New brewery targets craft beer market

PLANS AFOOT: Martinborough Brewery co-owner Hayden Frew on site where the purpose-built operation will go. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA.

Craft beer drinkers will be pleased to know the wine village of Martinborough will soon have something to quench their thirst.

Martinborough Brewery co-owners Hayden Frew and Stephen Fox are building a brewery on Ohio St, in the middle of town.

Mr Frew said the ground work has been done and building will start this week to house a 1200-litre batch system.

The brewers released their first beer, Black Nectar, last year and have been making small batches at Mr Frew's Martinborough home. "We were making it at my place, just a little operation for the last year-and-a-half."

He said the purpose-built brewery will allow them to make more beer and more styles. They were expanding because they couldn't make enough beer to meet demand, he said. "We're making beer people want to drink."

Being surrounded by wineries hasn't deterred them. Mr Frew said they are adding to the mix and catering to the booming craft beer market.

"It was either go big or go home," he said. "We thought it would work well here, seeing how well the industry is developing in Wellington and the country."

He said people liked craft beer because there are so many different styles and flavours.

Mr Frew's wife will work full-time at the brewery, managing its operations and the two men will brew part-time as well as working at their other full-time jobs, in Wellington.

Mr Frew said they will have a standard range and seasonal styles mainly using New Zealand hops and malts.

It will be the only brewery in town, after a brewery called the Martinborough Brewing Company closed some time ago.

He said people were excited beer was coming back to the town.

The brewery is expected to open at the end of the year and Mr Frew said wine will be available in the tasting room.

"We want to open as early as possible to maximise the summer."

They are also looking at having special events on the grassy area outside, such as music or even outdoor movies.

Carterton brewery Regent 58 has also expanded its brewery with an ale house.