Local Brewery Garage Project Are Making A Beer Inspired By Red Peak

A Wellington brewery with a penchant for producing out-of-the-box craft beer, like a cookies and cream ale, an oyster stout, and a porter brewed with porcini mushrooms and black truffle, are jumping at the chance to create a brew based on the most popular flag from the long list, Red Peak.

Inspiration for the brew came after the Te Aro Valley brewers Garage Project were approached by the flag designer himself, Aaron Dustin.

Red Peak was one of 40 flag designs included in the official long list. To the dismay of many, three awfully similar fern options and a koru dubbe 'hypno flag’ were chosen by the consideration panel over the design to feature in the upcoming referendum. The design has since been the subject of a grassroots movement from the public, gaining upwards of 50,000 signatures in a petition asking John to include it in the referendum.

As reported by Stuff.co.nz, Garage Project were still deciding on how they would make the beer, but it would most likely be a red ale and take inspiration from different elements of the flag. Local ingredients including Nelson hops, New Zealand water and Canterbury malt have been thrown around, as well as an ancient technique using hot volcanic rocks to flash caramelise beer, native horopito bush pepper, kawakawa and an element of ice or snow.

The expected shelf availability for the Red Peak is in around four weeks time.