Winemakers behind contract craft brewery under construction in Napier

Garage director Pete Gillespie said the Ahuriri B Studio contract brewery will provide technical excellence for its brews. Photo/Supplied

A "game-changing" brewery is under construction in Napier as contract winemakers move their business model from the grape to the grain.

Forty-six 40ft containers of German brewing equipment is being assembled in the landmark National Tobacco Company Building in Ahuriri for B Studio's contract brewery, a joint venture of Hawke's Bay and Gisborne contract winemakers.

Cornerstone customer is Wellington brewery Garage Project and co-founder Pete Gillespie said having a brewery built to Garage Project's specifications was a "dream scenario".

They were approached by Links Winery director and B Studio co-founder Simon Gilbertson when he was planning the project.

"We came to Garage Project several years ago, initially simply seeking advice - what we should be doing, how we should be positioning ourselves, the kinds of technology we should be choosing in order to make this happen." Mr Gilbertson said.

Not only did Garage Project give the advice it became B Studio's cornerstone customer as it struggles to meet demand.

Garage director Pete Gillespie said brewers would periodically travel from its Wellington base to check brews "but I am very confident it will be excellent".

Fellow Garage director Jos Ruffell said the level of precision and attention to detail in the Ahuriri brewery was "remarkable".

"For the industry as a whole this is going to be a game-changer - the strength of the New Zealand industry as a whole will be lifted by this facility," he said.

"You have the highest quality equipment going into the B Studio facility, a quality that hasn't been seen before in the independent craft brewing industry in New Zealand.

"It is bringing us to a level seen in the top-level breweries in America and Europe. That is super-exciting to see."

German multi-national beverage engineering specialist Krones is supplying and building the brewery with a team of German engineers and it is expected to be operational by May.

Mr Gilbertson said he preferred to keep his business under the radar and leave publicity to its clients.

His Links Rd winery in Taradale doesn't have a website or a sign outside and its phone number is unlisted.

B Studio is a joint venture between Links Riverlands Marlborough and Gisborne contract wine maker GisVin, which was established in 2001 by four growers.

Links and GisVin are partners in a 13,000 tonne Marlborough contract winery.