Press Release

Tuesday 1 October, 2013

Meet Your Match at Taste of Auckland

Food and beverage pairing experts will create matches made in heaven at Taste of Auckland this November in Victoria Park.

As a festival first, punters can take any dish to the Made to Match stand to be expertly paired with the perfect beer or cider, showcasing the wide range of boutique brewers exhibiting at the event this year.

Rob Eliott from Taste of Auckland organiser Lemongrass Productions says as the popularity of craft beer and cider grows, people want to know how to compliment foods with them. 

“Visitors come to Taste to learn as well as to have fun and we’re expecting a surge of people at the festival this year who will want to learn about matching beer and cider with their dishes, as well as wine,” he says.

Hallertau Brewery owner Steve Plowman says local breweries have made a comeback in the culinary scene, as boutique beer increases as the drink of choice at fine-dining establishments.

“The demand for our beer has increased exponentially, particularly in the cuisine scene, so it makes sense for us to be alongside such fine-establishments at Taste,” he says.

“Craft beer is beer with flavour, so it works perfectly with food,” says Plowman.

Newer breweries like Hallertau, Tuatara, Matsons and Epic are holding their own next to larger and more established breweries like Lion and DB Breweries and international beers like Moritz and Skaska.

Jayme Johnson from eight-year-old Epic Brewing Company says they are coming back to Taste of Auckland for the second time because they had such great exposure last year.

“We love engaging with potential new Epic fans and we got in front of so many fresh faces, networked with bars and restaurants and other stalls, and introduced new flavours to peoples’ taste buds, so it’s a great event for us,” she says.

“Interest in craft beer is huge now,” says Johnson.

Cider is also making its presence felt in the New Zealand market. Rekorderlig and Crabbies Cider have recently been brought into the country by DB Breweries, and will be exhibiting at Taste of Auckland alongside Old Mout Cider and Kiwi cider brewing company Zeffer.

Eliott says with such a wide range of drinks on site, the options for pairing with food will be endless.

“Drink matching is an obvious extension to the restaurant cuisine on offer. 2013 will be a fantastic festival, one to remember,” says Eliott.

Tickets are on sale at www.iticket.co.nz

ENDS

© Scoop Media