Monteith NZ craft beers debut in UK

Monteith’s Brewing Company, believed to be the oldest craft brewery in New Zealand, has arrived in the UK on-trade with a range of four beers, which are now available via Heineken UK.

Established by Stewart Monteith in 1868 for the pioneering gold mining communities on the country’s South Island West Coast, this heritage brand has long been loved by a series of successive generations and is now recognised as a leader in the New Zealand craft beer market.

Commenting on the arrival of the craft beers from New Zealand at a beer and food tasting event, beers expert Ben McFarland said: “It’s never been a better time to be a discerning beer drinker in the UK where consumers are enjoying an unprecedented level of choice in terms of flavours, styles and drinking experiences.

“With a plethora of highly sought after hop varieties and a thriving craft brewing culture, New Zealand has emerged as one of the world’s most exciting brewing nations in recent years and Monteith’s, whose history dates back nearly 150 years, has been instrumental in this.

“Back in New Zealand, Monteith’s has been celebrating beer’s kinship with cuisine for some time now and having partnered with Kopapa, a restaurant owned and ran by Kiwis, it was interesting to see how chef Peter Gordon dovetailed Monteith’s quartet of beers with a range of different dishes.”

Pedro Cruz, manager export western Europe for Heineken added: “With consumer interest in the indie beer market continuing to accelerate, we are delighted to bring the unique and refreshing “Monteith’s range to the UK. Even before its UK launch date the brand is already developing a powerful buzz on social media across the UK as craft beer fans eagerly anticipate the arrival of the ultimate expression of New Zealand’s proud brewing heritage.

“Monteith’s has developed a cult following outside its home nation and is perfectly suited to today’s consumer demands for more from a beer, particularly in the versatility of pairing Monteith’s variants with contemporary food options.

“The combination of great flavour, unique heritage and a natural affinity with food makes Monteith’s an exciting and appealing new option for UK restaurants and bars to offer to their customers.”

The Monteith’s range is presented in 33cl bottles:

Monteith’s Bohemian Pilsner Beer - An eastern European-style lager with immense flavour and enormous hop character, this premium beer leaves you with a smooth, clean and bitter taste and pairs particularly well with tomato-based pasta dishes or shellfish.

Monteith’s Southern Pale Ale - The intensity of North West American hops with the liveliness of New Zealand hops, filtered to give a clear straw appearance. Beginning with a zesty citrus aroma, this pale ale has a full malt flavour and crisp finish, pairing well with fish and poultry dishes or ripe Camembert.

Monteith’s Summer Ale - The malts give it the smooth heart, the single hop and ginger its touch of spice. A little rata honey finishes things off nicely, leaving a truly refreshing taste experience and it’s great with summer salads, stir-fries or creamy Brie, pine nuts and honey oat bread.

Monteith’s India Pale Ale – With a fruity aroma, this ale has a distinct Kiwi taste thanks to the special New Zealand hops.  With plenty of rich maltiness and a touch of bitter this premium beer leaves you wanting more and is perfect with fish ‘n’ chips, as well as creamy cheeses.

All Monteith’s beers are naturally brewed without artificial additives or preservatives. The only additives are ingredients like rata honey.

27 September 2014 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor