Aussie watchdog rules against keg company merger
Green beer, and it's not even St Patrick's Day. What makes a great bar. My shortlist for beers of the year. Sign of the times: Lion shut Stone & Wood pub. And reviews galore!
Welcome to Long Weekend and we’ve got a long Friday Night Beers newsletter to match.
We start today with a decision that will likely have ramifications for breweries here.
Australia’s competition watchdog the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has blocked MicroStar’s proposed acquisition of keg lending rival Konvoy.
MicroStar, which operates as Kegstar in Australia and New Zealand, and Konvoy are the only suppliers of keg leasing services in this part of world. Keg lending allows brewers to rent kegs on a short-term basis to supply beer on tap to licensed venues. It’s an integral part of the market here but the ACCC said the proposed acquisition would make Kegstar too big a player in the market.
Konvoy hit financial troubles earlier this year when its main lender cut funding, and Kegstar stepped in to buy the business. The New Zealand equivalent of the ACCC, the Commerce Commission, is still taking submissions on the issue and is due to make its decision in December.
“Our investigation has found that MicroStar acquiring the assets of Konvoy, the only other provider of keg pooling services in Australia, would be likely to substantially lessen competition,” ACCC Commissioner Dr Philip Williams said in a statement.
“Without competitors, MicroStar could increase prices above a competitive level and reduce services or quality of service for customers,” Dr Williams said.
In a statement, Kegstar said it was “very disappointed by the decision, we are confused and also concerned for the future of the [keg] pooling market within Australia.
“If anyone within the industry is concerned about their keg supply, particularly over peak season, or is looking to engage with a reliable and sustainable partner, we encourage you to reach out to the team at Kegstar.
“In New Zealand, we will continue to work collaboratively with the NZCC as their process progresses.”
For its part, Konvoy said it was “assessing the available options and will provide further direction in due course”.
Ironically the business said it was on track for a record month.
“We want to assure you that this decision does not impact our day-to-day operations or our commitment to serving you. We continue to deliver the same service you’ve come to expect, and we’re pleased to report that we’re on track for a record month.
You can read a more detailed report here:
Competition Watchdog Blocks Kegstar’s Acquisition of Konvoy | Pursuit of Hoppiness
The best little beer festival
I want to give a massive shout out to the crew who put together the Mountain Ales festival in New Plymouth last weekend.
I’d heard so many great things about this event and everything, from the venue, the value of the ticket, the eclectic array of beers, the food... was beyond brilliant.
My beers of the week are all from the festival and on top of those mentioned further down big shout outs to DNA’s summer ale-style Belgian Pale Ale, 8 Wired Tall Poppy, which was tasting fantastic, and Brew Moon’s snappy Czech Please Pilsner.
On that note…
Beer of the Week No 1
Local brewery Three Sisters stole the show at Mountain Ales with their Space Juice smoothie sour. Described as a mango, French vanilla ice cream smoothie sour with blue spirulina, its standout feature was the colour.
Everyone I spoke to loved this beer despite (or because of) the colour. The overwhelming response was “delicious”. And I loved it. Flavoursome, for sure, but with a lively, sherbety carbonation that brought a great fizzy, textural experience not dissimilar to putting ice cream in a soft drink to create a spider. Coming off the back of the huge success of Lush in the New World Beer & Cider Awards, Three Sisters seem to have a licence to go crazy and try anything, but as long as it works, I’m here for it.
And a darker green version for March 17 next year might work!
Hop heroes showcased in latest podcast
The latest episode of the Third Pint Theory Podcast is live on whatever platform you like to listen to for such things.
It features Luke Nicholas of Epic and Steve Plowman of Hallertau looking back on what might be called the glory days of the IPA revolution in New Zealand — a revolution sparked in so many ways by Epic Armageddon and Hallertau Maximus.
Both breweries are 20 years old this year and the interview is a fascinating walk through some important recent history in New Zealand beer.
One of my favourite anecdotes is their recollection of hounding the brew team from Green Flash in San Diego to get information for brewing a West Coast IPA. Luckily, they never gave up as that intel was implemented in the creation of both Armageddon and Maximus.
Enjoy!
Dusty’s Beer of the Week
New sud tube from BOP locals Mount Brewing Co — and let’s declare it now: it’s an absolute crusha! Fresh Set is a 5% APA hopped with perennial faves Citra & Mosaic. It’s resiny piney with pops of blueberry alongside citrus-laden zest, mouthfeel is slick with a delicate carb and sweet yet nutty malt bill. A thing of beauty and an exemplary example of the style. — Dusty
Lion shutter Stone & Wood pub
Lion will close Stone & Wood’s Brisbane brewpub on November 21. In a statement, the Kirin-owned company said the decision was driven by rising operational costs, challenges within the hospitality industry, and an ongoing review of its venue portfolio.
“As Lion continues to assess our hospitality portfolios, we remain committed to evaluating non-core venues to ensure our operations align with our strategic vision,” the statement said.
“We remain committed to investing in the long-term success of the Stone & Wood brand and while we have made the difficult decision to close the microbrewery, our home in Byron Bay remains open and welcomes visitors.”
The Crafty Pint reported that this announcement follows a series of similar closures in recent years. In 2023, Lion shut the Two Birds taproom in Spotswood and discontinued the brand — Australia’s first brewery founded by women. The following year, the company closed the Chuck Hahn-founded Malt Shovel Brewery in Sydney’s inner west and chose not to renew the lease on Fixation’s Collingwood Incubator.
Lion has also closed or rebranded several of its brewpubs in recent years. In 2023, Bevy Brewing, located inside The Camfield in Perth, was transformed into a Little Creatures-branded venue, while Townsville’s Tiny Mountain was closed the same year and has since been relaunched by the Katarzyna hospitality group. Earlier this year, the Comiskey Group purchased Eumundi Brewery, a couple of years on from buying The Imperial Hotel which houses the brewery.
Stone & Wood Brisbane opened in 2019 inside the heritage-listed Trails Ltd Ice & Cold Stores building in Fortitude Valley, becoming the brewery’s first home outside the Northern Rivers. Lion acquired the brewpub as part of its 2021 purchase of Fermentum, the parent company behind Fixation, Two Birds, Square Keg, Treehouse Cider and several other brands.
Lion stated the decision was not a reflection of Stone & Wood’s overall performance, saying it “continues to be one of our most recognised and valued brands.”
Beer of the Week No 2
I love a good English Bitter and was delighted to be able to try Two Thumb’s Yorkshire Bitter at the Mountain Ales festival.
What a treat. It was everything I wanted and expected from the light but assured malt base and the attendant nutty-toffee flavours, some deeply embedded hop character of the floral-spicy variety topped by a dense creamy head. And honestly, you should have seen the lacing on the glass afterwards … sorry I didn’t photograph the empty glass!
I don’t think I’ve had many better 4.4% beers outside of Galbraith’s in Auckland!
Does Guinness really need a two-part pour?
Thanks to my colleague Martin Bridges for drawing my attention to this wee video from Jaega Wise — an English beer brewer, broadcaster and author. Wise, head brewer and co-founder of London-based Wild Card Brewery, does a great job explaining the science behind the famous Guinness two-part pour.
Martin’s Beer of the Week
The Australians are coming! Well, semi-Australians. Balter XPA has been a bit of a legendary beer across the Ditch over the last 6 or 7 years, winning a bunch of awards and acting as the gateway beer for a lot of folks who grew up on Toohey’s New and similar macro beers. Now owned by Asahi, they seem to be making a big push into the New Zealand market at the moment so it seemed like an opportune time to pick up a can and give it a go.
I’m a big fan of XPA as a style, and this delivers all of that hoppy freshness over a lean, dry base. Bags of citrus: think sherbert lemons with a dollop of mandarin. Not the most complex of beers but it’s crisp, fruity and refreshing. Cute artwork, cute beer. — Martin Bridges, aka The Beer Beerwig, co-host of The Third Pint Theory podcast.
Wanaka Beer Fest
Just a heads up for those planning further ahead, the Wanaka Beer festival is back for the ninth year on December 6 at the Wanaka A&P Showgrounds.
As far as I know it’s the only beer festival with a comedy tent, which this year will will feature Ben Hurley, Josh Thomson and Hayley Sproull.
There will be live music, karaoke, laser clay bird shooting, frisbee golf, painting and a really great line-up of South Island breweries.
Beer of the Week No 3
One of the last beers I had the Mountain Ales festival was also one of the most memorable, Enigma Brown Ale from local outfit The Theoretical Brewer.
This was lovely with warmth and character. Smooth caramel malts and a piney-spicy hop notes. It was just a feel-good beer at the end of a feel-good festival.
And my pic got photo-bombed by Warwick Foy, former SOBA president and the man who did a fantastic job organising the myriad volunteers for this event.
What makes a great bar
There’s been a bit written and said about the state of hospitality in this country over the past five years since we came out of Covid.
To me, there are bars/taprooms/brewpubs that work and those don’t but putting your finger on why one establishment has the X-factor and another has the Meh-factor isn’t easy.
But I know a good place when I walk in the door. Below, UK bloggers Boak & Bailey do a great job of putting down some parameters for a great bar.
Tim’s Beer of the Week
Mt Eden’s Brothers Beer invites us to taste the future with their new trial hopped IPA, Mad Science #2. This is among the first generation of commercially released beers to use the latest clutch of trial hops (NZH-111, NZH-112 and NZH-115) from the NZ Hops Ltd’s Bract Brewing Program. This release features NZH-112, with a little bit of Motueka in support. It delivers Bright key lime candy, fresh pineapple and gentle pine with just a hint of cinnamon and clove. Light bodied and refreshing on the palate, with a mild bitterness and longer finish where the clove makes a curious reappearance. Undeniably smashable IPA at a (slightly) lower 5.8%abv, just don’t linger on the unsettling can art… — Tim Newman, chief reviewer for Pursuit of Hoppiness magazine.
Beer — it’s good for you
Many years ago, I was interviewing the head of DB Breweries, Brian Blake, and he was touting the “good” aspects of beer that breweries — by law — are not not allowed to talk about.
In his words, a beer was the perfect drink to have at the end of a marathon because of the minerals, vitamins and electrolytes such as potassium, sodium, magnesium, and calcium.
I was reminded of that line when reading the following story in which Club Soda founder Laura Willoughby argued non-alcoholic beer should be marketed as a “functional” drink — functional drinks being all the rage at the moment.
It’s a nice idea, but one that won’t happen here any time soon!
Why alcohol-free beer should be sold as a functional drink - The Drinks Business
Beers of the year … a short list
OK, so I’m working on what my top beers of the year are in advance of picking my top-5 for the year-ending Pursuit of Hoppiness magazine.
In no particular order I jotted down the following:
Altitude Remarks Hazy IPA
Three Sisters Lush
Emerson’s Pride of the Plains Pilsner (the 30th anniversary edition of their pilsner)
Hallertau Maximus XX (the 20th birthday rebrew)
8 Wired Sticky
Black Sands Pilsner
Duncan’s Return of Kem
Shining Peak Barrel-aged Feijoa Sour
Urbanaut 420 Hazy IPA
Twofold Tuesday Pils Fresh Hop edition
Sunshine Double Milk Stout
Mac Hops x Hop Fed Generations XPA
Garage Project Gold Top
Sawmill Hefeweizen
Garage Project’s Bastard Rye Ice Cream Beer at Beervana!
I’d love to hear your pick of the crop for 2025.
I’ll finish today with an intriguing exercise in brand-extension for Hollywood heavyweights Ryan Reynolds and Ryan Mac, who used be known as Rob MacElhenney before he changed his name!
As you may know, they own the Wrexham football team, subject of the compelling documentary Welcome to Wrexham. Their support has lifted Wrexham from the sub-basement of English football to the second tier, just below the penthouse known as the Premier League.
And along the way the actors acquired the Wrexham Lager brand, brining it one as team sponsor.
And now they want to build a “super brewery” including a museum (the brewery dates back to 1882), taproom, restaurant and shop for the Wrexham Lager brand. They also want it to be a “gateway” to the city and a way to welcome tourists.
Already I’m imaging what Auckland could have looked like if they’d built a waterfront stadium and the All Blacks created a brewery-taproom-restaurant-museum to sit alongside it, perhaps selling an All Blacks branded beer?
Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac plan Wrexham super brewery
Thanks for reading and catch in November!
Michael
Had a Ballast Point saison at Easter then another couple at the Hop House.Sublime!!
As someone who has three Two Thumbs outlets within a roughly 5km radius, I agree on the quality of the Yorkshire Bitter. Easily their best beer imho.
I've seen the beer-as-recovery-drink hypothesis in action. When I lived in Louisiana in the 1980s, most races had a beer sponsor, which meant free beer afterwards. Due to the heat, most races went off at 8-9am and so you were drinking for breakfast on an empty stomach, which occasionally had undesirable but predictable consequences. But I never heard anybody complain. Also, I knew this bloke in Houston – Bob Fletcher – who swore by beer after races; he ran 50 marathons in 50 weeks to celebrate his 50th birthday, so it clearly worked for him!