Whether you want to sample as many rare ales as possible, learn the art of brewing or discover the secrets of beer-and-food pairing with some of Wellington‘s best restaurants and well-known chef Martin Bosley, Beervana 2013 is the place to be. This year, the 12th annual event will take place August 9 and 10 at the city’s Westpac Stadium and will feature more than 200 craft beers as well as the opportunity to meet many of New Zealand’s best brewers.
With consumer interest in craft beer at an all-time high and Wellington fast becoming the Kiwi craft beer HQ, ale lovers will have a grand old time tasting samples from around the country and overseas, including a number of one-off brews created especially for the festival.
The “festive brew” beer category is a highlight each year and has previously included themes such as ‘Let’s Go Native” and “Let’s Go Black” in tribute to New Zealand’s national rugby team, the All Blacks. This year’s theme is possibly the most interesting yet — “Let’s go… 3 Outta of 4…(ain’t bad),” a reference to the four ingredients of beer: water, hops, malt and beer yeast. The challenge for brewers is to substitute one of those core ingredients for something else (a full list of beers will be released after the festival awards on August 8).
Two of the leading breweries showing their wares this year include Garage Project (with Red Rocks Reserve, Death From Above and more) and Yeastie Boys (with Digital IPA), both of which hail from Wellington. There also will be a range of feature exhibitors showcasing brewing equipment, including Kauri and Black Rock, as well as an exciting range of craft beers from Australian cousins, such as Feral Brewery, Two Birds and Moo Brew.
