Brews from our place.
New Zealand Craft Beer Symposium 2017
In your favourite drinking place!
R E E L
B URNA2017 JO
GRAB A CHOICE KIWI BREW AND HAVE A READ ABOUT THE SYMPOSIUM AND BEER AND NEW ZEALAND AND COFFEE AND SNOW AND LIVE MUSIC AND BREWERIES AND WELLINGTON AND BEER...
Thanks to the following guys & gals who helped to pull this thing together Martyn Pepparell, James Smith @ Crafty Pint, Emily Day @ Froth, Jo @ Visit Ruapehu, Michelle @ Mt Ruapehu, Stu and Dee @ Kings Ohakune, Drew Bachus, Sean “I will do anything” Barker @ SB Marketing, Miles Herbert, Mela Herbert, Jono @ Shout It Loud Printing, Sarah Meikle and Beth Brash @ Beervana, all the venues taking part, and to you for reading this and drinking piss at this year’s New Zealand Craft Beer Symposium.
It’s hammer time.
The bee r geeks from across t he ditch are bac k!
Well, not quite the old skool tune but since the last New Zealand Craft Beer Symposium, a lot in the world of craft beer NZ has been going on.
Buy outs, bigger premises, world domination and a genuine growth and appreciation of NZ beer has been the catch phrase in 2016. It may have been a shitty year for music but not the NZ beer community who seem to be as a whole going from strength to strength. For this year’s Symposium, we have introduced a few new breweries into the mix which will satisfy those who are always looking for something new and exciting plus we have a batch of specially brewed kegs just for this event. We also introduce the giveaway of giveaways with a fully paid trip for two to New Zealand which includes tickets to Beervana and a side trip to Ohakune, Mt Ruapehu to go skiing or snowboarding. That’s flights, accom, Beervana tickets, rental car, ski passes and gear and a few sneaky beers thrown in for good measure. All you have to do is buy a pint of the good stuff, fill in the form and whammo you are in the draw. So, enjoy the Kiwi brews on offer and we hope you have fun at this year’s New Zealand Craft Beer Symposium. 3
Liberty Brewing Co Riverhead, Auckland www.libertybrewing.co.nz Crossing boundaries, breaking rules, blurring lines.
Hop Federation Riwaka, Tasman www.hopfederation.co.nz Producing an expression of traditional craft & creative innovation.
Kereru Upper Hutt, Wellington www.kererubrewing.co.nz Producing fresh, locally-supplied beers made from the finest ingredients.
Tuatara Paraparaumu, Kapiti Coast www.tuatarabrewing.co.nz Going direct to source for ingredients that make their style famous.
MEET THIS YEAR’S SYMPOSIUM BREWERS Garage Project Aro Valley, Wellington www.garageproject.co.nz Here to take some risks, to have a bit of fun & to try something new.
Yeastie Boys No Fixed abode www.yeastieboys.co.nz Postmodern craft beer cult heroes on the side.
Epic Auckland www.epicbeer.com Hop intense craft beer. It just tastes bigger.
8 Wired Warkworth, Kowhai Coast www.8wired.co.nz Inspired by a Kiwi can-do mentality to challenge the masses.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PLAYERS IN THE BIRTH OF NEW ZEALAND CRAFT BEER, FRASER MCINNES WILL BE APEARING AT A SELECTION OF SYMPOSIUM VENUES ACROSS AUSSIE DURING THIS YEAR’S EVENT.
After having my beer epiphany in a London pub in the early 80s, I returned home and drifted through rest of the 80s occasionally drinking Mac Gold and trying to avoid Sav blanc. However, by 1991 I had opened wellington’s first craft beer bar. In those days it was mainly micro brewers, those making all malt lagers of various colours. By the mid-90s people started to reclaim some of the lost styles from the period before the war and the industrialisation of beer production. At this point we started to see a lot of English style and Belgian style beers becoming made locally. Towards the end of the 90s however we saw a use of new world hops and beginnings of the new world styles. After the turn of the century American pale ales and pale ales in general became the dominant style. Clean Hoppy pale ales and even more hoppy pale ales had dominated partially because as new people get introduced to craft beer the first thing they recognise is the taste of hops. As founder of the tuatara brewery, I began spending more of my time doing presentations on beer and food matching, beer and cheese matching, completion entries as well is working on our range and the arduous task of the product evaluations. There has been a lot of changes and interesting characters along the way, which I will be sharing with you, our Aussie brethren this February. 5
Last year’s NZCBS New Zealand Trip Winner was Stu Finlay from Adelaide. Here’s THE photo diary from Instagram of HIS visit, where he got to explore Wellington and have a grand ol’ time at Beervana - NZ’s biggest beer fest. SO LET’S FOLLOW @AUSSIES_AT_BEERVANA_2016 and friends ON their AWESOME KIWI BEERY ADVENTURE. s....
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! So mean! Rawr!! boys . cheers #yeastie
The @garageproject stand is adorable!!
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2. a day n a v r Bee !! it on g n i r B
Drink ing t he @e Snow pic White #whit beer @chri eipa spph. with Love and m iss t his g uy
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One f in headi al drink b ng ba ck to efore Defin Oz itely gonna . this city. miss
check out page 19 to see how you can win this year’s trip to nz!
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11 + 12 AUG 2017 / WESTPAC STADIUM, WELLINGTON / beervana.co.nz
Wellington is a delightful little city. With its CBD nestled between two hills, it means everything is just so damn walkable. You could literally crawl between pubs (not that I’d advise this both for the sake of your jeans or your dignity). Having just being named The World’s Windiest City, my theory is that this is also the reason Wellington is at the pointy end of beer innovation and host some incredible places to drink it in. Because… we spend a fair amount of time indoors. Like the brewers who play around with interesting ingredients and those wild yeasts floating in the breeze (ok so it’s probably more of a gust) but also those of us who drink it, we are an intrepid bunch who love trying new things and need great places to drink it. That’s my theory anyway. But it is no theory that Wellington is home to some of NZ’s greatest breweries, innovative brewers and some bloody excellent pubs. And it’s wonderful to see that we get to share these places more and more with people from around the world who have heard about it also. As the craft beer industry is growing, we’re seeing beer tourism on the rise. Because there is nothing like drinking beer direct from the source. I’ve no doubt if you’re heading along to the NZ Craft Beer Symposium you’re all across how fantastic NZ beer is and you’ve no doubt heard about Beervana – NZ’s National Beer event. So let this be the cherry lambic on the top. August also hosts the Road to Beervana, a week-long celebration of beer events across NZ in the lead up to Beervana AND Wellington On a Plate, a huge food festival that devours the whole city with 130 different burgers, loads of pop ups and food events across the city. So…as your tourism board would say “Where the bloody hell are ya?” There is no better time to visit this beer crazy city.
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Stu Robinson brings us the insider Knowledge on Ohakune, a place you will visit if you win the Trip to NZ Prize Draw.
For a small town located in the middle of the North Island, NZ, Ohakune certainly lives up to its tagline – ‘where adventure begins’ The town sits at the base of Mt Ruapehu, an active volcano and also home to the largest accessible snow terrain in New Zealand. Ohakune is the closest town to Turoa skifield and also an easy drive away from Whakapapa and the small club field of Tukino. Skiers, boarders and even tobogganers (?!) revel in the mixed terrain, variety of runs and parks through June – November. The adventure does not stop there. If the snow bunny scene is not your cup of tea then Ohakune serves as a great base for canoeing, white-water rafting, tramping, mountain biking, quad biking, fishing and golfing. Located within the Tongariro National Park, NZ’s oldest national park and a dual World Heritage site, the Tongariro Crossing is rich in awe-inspiring natural scenery.
Noted as the best one day hike in New Zealand and ranking in the top 10 day walks in the world, the crossing is a highly recommended addition to your itinerary while you are here….not least for spotting the imposing and recognisable vista of ‘Mt Doom’ as coined by the world reknowned ‘Lord of the Rings’ Trilogy. As the day ends, Ohakune transforms into a vibrant and eclectic scene with a number of quality bars and restaurants providing the ideal venue to unwind and refuel from your adventures. Well stocked with craft beers and boutique wines, “the Junction” end of town is the après and nightlife hot-spot. Top DJ’s, live music and big screens heavily feature among packed venues. Kings is in the thick of it, an iconic venue with over 100 years of stories! Proud of its old school, local hospitality, there are always cold beers and warm vibes for anyone who enters. Overlooking the Junction the view of the mountain is stunning, especially from the hottubs as the sun sets! If this isn’t enough, Ohakune is proudly home to reputedly the world’s largest model carrot in recognition of the area’s reputation for growing the most delicious, juicy and flavourful carrots – perhaps a reason locals rave about the beauty of the stars on a clear night! Don’t take our word for it though – come and test the theory for yourself! 13
Wellington may well be the Craft Beer Capital of New Zealand, but it also boasts a very impressive CV when it comes to coffee. Here, Miles Herbert takes us on a tour of his favourite spots to grab a brew of a different kind to those you’ll be drinking during this year’s Symposium...
My favourites for coffee would be the Raglan Roast Coffee Shops, which have quickly popped up around the city centre and nothing makes me happier. That coffee is just amazing and cheap. Not an extensive food range, but the warm and casual atmosphere is perfect for their caffeinated perfection. The best thing with three locations there is always one around in walking distance, all with their own unique charm. Another one I love is Prefab – quite hip (it’s the Acme & Co. flagship) and great coffee, as they roast their beans on site. You can order espresso based coffees or bottomless filter coffee. Nice food, and very busy on Saturdays for brunch. If you are near Civic Square or visiting the Wellington City Gallery there is Nikau Café. Some of the best food and coffee in Wellington (just won outstanding café – felix awards). I would recommend coming in for lunch and trying a variety of things from the menu and sharing it amongst everyone because they menu is so good and changes so often you wouldn’t want to miss out on anything. Leeds Street Bakery is another one I like to take friends to. Hidden away behind Leed Street on Hannah Laneway, its one of Wellingtons sneaky little spots. It used to be a Red Rabbit Coffee Co outlet, conveniently this is right by Goldings Free Dive Bar making a transition from good coffee to good beer very convenient! … and by the way - if I want to impress the serious coffee connoisseur/geek I would take them to the Lamason Brew Bar. It looks a bit like a (coffee) lab – and it’s the place to taste and find out about coffee brewing – eg. Different roasts, single origin and extraction methods.
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LIVE MUSIC VENUES Martyn Pepperell’s top picks for gigs in the capital. San Fran sanfran.co.nz Over the course of my entire adult life, San Fran (formerly San Francisco Bath House) has been the pre-eminent spot for medium-sized live music concerts in Wellington. While they can only house a few hundred punters, the room shape, staging, and sound system make for that most elusive of entertainment experiences: live music done the right way. Even better, they have a great selection of boutique craft beers, ciders and wines.
Valhalla valhallatavern.com Situated in the midst of Wellington’s old red light district, if you’re a fan of heavy metal, punk rock or hardcore, Valhalla is the place to be. While it’s a small room, it sounds great, and its intimate vibes attract a “who’s who” of cult heavy bands on a regular basis. A solid range of quality craft beers are available on tap (or from the bottle). Dragonforce are playing here in February. It’s going to be outrageous.
Betty’s Function House & Bar - Blair Street bettys.net.nz When you’re on a late night wander down Courteney Place looking for good music to dance to, Betty’s is your best bet. You’ll often find longstanding Wellington DJ Marek playing the latest in quality dance music and hip-hop, or hosting after-parties for visiting overseas rappers and DJ’s like Danny Brown, A$AP Ferg and Kaytranada. With multiple wall projectors on hand, it’s ever changing digital environment is extremely impressive visually. Betty’s staff and security are top notch, and the drinks list delivers on all counts.
IN WELLINGTON
Photo: Sean Barker - SB Marketing
Meow - Edward St welovemeow.co.nz In the afternoons and early evenings Meow is a bar/restaurant. Later in the night, it transforms into a local hotspot for live music, comedy and DJ gigs. Decorated in retro furniture, the environment, staging and sound make it a great spot to catch a show. With quality food, craft beer, a nice selection of whisky, Meow is always an excellent spot to refuel or imbibe. As a popular spot with the indie rock set, it’s ground zero for a lot of emerging Wellington talent, as well as the odd international touring gem (such as Frank Turner, pictured).
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s i h t d i a S ? o h ! ? W r s e s e e B t Gu f a r C i w i K about I can taste the passion when I drink NZ Craft Beer. It doesn’t taste like lawn. It’s new world, not afraid to take influence from established countries and put their own take on things. It’s Yummy.
Its an adventure, real taste sensations so much more exciting than wine.
First thing that comes to mind is consistent quality and those NZ hops, they’re pretty hard to go past.
How to speak Kiwi... Kinda. Choice
I am in agreement and most satisfied.
Chur bro
This is good.
Mean As This is really good.
Sweet as
Thank you ever so much, my friend.
You must always blow on the pie Seriously that shit will be hot, blow on it.