“The third pint is the thing that kind of really opens the conversation… the social lubricant, you know, that when you get to the third pint, that’s when the conversation really starts flowing.” Martin Bridges on the origin of the name of the podcast.
Welcome to the pilot episode of The Third Pint Theory podcast! Co-hosts Michael Donaldson (founder and editor of the Pursuit of Hoppiness magazine) and Martin Bridges (the Beer Bigwig) sit down to kick off their brand-new venture. In this inaugural episode, the duo shares the backstory of how they finally teamed up to create the beer podcast New Zealand has been waiting for. They set the stage for what’s to come, promising a mix of casual banter, deep-dive industry insights, and future guest appearances from around the local beer scene.
The hosts dive right into a tasting of the booming non-alcoholic beer category, sampling Garage Project Tiny and Bach Brewing‘s All Day IPA. They discuss the staggering growth and quality of the “no and low” alcohol sector, noting how New Zealand’s non-alcoholic offerings are now rivaling—and often surpassing—those found in Europe’s deeply rooted beer cultures. From there, Michael and Martin share their own journeys into the beer world, tracing Martin’s roots in Yorkshire’s cask ale scene and his arrival in New Zealand just as the local craft beer wave was cresting.
Looking ahead, the co-hosts debate current and future craft beer trends, touching on everything from the beloved “fresh hop” season and the much-anticipated lager revival to wild predictions like 8% radlers and strawberry pilsners. Finally, they reveal the meaning behind the podcast’s name: the idea that the third pint is the ultimate social lubricant where the best conversations truly begin. Grab a beverage (alcoholic or otherwise) and tune in to this fantastic debut episode!