There is real depth to the offerings of Tui HQ as a tourist destination. You need to step inside the walls to unearth the secret to the holy grail of New Zealand beer.

At Mangatainoka, home of the Tui HQ and all things Tui, people may be surprised to know that quarts and kegs are still brewed on site. Tours through the brewery can take place any day of the week, however Friday is the best day to view bottling in action.

Once a major employer in the area with over 120 full time staff, the brewery has become very efficient as a result of technological advancements and currently employs 18 full time staff.

In terms of brewing, there are two possible methods; batch brewing and continuous brewing. In fact, DB Breweries is the only company in the world to successfully brew through the continuous brewing process, although the specialist beers such as Mangatainoka Old Dark are brewed through the original batch method.

Another change that has shaped the brewing process is pasteurisation, a process that has significantly improved the health of the world's population. In the case of beer, pasteurisation kills bacteria, stops the growth of the yeast that might remain in the beer after packaging, and it extends the shelf life from 12 days to nine months. The process also eliminates faulty bottles from the production line, as once at the required temperature, faulty stock tends to shatter.

In contrast, the kegs are pasturised in a different style called micro filtration which apparently doesn't affect the taste. Also surprisingly, kegs are filled upside down, and before coming off the production line are tipped right side up and are weighed to ensure that they contain the correct amount of beer. Following this they are sprayed with disinfectant, then the caps are put on manually after first being warmed under a heat lamp. To ensure accurate production, "dummy" kegs are put onto the production line to test that the quality control machinery is doing its job and detecting faults in manufacturing.

Brewery tour and tasting packages are $15 per person, including three beers and the handle.

For further information contact:
Jo Hirst, Tui HQ Manager
Telephone: +64 6 367 0815
Email: jo@tui.co.nz