Founders Brewery

The Founders Brewery is a family brewery in Nelson/New Zealand.  There are only hops, malt, yeast and pure spring water used (all from Bio / organic). “Organic Brewery” means something like “eco-brewery” or “bio-brewery.” Unlike German beers are sold abroad, many commercial beers, especially from large corporations, not by the purity law, is brewed. In addition to rice starch or whey products, more additives are used for cost reasons.

The Founders Brewery is one of the New Zealand Association of Craft Brewers.  These, in turn, consists of micro-breweries (in English speaking countries “Micro Breweries”), the traditional way to brew beer. The focus is on craftsmanship and quality instead of quantity. For this reason, these beers are usually only available locally.   The area on the South Island of New Zealand (Golden Bay, Nelson, Marlborough, Blenheim) is one of the origins of the New Zealand micro-breweries.

The brewery was founded in 1854 by J.R. Dodsen an immigrant from Australia.  Today the John Duncan family are the head brewers (fifth generation).  His son Matt in November 2006 had great success with his first beer, which won a prize (Fair Maiden Ale).
When John and Carol Duncan in 1998 and took over as brewer and the Organic Brewery opened, they were the first brewery of their kind in the entire Austral-Asian region.

Products

Currently there are six different beverages brewed:
Red Head – A camp in Vienna Art
Tall Blonde – Light stock, which goes in the direction Pils
Long Black – a black German according to type
Generation Ale – a nutty brown ale
Fair Maiden Ale – The latest creation, a Pale Ale
Cider Inn – A dry, sparkling cider, made from 2 kinds of organic apples