Prayers answered for lovers of cheese, beer
October is known around the world for a celebration of beer. But in New Zealand, the month is also used to celebrate cheese.
Now Waikato Food Inc has put their hands together so Hamilton is able to experience good cheese and wash it down with good brew.
The first FermentFest will bring local brewers and cheese makers to SkyCity Hamilton on Saturday, October 1 to share their craft.
‘‘I think, from a cheese perspective, it’s just going to be something different,’’ said Hamilton cheese maker Miel Meyer.
‘‘It’s not just wine and cheese or cheese and beer, it’s pairing anything and getting people to step outside of the box.’’
Meyer Gouda Cheese is a family affair, with Miel taking over as general manager from his father in 2007.
In 2011, he was awarded the Cheese Maker of the Year Award, the youngest cheese maker in the history of the competition to scoop the prize.
‘‘Being born into the family that made cheese, a lot of people said it was to be expected, but for me I fell into it.
‘‘The Waikato has got everything from the coast, dairy land, ranges for honey, and really good, quality products.’’
There will be seven breweries and four cheese maker stalls on the day and Meyer said he was going to focus on a big display of cheese.
‘‘Lots of cheese wheels, a couple of small activities and a traditional Dutch cheese-related game,’’ he said.
There will be samples of cheese to try and each of the breweries will have their beer on tap at The Local Taphouse in SkyCity.
Tim Cursons from Three Fat Pigs Brewing will also be showcasing some of his craft beer, including products that haven’t been introduced to the public yet.
After working as a kitchenhand, Cursons said he was spending all of his money on beer.
It wasn’t until his boss mentioned starting a brewery that it hit Cursons like a ‘‘light bulb moment’’.
‘‘In retrospect what I did before beer all sort of makes sense leading up to this point.
‘‘I studied science and was into microbiology and machines.
‘‘When I started to learn to brew, all of those skills helped.’’
Three Fat Pigs is run by Cursons, Morgan Coster and Damian Houghton, and is based in Hamilton.
Cursons said it would be a thrill to be a part of the first FermentFest as they are a new brewery, with their stout beer released in November last year.
And about that name - Cursons said it was the brainchild of Houghton.
‘‘It needs to be something that can be yelled out in a pub.’’