The Last Of A Good Drop

The New Zealand Breweries' factory in Aberdeen Road ceased brewing at the end of October after making beer for just on 85 years.

In that time an estimated 85,000,000 gallons of beer were manufactured on the premises.

Prior to 1898 the brewery was owned by two companies, but in that year it was bought by a syndicate headed by Mr D. J. Barry. In 1912 a private company, D. J. Barry Ltd., was formed, then, in 1923, a merger took place, after which the factory operated under the direction of the New Zealand Breweries Ltd.

These pictures show the interior of the factory at the production of the last brew.

Joe Webber stands inside one of the large bins used for storing the malt

After being crushed the malt is mixed with liquor water and run into the mash tun where it converts into wort

This liquid is then strained out of the tun...

...hops and sugar added, and boiled and sterilised in this kettle for a period of 1½ hours

After cooling, the liquid is left to ferment in the 2,500 gallon squares for six to seven days

Every three hours the yeast is skimmed off

After fermentation is complete the beer is stored for fourteen days at 32 degrees to mature

The quick chiller which cools the beer to the required 32 degrees

After being filtered the beer is then filled into kegs (Cyril Naden taps down a keg).....

...or pumped into tankers under the direction of Mick Grant

Gregor Marsh sterilises empty kegs

Dick Kelly at the steam boiler

Engineer Colin Vette attends to the ammonia compressor in the refrigeration plant

The remaining staff just before the close-down are, from left, Arthur Brown, Cyril Naden, Gregor Marshall, Mick Grant and Colin Vette

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The Gisborne Photo News

No 149 : November 2, 1966

The Last Of A Good Drop