Wild yeast brews up wilderness sanctuary funding

A native yeast is the catalyst for a collaboration that will see proceeds from a new beer go to the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary.

Riwaka-based Aliment Brewing is releasing Waimarama Wilding Ale on Saturday.

The amber farmhouse ale uses a native yeast captured and cultivated by Ryan Carville and Simon Cooke of Froth Technologies in Lower Hutt. They found the wild yeast on the banks of the Rangitikei River, near Hunterville, in 2023 and it has since been used in beers for Emerson’s and Three Sisters Brewery.

Aliment co-owner Monica Mead said the pair visited its brewery in May, and together they came up with the idea to use the yeast, named Wilding, for a beer with the proceeds going to a charity.

“All of us have a collective soft spot for the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary,” she said. “Given that we’re using a native New Zealand yeast we thought it a good fit for this beer.”

On Saturday, venues around the country will be the first to tap limited release 30-litre kegs of the ale with 500ml cans to follow at outlets nationwide.

In Nelson-Tasman The Free House and Red 16 will have the 5.8% beer on tap. In Blenheim, Grovetown Hotel will be pouring it on Saturday.

The Aliment Brewing tasting rooms on the main road in Riwaka will also have the beer to take home in riggers and cans.

Aliment co-owner and brewer Jason Bathgate said the beer style was an amber ale akin to a saison; lightly citrus with a moreish banana nose and palate.

Thanks to donations from Aliment suppliers, all profits from the sales of kegs and cans will go to the sanctuary. Buyers can also use QR codes on the cans and at the venues selling it to make further donations.

The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary, on the outskirts of Nelson, is home to a growing number of native species, including kiwi, kākā, kākāriki and tuatara.

By Nelson Reporter, Nelson Mail

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