Malthouse hosts fifth annual IPA brewing challenge

Malthouse Press Release

11 July 2012
For Immediate Release

Malthouse will proudly host the Fifth Annual Malthouse West Coast IPA Challenge on Friday 13 July 2012. This Wellington beer tradition has exploded in popularity with craft brewers from around the country creating American-inspired IPAs (India Pale Ale) specifically for the event. On Friday, a dozen of the best Kiwi breweries will offer their individual takes on the strong, hoppy, pale ale style of beer so popular on the West Coast of America. These will be judged by an expert panel before being released to the enthusiastic Wellington public at 4pm.

The Challenge was conceived five years ago as a head-to-head battle between Epic Brewing Company and Hallertau Brewbar. The respective brewers, Luke Nicholas and Steven Plowman, had attended the 2008 World Beer Cup in San Diego and enjoyed the strong, punchy brews made in the region. They agreed to brew their own versions – Epic Armageddon and Hallertau Maximus Humulus Lupulus – back in Auckland and use the West Coast Challenge to determine a winner.

Since then, the competition has expanded rapidly and is now open to all comers. Entries this year have been received from Epic, Hallertau, Moa, Tuatara, Garage Project, mike’s Organic Brewery, Liberty, Yeastie Boys, Black Dog, Croucher, Townshend and Harrington’s.

Wellington is the official Craft Beer Capital of New Zealand and the ideal host for this competition. Steve Plowman says “Drinkers in Wellington have much more hop-focused palates, more so than anywhere else in the country. In the end, having it at Malthouse is based on a simple concentration of hop fiends.”

Malthouse proprietor Colin Mallon said they were honoured to host the Challenge each year. “We are proud to organise and host this celebration of hops. It is a showcase of brilliant beers and a big night for us – often as big if not bigger than the Sevens. People just love having the first taste of these tasty, hoppy ales. Every year the protagonists raise their game and this is a record field. I think our customers will love the results,” he said.

Moa won the 2011 Challenge and is looking to defend their crown with a beer called 7 Hopped. They will be up against a number of serious contenders with the official results published on Monday 16 July 2012.

Malthouse was named Best New Zealand Beer Venue for 2011 and 2012 by Beer and Brewer magazine.

ENDS

© Scoop Media