More Millinery...

Coopers caps

Along with the fine Atlas caps we currently have for sale. We also have some rather awesome Coopers caps available and they are a snip at $20 each.

If you would like to buy one, ask the bar staff in Atlas and they'll be more than happy to help you out. 

Meet Adam Barwood

Adam Barwood, one of our Atlas alpine ski-racers,  has had a busy Winter so far with preparation a-plenty at Mt Hutt and Coronet Peak for the imminent competition season. We caught up with him for a quick Q&A.

Adam in action

Hello Adam, welcome aboard! How's your Winter going so far?

Excellent! The dry-land training I did leading up to the start of Winter went well - lots of strength work. Since the mountains opened on-snow training has been very focussed and full-on; so now I'm looking forward to races which start tomorrow at Treble Cone.

What got you into alpine skiing and what do you love most about it?

In 2001 there was an advertisement for Queenstown Alpine Ski Team in the Mountain Scene asking for people who were interested in ski racing. At that stage I couldn't even ski! What do I love about it? The excitement of racing and the lifestyle.

Ski racing looks pretty fast (under statement) what's your top speed/best time?

The times vary a lot depending on the course and the snow conditions. Speed wise a Super G race could be around 130kmph. 

You spend a bit of time in Europe and the States. What have been your overseas highlights and where have you been?

So far my overseas highlight, and probably the highlight of my skiing career, would be racing at the World Ski Champs in Schladming, Austria earlier this year in front of 50,000 people - with world wide TV coverage too!

My first international experience was age 12 when I went to a training camp in Morgin, Switzerland. Since then I have trained and raced in the Northern Hemisphere almost every year. This Northern Hemisphere season I visited Canada then went to Europe and raced in Switzerland, Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, Germany and France.

I never spend long enough in these places to get really attached to them. Although I did loose my passport in Los Angeles and had to stay until a replacement was issued so I found I really enjoyed Venice Beach after a long Winter! 

And what's the food like overseas? Any favourite things?

I find the food in the States to be a little too processed, but meat is plentiful. While meals in Austria seem to revolve around bread rolls, cheese and salami so it is always good to get back to Queenstown for a decent Atlas steak. 

Are you competing in the Wintergames this year, if so what disciplines?

Yes, I will be racing Slalom and Giant Slalom at Coronet Peak, starting on the 18th of August.

Where is you favourite place to ski in NZ?

Would have to be Coronet Peak.

How do you like your Atlas steak cooked? 

Medium rare, please!

We'll keep checking in with Adam over the NZ competition season and will keep you posted with his progress.

Atlas athletes: now with added alpine ski-racers...

Adam Barwood (right) pictured with Atlas' Davey McKenzie

We're passionate about engaging with and supporting the Queenstown community as much as possible. And so, we're excited to let you know that we have a couple of new athletes recently join the Atlas family of sponsored sports people. So without further ado let us introduce you to Adam Barwood and Andie Gillings. 

Queenstown locals among you may be familiar with these two talented skiers already. And for those of you who haven't heard of them as yet...

Andie Gillings

Adam represents New Zealand for alpine skiing, no less, and is a member of the New Zealand National Ski Team. In the 2012 New Zealand Nationals he was the overall New Zealand National Alpine Champion! 

AndieG is an emerging talent who skis for the Queenstown Alpine Ski Team. Along with her Mum and Dad, Andie often pops into Atlas after she's been up the hill. She is currently gearing up for the New Zealand National Youth Series; which will take place over August and September.

We're thrilled to be able to support both Adam and Andie and will be keeping you updated with their competition progress.

Alanna: Next Stop Andorra!

Podium finish

Queenstown local, Alanna Columb, is one of our regular customers at Atlas Beer Cafe. So when the opportunity arose to give Alanna a hand with some backing, to help her compete on the European and World Cup Downhill Series, we were happy to oblige.

Alanna competed with great success last year on the home circuit placing 2-2-1-3 over four races to win the NZ cup series! Spurred on by this success Alanna heading off to Europe for the season.

Her first race in the World Cup Series saw her place 19th after a big crash in her race run. The second round saw some bad luck after a another rider crashed in front of her. Alanna believed she'd be re-run but unwittingly didn't stop to speak to a race marshall and so consequently got red flagged. A frustrating experience but "good for learning", she concedes.

Subsequent races have been more successful with two respectable sixth places at rounds one and two of the European Cup and a podium finish at Crankworks in Les Deux Alpes; another European Cup race. Alanna leaves France for Andorra tomorrow for her next World Cup race. She has a total of three more World Cup races left along with two more European rounds.

We'll be catching up with Alanna again very soon and think she's doing great in what is her inaugural World Cup series and European season.

Good luck for your race in Andorra, Alanna, from all of us at Atlas!

Celebrate Good Times

It's a celebration...

We are now pouring the Coopers Celebration Ale and it's delicious.

You can expect malty flavours balanced by a hoppy crispness and a fruity finish. If you've been keen to try a nice ale before but have found IPAs a little too intense then this drop will be perfect for your palette.

The Celebration Ale is hopped with three different hops at different stages of the brewing process; and it's quite the international selection! The ale is hopped firstly with a Australian hop for bitterness - that's the Pride of Ringwood grown in Victoria's temperate climate. 

The late hoping process then employs a blend of Sauvin hops from Nelson and Centennial hops from the USA. The Sauvin hops contribute a white wine-style fruitiness and the Centennial add passionfruit and citrus notes.

The Celebration Ale is recommended with chicken, seafood or tangy cheeses so why not try a glass with our:

Coq au Vin chicken served on creamy mashed potatoes | 18.50

Lemon and herb crumbed sole with salad and fries | 18.50

Until next time!

IF THE (ATLAS) CAP FITS...

Dapper!

...wear it! We are excited to let you know that we have some rather stylish Atlas caps for sale; modelled here by one of our illustrious staff members.

The caps are adjustable and are a lovely, charcoal grey with burgundy and green detailing. They will set you back a mere $30. Bargain.

Fancy sporting one? Ask in Atlas and our friendly bar staff will be more
than happy help you out.

Coopers Celebration Ale Coming Soon to Atlas

The Coopers Brewery, in Adelaide, made their first commercial brew on 13th May 1892 and, last year Coopers released a special ale to mark this 150-year anniversary.  As we have a few Coopers fans at Atlas we thought we'd feature the Anniversary Ale of one of our new taps. 

The beer is described by Dr Cooper as being "slightly more bitter than other Coopers Ales". It is rich and fruity and has a hint of citrus and a warm palate. 

We'll be pouring it soon so we will keep you posted.

Coopers Celebration Ale | 5.2% | $9 pint.

New Daytime Winter Menu Starting Monday

Cecil on a sunnier Winter's day

The menus are being printed and we're going to start serving our daytime Winter menu from Monday (8th)

It's looking pretty darn good... Here's a couple of new items:

Parmesan crumbed chicken with bacon, poached egg, caeser dressing and
fries | $16.50

Crispy fried squid on Asian-style warm noodle salad with mint and coriander dressing GF | $17.50 

We've also added some new sandwiches and all the sandwiches are going to be available as wraps upon request.

Tasty!

New Winter daytime menu coming soon!

Snowy Cecil

With the Winter Solstice last week we officially moved from Autumn to Winter and the Atlas daytime menu is about to make a seasonal change too.

The industrious Atlas chefs have been busily cooking away; creating a delectable daytime menu to supply you with sustenance throughout the colder months. 

We'll keep you posted...

Atlas Beer Cafe.