B R EW T E C H BEER EVENTS KIWI HOPS GABs BEER AND FOOD FESTIVAL 2016 ASB Showground, Auckland June 10, 2016 Eventfinder.co.nz SOBA WINTER ALE FESTIVAL 2016 The Hunter Lounge, Victoria University, Wellington, June 11, 2016 Soba.org.nz BEERVANA BLOW YOUR MIND Westpac Stadium, Wellington August 12 and 13, 2016 Beervana.co.nz OKTOBERFEST 2016 Shed 10, Queen’s Wharf, Auckland September 16, 2016 Oktoberfestnz.co.nz BREWERS GUILD ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND TRADESHOW Auckland October 6 to 8, 2016 Brewersguild.org.nz BREWERS GUILD NZ INTERNATIONAL BEER AWARDS 2016 Langham Hotel, Auckland October 8, 2016 Brewersguild.org.nz SOUGHT AFTER GLOBALLY Hops – a niche industry in New Zealand with just 17 grower members belonging to the New Zealand Hops Co-operative – has been completely transformed by the global craft beer industry and is now exporting 85 per cent of its products overseas. With a $20 million a year turnover and $14 million a year in export returns, the industry provides a harvest of 750 tonnes from 389ha, but is thinking big with a plan to harvest 900 tonnes by 2021. Largely grown in the Motueka and Riwaka areas west of Nelson, hops are exported mainly to the west coast of the United States. But Brewers Guild of New Zealand chairman Bob King says other markets are targetable. “It’s not just the good-tasting beers we produce,” he says. “New Zealand hops are in huge demand overseas, and what we’re seeing now are huge opportunities in Asia, which is the next big export frontier.” In the United States, a new micro-brewery opens every 16 hours, and taste is now the determining factor. New Zealand’s 20 flavours, such as Pacific Jade, are unique and cannot be copied. As a result, lower yields means local brewers can find it difficult to source hops for domestic supply. Hop growing is not an easy business to enter, although growers can rely on 95 per cent of their harvest being pre-sold. Costing between $35,000 to $40,000 a hectare for posts, wires and plants, as well as costs of kilns and boilers, it’s estimated that a 20ha operation could cost upwards of $5 million to establish on bare land. Once in the ground, hops have a relatively short growing period, emerging in spring, trained up to string in October and reaching full height of more than four metres by December. Harvesting starts in February/March for a month. BEER A WIND DOWN FOR NORTH KOREANS Ever wonder how North Korean leader Kim Jong Un motivates his people to show their devotion to him in the current 70-day ‘loyalty campaign’? Beer…beer…and plenty more beer, it seems. Ahead of the ongoing congress of the ruling Workers’ Party, North Koreans have been asked to work huge overtime hours to boost production, as well as practice for large rallies that symbolise the national unity as the first congress in decades is wound up. So how does Kim Jong Un assist his countrymen to wind down? Although a local vodka-like drink made from distilled rice is the more popular tipple, a beer called Taedonggang named after a river than runs through the capital Pyongyang is a firm favourite. But beer is considered a soft drink in North Korea, and is most often consumed standing up. Customers flock to stand-up bars where a quick few drinks accompanied by dried fish or nuts is consid- ered serving the leader. Beer is sold by the litre, costing around eight US cents a glass, in a country where the highest-paid workers make around 600,000 won (or $US75) a month. The state-owned brewery was acquired in 2000 from England and uses German-made computerised brewing control technology. On July 3, 2009, a commercial for Taedonggang was broadcast on state-run Korean Central Television in a rate move, as there are very few advertisements on North Korean television. It has been broadcast twice more since then. DO YOU HAVE AN EVENT THAT CRAFT BREWERS AROUND THE COUNTRY MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN? Whip your event details through to our editorial office, and we’ll make sure your industry knows about it. Remember to include dates, venues and what kinds of audience might be keen…and we’ll do the rest. Email your details to kcalvert@hayleymedia.com 62 MAY 2016
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