Raumati South brewery gets ready for Beervana

FEELING GOOD: George Duncan's brewing company is taking part in Beervana for the first time. Photo: Laura Honey

Raumati South beer brewer George Duncan is excited despite a bit of stress looming.

His up-and-coming company is among about 60 breweries taking part in New Zealand's upcoming largest craft beer festival Beervana at Westpac Stadium.

It's Duncan's Brewing Company's first time at the festival.

"I imagine it will be slightly stressful closer to the festival but I'm excited and stoked to be able to share a stall [with Lord Almighty] because financially, for a small company like me, its quite a bit of money to outlay."

He has teamed up with Upper Hutt company Lord Almighty [run by Dan Lord] and both have made a collaboration brew which is a take on a traditional Polish beer called a gratzer.

The 500 litre brew, which has been brewed with oat smoked wheat malt and Saaz hops, took a staggering 14 hours.

"It was so slow because we had so much wheat malt.

"By the end of it we were going slightly crazy."

George has had a sample of the brew and is very happy with how it's progressing especially the balance between various ingredients.

"It has turned out to be a very drinkable beer."

George will have four of his own range on offer including a stout, pilsner, pale ale, as well as a juniper IPA brewed for Beervana, and the collaborative beer.

Both companies have a prime position at Beervana, slightly back from the main entrance, on the left side.

"We're really lucky.

"We're a few stalls in from the start, we're in the inner circle, and we're next to a friend of mine who owns Burger Liquor."

George has been brewing all grain beer for about six years especially after his friend Evan Floden passed on some brewing knowledge to him.

"I learnt to brew from him.

"Then I moved overseas and lived in Canada and travelled around the United States which got me really into the whole craft beer thing.

"When I moved back to New Zealand I went back to building but was also was making beer for mates.

"I thought 'hey I should give this a punt' and I put down a 200 litre batch [in 2014] at the Massey brewery in Palmerston North, which I sold at Hashigo Zake [in Wellington], which sold really well."

His company, comprising George, his wife Waimatao Familton, and graphic designer Geoffrey Joe, is now doing 2500 litre brews.

"Things have progressed quite rapidly.

"I contract brew to different breweries around New Zealand.

"I'm currently brewing at Mike's in Taranaki but have brewed at Harrington's in Christchurch and Kereru in Upper Hutt.

"I basically have to go where the space is, and build up enough demand where I can potentially look at my own venture."

George sums up his love of brewing beer: "I love the technical and creative process of brewing, the brewing process takes around four weeks, and then at the end you get a simple and tasty glass of beer to share with friends and family."

Beervana is on August 12 and 13.