Many may not know, but bottles and kegs of Emerson’s popular Pilsner have been brewed at The Pride brewery in Auckland since last year.
Emerson’s Brewery, founded in October 1992, was sold to Lion New Zealand in 2012, with the promise it would be business as usual for Dunedin’s most recognisable craft beer brand.
At the time, Emerson’s founder Richard Emerson said it was important to continue brewing Emerson’s in its Wickliffe St brewery, and ruled out having it brewed at Speight’s Rattray St site, which is also owned by Lion New Zealand.
"Dunedin is the home of Emerson’s," he said.
However, it appears things have changed.
Lion New Zealand craft director Todd Gordon said the Emerson’s brewery in Dunedin was still brewing Pilsner in cans and kegs for local customers, but growing demand for the beer had prompted Lion to start brewing Emerson’s Pilsner bottles and kegs at The Pride brewery in Auckland.
He said customers would not notice any difference between the taste of the beer produced in Dunedin and the beer produced in Auckland.
"The Emerson’s team are incredibly proud and protective of our beers.
"The Emerson’s brewers and Richard Emerson himself worked closely with the brewers at The Pride to ensure quality and flavour, and ultimately to approve the final beer."
Mr Gordon said The Pride had a successful track record of brewing Emerson’s Pilsner over the past year, and the brewers were "really impressed" with the quality of the beer.
He said the production move freed up capacity for Emerson’s brewers to invent more craft beers for the market.
"Now Emerson’s can confidently meet customer demand for their no1 selling brew, and this move has created more space for Emerson’s to innovate and brew other new beers out of the Dunedin brewery.
"Emerson’s is proudly Dunedin ‘born and brewed’ and we’re committed to keeping our home-base in the South," Mr Gordon said.
Emerson’s sales and marketing manager Greg Menzies declined to comment on the situation.
