A round-up of news and event from all around New Zealand.
Nelson
For up to date information on local events contact SOBA’s Regional Coordinator Phil Ivamy. 021469614 nelson@soba.org.nz.
Marlborough
For up to date information on local events contact SOBA’s Regional Coordinator Neville marlborough@soba.org.nz.
Canterbury
For up to date information on local events visit the Canterbury SOBA Facebook page (facebook.com/CanterburySOBA) or contact Tyler or Dawn at canterbury@soba.org.nz.
Otago
With Otago’s SOBA membership now (as we write this) over 100, we are gearing up to have more and more local activities. It is a bit saddening to discover not all of us are receiving the regular emails about events (please contact me if you think SOBA is or has gone silent). We do our best with our Facebook members’ page, but some people must be forgetting to look!
Members have been far and wide, including at Queenstown’s IPA Challenge – a somewhat bewildering event, but some of the beers were great. Some of us will make it to visit our Southland cousins at Hop’n’vine (see list below).
Several of us enjoyed an impromptu event at New New New where Andy Duke put on a collaborative brew-up with SOBA’s Bruce Milne to make Bruce’s creation (an American IPA) one recent fine Sunday morning. It is Andy’s intention to have more such events, showcasing other members’ recipes. We’ll email details, but check Facebook as well to be sure.
See why it is important for members not to be missing out on our emails?
Otago events
6 September 3.00 – Portsider
22 September from 7.00 – Emerson’s
26 September – Alexandra Blossom Festival to try Manuherekia Brewery’s beers
28 September 7.30 – Richard & Tracy’s combined SOBA + Dunedin Homebrewers Assn, BYO bought and made (SOBA members see Otago Facebook events for venue)
7 October 5.30 – The Taproom, Bath St
10 October – Hop’n’vine, Invercargill (members’ excursion)
20 October from 7.00 – Duke of Wellington
29 October – lead up to DCBFF (see SOBA Otago Facebook events for venue)
30-31 October, Forsyth Barr Stadium – OUSA’s DCBFF
For up to date information on local events contact our Facebook page or SOBA’s Regional Coordinator Richard Pettinger 027 950 4517, email otago@SOBA.org.nz
Southland
We’re not going try to convince you that Southland, and specifically Invercargill, is becoming some sort of craft beer mecca, far from it, but … times are a changing.
We have some new breweries opening up, craft beer is now on tap at most bottle stores and a growing group of people campaigning for more craft options at bars across the region.
At the moment, Invercargill is deep in the midst of a seismic change. The city centre is rubble, shops are displaced and Starbucks is a shipping container. A trip south at the present time would probably
do little to convince the naysayers that ‘Invers’ is shaping up to be a destination city. Or, maybe it will….
If you do want to take a trip south, you would be well advised to pencil in the second weekend in October, specially October 10 when the annual Hop’n’Vine Craft Beer, Wine and Food Festival takes place.
Shifted from its usual April timeslot due to Covid-19, the rescheduled event now kicks off the festival season with the Dunedin Festival following three weeks later and Beervana in November.
Although smaller, around 2,000 attendees, than its Dunedin and Wellington counterparts, Hop’n’Vine does very well to deliver all the class of the big events captured in a compact and relaxed package. All the big names are there from Garage Project and Behemoth to Deep Creek and Epic plus
everything in-between. Music plays throughout the day, but the versatile venue makes sure there is always a quiet spot for the beer geeks to exchange notes.
There is plenty room to move, you can always get a seat and the spacious setup makes sure queuing is kept to a minimum. And, it manages to achieve all this without compromising on atmosphere. Hop’n’Vine delivers a chilled vibe that you would expect to encounter in more cosmopolitan
surrounds rather than in the deep south and is a festival beer-lovers should add to their calendar.
Another unique point of difference is the way it is run. Rather than brewers peddling their wares, they are there to talk to the punters. The event is staffed by a volunteer army who pour the beers allowing the brewers to chat to their customers, share their
secrets and offer advice, or just have a beer with you.
Hop’n’Vine is a much more personal festival and is for beer-lovers as well as people just wanting a good time; something we probably all need in 2020.
Events
12 September – Invercargill club craft beer and food night. Tickets available. Call Bev on 03 218 7781 or check www.invercargillclub.com. Eddie Gapper from Queenstown’s Altitude Brewing will have a large range of new beers matched with local produce.
20 September – Redcliff restaurant and bar, Te Anau. 7pm onwards till late. Grand reopening party. With multiple craft beers from Queenstown’s Altitude Brewing on tap.
1 October – Soba monthly catch up, Invercargill club, 32 Don St.
2 October – Editor’s Cut bar bus trip to Emerson’s brewery in Dunedin. Full brewery tour, meal and drinks. Also a visit to Albar and Duke of Wellington.
October 3-10 – Good Beer Week in the buildup to Hopnvine beer festival. Events and special beers promos all week. The following bars are all involved and will be selling crafts beers: Level One bar, Editors Cut, Tuatara Cafe, Buster Crabb, Northern Tavern, Waikiwi Tavern, Ascot hotel, Avenal Sports Bar and Louie’s.
Oct 10 – Hop n vine festival. 12 – 7pm, ILT stadium, Invercargill. Tickets via www.hopnvine.co.nz. R18 event with beer stands from Garage Project, Epic, Behemoth, Deep Creek, Altitude and many more. Food trucks galore selling local Southland produce and local music acts. For homebrew competition information please go to www.hopnvine.co.nz. After-party Level Bar from 7pm. Free buses direct from venue to Kelvin Hotel. Beer festival winning beers will be on tap on the night plus food and music.
Northland
For up to date information on local events contact SOBA’s Regional Coordinator at farnorth@soba.org.nz
Whangarei
Monthly meetings; first Wednesday of each month. For up to date information on local events contact SOBA’s Regional Coordinator John Coates 021 066 7024 whangarei@soba.org.nz.
Auckland
Keep an eye on your membership emails from auckland@soba.org.nz (if you aren’t getting them, check your membership is current!) or on @soba_auckland and on Twitter.
Waikato
For up to date information on local events contact Waikato’s SOBA Regional Coordinator Gareth at waikato@soba.org.nz
Bay of Plenty
For up to date information on local events contact SOBA’s Regional Coordinator Tony at bayofplenty@soba.org.nz
Taranaki
Check Taranaki SOBA FB page for info on monthly meetings and upcoming events. Email: Warwick or Brian at taranaki@soba.org.nz
Hawke’s Bay
Our monthly SOBA catch ups are back on! In July we visited Napier’s newest destination Rogue Hop and in August we sat by the fire at Rooster’s. We’re working our way around Hawke’s Bay – keep an eye on Facebook and member emails for where we’re going next. We will again be holding our annual Tour de Hastings – a bus trip from Napier and Taradale around Hastings’ finest beer venues. The details are still being worked on.
In September we are looking forward to a series of events at Zeelandt Brewery: The Weekender. These were originally planned for March, as part of HB Beer Week, but got postponed along with other events. There will be food trucks and live music at Zeelandt Brewery in Eskdale on Friday 4, Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September. On Saturday September 26, there will be a food truck, new beer release and live music at Abbey Brewery in Bridge Pa.
Brave is in the process of getting their new bigger site (brewery and tap room) open, and is aiming for a late Spring opening. Until then, you’ll still find it on Warren Street – pouring beer and serving food from Asian Diner. Napier Brewing (at Westshore Beach Inn) is also expanding, the new brewery is being installed. Their beer will continue to be available at Westshore Beach Inn, and inner-city venue Rogue Hop.
Events
6 September: SOBA catch up – at Zeelandt Brewery
4 October: SOBA catch up and home brew event – venue TBC
8 November: SOBA catch up – venue TBC
November: Annual Tour de Hastings bus trip
Find SOBA’s Hawke’s Bay page on Facebook to keep up to date with what’s on in the Bay, and nearby. For up-to-date information on local events, contact SOBA’s Regional Coordinator, Lesley, at hawkesbay@soba.org.nz .
Whanganui
SOBA meetings are from 7:00pm on the first Tuesday of every month and we alternate our meeting venues.
6 October: Rutland Arms, Ridgeway Street
3 November: Mothership Bar, 379 Victoria Avenue
For further information about local SOBA activities or to be added to the local notification list for events, contact Pete Northway on 021 136 5337 or email wanganui@soba.org.nz
Manawatu
Every Month: The first Sunday of the month at Brew Union 2pm. Check the local Facebook page for event details.
For up to date information on local events contact SOBA’s Regional Coordinator Sam at palmerstonnorth@soba.org.nz
Wellington
31 October: Brew Day 2020, Brewtown, Upper Hutt. Tickets available from www.ticketfairy.com.
20-21 November: Beervana, Sky Stadium, Wellington. Tickets from beervana.co.nz.
For up to date information on local events contact SOBA’s Regional Coordinator at Wellington@soba.org.nz