Wishlist #12; Better UK/NZ beer distribution

The problem with wanting to try craft beers from half way round the world is that they're, uh, half way round the world. To import them, they're probably going to travel on a slow boat at a high unit cost. Which is a bugger when you live in England and are keen on drinking beer brewed in New Zealand.

It's all the fault of Luke Nicholas. I met the award-winning Kiwi brewer from Epic Beer a couple of months ago when he was over in the UK, promoting a UK-brewed version of Epic Pale at the Wetherspoons festival. He's a really passionate and engaging guy and I'd like to try more of his beers (particularly Armageddon IPA). I'm sure thousands of others would like to, too.

The key would be a cheaper distribution route - I don't suppose an outfit like Epic can cover the costs of an exclusive shipment half way across the world. Short of discovering a pan-Atlantic/Pacific wormhole, I don't have any bright ideas. Apart from... there must be shipments from NZ-USA, USA-UK and back again; if you or anyone you know works in international shipping frieght, let me know and we'll see if we can work something out. If only for a case of Armageddon that's been tucked under the bunks; I'll glady come and collect it from any UK port ;-)

2 comments:

  1. Perhaps what's needed is some kind of "beer exchange".

    Idea: Feel free to steal and implement as I'm too lazy.

    1. Set up a group of like minded beer lovers (or ride on an existing site like ratebeer.com and ask if you can have a subgroup).

    2. Achieve critical mass in the countries you wish to trade with.

    3. Work out which beers you wish to try.

    4. Perform case-swaps of similarly priced/reputed beers on a regular basis.

    If you set up something a little less open and a little more commercial, this could potentially make money and/or be s stepping stone into beer distribution.

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  2. It works both ways, while we have a range of Family Brewer beer imported to NZ we mis out on alot of the goood micro stuff. Thornbridge beers should be avalible particulary with all the NZ conections to that brewery.

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