Dark ale wins gold brewing medal

By Dita De Boni

A small Auckland brewery intent on taking on the big boys of the beer business has found fame on the international circuit.

Two-year-old Auckland Breweries won a gold medal at the Australian International Beer Awards for its dark ale, known as Auckland Dark.

The brewery competed with 100 others from countries as diverse as Poland, Tonga and Scotland, as well as brew-meisters from Holland and Germany.

The general manager, Stephen George, says he and his crew are "rapt" at the victory, but won't go into overdrive because of the win. Instead they are intent on carving out a niche market with products aimed at "people who appreciate a good beer - our efforts are more about quality than marketing."

Auckland Breweries has grown from zero to 15 workers in two years and now supplies over 300 outlets in New Zealand with draught beer, claiming sales of over $2 million annually.

Mr George attributes his success to a loyal customer base and 11-year veteran brewmaster Nigel Shaw.