Low-alcohol beer for N.Z. palates

Press, 25 July 1985, Page 35

Low-alcohol beer for N.Z. palates

The Roc Mac Brewery, at Stoke, recently extended its plant to four times its former size to keep up with demand. “We used to work a double shift for 16 hours a day on the old bottling plant, and sometimes we just couldn't keep up with orders,” said Mr Terry McCashin, the manager of Roc Mac. “Now, we bottle about 400 dozen an hour. “With our increased brewing capacity, we are now

also producing our own lowalcohol beer, called Southern Light. It is selling around Nelson and we hope to have it down to Christchurch soon. “Southern Light has only a 1.5 per cent alcohol content, and I think we’ve produced a beer that will suit New Zealand palates more than imported low-alcohol beers. “It took us four months of research to get the right taste. “Despite our increased

capacity, we still do not make enough to supply bulk beer to hotels, and so are continuing to concentrate on the bottle beer market. “We do not use additives or sugars — only sugar from malt — in our beers, and although it costs a little more, we find people are prepared to pay it for our natural type of product. “During the last 12 months, our Wellington market increased by 27 per cent without any advertising,” Mr McCashin said.