A history of premium beverages. McCashin’s Brewery was born in 1980 when hotelier and former All-Black Terry McCashin and his wife, Bev, bought the Rochdale Cider Factory in the small upper-South Island city of Nelson. With Jim Pollit, of Carlsberg fame, as Head Brewer, along with the plan to brew distinctive, high-quality beer, McCashin’s Brewery soon became the most successful independent microbrewery in the country. Its award-winning 100% naturally-brewed beer revolutionalised the way beer was produced. And both its beer and cider won the hearts and tastebuds of the nation. Today, McCashin’s continues to pioneer beer- and cider-making and has extended its range to include fine wines, spirits and the purest water in the world.

Revolutionising beer. In the early 80s, under the guidance of Head Brewer, Jim Pollit, McCashin’s Brewery began brewing the first unsweetened beer as well as a range of other beers not seen in New Zealand at the time. The beer was brewed using only malt, hops, yeast and water, which conformed with the Bavarian Purity Laws of the year 1516. Because the beer didn’t contain sugar, which sped up the fermentation process, the beer was produced over 12 long weeks and nurtured to perfection. The McCashin’s success inspired a new generation of brewers, with many of these brewers having learnt their trade from McCashin’s Brewery.

The Rochdale influence. When the McCashins bought the Rochdale Cider Factory in 1980, the factory had been making cider for 50 years, brewing right throughout the second world war and into the 70s, when Rochdale was the only cider producer in New Zealand. The McCashins continued to brew Rochdale cider, improving the recipe along the way, and even won several awards in the 90s for its sparkling cider. Now, McCashin’s has revitalised the cider with its Frute range of delicious fruit-flavoured ciders.