Ale House celebrating 20 years with an anniversary brew

WHAT better way could the Speight’s Ale House Dunedin celebrate its 20th birthday than with an exclusive brew?

The special anniversary Black Rock Platinum Pale Ale, which will only be served at the Dunedin bar and restaurant, is a reflection of Speight’s ability to do smaller runs of exciting brews.

The ale showcases Nelson Riwaka hops, giving a citrusy grapefruit aroma and tropical passionfruit flavour. It has a balanced malt backbone that adds to its smoothness and sessionability.

Speight’s Ale House Dunedin was opened by Mark and Kirstin Scully in August 1999, within the historic Speight’s Brewery. Since then, the successful Ale House concept has grown nationally, with the same brand of hospitality now available from Auckland to Invercargill.

But the flagship remains the Ale House in Dunedin, which even 20 years on still trades on the same ‘‘generous to a fault’’ approach it was originally founded on.

Of course, things do change with time. The Speight’s Brewery, including the Ale House, underwent a $42 million refurbishment in 2013.

And over the last two decades, the beer industry has certainly evolved in a big way. The Speight’s Ale House Dunedin continues to do that too.

When it first opened there were just two beers on tap. Now there’s a superb range of 12 brews on offer, including the original Gold Medal Ale, the Triple Hop Pilsner, Distinction Ale, Old Dark, Empire IPA, and even a cider. As Mark says, these days Speight’s occupies a unique space between the craft and mainstream ends of the beer market.

At the Speight’s Ale House Dunedin, the beer is matched to a menu of equal quality.

Food has always been a major part of the offering, with a focus on Southern fare, hearty servings, and valueformoney.

‘‘We don’t want people to leave hungry,’’ Mark says. ‘‘Our food has always been about what your mum would have cooked you. And where possible we source locally. The fish is from a fishing coop in Bluff, the meat from Alliance, and the veges we get direct from the growers and the market.’’

The menu has something for every taste, with classics including seafood chowder, blue cod, lamb shanks, steak, venison, and vegetarian options.

To celebrate the Speight’s Ale House Dunedin’s 20th birthday, come and try their exclusively brewed Black Rock Platinum Pale Ale.

Cheers!

Speight’s Ale House Dunedin: 200 Rattray St, Dunedin. Phone (03) 4719050, or visit www.thealehouse.co.nz

(Left) The Speight’s Ale House at 200 Rattray St, Dunedin. (Right) Food remains a major part of the offering at Speight’s Ale House Dunedin.

(Left) At the opening of the Speight’s Ale House Dunedin in 1999 were: (LR) then Highlanders coach Tony Gilbert, former Otago player and Speight’s area manager Greg Cooper, Ale House owner Mark Scully, and Coronet Peak Station’s Brian Dagg the original model for Speight’s ‘‘Southern Man’’. (Right) There’s a fine range of quality Speight’s products on offer at the Ale House.