CT Column 8/06/2011: New ventures brewing

WELLINGTON is already the craft beer capital of New Zealand. We have in this city a fantastic array of bars all offering a broad range of beers and a craft beer drinking population that demands that mainstream bars and restaurants are increasingly including at least one craft offering. What Wellington has up until now lacked however is a range of breweries. With the exception of Tuatara and contract brewers Yeastie Boys it has been brewers from other parts of the country that have supplied the capital. All that is about to change with a raft of new brewing operations starting to unfold around the city.
One brewer is in the process of commissioning a small brew plant in central Wellington. The Garage Project is the brain child of brewer Peter Gillespie and former video game programmer Jos Ruffell. Kiwi born Peter Gillespie has an impressive brewing resume that includes stints at the legendary Thames Valley Brakspear brewery, Hepworth’s in Sussex and finally the Lion Nathan owned James Squire brewery in Sydney. Peter’s time at James Squire taught him a lot about brewing for a big company an experience he likens to working in a dark box and one which he will not be returning to! Keep an eye on www.garageproject.co.nz for developments. Finally in Upper Hutt ex-pat American Chris Mills has converted a room on his house into a tiny commercial brewery. The company is called Keruru Brewing Co and will produce very limited amounts of traditional and gluten free craft beer. Check out http://kererubrewing.co.nz/ to see what is definitely one of the smallest commercial breweries in the world!
Colin Mallon and Sean Murrie, the men behind the Malthouse, have announced that they are to open a brew pub in the Bond Street premise that was originally home to the CBD’s last brew pub The Loaded Hog, and more recently Syn Bar and The Ruby Lounge. The premise is yet to be named and a brewer is yet to be employed however redevelopment of the site is underway. It’s planned that the brewery will host brewers from around the country and the world with a lot of collaboration and one off brews on the cards.
Cheers