Emerson’s beer flying high with Air NZ contract
ALL it took was a cando attitude to make a Dunedin beer take to the skies.
Emerson’s Brewery has won a contract for its beer to be sipped on Air New Zealand flights.
This includes Koru Hour flights from Monday to Friday, in the Business Premier cabin, and as part of its inflight menu.
The problem was the airline only serves beer in cans.
The brewery had 16,000 cans of beer canned at
Christchurch’s Harrington’s Brewery for its first commission with the airline starting in
April.
However, starting on Monday it will can them itself for the first time using its new Americanmade canning machine at its Anzac Ave site.
Founder Richard Emerson said the airline had asked about its beers for ‘‘quite a while’’.
‘‘The first lot of cans disappeared much faster than we expected. We had to do another contract run to keep Air New Zealand happy.
‘‘I’m proud of our brewery team making all this happen and it’s a great feeling to know that customers are enjoying a taste of Dunedin at 30,000 feet.’’
So far the only canned beer on offer is its Pilsner, but it would soon can a new brew, the Shark Bell Kolsch.
These would be released to the airline in August.
The canning line had been planned since the new brewery opened in 2016.
The company had to reduce the carbonation in the cans to be served on flights due to cabin pressure, he said.