Steam Brewing Company

Steam Brewing Company started in October 1995 with a little English pub out front of the brewery in East Tamaki, Auckland. The pub was called Cock & Bull. Nearly 10 years later and with the opening of 5 pubs (by May 2005) the brewery was too small and a new brewery was needed. In July 2004, Steam Brewing Company purchased the Auckland Breweries plant. Which also included a packaging line giving Steam Brewing Company the opportunity to enter the packaged beer market.

Tuesday, March 29, 2005

NZ International Beer Awards

Today we shipped off our samples for entry to the New Zealand International Beer Awards.

We have sent all of the Cock & Bull family of beers
Blue Goose Lager
Buxom Blonde
Classic Draught
Dark Star
Fuggles Best Bitter
Monk's Habit
Chubby IV ( the next special due out in the few weeks)

Judging for the NZ International Beer Awards are from 12 - 14 April, with the results being announced on the evening of 15th April

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

Regional Saturday in-store tasting

Saturday 19th March,11am to 4pm, saw me back in store giving tastings to the public who had come in to try the range of Cock & Bull beers.

The feedback was all very positive with the Monk's Habit flagons selling out by lunchtime.

BAR BODEGA - not only are the Cock & Bull family of beers available at Regional Wines & Spirits in Wellington, but the Fuggles Best Bitter is on hand pump at Bar Bodgea, 101 Ghuznee Street.


Each group at the end of the evening had an opportunity to vote for their favorite beers from the selection they had just tried.

The results were as follows
1. Monk's Habit
2. Centennial Pale Ale
3. Dark Star
4. Fuggles Best Bitter


On the Thursday night each person got a hop from Luke's garden in one of there tasting glasses. Since the theme of the beers was hops it was approriate to have hops present so that we could explain what they are.


Setting up for the tastings of the Cock & Bull beers. On Thursday 17th, and Friday 18th at 6pm we welcomed 35 guest each night to the tastings. These were sold out tastings, with waiting lists for those that didn't get in early enough.


Fill Your Own flagons, offer a fantastic selection of the best craft beers made in NZ. It is a real privilege to be along side the likes of Emerson's, Limburg, and Shed 22. Our first beer on tap is the dry hopped version of Centennial Pale Ale.


The Cock & Bull family of beers got the premium shelf postion inside the chiller. Perfect eye level height. This was possibly due to the demise of the Parrot & Jigger beers, since they closed their brewery back in November 2004.

Toast Potrait of Michael Jackson


Inside Regional Wines & Spirits - image of the imported and craft beer selection. Note Michael Jackson (beer critic) on the world, this image is make with toast, by Maurice Bennett - "The Toastman".


Regional Wines & Spirits, Thursday 17th March 2005

Tuesday, March 15, 2005

Regional Tasting - UPDATE

This afternoon we dispatched our order for Regional Wines & Spirits

15 x 1.5 litre PET's of the following beers
Blue Goose Lager
Buxom Blonde
Classic Draught
Dark Star
Monk's Habit

1 x 50 litre keg of Centennial Pale Ale - dry hopped

Also 2 kegs of Fuggles are heading to Bar Bodega to go on hand pump.

Monday, March 14, 2005

Regional W&S Cock & Bull Tasting

Later this week we are launching the C&B beers in Wellington. This will be the first outlet outside the C&B pubs to make these beer available.

A Cock and Bull Story
with Geoff Griggs and Luke NicholasThurs 17 Mar or Friday 18 Mar, 6.00pm $25.00 per person, Limit 33 places each night In August 2004 Steam Brewing Company, the brewing arm and sister company of Auckland’s highly successful Cock and Bull pub chain, bought Auckland Breweries. Since then we have been eagerly awaiting an opportunity to check out their beers down here in Wellington - and now we have the chance. We are delighted to welcome brewer Luke Nicholas who will be presenting a range of multi award winning beers including Fuggles, Buxom Blonde and the legendary Monk’s Habit. The purchase of Auckland Breweries increases the company’s potential brewing capacity to around 2,000,000 litres; that’s about the size of Macs or Monteiths! A few more quality beers available must be a good thing!! This will be a great chance to hear about the birth of a craft beer brand and all the trials and tribulations that go with it.

http://www.regionalwines.co.nz