A batch of their flagship Pitch Black Stout had become infected and was disposed of under the supervision of a Customs official.  The Southland Times described the act as “unthinkable.”  The Malthouse Blog describes it as “commitment to quality.”

The newspaper quoted head brewer and huggable chap Steve Nally saying the decision was “hard to swallow” but in his professional opinion there was no real option because the beer “just wasn’t right.”  Dumping an entire batch certainly cost the craft brewery thousands of dollars but Steve said the beer was not something he wanted to put his name on.  He also needed the space. *

Craft brewing is a tough business and the decision to dump a batch can never be taken lighten given the investment in ingredients.  Steve recalled throwing away three batches around three years which, in his typically understated way, he said “hurt a bit.”  However, sending out sub-standard beer can hurt a brewery even more in the long run – affecting reputation and, ultimately, sales. 

Steve also took a subtle dig at some other unnamed craft brewers who had turned their brewing mistakes into “happy accidents” which were then sold as specials or limited release beers.  In this instance, he did not think his batch of Pitch Black could be saved and, given that particular beer’s importance to the brewery, took the most sensible option.  It was, he said, not the first time and unlikely to be the last.  Losing the occasional batch was just part of the business. ** His parting shot was priceless quipping “at least the sewers will be smelling nicer for a bit.”

The Southland Times seemed slightly bemused by the requirement that the disposal had to be officially observed writing “for the disposal an observer was on hand to ensure the faulty beer was actually destroyed.  All of the beer made at the brewery was recorded and attracted excise duty tax, which meant everything rejected had to be witnessed by a Customs representative.”
 
Excise tax is actually the cover story for the next issue of Beer and Brewer magazine.  As the Editor At Large and chief New Zealand correspondent, *** I contributed an article on the excise situation in this country.  Without spoiling the column, the central argument was that excise on beer has gone up every single year for at least the last thirty years and that is not going to change in the foreseeable future. 

Researching the article revealed that around one-fifth of the cost of a standard strength beer went directly to the Government through GST and excise tax.  That figure will be higher now following the GST increase and even higher for stronger beers.  That said, the overall Government take was probably a little lower than I had expected.

The research process also provided a stark reminder that the Law Commission had strongly recommended raising the price of alcohol by an average of 10% through excise tax increases.  That would have effectively required a 50% increase in excise which was quickly, albeit grudgingly, ruled out by the Government.  Excise tax has a significant source of Government revenue since around 1843.

Having covered death **** and taxes, this column desperately needs to finish on a far more positive note.  Fortunately, one of the greatest sporting events of the year is rapidly approaching.  No, it is not the under-16 international baseball competition which is getting live Sky Sports coverage while domestic cricket struggles to appear on screen, ***** it is Super Bowl 45 – the showcase of the immortals. ******

This year’s teams are set with the fearsome Green Bay Packers up against the quite terrifying Pittsburgh Steelers in the second most watched annual sporting event in the world.  I think it says something about modern society that the UEFA Champions League final, a game where grown man crash to the ground in agony because of a light breeze, should be more popular than a game where half of each team is there only to smash into each other and they never expect to touch the ball.

Anyway, reluctantly returning to the point here, Malthouse will be opening early for the big game.  Doors will open at noon on 7 February 2010.  The Super Bowl is a real spectacle and always compelling viewing.  I will definitely be watching though I’m undecided about which team to support.  One wag on Twitter has already noted that the industries both teams were named after no longer operate in America.  In making my decision, I’m weighing up the fact that the Packers look quite likely to kill me while the Steelers fans definitely look like they want to kill me. 

Finally, I’ve also included a link to a rather tasty sounding chicken wing recipe.  As the Chicago Tribune correctly noted, “beer, wings and football – a trio worth thinking about and pursuing.”

* Either for more beer or to house his legendary Care Bear collection.
** If the entire range of Mash Beers were tipped straight down the drain it would have been a distinct improvement but the sewers would not have smelled any better.
*** Alright, only New Zealand correspondent.
**** Of 1,200 litres of Pitch Black Stout.
***** Not that I’m bitter.
****** Disclaimer – a number of participants in previous Super Bowls have, in fact, died.

Cheers


Beer Writer
Real Beer New Zealand
Beer and Brewer Magazine

Links

Southland Times article “Beer Dumping Hard to Swallow” – http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/food-wine/4564054/Beer-dumping-hard-to-swallow
Beer and Brewer Magazine – http://www.beerandbrewer.com/ 
Beer and Wings Recipe – http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/thestew/2011/01/wings-and-beer-for-bears-packers-parties.html
Malthouse on Twitter – http://twitter.com/malthouse
Real Beer – http://www.realbeer.co.nz