Craft brewery owners (from left) Mat Bell, of Manuherekia Brewery in Alexandra, Norm MacLeod, of Catlins Brewery in Kaka Point, and Mike Wing, of Jabberwocky Brewing Company and Wanaka Beerworks in Wanaka, toast Otago's growing craft beer industry at the Great Alexandra Craft Beer Festival yesterday. Photo / Pam Jones
Craft brewery owners (from left) Mat Bell, of Manuherekia Brewery in Alexandra, Norm MacLeod, of Catlins Brewery in Kaka Point, and Mike Wing, of Jabberwocky Brewing Company and Wanaka Beerworks in Wanaka, toast Otago's growing craft beer industry at the Great Alexandra Craft Beer Festival yesterday. Photo / Pam Jones
Keeping it local is the secret to the success of Otago's growing craft beer industry, those in the game say.
Seven breweries from the Alexandra, Clyde, Wanaka, Queenstown and Catlins regions served up brews for almost 1000 people at the Great Alexandra Craft Beer Festival in Pioneer Park on Saturdayand it was a good day out for the discerning, brewers said.
"Craft beer drinkers can come from any demographic, but they will be somebody that likes flavour," Catlins Brewery co-owner Norm MacLeod, of Kaka Point, said.
"They'll have more of a palate for different tastes. It's like the difference between a fine wine and 'chateaux cardboard'. Craft beer drinkers want something that little bit different."
Mike Wing, of Jabberwocky Brewing Company and Wanaka Beerworks in Wanaka, said there was a growing national trend for people to "want to know where things come from".
