By Janika ter Ellen
A new generation of McCashin family beer is about to hit supermarket shelves.
Thirty years ago former All Black Terry McCashin set up a brewery in Stoke, near Nelson.
He produced Macs’ ale, until Lion Breweries bought the brand in 1999, but now, the McCashins are back, starting over.
For Dean McCashin, the beer business is in the blood.
“My first job was shovelling malt, when we had the malt house operational,” he says.
“I worked in the school holidays folding cartons and mowing the lawns and what have you; it just seemed to evolve.”
He is following in his father's footsteps – creating a boutique beer brand called Stoke, after the Nelson suburb where his father created Mac’s ale.
Terry McCashin launched the country’s first micro-brewery in 1981 with the help of his wife Bev, and a hot-shot young brewer.
“We were warned by the then Prime Minister to be careful. He said, ‘do you know, young men, that you're going up against the two big breweries in the country?’ We knew,” says original Mac’s brewer Jim Pollit.
Lion eventually bought out the successful Macs brand in 1999, but the McCashins made sure they held onto their brewery in Stoke.
Dean now has a new, young brewer who has helped create three craft beers, but he still has the advantage of being able to call on Jim Pollit's experience.
“I've got a palate still, I can still taste beer,” says Mr Pollit.
Dean McCashin, though, is reluctant to reveal what's in the new creations.
“Just family recipes,” he says.
Those wanting to sample the latest offering from the McCashin family get their chance when the Stoke range is released nationwide on Monday.
3 News
source: newshub archive
