“I quite like that it is a donut; we try obviously to look on the bright side of it and that it’s just this one big kind of reveal – you don’t really know what’s going to be around the corner…” Ryan McArthur on the beauty of Beervana’s Wellington venue.
Hosts Michael Donaldson and Martin Bridges kick things off by tasting an 8 Wired barley wine and a Hallertau Stuntman Double IPA while reminiscing about Beervana’s early days at the Wellington Town Hall. They are then joined by Ryan McArthur, the current Festival Director for Beervana. Ryan shares his long history with the event, tracing his journey from volunteering at the festival in 2010 to serving as the beer manager and eventually taking the reins as director in late 2018.
The conversation takes a deep dive into the business mechanics of running New Zealand’s premier beer festival during tough economic times. Ryan discusses the struggles facing global beer festivals, noting how events like the Great American Beer Festival have scaled back and local festivals like Beers at the Basin have been postponed. He explains Beervana’s unique operational model, where the festival essentially sells “real estate” on the stadium concourse, allowing breweries to dictate how much space they want to use to engage with attendees.
Beyond the economics, the episode explores the sheer logistical marvel and fun of transforming the stadium concourse into a vibrant festival space. Ryan talks about the massive infrastructure required, including a payment system where the festival covers all transaction fees so they aren’t passed on to breweries or attendees. He also highlights the unique “donut” layout of the stadium, which creates an endless reveal of new stands around every corner. Pop on your headphones and immerse yourself in the behind-the-scenes magic of Beervana!