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The story behind a special brew – The Mischievous Kea
Eliott Menzies
Photos: Eliott Menzies
I have wonderful childhood memories of time spent just hanging out for 10 minutes or so at the Remarkables ski field, watching the sun set before the final run down the slopes. On many occasions I would have a couple of kea sharing the moment with me but they were obviously much less interested in the sunset than they were in the beer that I kept putting down just out of their reach. Even though I recall childhood memories here I was over 18 when enjoying the beer! In the interest of perhaps recreating past memories as many of us do at the middle stage of our lives, I decided to start a brewery, as this had been a dream of mine for many years, and the time seemed right. I grew up in Queenstown when it was still a nice quiet town and there were a greater number of kea to be seen. I work at the ski field during the winter with my family and we’ve noticed that we don’t get followed around by mischievous kea so much any more. Their antics helped me formulate a name for my first beer release ‘Mischievous Kea’. This was the first beer from my
company Altitude Brewing Studios and is an IPA that’s a bit unique and cheeky and perfectly named after my favourite alpine companion. As part of my company ethos I like to donate profits I make from each different beer back to the community, so this is a win/win situation for me. I get to name an awesome beer after an awesome bird, and then donate money back to the people looking after that awesome bird. Altitude Brewing Studios was formed in November 2013 and has since grown to produce four beers and has several outlets around the country. With the Mischievous Kea brew I hope to be able to grow to a level where I can be a regular
sponsor of some of the amazing projects undertaken by the Kea Conservation Trust, and I also hope to be able to volunteer to take part in some of those projects. The kea to me are unique birds that symbolise New Zealand as strongly as any of our other national icons. They are unique because they are such an interactive and sociable bird, and it’s hard to find a local or international tourist who has travelled around our country who does not have a story of some sort about kea. I hope that in my own small way I can help the Kea Conservation Trust look after these birds, and perhaps one day see them again at the top of the Remarkables, watching the sunset and drinking a beer with me.
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thern Alps, the the striking Sou e the traditional Created high in is a fresh take on Mischievous Kea urite of many mountain folk favo IPA's that are a lling counterparts. their city dwe and ain ntain parrot of the cheeky mou Named in honour more than to have a good e ing that loves noth this beer and hop you will enjoy he time, we know share the story the Kea as you er ger work. you will forgive wipers no long your windscreen of how ents edients and New Zealand ingr Brewed using all unt of love legally allowed, amo d and palate the maximum nsely aromatic brew is an inte showcases just how good this e that popping adventur brewers really are. hops and our malt,
MADE WITH NATURAL INGREDIENTS
L106083
2.1
STANDARD DRINKS
5.5% ALC. VOL 500ML
A PORTION OF ALL SALES ARE DONATED PO TO T KEA CONSERVATION TRUST THE
CK OUT OUR EBOOK PAGE FOR UPDATE UPDATES.
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NSTOWN EE
PRODUCED BY: Altitude Brewing, 60 Moonlight Track, Arthurs Point, Queenstown, New Zealand EMAIL: altitudebrewing@gmail.com WARNING: We know you will enjoy this beer and will probably want another, so please drink responsibly
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0 5.5% alc.vol 50
ml
ESSENTIALS
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