Thirst for knowledge

The story of Richard’s childhood, and the years leading up to the establishment of Emerson’s Brewery, along with its early development and growth are Donaldson’s real contribution to the beer community’s understanding of Richard. He rightly doesn’t dwell too much on the sale to Lion but it is interesting to read of Richard’s views on the matter and Donaldson’s own might be the subject of some debate. This reader certainly didn’t agree with all that was authored about craft and brewery sales but a little tetchiness is probably helpful to inspiring conversation post reading the book on a lazy holiday afternoon - over an (Emerson’s) beer or two.

This year the New Zealand Brewers’ Guild changed its “Beer Writer of the Year” award to a “Beer Media” award. It was good move, as it opens the award up to a wider range of discourse on beer. This year’s winner – Denise Garland – is an example of that. While she’s a semi-regular writer for The Pursuit of Hoppiness (as well as being deputy editor) and The Spinoff, it was a single powerful and motivating article on Māori cultural appropriation in the brewing industry that led to her deserving recognition.