“And so at that point in time, everyone wanted new everything. And so we did 165 unique beers in one year. And it was mental and it nearly broke all of us.” Andrew Childs on Behemoth’s wild pandemic brewing streak.
This time, Martin sits down at the Behemoth Brewing headquarters in Auckland with two heavyweights of the New Zealand beer scene: Andrew Childs, founder of Behemoth, and Jason Bathgate, former head brewer at McLeod’s. The trio convenes to mark the 10-year anniversary of a harrowing brewing accident at 8 Wired that severely burned both Andrew and Jason. In a candid, raw, and at times humorous reflection, the two share their memories of that fateful day, the grueling hospital recovery process, and the incredible, rallying support they received from the tight-knit craft beer community during their darkest hours.
Beyond the accident, the conversation celebrates the remarkable legacies both men have built over the past decade. Andrew discusses the evolution of Behemoth—from a gypsy brewing operation to a powerhouse with multiple venues—and opens up about surviving the pandemic by brewing a staggering 165 unique beers in a single year, though his proudest achievement remains their highly awarded Halfway Down rice lager. Meanwhile, Jason reflects on his transformative tenure at McLeod’s, where he helped scale production immensely and cemented the brewery’s reputation for uncompromising quality and stylistic perfection, leaving behind a legacy of over 750 distinct brews.
But the real scoop comes at the end of the episode when Jason finally reveals his highly anticipated next move. He shares the exciting details about Aliment Brewing, a brand-new, ultra-small-scale brewery and tasting room he is opening with his wife Monica in Riwaka. Designed as a sustainable, community-focused operation, Aliment represents the couple’s final, passionate chapter in the industry. Pour yourself a favorite local brew and settle in for an inspiring tale of resilience, friendship, and the relentless pursuit of brewing perfection.