craft breweries as well as some of the country's finest pubs and bars, the Nelson-Marlborough region is attracting increasing numbers of visitors in search of great beer.

Until recently there was little information available to guide potential beer tourists, but a new website has recently been set up specifically to cater for them.

The Top-of-the-South Craft Beer & Brewing Trail (beertourist.co.nz) is an invaluable resource.

The site, which is really just one page, opens up with a scale map of the region, stretching from Collingwood to Blenheim, with numbers indicating the locations of the breweries and some of the best places to enjoy craft beers.

By clicking on any of the numbers, or on the names below, the visitor is taken to the website of that particular brewery or beer outlet.

Simple it may be, but it's enormously useful. Basically the site is a godsend for anyone interested in finding out about craft beer in the region.

Even though I'm on first-name terms with most of the brewers and many of the bar owners I've found much of interest and have added the link to my favourites list. There's even a link for New Zealand Hops, the Nelson-based, grower-owned company which markets and distributes Kiwi hops all over the world.

The beer tourist site should prove priceless for the region's smallest breweries. With little in the way of marketing resources – some don't even have a website – these tiny operations generally suffer from a lack of media profile.

Although many craft beer lovers will be familiar with names such as Founders, The Mussel Inn, Pink Elephant, Tasman Brewing, Moa and Renaissance, I wonder how many have sampled beers from the likes of Totara, Monkey Wizard, Townshend and Lighthouse?

Having located the breweries the next issue facing the visiting beer tourist is to find places where they can go to sample the beers at their best – on tap.

Nelson-Marlborough is lucky to have some of the country's finest specialty craft beer bars and the website points the way to them.

Ad Feedback One such venue is The Moutere Inn pub in Upper Moutere.

Set in the heart of hop-growing country, the pub dates back to 1850 and is reputedly New Zealand's oldest.

Boasting an ever-changing range of 13 craft beers and ciders – three of which are cask conditioned "real ales", served by traditional handpumps – the Moutere Inn should be an essential stop on any visiting beer tourist's itinerary.

Beer lovers can sample the brews without having to drive afterwards by booking one of the pub's upstairs bedrooms.

Having visited the charming old weatherboard pub just once before and thoroughly enjoying its beer and relaxed hospitality, I'm planning an overnight trip there this coming weekend. I'll report back next week.

Cheers!

While we're on the subject of tourism, I've noticed that the multitude of brown signposts that have popped up around the region recently are all for wineries. Why aren't there any for our award-winning craft breweries?

Word has it requests for similar signs from both Renaissance and Moa have been refused. Do I detect a double standard here?