Mountain Goat Beer Now Available In NZ - The Goat Story

Mountain Goat Beer Now Available In New Zealand
The Goat Story

The Mountain Goat story started in the early 1990s when two regular Aussie blokes, Cam Hines and Dave Bonighton, shared a passion for craft beer.

After separately travelling the world, sniffing out microbreweries in the Northern hemisphere they returned to Melbourne with not much more than a couple of surfboards and an old EH Holden. However their fascination for craft beer had stuck and in 1996, Mountain Goat was conceived.

“Beer always seemed to be the poor cousin to wine and that didn’t seem right to us” said Co-founder, Owner and Brewer, Dave Bonighton.

The beginnings were as you’d expect – a lot of trials and tribulations in the early stages of product development as well as the most pressing issue – securing the required funds to open their own microbrewery. However, jumping on the craft beer wagon, well ahead of the mighty ‘craft beer boom’, gave them the key advantage of time.

In 1997, after replacing Dave’s backyard for a fully functional microbrewery, Mountain Goat Hightail Ale was commercially released. Naturally brewed avoiding all preservatives and additives, Hightail was well received throughout Melbourne and highly praised by the ‘beer geek’ market.

The range consists of three beers; The Hightail, The certified organic Steam Ale and The India Pale Ale. The IPA was originally a limited edition but with demand outweighing supply, it’s now in the core range available all year. There’s also a limited edition, Rare Breed beer that changes with the seasons and as they feel inspired every few months.

Mountain Goat is now one of Australia’s most popular craft beer brands and has picked up a swag of awards including top awards at the 2009 Australian International Beer Awards and was rated in Top 20 Australian Beers - The Australian Newspaper Nov 11.
Still 100% independently owned, the boys are still very hands-on with the operation of the brewery that also doubles as a public watering hole over the weekends. Dave has the appetite for brewing, while Cam handles logistical and sales side of the company.

Launched for the very first time in New Zealand, the Mountain Goat range is sold as 4 or 6 packs in 330ml bottles and is available now at Glengarry Wines, Super Liquor and other premium liquor outlets.
“We are wrapped to be shipping some Goat over your way. There's some ripping beer coming out of NZ and it's a thrill for us to see our beer sitting in New Zealand fridges next to Kiwi brands” says, Co-founder, Owner Cam Hines.
And you might ask, why the name? “Well, a mountain goat’s a big hairy animal that’s never gonna fall over”.

ENDS

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