New Zealand: Craft beer on the rise in New Zealand

New Zealand is in the midst of a global beer brewing revolution, with more and more people looking to craft beers to quench their thirst, according to Tvnz.co.nz.

Invercargill brewer Steve Nally says he has increased production 150% in the past five years.

"I think people just want a change," Nally said.

"It's a cyclical thing, big brewers have commanded a lot of the market for a lot of time."

International beer expert Mirella Amato, who has been in New Zealand this week, says the secret to Kiwi craft beer brewing success is the local ingredients.

"The hops that are grown here, which are quite distinct, and the fact that in New Zealand you're brewing all kinds of different styles using New Zealand hops and how it transforms those styles," she said.

And as the craft beer industry takes off, it's up to people's taste buds to keep up.

Amato has been encouraging and teaching Kiwis to explore, identify and describe the flavours of local brews. She says the balance of flavours in a beer can make or break it.

"There are a lot of brewers who are excited about these bold flavours and hops and crazy alcohols and just trying to cram in as much flavour as they can, and maybe paying a little less attention to drinkability and to balance."

Amato is one of just seven master beer sommeliers in the world, and the first woman to earn that rank.

And while it is often billed as a man's drink, until the nineteenth century brewing was a woman's job.

"Beer is actually quite a feminine beverage," Amato said.

"It ... is certainly perceived more as a male beverage now but I think that's changing, more and more women are getting into beer."

06 November, 2013