Fortune Favours craft beer venture
The saying ‘‘fortune favours the brave’’ inspired craft beer veteran Shannon Thorpe to take a risk and open his own brewery in one of Wellington’s most vibrant laneways.
After 15 years in the craft beer industry, Thorpe was ready to leave his job as sales and marketing manager of Good George Brewing to do something bold – open a brewery on Leeds St, to be called Fortune Favours.
He has moved his family to Wellington from Auckland to start the brewery.
Thorpe said the old saying was the essence of the brand and a nod to his personal history.
‘‘I suppose it’s sort of my story as well ... for me this brand is all about being bold, being brave leaving the certainty of a good salary at a good establishment and taking a chance at paving your own way,’’ he said.
The venture is in partnership with the Wellington Hospitality Group which is behind several well-known Wellington establishments, including Munchen, Brew’d, and One Fat Bird.
Thorne said Fortune Favours’ beer will bring a unique twist to the conventional.
‘‘Whether it’s a pilsener made with nothing but New Zealand ingredients or it’s an IPA using particularly interesting hops, we want to make sure everything we make is just a little bit different,’’ he said.
Thorpe expected the two-storey brewery to open in March, ‘‘barring all mishaps’’.
Earthquake damage to Wellington’s Centreport has delayed the delivery of Fortune Favours’ 1000-litre brewing tanks and equipment.
The three brewing fermenters will be placed on the ground floor of the two-storey building, with the brewhouse on the first-floor overlooking them. The sweet malt mixture of premature beer will be fed downstairs to be fermented and conditioned.
‘‘No matter where you are in the establishment, you’re going to know that you’re in a brewery,’’ Thorpe said.
The building was previously home to artisan furniture-maker Rick White and his business Waywood Furniture for 31 years. It is owned by the Nikau Foundation.
The brewery would join a variety of niche producers in the food and hospitality quarter that includes the Wellington Chocolate Factory, Leeds Street Bakery, and Six Barrel Soda.
‘‘We’re really excited to be a part of the flavour of this laneway and add a little bit to it,’’ said Thorpe.