Moas take off in San Fran

Media release

September 11, 2013

Moas take off in San Fran

Moas are flying out the door in San Francisco as the America’s Cup finally hits its paces.

Moa Beer’s Bar of Arrr is right on the race finish line and Moa CEO Geoff Ross says the staff can hardly keep up with demand, both from jubilant Kiwis and a not-inconsiderable number of Americans who support our team.

“We’re pouring literally thousands of Moas each day,” Ross says. “Last weekend — the first day of racing, I’m told nearly 8,000 drinks crossed the bar.

“We’ve got the managers pouring and have one staff member pretty much re-stocking and changing kegs all day while two others simply pour as their only job — that gives you some idea of how busy it is.”

Ross says the bar is right in amongst the action on Pier 29, with the very best position overlooking the finish line and a popular venue before, during and after the racing.

“When racing got underway on the weekend the place was electric – Kiwis doing hakas and impromptu national anthems ringing out. With the racing extremely exciting people are really talking positively about the event.

“And while we’re keen to see Dalts and Dean and the boys bring home the cup we’re also keen to see as many race days as possible of course.  Frankly I was quietly happy to see Oracle postpone today (11 September NZ time) — it gives us another race day.”

The pop-up bar — known colloquially as the Bar of Arrr - features a classical pirate theme and everyone’s getting into the swashbuckler spirit of things and donning eye patches, Ross says.

“It’s certainly a lot of fun but it’s also great business for the Moa brand in the U.S. – it’s a big market for us and the profile is enormous. We have hosted a lot of trade customers here, who see first-hand the Moa and New Zealand brand in action.

“The fact is, because we are the only bar on the end of Pier 29 and right on the line, we have a captive market deep in the bleachers as they say here.

“It’s a prime position and we worked very hard late in the piece to get the bar up and running — but it’s working well for Moa right now,” Ross says.

The bar stocks the full Moa range from New Zealand with both draft and bottle options. There’s also a Moa tasting tray, for those who want to sample more than one grog ration.

To make a connection to its New Zealand origin, the bar features large visuals of New Zealand landscapes fronted by local wildlife.  And because the Kiwis are as one-eyed as the best of us yachties, the animals too wear eye patches. There is also a New Zealand DJ there every day, to keep a music connection going. 

To make sure the pirate mood isn't left to the moment, pirates can take a pictures of themselves and friends in celebratory mode, leaving them on the Bar of Arrr wall for all to see.

Because the Pier 29 Bar runs right through to the end of racing, it’s also appropriate it will be in full swing on International Talk Like a Pirate Day – smack in the middle of the America’s Cup on September 19.

ENDS

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