Beervana 2012 Wrap Up

Records set at Beervana 2012. Beervana 2012 was a resounding success with more breweries represented, more beers on show, and more patrons tasting them than ever before.

Over the two event days at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium in August, 271 beers from 91 breweries were sampled by nearly 8,000 people who passed through the venue. Another important success measure is the number of first time attendees, says Festival Director David Cryer. Fifty-eight percent of people at Beervana were attending for the first time in 2012. All of us in the craft beer business want more people drinking great beer, and Beervana is a non-threatening, relaxed and fun way to dip your toe in,” he says.

The event’s success is not just about the numbers though. Festival Director David Cryer wants the event to offer an entry-point for people new to craft, but also provide new, unique and inspiring experiences for long-time craft lovers.

As New Zealanders have become increasingly passionate about craft beer we’ve found Beervana attracting a very diverse audience,” says Festival Director David Cryer. “We want to make sure the event gives every visitor an experience they value, and that they can’t get anywhere else.” Whether you want to sample as many rare and special brews as possible, discover the secrets of beer and food matching, or learn about the art of brewing, I want Beervana to deliver,” Cryer says.

High-attendance, especially among first-timers, is also partly due to the great media support the event received. We’re thrilled with the support we got from media this year. We’ve been working hard at building good relationships with a range of journalists, who are really the barometer for public sentiment, and we saw some great reportage come through before, during and after the event.”  If you take their positivity about Beervana, and craft in general, as a measure of our potential, then I know we can work together to showcase craft and delight New Zealanders for a good many years to come,” Cryer says.

Beervana will be held in Wellington again in August 2013. Read what others had to say about Beervana 2012 Greg Dixon in the Weekend Herald: ‘Hip hops: Why NZ beer is suddenly cool again’ Dave Goosselink for TV3: ‘Wellington becomes Beervana’ Fritz Kuckuck and Maria Grau for the Nelson Mail and Stuff: ‘Beervana has the hops’  Kerry McBride in the Dominion Post: ‘Beervana festival hits Wellington’ Mika Reilly on her Gusty Gourmet blog: ‘Beervana 2012’