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Inside The New Zealand Beer Festival 2013

Posted in Hopful Thoughts, Travels by Dan
Mar 23 2013

So for a long time, we’ve been avid fans of the New Zealand Beer Festival, ever since our first back in 2007 – where I first laid tastebuds upon Epic Mayhem and discovered the wonder that is HOPS.

However just this week, we’ve had the privilege of a sticky beak around the Cloud, and scored interviews with the organisers and some of the brewers.  So we thought we’d share a few hot tips and snippets, to get you in the mood for the big day.


Some of you will have been to previous iterations of this fine Auckland festival, and you probably know roughly what to expect; sunshine, music, brews, a good feed, and good times.  If you went last year, you’ll remember that the Cloud makes a fantastic venue.

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There were however, a couple of small niggles from 2012.  Towards the end, the queues for beer got a bit long.  And there wasn’t enough seating.  They have listened – so this year expect more bar – 50% more in fact – 150 different beers – that’s a 40% increase on 2012 – and more seating – basically all the seating that’s for hire in the North Island.  Oh and did I mention the food?  Everything from paella to bangers.

So what else can you expect from the New Zealand Beer Festival in 2013?  Why not listen to Andrew Somervell, owner of the NZBF, as he lays it out for us.

Got your tickets yet?  No?  Then how about this.  There are more craft brewers here than ever before – of the 30 breweries present, I counted about 20 independent NZ craft breweries.  And we managed to have a chat with some of them whilst they were setting up.

Luke from Epic has been there from the start, blowing the minds of Aucklanders with his hopped-up brews.  This year, he’s got 12 beers on – Hop Zombie (only 48 bottles), Larger, Message in a Bottle, Mayhem, Epicurean Coffee & Fig Stout 2012, Orcon Pale Ale, Zythos, Double Stout, Lager, Pale Ale, Armageddon  and of course the One Trick Unicorn, Epic Mosaic.   Even better, you can sip Lager, Pale Ale, Armageddon or Mosaic from the outdoor bar while you get a tan, rocking an Epic tee.

We also spoke with Alan from Waiheke Brewing and the newly launching Ale Brewing chaps, and Ron from Mikes Organic Brewery, who have also brought a huge range of beers with them up to our fine city.  So sit back and enjoy!

We look forward to seeing you all at the Cloud, Saturday the 22nd March, from 12:30 onwards.  You can get your tickets (assuming there are any left) at EventFinder.

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  • BEER NATION: The Art and Heart of Kiwi Beer
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Tagged as: 2013, Ale Brewing Chaps, Auckland, Craft Beer, Epic Beer, nz, NZ Beer, The Cloud, The New Zealand Beer Festival, Waiheke Brewery

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