Carl & Simone Vasta, Tuatara Brewery

Nestled in the foothills of the Akatarawa Valley (between Waikanae and Upper Hutt) and just like it’s indigenous namesake, the team at Tuatara Brewery have quietly been going about their work for the last 7 years. That was, until last year when they entered their 5 beers at the annual BrewNZ Awards in Wellington and waltzed off with 3 gold medals (Ardennes, IPA & Hefe) and the coveted Champion Brewery Trophy. Based around husband and wife team of Carl & Simone Vasta, Simone says they were unprepared for what would follow their ‘overnight’ success. “We were right in the middle of upgrading the brewery” says Simone, “Carl was working all hours, welding this and installing that, while Dion and I were just managing to keep up. Then the BrewNZ Awards came along and the phone wouldn’t stop ringing. We literally couldn’t keep up - as fast as we made the beer, it was gone the next day!” Happy to say now, 10 months on, that the brewery expansion is complete, the bottle-filler that improves the speed and quality is now installed and they have a chance to catch their breath.

But no, they go and release an additional beer to the range. Carl has been brewing for 15 years and the range of 5 beers at Tuatara are all classic versions of some of the best European styles seen. The Hefe (on tap at Pomeroy’s), Pilsner, IPA, London Porter and Belgian have inspired Ardennes, a strong 6.5% golden ale. Carl says, “We perceived a gap at the start of our range so thought we’d make an entry level lager, the Helles —not too challenging but, again, based on a classic European style. The Germans make some of the best beers in the world so that’s where we looked”. Helles, meaning ‘light’ in German, is light in colour only. It rocks in at 5% abv but rumour on the street has it that the first batch may have come in a smidgen more. 

Water quality is very important to Carl and tucked away at the foot of the ranges as they are, is an abundant rainwater supply. Combine that with the finest malts, hops and yeasts true to the styles of beer they make, and it’s easy to see why success came as it did at the last awards.

Looking forward to this year’s awards, Simone says with a sly grin “We might just go on holiday the week after!”

Keep up the good work Tuatara!

We love to keep your taste buds challenged at Pomeroy’s.

We have a great opportunity to bring you the Emerson’s Brewers Reserve range which changes monthly (the only pub in Christchurch that has it guaranteed on tap). Sometimes we have a gap between supplies so when Steve isn’t watching we sneak in a keg of something different! In future this could be a Yeastie release, something seasonal and new, or just an old favourite that we haven’t seen for a while. Keep an eye on the taps as it could only be one keg and once it’s gone, that’s it! 

Also, if there’s a beer you would love to see in Beer of The Month, let Steve or Ava know or drop me a note to: craig@beernz.co.nz