Beer Appreciation Day a big hit in Hawke's Bay

B.A.D: Jim Poppelwell, Beer Appreciation Day organiser. PHOTO/Supplied.

The region's burgeoning craft beer industry, saw enthusiast Jim Poppelwell fill a gap in the market seven years ago, with the Beer Appreciation Day - and since then it has taken off.

This is no more evident than earlier this month when about 750 beer and cider enthusiasts flocked to Havelock North's Duart House for Beer Appreciation Day VIII.

Organiser, Jim Poppelwell started "B.A.D" with a friend in 2011, when the beer landscape was vastly different to what it is now, noting that "back then things were pretty basic in the Bay and there wasn't much craft available, either in bars or bottle stores".

"I was a nascent craft beer enthusiast and wanted to spread the gospel, so to speak. Hawke's Bay, apart from being my home province, was well known for an appreciation of fine food and wine, so I thought it was surely just a matter of time before craft beer and cider took off here.

He believes it is pretty much the only event in Hawke's Bay where you can taste not only most beers and ciders from the region but also a great selection of medal-winning brews from outside the region.

The range of beers coming out of Hawke's Bay is growing all the time.

"Breweries tend to have their core range, which will include big sellers such as pale ales and IPAs, and then get more experimental with one-offs or seasonal."

"Godfrey Quemeneur at GodsOwn is doing some interesting things, as is Matt Smith at Brave and Dermot Haworth at Abbey. Chris Barber covers a wide range of German styles at Zeelandt while Chris Ormond at Giant will expand his repertoire once the new brewery in Donnelly Street has bedded in. Napier Brewing has a new brewer on board so new brews are also starting to come on tap at the Westshore Beach Inn."

Poppelwell doesn't think the industry in Hawke's Bay has its own style, but rather has a "collection of individual brewers expressing themselves in their own way".

"Perhaps the common theme is the freedom to follow one's own path with the support of a close-knit brewing community."

Seeing people having fun trying new and sometimes challenging styles while supporting an increasingly vibrant local and national brewing scene is what draws him to host the event each year.

Poppelwell wants to encourage people to get out and experience what Hawke's Bay has to offer, from the Esk Valley to Maraekakaho, there are so many cool spots to go and taste some truly excellent beers, and of course ciders too.

Next year's Beer Appreciation Day IX will be held on March 9.

For more information visit: www.beerappreciationday.co.nz