Best of British for brewer
Kelly Ryan will have come full circle when he takes his place at Wellington’s Beervana festival this weekend.
The head brewer at Fork Brewcorp (housed at Wellington’s Fork and Brewer) has teamed with UK brewers Thornbridge Brewery to create an imperial pale ale for this year’s event.
Ryan spent four years with the Derbyshire-based brewery from 2006-2010, and jumped at the chance to work with his old employer again.
After a brief discussion, it was decided the breweries would create a new twist on an old classic from the Thornbridge days – the Kipling pale ale.
The creation was an 8 per cent imperial pale ale, with ‘‘bright white wine characteristics’’.
‘‘It’s really pale, and not too bitter,’’ Ryan explains. ‘‘It’s got lovely notes of lychee, gooseberry, passionfruit, and even blood orange and pink grapefruit.’’
Stronger beers were naturally sweeter, making the imperial ale ‘‘crazily drinkable’’, Ryan said.
The collaboration is one of three between New Zealand and UK breweries at this year’s festival, which runs on Friday and Saturday.
Scottish company Fierce Beer has teamed up with Auckland-based Epic Beer, and Welsh brewers Tiny Rebel Brewing have linked up with Liberty Brewing, also from Auckland.
This year’s festival at Westpac Stadium also features two social enterprise breweries.
The Independence Collective supports people with disabilities to gain financial independence, while Misfit Brewing works towards restoring clean water sources in New Zealand and the wider Pacific region.
Beervana manager Ryan McArthur said Beervana aimed to tell the story of the nation’s brewing industry, the beers, and people who drive it.
‘‘From the newest of breweries on our New Kids on the Block bar, to social enterprise brewing, to the big independents to the even bigger corporates, the story of New Zealand beer involves them all.
‘‘With our UK Brewers collaboration, we showcase Kiwi beer in the context of the global good beer revolution.
‘‘Bringing some of the world’s finest brewers to New Zealand to collaborate with our local brewers is a wonderful way to create international relationships and share our beer story with the world.’’