McCashin's Brewery

McCashin's Brewery, also known as Mac's Brewery in the past, is a small brewery based in Nelson, New Zealand. It was founded in 1980/81 by one of the pioneers of craft brewing, Terry McCashin, who produced the well-known Mac's beer. Today it produces Rochdale Cider and a range of Stoke beers.

For Mac's craft beers, see Mac's beer.

McCashin's Brewery
TypePrivate
IndustryBeverages
Founded1981
HeadquartersNelson, New Zealand
Key people
Terry McCashin
ProductsBeer, wine, cider, spirits
Websitewww.mccashins.co.nz

History

The property on Main Road Stoke in the Nelson suburb of Stoke started life as the Rochdale Cider factory[1] in the late 1930s. The production facility was located in the rear section of the current building. In the 1930s and 1940s there were around five cider producers in the area, including one just across the road, Robinson’s, but by the 1970s, Rochdale was the only large commercial producer in New Zealand.[2] The current building was erected in the 1950s.

It was purchased in 1980 by former All Black rugby player and farmer Terry McCashin and his wife Beverley. They continued to make Rochdale Cider, but also began brewing craft beer for the first time in New Zealand, with the help of brewer Jim Pollitt. Mac's beer was launched on 26 September 1981, with then Prime Minister of New Zealand, Robert Muldoon, in attendance. The small brewery (sometimes referred to as Mac's brewery[3]) had to compete with the two giants in the market, Lion Nathan and Dominion Breweries, and McCashin is today regarded as a pioneer of craft beer.[1]

In 1999 Lion bought the Mac's craft beer brand, and in 2000 the company leased the premises.[1] As the popularity of the brand grew, Lion started producing Mac’s beers in Wellington, then Christchurch and, after the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes, in Auckland.[2] Lion established a number of "Mac's Brewbars" around New Zealand.[4]

In 2009, McCashin's son Dean McCashin and his wife Emma moved back, relaunching the brewery under its original name, McCashin's Brewery, producing Rochdale Cider once more, and in 2010, Stoke beers.[1]

Description

A range of different styles of beer is produced using traditional methods, organic hops and specially cultured yeast, including IPA, dark ale and pilsner. The non-alcoholic range consists of Stoke Lemon Lime and Bitters and Ginger Beer, and still and sparkling water, branded "Palaeo", sourced from a source underneath the brewery, is also bottled and sold.[5]

There is also a restaurant called the Brewery Kitchen, which also provides off-site catering.[6]

See also

References
  1. O'Connell, Tim (1 November 2017). "Nelson craft beer pioneer Terry McCashin dies". Stuff. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  2. Hodgson, Neil (22 November 2016). "Stoke Brewery and Emma McCashin". Top Tastes. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  3. "Stoke brewery: Riding the wave of a craft beer renaissance". Stuff. 21 November 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  4. "Here in NZ we LIKE to think we're a FAIRLY FASTIDIOUS bunch when it co". Mac's Beer NZ. 7 January 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  5. "Our Beer Ranges – NZ Ales". McCashins Brewery. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  6. "Brewery Kitchen". McCashins Brewery. Retrieved 17 December 2020.

Further reading
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