New Zealand has a craft beer scene that sparked into life earlier than ours and, dare we say it, has a greater strength in depth than Australia (for now at least). We’ve been lucky enough to have beers from some of the nation’s best coming to these shores for the past few years, and every Good Beer Week has been blessed with the presence of the people behind many of those beers too.
This year will see the biggest influx yet, with familiar faces joined by new and a horde of other beer-lovin' Kiwis joining their brewers for the hop across the ditch. Many of them have beers brewed specially for GABS, while The Alehouse Project is dedicating its taps to them all week and Liberty Brewing taking over Brother Burger in Fitzroy too. There will be appearance at a handful of other events, plus beers from the likes of Yeastie Boys, 8 Wired and Epic on at the Festival Hub as part of the tap lineup The Crafty Pint has curated for the week.
So, to help you get in the mood for some trans-Tasman brotherly love, we posed questions to a couple of those brewers making their Good Beer Week bow.
Name:
Joseph Wood
Brewery:
Liberty Brewing Company
Where is it located?
West Auckland (Formerly New Plymouth), New Zealand
When was it founded?
2010
Brief brewer bio:
Passionate about drinking good beer… I love brewing. My entire social life revolves around beer. I love pushing the boundaries… pushing styles beyond the frame. I love making beer that is just beer… lots of hops… lots of malt… not strictly sitting within the style guidelines.
Freedom from conventional brewing rules and methods. That’s Liberty.
Which of your beers are you most proud of and why?
Yakima Monster. It’s been an extremely popular beer even back in the days when I was home brewing it. My parents and my in-laws all love it (and they’re not big on craft beer). We won best in class with it last year having never tweaked it from the original recipe. It’s such a well rounded approachable beer.
Why are you coming to Good Beer Week?
Have a good time with my brewing mates… check out some good beers… check out some good food…
What are you most excited about?
Mine and Steve’s new brewery. I can’t wait to be able to start cranking out some decent sized brews.
Why should people come to your event(s)?
Just to have a good time. The beer’s good… the company is good… so why not?
If you were a beer, what would you be and why?
An Imperial IPA. All bitter and fruity with a nice soft heart. That’s me.
Catch Joseph and his beers here all week and look out for a couple at the Festival Hub.
Name:
Matt Warner
Brewery:
ParrotDog
Where is it located?
Wellington, New Zealand
When was it founded?
2012
Brief brewer bio:
Started home-brewing in 2010, now 25 years old and owning / running a 20HL brewery.
Which of your beers are you most proud of and why?
BitterBitch – one of our original home-brew recipes and our biggest seller and award winner.
Why are you coming to Good Beer Week?
I need a holiday!
What are you most excited about?
“Networking”
Why should people come to your events?
To try some new Kiwi beer.
If you were a beer, what would you be and why?
A middle of the road Pale Ale – not too bold, not too boring.
Catch ParrotDog as part of this and this as well as on tap at the Festival Hub.
Photo shamelessly stolen from here.
