“I was a bit naive; I didn’t realize how long it would take to build the brewery. It’s taken almost 10 years from an empty paddock to what we’ve got now.” Ben Heaven on the journey to build his brewery.
Welcome to episode 11 of the Third Pint Theory podcast! This week, hosts Michael Donaldson and Martin Bridges overcome some technical hurdles to bring you a truly special and self-proclaimed “beer geeky” episode. The spotlight is on Ben Heaven, the founder and head brewer of Heaven’s Brewery. Located in the picturesque Marua Valley near Hikurangi in rural Northland, this farm-based operation recently stunned the industry by popping out of nowhere to land in the New World Beer & Cider Awards Top 25 with a Czech-style dark lager named Judas Sheep. Michael sits down with Ben to uncover the origins of this hidden gem.
In a fascinating interview, Ben traces his brewing roots from his university days in Palmerston North to a transformative trip to the UK, where he fell in love with regional cask ales and traditional pub culture. He shares the decade-long journey of building Heaven’s Brewery from scratch on an empty paddock—a labour of love that involved everything from learning to TIG weld stainless steel to raising a small flock of sheep (including Myrtle, the actual “Judas sheep” featured on the award-winning bottle). The conversation also takes a deep dive into the science of brewing, with Ben revealing his absolute obsession with yeast. He maintains an in-house library of over 30 unique strains—many acquired through international swaps on coffee filter paper—and explains how manipulating yeast is the ultimate key to unlocking complex flavors, especially in lower ABV styles like his traditional UK mild ale.
Despite the sudden surge of nationwide exposure from the New World Awards—which required Ben and his son to meticulously hand-bottle over 3,000 units on a single-head filler—Ben remains grounded in his philosophy. He discusses his deliberate, risk-averse approach to business and his long-term dream of building a traditional pub right there on the farm to serve fresh, hyper-local beer. It is a beautifully romantic and inspiring story of old-world brewing meeting New Zealand ingenuity. Grab a pint and settle in for an incredible yarn!