Rotorua Brews Up Another Winning Attraction

Kiwis love drinking beer and one of New Zealand’s leading craft breweries has now opened a unique pub in Rotorua dedicated to serving the very best craft beers from across the country.

Paul Croucher and Nigel Gregory of Croucher Brewing have opened BREW Craft Beer Pub and Coffee Roastery to showcase locally-brewed craft beers and New Zealand wines.

Visitors have described BREW as “an absolute must” when visiting Rotorua, with award-winning brewer Paul Croucher happy to share his knowledge and passion for beer while serving patrons behind the bar.

“Our vision is to create a ‘local’ where people can learn about and celebrate our full range of craft beers,” he says. “We’ve taken a run-down restaurant, completely refurbished it and have now turned it into a Mecca for good beer.”

Selected beers are available both on tap and in bottles and BREW’s extensive menu is inspired by traditional English pub food, which has been given a New Zealand twist.

“Croucher Brewing’s goal is to challenge the Kiwi beer palate and we do everything we can to retain the natural flavours of our beer,” Croucher explains.

“We also pride ourselves in promoting New Zealand wine – we handpick our range to provide highly rated wines at reasonable prices without being tied to any one of the wine conglomerates.”

Beer aficionados will probably have already sampled at least one of Croucher Brewing’s range of award-winning beers; Croucher Pilsner, Croucher Patriot and Croucher Pale Ale.

The first is a big-bodied pilsner of the Bohemian style, with dramatically more malts and hops than your standard New Zealand lager. This beer has a delightful upfront citrus aroma, and the biscuity and honey malt flavours are complemented by a distinct crisp bitterness. Croucher Pilsner, 5%, was named Champion International Lager at BrewNZ 2010.

Croucher Patriot is an American Black Ale jammed full of American Hops (Amarillo and Falconers Flight), providing piney and citrus aromas and flavours. It has 5.5% alcohol and was overall Champion at the NZ Beer Cup 2011.

Croucher Belgian Blonde is a Belgian-style lager. It is clean and crisp with a spicy character reminiscent of so many great Belgian beers. Croucher Pale Ale has massive up front fruit with strong freshly crushed grain. Think fruit salad on Weetbix! It was named 2010 Champion NZ Beer in the Capital Times Beer Necessities Survey.

And finally Croucher Mother’s Milk is a delicious black beer that has all the roasty toasty chocolate and coffee flavours you would expect from a Stout – with the added bonus of a few extra hops than ‘normal’. It is darkly drinkable at 5%!

“BREW is all about educating and promoting New Zealand craft beer and in the few short months we’ve been open, it has been very well received,” Croucher says. “We’ve also set up the BREW Beer Club and will be conducting regular beer tastings for members.”

Croucher Brewing was established in 2004 when they entered the Brew NZ brewing championship and won the non-commercial brewing section. The Rotorua-based company made its commercial debut in 2006 and their beer is now available nationwide.

BREW is open seven days at 1103 Tutanekai Street, in the heart of Rotorua’s food and beverage precinct. It’s also the only café in Rotorua that roasts its own coffee beans. Visit www.brewpub.co.nz to view the full drinks and food menu.