Society of Beer Advocates Celebrates Tenth Anniversary

16 November 2016

Society of Beer Advocates Celebrates Tenth Anniversary

While the pundits debate whether or not we’ve reached ‘peak craft beer,’ most fans know that humans have been drinking beer ever since we domesticated cereal grains a few thousand years ago.

The Society of Beer Advocates (SOBA), New Zealand’s beer-focused consumer organisation, celebrates the tenth anniversary of its founding on 17 November. Wellington will be celebrating at Black Dog Brewery on the date and regional coordinators will be hosting parties in other cities around the country next week. All members and beer enthusiasts are invited to attend.

To mark this occasion, past Secretary Dale Cooper and a team of committee members brewed a limited-edition anniversary amber ale at Black Dog in Wellington, featuring buckwheat (soba) and an experimental hop provided by NZ Hops. The beer has been christened ‘Buck to the Future’ following a naming contest among the membership. The brew was made possible thanks to Cryer Malt, Baylands Brewery, Garage Project, Beer Without Borders, and Mud Cycles.

SOBA President Maree Shaw said that the anniversary is a testament to the supportive and passionate community that has grown around the beer industry. ‘It’s great to see a growing variety of beers being enjoyed by a diverse range of people in New Zealand. SOBA is all about moving away from silly stereotypes and encouraging people to try new things and drink what they like.’

Founding officers Greig McGill, Stu McKinlay, and Luke Nicholas established SOBA in 2006 to educate and promote appreciation of, and access to, good beer. What began as a group of friends enjoying a few pints together has grown into a professional consumer organisation of more than 1200 members around the country.

SOBA hosts local events, tours, and tastings for members, festivals like Winter Ale Fest (Wellington), City of Ales (Auckland), and Mountain Ales (Taranaki), and the National Homebrew Competition, in addition to advocating for more widespread access to good beer.

Event details for each city can be found on facebook.com/nzsoba and will be updated as quake-related shipping delays are resolved. Card-carrying SOBA members will enjoy discounts on the anniversary brew, with people able to join beforehand at soba.org.nz. Media are welcome to attend.

About the Society of Beer Advocates:

The Society of Beer Advocates was formed in 2006. It is a consumer-based organisation with a mission to educate, promote, and advocate for the appreciation of, and access to, a diverse range of quality beer.

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