Tui unveils its new brewhouse

The keg room is used for functions at Tui brewery. Photo / Steve Carle

Tui unveiled its new bespoke brewery on Thursday December 1, part of a 12-month $4.5 million investment in the Tui Brewery site.

The redevelopment includes a new German engineered Brewhouse, which arrived in seven containers and has taken a dedicated team a few months to install. And now that the setup is complete, brewing is under way.

"The new Tui Brewhouse allows greater brewing flexibility and creativity, which will see the team release a number of innovative small batch beers, as well as regional specific brews.

"Some of these will only available on site at the Tui Visitor Experience, Bar and Café," according to a statement from Tui.

A static display of brewery vehicles used over the years. Photo / Steve Carle

"The Tui Brewery is a Kiwi icon, and has stood the test of time - as well as plenty of earthquakes - over the 127 years we've been brewing on site," Tui Brewery Head Brewer Tupu Gregory says.

"The redevelopment signals that the home of Tui is here to stay. Production requirements have changed and we now have a bespoke, fit for purpose brewery which gives us greater flexibility. This is the best outcome for the brand, and the region, as we're able to produce a number of unique beers especially for the Central region."

Since 2006 the pilgrimage to the famous Tui Brewery has become popular, with visitor numbers increasing steadily.

The seven-storey, heritage-listed Tui Brewery Tower, which was built in 1931, is still undergoing the final stage of earthquake strengthening works and is due to be completed in February 2017. Photo / Steve Carle

The new brewery tours will enhance the current visitor experience and generate further tourism for the area.

The new state of the art keg filling station. Photo / Steve Carle

To celebrate the new Brewhouse, Tui is giving consumers, and the community the opportunity to be part of a 'Roof Shout' - free brewery tour - for the entire region.

Looking good, the storage vats at the Brewhouse. Photo / Steve Carle

Tui Passports (vouchers) for free brewery tours are available in Central Region on premise outlets, regional newspapers and on Tui's Facebook page.