What's eating the NZ craft beer scene?

Beer nerds will flock to Beervana in Wellington this weekend for beer, but not as we know it. (Image: Beervana)

Sat, 19 Aug 2023

New Zealand’s most dedicated hop-heads are descending on the annual Beervana festival in Wellington this weekend against a backdrop of some of the most difficult trading conditions the craft brewing industry has faced for at least a decade.Hops are scarce and expensive. Barley and wheat supplies and prices are affected by the war in Ukraine, so malt costs a bomb. Beer excises have risen more than 13.5% in two years because excise changes are tied to the rate of inflation, and the closure of the Marsden Point oil refinery has sent the...

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